Last evening my sister and I went to the Meskwaki Casino for the “all you can eat’ steak buffet. Needless to say, we both ate ourselves into misery!!!
Just a wonderful display of food…too much food!
The Casino is on Meskwaki Indian land (referred to as the Meskwaki Settlement) in Tama, Iowa. The Meskwaki culture, historically found in the St Lawrence River Valley, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, is the mid-western “relative” of the Algonquians of the Eastern Woodlands.
After a 1701-1742 war against the French, they were called “Renards” (Fox) by the French and the French King decreed their complete extermination. Allied with the Sauk in 1735 to repel the encroachment of the Europeans both tribes were moved from Wisconsin to Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.
Although the Sauk and Meskwaki were separate tribal entities, they shared a similar language and culture. Consequently, the US Government treated the “Sac & Fox” as a single group. In 1832 they united under Chief Black Hawk and after the Black Hawk War lost their lands and were moved to a Kansas Government Reservation. Many remained hidden in Iowa and in 1856 the state of Iowa enacted a law allowing them to stay.
On July 13, 1857, Proclamation day, the Meskwaki purchased the first 80 acre tract in Tama County. Ten years later the formal identity became the Sac & Fox of Iowa. Theirs was a unique status since they were the land owners of the settlement, they were not residing on government lands.
Today their tribal lands include 8,000 acres in two counties. The 1,300 members of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa/Meskwaki is governed by a 7 member Tribal Council.
http://www.meskwaki.com/ Casino Website
http://www.meskwaki.org/ Tribal Website
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
A Visit From The Contractor
This AM my sister brought a contractor by to take a look at the RV -- I want to remove the carpeting in the bedroom/bathroom area and on the steps - it is just too difficult to keep clean with a dog, a cat, a parrot and a messy, lazy housekeeper! I also want the padded/upolstered valances removed in the kitchen area -- they absorb any and every smell coming from the kitchen and they are really hard to keep clean. I've asked him to figure some way to put up a shelf in place of the valance....I can always use a place to 'put stuff'!
I don't think I will ever understand carpeting and upolstered valances in an RV. Guess I'm lacking 'class' or something -- or maybe I'm just to sensible!!!!
Then it was off to Twin Anchors RV Service in Colo, IA -- just down the road about 20 miles -- to pick up my new sewer slinky. Couldn't find one when we were shopping in Des Moines last week -- so asked the RV service in Colo to order one.
Bea and I had lunch at the restaurant there at the Twin Anchors RV park -- really good open-faced steak sandwich -- they give way toooo many french fries! But the food is good and plenty of it and the service is great. I still haven't managed to save enough room to try their homemade pies yet -- one of these days!
My heart goes out to my Texas friends -- they are still suffering thru a long stretch of triple-digit days without rain. But I don't feel the least bit guilty setting here in Iowa with my 76 degree day and plenty of rain....would love to share it if someone would built a rain-pipe-line from central IA to TX!
I don't think I will ever understand carpeting and upolstered valances in an RV. Guess I'm lacking 'class' or something -- or maybe I'm just to sensible!!!!
Then it was off to Twin Anchors RV Service in Colo, IA -- just down the road about 20 miles -- to pick up my new sewer slinky. Couldn't find one when we were shopping in Des Moines last week -- so asked the RV service in Colo to order one.
Bea and I had lunch at the restaurant there at the Twin Anchors RV park -- really good open-faced steak sandwich -- they give way toooo many french fries! But the food is good and plenty of it and the service is great. I still haven't managed to save enough room to try their homemade pies yet -- one of these days!
My heart goes out to my Texas friends -- they are still suffering thru a long stretch of triple-digit days without rain. But I don't feel the least bit guilty setting here in Iowa with my 76 degree day and plenty of rain....would love to share it if someone would built a rain-pipe-line from central IA to TX!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Rain, Rain!
2.9 inches of rain in one hour yesterday afternoon! WET!
Found the leak in my slide -- must be in the sealing gasket on the back end of the slide! Wonder what that will cost to repair!
Went out this AM to see what was blown over or soggy -- we did get some bursts of 20-30mph winds yesterday afternoon/evening. I had 4 inches in my rain gauge.....so glad the creek is still running in the creek bed!
