April Showers Bring......

I slept so well last night, I did not even hear the downpour! I hope that you will be able to see the flooded creek behind our home~Even though spring took some time getting here, it has arrived with a bang! Commuting between homes here in Illinois and over in Iowa, has given me a perspective glance at how differently my cherished plants with behave when we move. Yes...I am taking a few starters from this yard and bringing them to my new home to plant. Some of the Iris' came from my dear sweet mother-in-law many years ago, and I will keep those with me, also friends, family and my sweet neighbors have shared their flowers and plants with us, and I am going to keep those as well....MMmmmm...I wonder if there will be much left when I am gone!! Hee hee! Not really...I will just take cutting and roots..It will still be beautiful for the new owners.

It is much drier at our new home which is a blessing and possibly a curse because everything that touches the ground here will grow, over there, it may take some doing. I love a challenge!!!

I have been so distant with my blog due to utter busyness, fatigue and travel but I will be staying put for about a week, so you will hear from me more often. I missed you all so much!!

We haven't had an offer on our home yet, but the other house is ours, and my hubby has a place to come home to at night now. (He lived in a motel for 6 weeks). That's a big step in the right direction. Last weekend we moved just a few necessities over to the house so it's a little more homey for him. I scheduled the packers and movers for the 18th of May, which is coming up quickly. Has anyone else noticed that time seems to be flying by?? These days are just zooming along for me!

Dear sweet friends, I want you to know that I have been reading your blogs, as I am passing through, and keeping up with your lives. It is such a delight to see your newest artwork, hear about your days, and as always I am so inspired by your kindness, your talent, and your encouragement of one another.

Today will be my first day in my sewing room in a month!! How I have missed it! A rainy day is a perfect day to re-acquaint myself with my sewing machine!! I have a baby quilt that has been sewn for a month...it just needs to be cut. My goal is to get that done, and begin another project. Have a blessed day friends, I am thinking of you!

~Saying Good-Bye to One Small Town....~

It's Sunday morning!! Today is our Open House from 1:00-3:00. I have been cleaning, sprucing, and really just whipping around this place like a tornado getting everything ready to greet our potential buyers! Baking muffins, blowing off the driveway, packing the car with everything from camera to water dishes (for Freeway, of course) I've decided to head over to Dixon, Ill. to my favorite spots in our sister town. It's a cold, blustery day with snow expected, and I'm afraid I will have a hard time getting the old gal out of bed!! Snuggled in with her pillow on my white bedcovers it seems I will have to use the "R" word to get her going today! "Wanna go on a RIDE?" Okay....we're ready to head out!!! First stop on our Farewell Tour...

Freeway & I began our good-byes with a visit to Ronald Reagan's boyhood home. Completely restored right down to the reproduction wallpaper! President Reagan and the First Lady visited the home right after the restoration. It was quite a celebration to have the President back here in Dixon! He visited his high school, church and Lowell Park where he worked as a lifeguard. It's a wonderful old home with tiny bedrooms, a straight up staircase, lovely sitting room, and a big kitchen!! I'm certain that with two growing boys Mrs. Reagan must have spent alot of time in the kitchen. This bronze statue sits in the yard beside the home. Lovely!

The front of the Quaint old Reagan home on the hilly street.

This is a replica of the old fort where Lincoln served in the Black Hawk War. This is where the rare statue of Lincoln stands. It is the only bronze statue depicting young Lincoln in military dress.

This is Lincoln Park where in 1832 as a young man of 23 years old, Abraham Lincoln was a volunteer soldier in the Black Hawk war. This spot was the army encampment area and sits on the bank of the Rock River. Every year in Dixon, before the Petunia Festival begins, there is a "Walk for Life" which raises money for Cancer. the walk goes through the town, over the magnificent bridges, and ends at this park. There are sodas and water, Hot Dogs and sandwiches for the participants. It is a Grand Day!

The Nachusa House, a hotel built in 1853 was quite an elegant place for the times! A rail and stagecoach stop, frequented by Abraham Lincoln as he made his rounds throughout the state as a travelling lawyer. This Beautiful limestone building held many a famous historical figures. Besides Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, William Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt and even the President of the Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis. Lincoln however was a regular, and usually guested in the same room each visit. That room now is an apartment dedicated to the President. The location was perfect for him as the Courthouse is just across the street. In fact, grassy knoll on the left of the picture is the courthouse lawn.

The Old Lee County Courthouse built in 1901, stands on the spot of the original county courthouse where Abraham Lincoln addressed a crowd in 1856 on the Courthouse lawn a sweltering hot summer day. Of course the whole town turned out to see him and hear his speech! I'm sure they brought their picnic baskets and lemonade to the courthouse for the festivities!

A Marvelous Stonework House sits Delightfully on a corner of town~Lovely Wrap Around Porch

Another Fabulous Old Home~So Stately & Proud

The "Raging" Rock River & Lock Dam where my husband & I had fun

Boating. I don't think I have ever seen it this high.

I will miss these wonderful places, the rich history, the quaint small town wholesomeness...but...Marshalltown has it's own rich history, and is, itself another small town. So I end one journey, and begin another adventure. God has been so good to my hubby & I. We are so blessed!

Next on my farewell tour will be Sterling, IL., my town.

Blessings Friends!