More Hometown Memories

Being back in my growing up hometown brings back so many memories - especially those of all the good times. Sort of looking back at the good ole days, which were not really so good at all!! But it was a fun time, a time for growing and maturing, not really knowing what great plans the Lord had for me! Jeremiah 29:11.

the cafe my parents owned at one time and where I learned to peel potatoes!

the bandstand where locals played every Friday night (the only night the stores were open late)

a sweet little "strawberry lady", at Strawberry Days, a local celebration

My Sister-in-law Dorothy (we call her Sis) always seems to find neat and out of the way places and things for us to do while we are in Wisconsin. She found this quaint little coffe shop that specialized in maple syrup grilled cheese sandwiches. Yep - sounds strange, but it is wonderful - a toasted cheese sandwich glazed with maple syrup!! Of course, the cheese came from one of the local cheese factories.

We also toured Hearthstone, a palatial home in Appleton, WI, which was the very first home in the world to be lit by hydro-electric power. tTe home itself was a manson, to say the very least. Mr. Rogers, the owner had it built to be a showplace for his wife. And a showplace it truly was. He was part owner of a paper mill in that city which was lit by hydo-electric (because it is on the Fox River) and had copper piping run from the mill to his home - a great show of wealth at the time. But God does warn us about storing up treasures on earth, that we should be concerned about storing up our wealth in heaven.

the history of hearthstone

a small section of the home

since there were no patio  doors, a person just opened the upstairs windows and stepped out onto the balconey

The weather was very hot at times, very humid, and rainy. You could even hear the corn growing from all the wonderful growing weather. We took a couple of pictures of a cornfield two days apart - the results were amazing. God seems to know just the best way to porduce crops - so much more than we can predict.

Dorothy and "Bud"

                                           Dorothy and Bud two days later - the corn has grown!

The last of the big celebrations was the family reunion, held in a near-by town, with a swimming pool for the kids. I remember years ago when the men played baseball - now we are all too "mature" to do that!! A lot of the family members showed up, with great food, of course. We had a white elephant auction - you bid on items wrapped in newspaper and never know what you are going to get. It was lots of fun, especially when we wound up with a Pizza Pizzazz - a pizza cooker our daughter brought!!!! Families are so important - the knowledge that there are those you can depend on, and who will love you regardless. Our Heavenly Father is so much like that - He is always there for us, we can always depend on Him to never leave us, always watching over us. All He asks is that we believe in Him.  

In the land of beautiful lakes and woods, this last picture really needs no explaination  -

 camping anyone?