ILLINOIS AND INDIANA FAMILIES!

Myself, Jodie, Andrew, Inessa, Chris, Ty!

Emily and Nana sewing! Project Runway

 

 

ILLINOIS: This part of the journey took us to visit family in Illinois and Indiana!  Our daughter, Jodie, husband Drew, and their two daughters Megan and Emily live in Vernon Hills. We landed in the middle of a school week and observed homework and school activities... brought back memories! Nana Janet and Emily ended up starting a sewing project, which began with purchasing the fabric and cutting it out. They had some laughs, but worked hard and Emily learned more about pattern pieces and layout. We wished that we had more time! Megan was extra busy with cheer- leading and homework, since she is now a freshman. We spent one evening with son Chris, his wife Inessa, and our nephew Andrew at a restaurant! Quality time! It was a fun three days!!!

John & Sharon with us!

nice campsite in friends barn lot near 

                                    bean field

good ole Illinois beans  (tofu)

Cousin Julie, Aunt Marie, Jennifer

                                                                                                      Ed in the back and me!

Jr. Vice Commander and Chaplain

                                                                                                     Ed..... American Legion Member

did someone say patriotic parade? I'm on my way!

21st century farm

newest great niece, Berlyn Rae Rewerts!

 

 

A proud member!

We then proceeded onto Wyoming, IL. to see brother Ed and friends and more family. The first night we saw Janet's former high school friend Sharon O'Neil and went out to eat with her and her husband and Sharon's sister Linda and her husband. We had lots of laughs! The next day we parked at Janet's cousin's Barb and Dick's home. Spent most of the day with Ed and ended up cleaning up Mom and Dad's grave sites. We spent most of the day sitting on the town bench with Ed watching everyone go by. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the local cafe owned by Janet's cousin's wife, Susie. Monday we attended the Labor Day Parade where Ed marched in the parade with the American Legion. He recently took his oaths for Junior Vice Commander and also for Chaplain again this year! Ed looked so proud and carried the 40&8 flag and wore the hat designating the 40&8! It was special to see him marching! We knew he was in pain with his knee, but wanted to march for us! We also were able to catch Carolyn, a very good friend, and visit at her home!

Stearman fly in, Galesburg, IL

 

Tom, Mom, Ty

Aunt Roberta, Aunt Gwen, Mom

                                                                                                       90 yrs. old!

Coney Island  Galesburg

 

 

 

 damn, when did they raise this to 15 cents...anyone have a nickel?

Galesburg: We left Wyoming for Galesburg to visit with Ty's Mother and her sister Roberta and also Tom, Bec, Ron, and Mary. We also were able to see Cherri, Ty's cousin and Aunt Gwen and Uncle Glenn! So fortunate to have the time together and laugh some and catch up on family news. It is always difficult to leave Mom Peck, who is 88 years old. She still gets around just as much as ever though and exercises too!

We apologize for not getting every one's pictures while home! We never caught up with our cheerleader Granddaughter Megan for one!

Ginger Lowe, Janet's relation

                                                                                                  Veteran of W.W.II   Navy

Ginger, myself, cousin Matt,

                                            Ginger is 92 yrs. young!

INDIANA: Janet has relation in Charlestown; her Mother's family! Anne was her Mother's cousin but is deceased. We visited with her husband, Ginger and her son, Matt who lives with him. We had a wonderful and interesting visit. Matt told us that people in Indiana still plant by the Farmer's Almanac. I remember Uncle Irv, who was their relation, would read the Farmer's Almanac and very much believed its knowledge about the stars, moon, and earth; when to plant and not to plant. Ginger showed us several walnut trees on his property and said if he buried a walnut in the ground that no walnut tree would come up, but if a squirrel plants a walnut..... a tree would grow !!! They are very interested in the geology of the area and have collected several rocks and artifacts and fossils. We read an article in this area about how the glaciers had carved the Great Lakes and had ended in this area which left the rocks and fossils prevalent! They collect rocks and any fossils they find! Ginger makes envelope openers from wood and puts a gem on them for decoration.

We learned that Ginger spent 6 years in the Navy during the 40s, W.W.II.  He served as a chief electrician on several ships in the North and South Pacific, including the USS Colorado. Thanks Ginger for your part in serving our country and we do appreciate our freedom!

