The Farmer and I had a few final days in Iowa before returning to the prairie home. We did some tourist things. We went to see the Lidtke Mill in Northern Iowa and took a different road on North in Minnesota. We were met by hundreds of old tractors on the road. They must have been having an old tractor show someplace close as they were driving these old tractors. It was fun for the Farmer and I to get to see all these restored old iron relics.
“We travel, not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
-Unknown
In Lanesboro, MN we had signed up for an Amish tour. The town of Lanesboro was packed that weekend but we found our tour departure and were on our way. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and the history of the Amish folks who had moved to this part of Minnesota in the 1970’s from Pennsylvania. We visited a quilters home and even though it was afternoon it was dark in the home with no electricity. I love to quilt but need to have many lights on. I did see that her treadle machine was set right in front of the window. She had made some lovely quilts. We visited a furniture shop, bakery, and basket shop. The Farmer has been looking for a nice narrow belt but narrow doesn’t seem to be in style. He found a handmade one at one of the Amish shops.
The farmer’s wife kept her eye open for quilt shops. We were able to find a few and she bought some more fabric that is just crying out for use. It brings her joy just looking at these fabrics. The quilt store in Osage, IA is her favorite. The quilt store closest to her home just closed. This was seen as such a tragedy. Fabric and quilting are the answer. I don’t care what the question is.
“Wondering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and universe.”
-Anatole France
The Farmer loves his barn pictures, so we spent some hours looking for just the right photos before we prepared to travel home. There was some wonderful prayer time with the other SOWER friends as they left for some time with grandkids and a new SOWER project, and prayer time with director Brian as he and his family moved to Texas and with Sarah, the interim director of the camp.
It was difficult to leave this beautiful place with precious new friends but many new adventures awaited us at home. The farmer’s wife was scheduled to speak on salvation at a women’s retreat closer to home and we had agreed to read 1 Samuel outside and out loud in Gove County. So, the journey had to begin.
Back roads and scenic byways, were the order for the trip home. We made it to Genoa, NE the first night and camped in their city park with full hookups for $10.00. We got an early start the next morning and planned to see our prairie home by afternoon. We were detoured off of the highway due to an accident onto a country road. Three semis were in the lead. One semi made it through but the other two were too tall for the railroad bridge that we came upon. It took some time but the semis were able to move over and let us through. They were going to have to back out that last mile.
Home looked so good. Now to clean the camper and put it away until the next adventure.
Where the Dutch Ovens Roam 