GALENA, ILLINOIS, ETC.

As we were leaving Minnesota, DH thought I should have my picture taken by this pile of snow in a parking lot.  The snow was beautiful, but in late April?!?!?  We saw many cars in the ditch, but our car is all wheel drive with snow tires, so we were fine.

We went to Galena, IL on our way to the Chicago area.  When I was a child, my family would drive to Minnesota to visit my mother's many relatives and on the way we would drive through Galena and my Dad would point out President Grant's home there.  I have always wanted to visit the town.  This plaque gives some of the history and I learned a lot while there.  It is a very old town and is very interesting.

So many victorian homes on the hills above the downtown and river area.

A view from the hill looking down.

We went to this museum and I spent some money in the gift shop.

I went to about 5 quilt shops on the trip, one in Minnesota, 2 in Des Moines, Iowa, 1 in Galena and 1 in Sisters, Oregon.  Here are some of the things I bought.  First 2 panels.

These will be for table runners possibly.

There was a vintage shop in Northfield, Minnesota that was really good and I bought these items there.  3 yards of the toile fabric and the table runner which is in perfect condition.

There was a huge button section which I could have a couple hours in, but I didn't have time to do that.  I wanted to go back later, but the blizzard was going on.  I only purchased 2 buttons because I'm wanting to make jewelry with buttons.  We'll see if and when I do that.

Now to get back to reality!

FROM MINNESOTA, ILLINOIS AND IDAHO

 I'm posting from DH's laptop and am having a hard time getting it to cooperate. Above are 3 generations of our family, our oldest son, DH and our grandson.  We went to Minnesota for our grandson's senior organ recital at St. Olaf College.  There was a white out blizzard that weekend.  Fortunately, we didn't end up in a ditch like so many other cars!  I had to laugh when I saw the Little Chicago sign.  There were about 8 houses in that town.

Here is our grandson during his recital.  He had 2 page turners/helpers.  Besides turning pages, they helped by sliding various "stops" on the organ.  We wouldn't have missed the recital and are glad that even though it was postponed one day and we had to improvise at the last minute to find a place for the refreshments, it all turned out perfectly.  He is so talented - we're very proud of him.

From Minnesota, we went to Illinois and stopped in Galena, the home of President Ulysses S. Grant.  The town is so interesting, but I haven't been able to load all the photos onto this computer.  Some of them migrate to it automatically, but not all.  Very strange.

I found this quilt shop there and it was small but very good.

Cute name, huh?

I bought a couple patterns and some fabric.  This will be for a table runner.

This will be for an apron.

We are almost home (will arrive there today), but on the way, we stopped in Twin Falls, Idaho and went to see this amazing water fall, Shoshone Falls.  I never knew about this or about the canyon that the Snake River runs through.

Can't wait to get home!