Friday, April 17, 2009

CEDAR FALLS CONTINUED

How's THIS for a camping spot!? Denny and Karen's awesome back yard on 11 acres.
Bella just loves it. Lots of safe freedom!

Bella and Anniebelle scope out the territory.


Breezey is happy to be wandering around in the sunshine.

The Mill's beautiful backyard.

Looking from the backyard to the house, and our RV.

Oaks and other hardwoods on their beautiful acreage.

Looking up through the grove.


Denny pointing out landmarks to Paul.

Bella is MORE than happy, she's ecstatic!

Looking at the neighboring cornfield. (beans will be planted this year)

Bella scopes out the corn field.


The Mill's cool cupola.


What a place to camp!

Denny's hand made (by him) concrete drive.


Bella likes running on the concrete.

Front of the Mill's house.


The neighbors. :) Denny says the lights dissapear as the corn grows tall.

Denny counts rings on a large old tree that had to be cut down.
Many thanks to Denny and Karen for such a wonderful visit.
We were also treated to a GREAT tour of the John Deere factory where Denny worked for many years. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed. I must say, we got an especially super tour riding with Denny beside us!

BARN HAPPY

Fun and unique items for sale on consignment at "Barn Happy". It is a really wonderful old converted barn with lots of Iowa farm goods for sale, and consignment items outside and upstairs as well.
I remember Mom using one of these.


Barn Happy siloh and entrance. They have homemade light meals, pies and cakes, and gourmet coffee. mmmmmmm.
Top of a barn cupola, very ornate.


Glad I'm not using these for laundry!
I could browse through the wonderful old farmy stuff for hours.

CEDAR FALLS IOWA WITH DENNY AND KAREN MILLS



Very cool light reflective sculpture over a set of stairs at University of Northern Iowa.

Colored powders are the media the Monks use for making a beautiful (tho disposable) work of art.


Here the Tibetan Monks create a masterpiece.
Closer pic of the sculpture: seemingly glass or plexi sandwiching beautiful reflective bits of material that have a prismatic effect. The colors were like that of a rainbow, tho my pix didn't show the reds well.



Denny and Paul at UNI
Denny and Paul bring up the picnic table (with some help from Annie and Bella)

KELDERMAN'S LODGE

Four whitetails checking us out on Kelderman's lodge property.

Oh, to die for, simply to die for. Gary and Jeri's lodge is a luxurious log home set on 1000 acres of prime property.
Welcoming entrance.



Beautifully designed kitchen/dining area.



Living area with big screen TV, moose motif furniture.




I just wanted to unpack the truck and move in!!



Jeri really has a great sense of interior design.



Bedroom with a view to the deck, fields and hardwoods beyond.




Gary gave us a fun tour of a small portion of the 1000 acres on his Ranger quad. Although the grass is still a bit brown and the trees are barely beginning to bud: the land simply knocked our socks off with it's natural beauty.



I was imagining myself on horseback....



Just gorgeous, and tons of wildlife.





Each pond has it's own Canada goose family, and often other waterfowl as well.



Kelderman's Dodge truck with Gary's innovative hydraulic bed on the back.



He easily lowered the Ranger to the ground.




Jeri and Paul


KELDERMAN'S IN IOWA

Mom goose in the pond just a few feet from where our truck was parked at Kelderman's. She was really quite tolerant of us.
Dad goose keeps a wary eye on us.

Mom and Dad goose at Kelderman's pond.


Kelderman's amazing facility. Photos don't do it justice, I need an aerial shot!



An amazing, high tech fabrication center.




Great spot to park our rig, 30amp service there now, great cement patio pad and water soon to come! Perfect hospitality.

The Kelderman's property and fabrication facility were stunning. We were awestruck. Gary and Jeri treated us like royalty and family, all rolled up in one.