Covered Bridges! Silver won't cross, maybe we should get blinders!

note the top fin

???????????

The Covered Bridges of Indiana were beautiful and fascinating!  They are a great place to get out of a rain storm and they keep horses from being spooked crossing a stream they can see.  Not a bad place to sneak a kiss with one's girlfriend either!!   Most were built in the late 1800's and early 1900's and are still used by the local farmers. Pure Americana!!



Poem by Janet after a visit to the cemetery where Charles Peck rests (Dad and Grandad)

We stand in the hot, moist heat of the August sun,
 basking in the memories of you at your final resting place.
The feelings, oh such deep emotions flow through each
 one of us as we remember... you who we loved!

We know you're not really there in the ground, but
  we know you walk beside your Lord.
We also know that your life, your smile, your warmth
 lies within each of our hearts, our souls.....
 in each layer of our years.


 wrapped in your love and a
 glowing warmth overcomes us.
We remember the joy in your heart
 for your family.
We remember your pride and love shown
 in your smile, your demeanor.

Your life to all was quite the example....
 your love for God, your respect for others,
 your unselfish, devoted heart for us all...
 your unconditional love.....
 your stance for what was right and what was wrong.

The sun rays bring you to us
 brighter than ever....
 as we stand in the reflection of your life.
The gentle, warm breeze blows you closer.
We feel wrapped in a blanket of your love.

Your Great Grandchildren and all who grow
 from this circle of love.....
 will know you from the love that burns in our
 souls and in each beat of our hearts.
Come with us now on just another day....
 hold our hand in the garden of life
 and do what you always did best,
 silently lead.

Lead us to the truth of our lives and
 one day we will, hopefully, stand
 by your side.
We just can't say enough about our
 Dad, Granddad, and friend!


Sign    Talk is cheap cause the supply is greater than the demand!

Funny:   We have a net laundry bag with holes in it the size of a toe.  Well it got both of us within 24 hours of each other.  Janet caught her toe in it and about went to the floor then I did the same thing, to think the little toe could bring a person down!

MINESOTA LAKES.. WISCONSIN CHEESE.... MICHIGAN PEOPLE

The Mississippi Headwaters!

Walking in the Miss.

 

 

 

MISSISSIPPI HEADWATERS:
Wow, this was an experience to see the origins of the ole' Miss....especially since we had seen the Louisiana mouth of the river last February!   Growing up in IL. had us near and experiencing this great river many times. Our church even helped a family clean up after the big flood, which showed us how violent this mostly tranquil body of water can get.  A family at the origin was even floating toy rafts they had built and walking in the river where it is twelve feet wide.

local junk man

block after block of flowers

Lake Superior

 Lake Michigan

 

 

 The red rust thing is so large it held a train of ore cars. One operator thought his 98 car length train was 96 and he sent the last two off the end of  this thing.   Looking for a new job.

 

Minnesota was a pretty neat state with tiny towns, cranberry and wild rice fields and then the giant Lake Superior! The 7 foot high markers attached to fire hydrants was an indication they must get some snow here, for sure. A harbor cruise at Duluth took us past the many ship loading facilities that demonstrated the vast network of ore and grain moving ships this lake supports.  I forgot from 5th grade social studies how important these lakes are and how powerful the glaciers were that formed them. It's easy to forget one is not looking at an ocean!

Wisconsin, of course, is the home of cheese and breweries, along with that wonderful accent of the people. The smoked lake trout was a first for us also!  

Architecture borrowed from Boston

Copper mine

this drum wound the cable that lowered the workers down into the mine or brought up ore

workers sat in the bleacher looking thing on the right then got lowered down a mile or two

 

Pasty

 

Two peninsulas far north in Michigan took us to light houses, more of the Great Lakes and the copper town of Copper Harbour. This area was huge in mining in the 1800's. A whole town of Calumet sprang up with lots of Boston money being invested in it.  Even Harvard had an influence and according to one fellow.... the high school has a statue of Aristotle in the library because of it.
A national park has been established to preserve the mines and town, a demonstration of the park system supporting history as well as natural wonders. 
A preserved mine with the above ground system was fascinating.  The Industrial period at its best!  These guys worked 12 hour shifts.  A video showed  them loading on a miner carrier before the shift and how quickly they got off the damn thing at the end of the shift, a "get me the hell out of here attitude".  They carried Pasty sandwiches to eat which are a product of England..... many immigrants involved......it was a pie loaded with rutabaga, pork, beef, and onion.  One filled me up for sure! 

