I decided not to carry my camera into the reception since I wasn't taking many pictures anyway. Yes, I use a camera because my phone is a flip phone and if you have been trying to call me, I haven't looked at my phone for over a month.
Good thing they had a photo booth at the reception so you could see how much fun we were having.
This picture is a picture of a picture. That is why it's blurry. I promise I only had two beers and it didn't bither me a bot.
Monday, Maggie's boyfriend Chase flew in to spend a week with us, and Maggie of course. It has been non-stop this past week.
After we picked Chase up from the famous Moline airport ( I saw the airport on one episode when the Pickers flew home), we went straight to the Olive Tree Cafe. Excellent Mediterranean food. When the food was placed in front of us, we dug in and I forgot to take a picture, except for this one.
Tuesday we headed back to Wisconsin for Chase to meet my sister Sherry and her family. Before we got to their house, we stopped at the Grumpy Troll in Mount Horeb to try some appetizers and a flight of their craft beer. We ordered a pretzel the size of a pizza, fried green beans, and the all time favorite, fried mac and cheese bites.
Mount Horeb, Wisconsin is know for their trolls. They are everywhere and if you believe in them, they come to life.
Here is a picture of some of the many trolls to be found in town.
And this is their house.
My sister also has a collection of trolls. These are the ones that are no longer in production. That cute little baby in the framed photo is NOT a troll.
My sister has many other dolls. We decided to show Chase her collection.
I remembered there was an ancient cemetery down the road from Sherry and Stuart's house. We decided to check it out.
There were a few names on the monument and then ended with "and many children". It was a little eerie to know they were all around us. I decided to lighten it up a bit and do the chicken dance.
Actually, I don't know what I am doing in the picture below.
Wednesday morning we went to the cheese store. We really had a great time there and bought all kinds of cheeses. Maggie and Chase sat on Cow Patty.
We then headed to Dubuque. Mike and I met while attending the University of Dubuque and we always like to drive through campus when we have the chance. Somebody donated tons of money and we hardly recognize it anymore.
We wanted to take Chase on the 4th street elevator but it was closed for repairs. We will have to do that some other time. We did find Jubeck New World Brewery.
You may be able to tell the beer flight holder is an actual airplane. The owner also graduated form the University of Dubuque. They have an aviation program at the school.
Thursday we went back to Mike's parents farm. Besides having Chase see the farm and hang out with Mike'a parents, we wanted him to experience the Sutliff Bridge and Tavern. There is a lot of history with both the bridge and tavern and a fun place to go with the best fried appetizers ever! One time we went in the winter and we were all excited to see it wasn't busy because there were no cars in the parking lot. When we walked in, it was packed full of people. We didn't understand until we looked out the side window and saw all the snowmobiles! People snowmobile up the Cedar River and stop at the tavern to have lunch and a beer. This was one of my Mom's favorite places and even had her 90th birthday party here. Dad's 90th was planned to be here too, but he died a few months before his birthday. The tavern encourages patrons to sign and staple dollar bills to the ceiling.
You can see that Maggie had been there years earlier. I have no idea where my bill is. I put mine up probably 30 years ago.
We ordered many fried appetizers.
Mac-n-Cheese Bites
Poppers
Two orders of Fried Dill Pickles
Cheese Balls
Cauliflower
Cheezers
After we ate, we headed out on the bridge. Mike tells the story about how he drove tractors and wagons of corn over the bridge and he would hope the boards, which popped up, would not break. His dad once got a combine stuck on the bridge.
The Bridge is on the National Registry of Historic Places and once had a movie with a scene on the Bridge http://www.mvlsun.com/article.php?viewID=149
This is a picture of Maggie and Chase after we ate. We ate so much, along with a couple of beers that we were all feeling miserably full, as you can tell from Maggie'a face.
There was a huge flood in 2008 where the river took park of the bridge downstream but it was rebuilt.
We headed home and thank goodness Mike drove because we all had to take a nap in the car. We had to prepare for another Bandits game Thursday night. The Bandit raccoon was very excited to have his picture taken with Chase and Maggie.
Friday it was back to LeClair Iowa for another stop at the Pickers and the distillery. Mike and I didn't want to go on the distillery tour again so we decided to go to the Buffalo Bill Museum. Bill Cody was from LeClair Iowa. The museum had tons of period pieces in it and we didn't have enough time to stop and look at everything but, we had a great time going through the steam boat.
Then off we were to the Green Tree Brewery for a flight and a beer. Then off we were back to Davenport to the Front Street Brewery. The picture below is Maggie trying a stout, which she didn't like.
We decided which beer we wanted to order and headed outside. This brewery is right next to the Mississippi river and we had a great time.
Chase likes to be silly in pictures.
We just had one day left together, Saturday. We were going to have a nice calm, relaxing day before Maggie and Chase drove back to Athens, Georgia on Sunday but then we remembered we wanted to go to the Rock Store, the Farmers Market and the Front Street Brewery Restaurant.
The Farmers Market had too many people and it was really hot so we didn't stay long. The restaurant didn't open for another half hour so we spent our time on the skywalk. We decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator because all of us had gained five pounds each from all the beer and cheese we had been eating.
We forgot to go to the rock store and Maggie was so disappointed. We will have to go the next time she is in town.
We had the best spinach artichoke dip and cheddar ale soup at the Front Street Brewery restaurant, and beer.
Saturday night we were able to relax with games of pool, ping pong, and darts.
Sunday morning, Fathers Day, Maggie and Chase headed home. Pete was very sad.
I was so sad and felt extremely lonely. Even though they wore me out, I miss them. One day I was so worn out I told them I needed a ten minute rest. Maggie grabbed my camera and caught this picture of me. We decided I look like a dog.
I was happy to go back to the farm to celebrate Father's Day with Larry. I had been walking in circles in the house after Maggie and Chase left so leaving was the best thing.
Janelle had a very nice lunch ready and the grilling was left up to Mike. It took three people to start the grill.
I have been busy and now I am exhausted.
Time to work on the house.
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