DAY 4 - AMANA, IOWA

 

God's gift to me today was waking up early enough to catch the sunrise, accompanied by the lowing of the cattle beyond the corn field, along side the Amana RV Park.  Between 5:20 CT and 6:08 CT, I took 100 pictures which I have pared to 20.  Here are just a few for your enjoyment.  Wish I could send you the sweet fragrance of the corn field after last night's rain, and the coolness of the morning air (67 degrees).

We visited the Amana Colonies today beginning at the Amana Heritage Museum where we viewed an excellent video describing  how the early settlers came from Germany via West Seneca, NY, and arrived in Iowa in 1855.

A highlight of our day was meeting Dave Miller and visiting the Gallery containing the artistry of his Wife, Daughter and six year old Granddaughter.  Dave generously arranged for his Wife to open their Home/Gallery to us for a visit in the afternoon.  The Michele Maring Miller Art Studio and Gallery is in West Amana, six miles from town, in a 1871 sandstone Church of the Amana Colonies which they have restored.  See www.maringmillergallery.com to view some of her watercolor paintings.  What really spoke to me was that so many of her paintings have a Cardinal perched somewhere in it.  I immediately connected since Cardinals have meant so much to our family that Mom had one engraved on their tombstone.  Note the cardinals in the lower right hand corner of the painting of Michele's Studio/Gallery building.   The third photo is looking up the stairs of the Gallery in Amana, and shows some of her daughter's work.

We felt like little kids when we climbed up into the largest (11 foot high) Walnut Rocker in Iowa, at the Schantz Furniture - see www.schantzfurniture.com where you can see the rest of the story.

At the end of our day (4:55PM)  with only five minutes to spare, Russ spotted Heritage Designs, on 46th Avenue in Amana.  They had just one yard left of 50 States fabric which will somehow be used to commemorate our travels through so many of these wonderful United States of America.  I went crazy taking pictures of the many quilts on display in the shop while Russ bailed us out.  It was a good thing we only had five minutes to browse around before closing.

We had dinner at a German restaurant called Ox Yoke Innterstate see www.oxyokeinn.com , where we were greeted by a Yoke that was hanging from the entrance rafters.  The art work of one of God's creatures was a pleasing appetizer when we arrived, and dessert as we departed.  God's handiwork was like the bookends to my day.  A photographers "perfect day" .  All total I took close to 225 pictures, and enjoyed every opportunity.   Russ was so patient with me.  That's what thirty years of marriage is all about, right?

Russ gave me these stats.  We are about a tenth of the way into our journey.  Average gas prices are $3.54 with the lowest being $3.39 today.  It was gas containing Ethanol with an Octane rating of 89, versus Regular 87 Octane without Ethanol at $3.49.  We are averaging 6.8 miles per gallon.  As of tonight we have traveled 922 miles.

May God Bless all of you with Sweet Dreams.