Frontier Days, Fort Dodge, IA

Wahoo!!! Frontier Days is an annual celebration of Fort Dodge. All kinds of stuff going on here, with music, a Lone Ranger Impersonator (no Tonto) on Silver, Lots of vendors selling everything from fake dreamcatchers to snakeskin belts to skunk hats--kind of like Davy Crockett's coonskin cap but black and white. And this interesting covered wagon with this frontier doggy riding shotgun.

Oh and thay had an old tyme speling bea, too. Alec Pendry and I participated on Saturday, and each of us got a ribbon--he an honorable mention, and I earned a second place finish. I missed 'proselyte', and I missed it badly. It was somewhat uncomfortable standing up and trying to visualize the spelling of a given word, and then vocalizing it correctly. Hadn't done this since 6th grade!!! It was kinda fun, in a weird sort of way.

Now where can I hang this ribbon in the RV?

Gowrie and Fort Dodge, IA

Erin getting ready to make her move as Mason and Jaiden look on

We have been in the Gowrie and Fort Dodge area for a couple of weeks now. We had been in Washington visiting daughter Heather's Family. Had a great time there.

We have managed to play a few games of Catan with Erin and the kids. I think Erin is hooked more on the game than I am! And Jaiden loves it too. Good players all.

We also have seen some soccer games, and music programs, and a couple of funerals too. We squeezed a few days in at Minneapolis, seeing daughter Jenn's family.

We took Mason and Ethan to Kung Fu Panda II in 3D. Wow, this movie was beautiful. The 3D effects at times were amazing, but the Chinese landscapes and architecture was jaw dropping!

We are staying at friend's Alec and Charlton Pendry's RV spot Alec fixed up for us. It has been great to catch up with them too. The weather has been soooo different than what we had in AZ. Clouds!!! Rain!!! Humidity!!!! yuk.

Marilyn is to my right

I did get to go to an art teacher retirement deal this week at Olde Boston's downtown Fort Dodge. Marilyn Olivari from Rockwell City was celebrating her 'freedom'. She had taken my position at Fair Oaks Middle School five years ago. She looked great and was truly excited about retirement. I am amazed I have been out of work for 5 years!