Found the leak in my slide -- must be in the sealing gasket on the back end of the slide! Wonder what that will cost to repair!
Went out this AM to see what was blown over or soggy -- we did get some bursts of 20-30mph winds yesterday afternoon/evening. I had 4 inches in my rain gauge.....so glad the creek is still running in the creek bed!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
MVPA Convoy
Thanks to Mary Gift, the owner, operator, chief supervisor of Shady Oaks Campground and coordinator and tour guide for The Big Treehouse for the pictures in the slide show to the right.
Mary, pictured near the Shady Oaks sign, was on hand to greet the convoy as it passed by -- complete with red, white and blue bunting, flags and windsocks the park was decorated for the occasion.
Mary, her daughter Judy, her grandson Mick and Mick's wife Liz make this place my comfortable Iowa home!
Mary, pictured near the Shady Oaks sign, was on hand to greet the convoy as it passed by -- complete with red, white and blue bunting, flags and windsocks the park was decorated for the occasion.
Mary, her daughter Judy, her grandson Mick and Mick's wife Liz make this place my comfortable Iowa home!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
HAPPY FREEDOM DAY!
Many of today’s planned outings will probably be moved inside or cancelled. A rainy day here in central Iowa – 64 degrees and a nice steady heavy drizzle or light rain –however you want to put it! Provides a good excuse for me to stay by the ‘puter and finish downloading, sorting, filing, figuring things out.
I’ve been busy this AM trying to recreate some things that were lost in the Big Computer Crash last week. I had thought it was sooooo wise to put everything on the computer and get rid of the paperwork – not a lot of room for filing cabinets in an RV – and, it might be the way to go – if I would just develop the habit of periodically downloading to my external hard drive – and obviously doing it every 3-4 months isn’t sufficient! Now I’m creating a ‘back up’ notebook to keep handy –“Just In Case!”
Yesterday Bea and I went into Des Moines to run some errands – mostly MY errands. First headed to RV supply places looking for some sewer and awning attachments – couldn’t find what I was looking for – will probably just go to the internet and order what I want.
Lunch at McDonald’s – how’s that for a big experience!
Then off to Best Buy to check for MS Office – just couldn’t find what I wanted on the ‘net’ – and I’m so accustomed to the MS Word that I decided to part with the bucks and get the program. Managed to save some cash -- I had found an old Best Buy gift card when I was moving out of the house – that’s been a couple of years ago and the purse I found it in was older than that! I was sure there wasn’t anything left on the card – Bea also had on older card – so between her card and my card, the total cash outlay for me for the program was $40.78!! We had $118 in old gift cards…can’t beat a deal like that!
Out Best Buy’s door and into Michael’s to check for baskets. Li’lBit had ruined her ‘napping basket’ that sets in the kitchen – Another sale – another purchase.
Off to the dress shop to look for some tops. Another sale – two blouses and a pair of jeans! Had a rebate visa card from Alltel – chopped the cash outlay down on that purchase.
Stopped at Baker’s Square for pie and coffee. I had the caramel pecan silk supreme –layers of caramel pecan, cream cheese, some other totally decadent layers, drizzled with chocolate and caramel! Probably should have bought those jeans AFTER the pie!
Made a few more stops for odds and end – then headed back to Marshalltown. Decided to stop for supper before going home – pizza at Mama DiGrado’s http://mamadigrados.com/ Now I know those jeans aren’t going to fit!
Hope you all have a super Safe and Happy Fourth of July!
I’ve been busy this AM trying to recreate some things that were lost in the Big Computer Crash last week. I had thought it was sooooo wise to put everything on the computer and get rid of the paperwork – not a lot of room for filing cabinets in an RV – and, it might be the way to go – if I would just develop the habit of periodically downloading to my external hard drive – and obviously doing it every 3-4 months isn’t sufficient! Now I’m creating a ‘back up’ notebook to keep handy –“Just In Case!”
Yesterday Bea and I went into Des Moines to run some errands – mostly MY errands. First headed to RV supply places looking for some sewer and awning attachments – couldn’t find what I was looking for – will probably just go to the internet and order what I want.