This state has so many fruit orchards and fields, blueberries, cherries, apples, pear and peach.  Great jams and cherry juice concentrate. 

note the curve at the top

I did several miles on a mountain bike trail here rated as one of seven in its class in the world by the International Mountain Biking Association.  The system was rated the same as ski runs with colored diamonds.  I got on one I shouldn't have been on and ended up over the handle bars, but wore my scratches around like badges. What an idiot!  Living on the edge again! 
Teddy Roosevelt said that wilderness is a tonic!


Thoughts by Janet: I have numerous thoughts about my roommate, particularly his recklessness and carelessness for his age, but I won't bother you with those!!! I do believe that Ty has had enough tonic!!!

Other Thoughts:
As you might recall in the last blog, I spoke of an elderly Native American lady of the Salish tribe who is an artist in bead work. While speaking with her, I found myself lost in her eyes....the way they glistened. I instantly felt that I connected with her. As I had mentioned in the last blog, she did remind me of our Mother. She spoke with her hands in a very gentle voice and her eyes just sparkled. Her way just reminded me of our Mother. Her spirit had such an impact upon me!
 It has been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul.
We had visited a lighthouse during the past week....the Eagle Harbor Light Station in Eagle Harbor, MI. We learned about lighthouses and have seen others in the past. We are always awe struck  by their simpleness and beauty and more so their purpose.
 The visit to the lighthouse made me think of Karen Kopi, the Indian lady. She had a real striking light to her eyes and to her spirit. I wondered then what her soul had experienced over the years. What was the beacon or guide in her life?  I then was reminded of the Native Americans belief of mankind's existence coming from the center of the earth and of their grand reverence for wildlife and mankind and the earth itself. Don't we all have a source of power we draw from, a beacon as such?
 our bodies.....our homes    our spirits..... our light

Michigan preview of coming fall attractions!

 

This Lighthouse of Mine

"This little light of mine,
I'm going to let it shine!"
A powerful light from a radiant source....
 from our soul, our earth, our God...
 or all of the above!
It can radiate warmth from within,
brilliantly beaming like the sun!

So powerful this light can be!
It can light the way, guide the way,
 find the way......
it can prevent a shipwreck along the way
by warning of an oncoming storm!

 a potent light which gives us
 solace all through the day!

What a force, so splendid,
what a natural source within!
It is part of us, this wonder!

I sang this song, "This Little Light is Mine" to Mom in her last hour with us. It is a special song from Sunday school and is still special to Jane and I. Our Mother had shown her light to us our entire lives and we are thankful to this day for her gift of sharing her wisdom and light!







Funny:   I have wrestled a loose license plate on the front of Silver and it finally fell of in a campground. I heard a noise flapping and stopped to find the plate under Silver.  I picked it up, continued on and heard more tire noises.  Found the two screws holding the plate on in the tire clicking.  Roadside service took care of it and it gave other campers something to talk about.

Wildlife that we had wished we had seen:
I have looked for a moose for months along the road at every pond, bog,etc. Well here he is... in a toy store of all places!hahaha!

We walked into a small shop in Copper Harbor and the shop keeper was in the back but this dog was sitting on a stool at the register.  It looked so much like the dog was running the place I laughed out loud.

People
The Michigan people I found to be very tough, outdoor people through and through.  They are so used to cold weather, snow, that weather does not stop them.  At a campground one eve they all had  roaring campfires going and it started pouring rain.  When it stopped the fires were out and I headed for the showers.  When I came out low and behold they had all the fires roaring again.  How I asked??? Wet wood, magic?  The children even biked in the rain, nothing stops these people!!!!!!!

At the beginning of this trip last Nov we both hit our heads on the cabinets regularly.  We finally learned.  Then this week we both hit the same cabinet within 24 hours.  Silver reminding us of who is in control of this trip.......getting our attention maybe!!