Iowa.........

This is the painting 'Iowa Cornfield' by artist Grant Wood. It was painted in 1943.

Well, I am now in Iowa! Wow! I arrived here on this past Saturday. I cannot believe how much this trip has helped my state of mind already! My niece, Katie, and her children, Alix Joy and Jaden, have worked wonders on my mood! Just being here where my surroundings are different and enjoying new things with them has been such a great blessing!

On Sunday afternoon, we went to the local Children's Theater and saw a production of Snow White! It was absolutely fabulous! If you ever visit Mason City, IA, I highly recommend that you visit the Stebens Children's Theater. The young people are so talented. It is an afternoon of pure delight to behold!

After the play, we went to a local Chinese restaurant, Hunan, for dinner. The food was excellent; the atmosphere was friendly and inviting and the company was without compare! We all ate TOO much and had to take a walk around the mall before we could go for dessert! The little mall was so quaint. I found a wonderful country shop I absolutely MUST visit before leaving Mason City! I cannot wait to go in there and browse all their lovely offerings! The kids found every available ride-me-for-a-quarter thingie in the mall and of course, Aunt Di let them ride!

This is the painting 'American Gothic', also by artist Grant Wood. Painted in 1930.


After settling our dinner, we went for ice cream at a local soda fountain, Birdsall's. It was set up like an old fashioned soda fountain, with the stools at the counter and the young man and young lady waiting on customers and making our treats as we watched. I swear, watching them put it all together was half the fun! Of course, the kid's favorite was spinning around on the stools! Made me dizzy just watching!!! But, then again, I'm an old person! I surely don't feel old today though. It's amazing what a little mood lift can do for you!

You would think that would have been enough excitement for one day, but then my niece took me for a driving tour of their town by night. This is the most exquisite little town I have seen in some time! The architecture is amazing; everything from an old building in downtown that has a very definite French flavor, very New Orleans, to an old hotel that is being restored that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright! They have The Music Man square, which I cannot wait to visit in the day light, and beautiful cobblestone styled sidewalks! There is a great park right in the middle of downtown that was just picturesque even at night!

This is a picture of the completed Park Inn Hotel in Mason City. The hotel was desinged by Frank Lloyd Wright.

We then came home to settle in and get the kid's baths. Today was a school day, but my niece is off work on Mondays, so we're going out again in a bit. Even going grocery shopping sounds like fun to me now! I think it's just the company! It's been a long time since I was able to spend any real time with Katie and I'm lovin every single minute of it!

Well, gotta run now. Time to go shopping and exploring! Can't wait to see what we'll run up on today! I'll post later in the week about more adventures. Hope you're all having a wonderful week. God has been so good to me to allow me this time of healing. I am grateful beyond words.