Helping on a Rose Parade Float from a New Year's Past

One great memory of a New Year's Day was our trip to California and working on the Rose Floats for the world famous Rose Bowl Parade.

This was the Honda float and even though we only helped for a short time attaching last minute flowers we were so proud when it went by.

Sledding on our Iowa Farm

Growing up in rural Iowa was always an outdoor adventure. My sister Lois and I would love to take our sleds and go sledding down our "dirt" road along our farm. We always had so much fun.

Merry Christmas 1965

My sister Lois and I during a Christmas in 1965.

Remebering Our Christmas Programs

Every Christmas it was tradition for my brother, sister and I to have a Christmas program for our parents and grandparents. Don't you just love this 70's Christmas picture..

Christmas 1924

This is a wonderful picture of my Father on his first Christmas in 1924.

Pre- Me!!

My mom gave me some old photos recently.. This one is of my mother with friends... and she's expecting me. I think it's the only picture of her expecting.

That 70's Show...

This is one of the few pictures of the very small bedroom that my sister Lois and I shared while growing up. I think I have closets bigger than this now. Even though it was so small we have great memories....

Being the Majorette of the Band... Check out the White GoGo Boots

Halloween 1967 Guess Who's the Witch???

Remember the Good Ole Days of Halloween. This is a picture of my sister Lois and I dressed up for Halloween. Of course I'm the witch and my sweet sister is and "angel".... No really I think she's a bride.

Halloween 1967

Remember the Plastic Mask we all had for Halloween? This picture was taken in 1967.

Another Hawkeye Saturday

John and I both graduated from the University of Iowa so of course we are big Hawk fans. Unfortunately we don't get to the games very often. The Hawk games are a world unto their own. If you have never been to one it hard to explain how colorful and exciting they are.

Remembering the Rose Bowl Parade

Our family visited the Rose Bowl parade many years ago. This was the Honda float that our family worked on. I have such great memories of that trip. It was a dream come true!!

A Visit with Tony the Tiger

This is an old picture of our family visiting the Kellogg's' factory in Grand Rapids Michigan.
Here we are with Tony the Tiger... famous for ...""'."They're Great!!!"""

I think this picture was taken in the year 2000.

Corn Stocks Around Our Light Pole

Every Fall when my busy Dad was harvesting he would take time and make a Corn Stock Shock around our light pole on our farm.. Then later we would ate pumpkins. It was always a great place for the kittens to hide. Here is a picture of myself on the big trike and my sister Lois in front of the Stocks... My guess is that this picture is around 1965.

AvoHa Vikettes... Remembering 6 on 6 Girl's Basketball in Iowa

A good Friend and former girls basketball player from Exira stopped into the Rug Cottage the other day. It was so good to see her again. I thought it would be fun to post this picture again of my sister and I in our basketball uniforms from AvoHa high school back in the early 80's! We played 6 0n 6 girls basketball. We both had the seen the PBS special on Girl's basketball in Iowa. It's really wonderful. Check it out if you can.

A Visit to Lego Land

Nolan made his own shirt... Legos Rule... He had a great time.

Mickey and Nick..

Who doesn't love Mickey Mouse. Ever since I got my Mickey watch when I was 7 I've been a big fan!! This is an older picture of our son Nicholas... He's now 6'6" so I know this has been a few years.

Remeber Vintage Christmas

We Bleed Black & Gold... Go Hawkeyes!!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road....

Our daughter was in the Wizard of Oz last year with the "Old Creamery Theater Company" of Amana Iowa. The Production was held at the historic Englert Theater in downtown Iowa City. It was a great show and many happy memories.

Thanksgiving at Our House 2009

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for many reasons.... it's all about family, food and fellowship. Thanksgiving is the only true "American" holiday.

Case Steam Engines... My Family Heritage

The Steam Engine on the Right has been in our family since the 1910. My Grandfather and his brothers purchased it and did threshing in western Iowa. My father and brother still have it and it's in working order. As a kid we spent summers attending "Steam" shows around the Midwest where my father would bring his steam engine to reinact threshing bees.

Iowa Hawkeye Snowman

Every winter our family loves to make snowmen. Being from Iowa City, we're big Hawkeye Fans. This Hawkeye Snowman was one of Nathan & Nolan's creations from last winter.... Go Hawks.

Bridgewater Methodist Church

My maternal grandparents lived in the small town of Bridgewater Iowa. They attended the Methodist church which was just down the street from my grandparent's house.

I have very fond memories of attending that church with my grandmother. It was an old fashion church even when I was a kid. Our church is my hometown of Avoca was modern and built in he mid 70's.

This church had the wonderful old curved pews and the amazing stained glass windows. This was the church that my mother went to as a girl.

It has a bell and once I got to ring it. Now that we have a little house in Bridgewater we try to attend when we are back visiting. The Congregation has been so warm and inviting to us. We try to attend their church suppers and fall bazaar as much as we can. It's really a true inspiration of faith and family.