Lunch at McDonald’s – how’s that for a big experience!
Then off to Best Buy to check for MS Office – just couldn’t find what I wanted on the ‘net’ – and I’m so accustomed to the MS Word that I decided to part with the bucks and get the program. Managed to save some cash -- I had found an old Best Buy gift card when I was moving out of the house – that’s been a couple of years ago and the purse I found it in was older than that! I was sure there wasn’t anything left on the card – Bea also had on older card – so between her card and my card, the total cash outlay for me for the program was $40.78!! We had $118 in old gift cards…can’t beat a deal like that!
Out Best Buy’s door and into Michael’s to check for baskets. Li’lBit had ruined her ‘napping basket’ that sets in the kitchen – Another sale – another purchase.
Off to the dress shop to look for some tops. Another sale – two blouses and a pair of jeans! Had a rebate visa card from Alltel – chopped the cash outlay down on that purchase.
Stopped at Baker’s Square for pie and coffee. I had the caramel pecan silk supreme –layers of caramel pecan, cream cheese, some other totally decadent layers, drizzled with chocolate and caramel! Probably should have bought those jeans AFTER the pie!
Made a few more stops for odds and end – then headed back to Marshalltown. Decided to stop for supper before going home – pizza at Mama DiGrado’s http://mamadigrados.com/ Now I know those jeans aren’t going to fit!
Hope you all have a super Safe and Happy Fourth of July!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Computer Up and Running
New computer up and running -- couldn't save anything from the old one! They couldn't even get it to come on to TRY to pull from the hard drive.
I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Alltel having them walk me thru downloading my USB AirCard to this new 64 bit computer program that obviously wasn't directly compatible with the older card -- so now I'm on line I'll try to find as much on line to download as I can -- can't find my original CDs! GEEZ!
The Outlook Express mail program was on the computer -- finally got the gmail set up -- took forever to download my gmail to the mail program -- forgot I hadn't gone to GMail to delete the stuff and it doesn't go away until I delete it -- downloaded over 1000 emails!! What a waste! How dumb!
I have found my little programs -- my desktop calendar, the PrintKey and my EMail cleaner program. Just finish downloading adobe acrobat reader and the drivers and program for my printer.
Still can't find my MS Office CD. Until I do, I would like to find some program compatible with MS Office (Word and PowerPoint are about all I use.) I did download a PP viewer so I can look at powerpoints when I get them in email. No sound - just a viewer, but it was free!
I'm going to be more careful about where I put my CDs!!! How can I lose stuff in an RV -- I know all of my download discs are here somewhere but for the life of me cannot find them. When I do, they will ALL go into my computer bag to keep stuff together!
I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Alltel having them walk me thru downloading my USB AirCard to this new 64 bit computer program that obviously wasn't directly compatible with the older card -- so now I'm on line I'll try to find as much on line to download as I can -- can't find my original CDs! GEEZ!
The Outlook Express mail program was on the computer -- finally got the gmail set up -- took forever to download my gmail to the mail program -- forgot I hadn't gone to GMail to delete the stuff and it doesn't go away until I delete it -- downloaded over 1000 emails!! What a waste! How dumb!
I have found my little programs -- my desktop calendar, the PrintKey and my EMail cleaner program. Just finish downloading adobe acrobat reader and the drivers and program for my printer.
Still can't find my MS Office CD. Until I do, I would like to find some program compatible with MS Office (Word and PowerPoint are about all I use.) I did download a PP viewer so I can look at powerpoints when I get them in email. No sound - just a viewer, but it was free!
I'm going to be more careful about where I put my CDs!!! How can I lose stuff in an RV -- I know all of my download discs are here somewhere but for the life of me cannot find them. When I do, they will ALL go into my computer bag to keep stuff together!
The Eye Improves!
The eye appointment with Wolfe Clinic today went really good (I think!) -- Pressure still up some in the right eye -- BUT -- he used the term "more quiet" regarding the infection and the irritation with the eye. You can see from the pics he took last time and today that the border of the scar tissue on the upper edge is slightly less -- not a lot -- but it is a noticable difference.
I told my sister one day last week I thought I was able to see movement more clearly on the top part of my eye -- and maybe I did -- maybe there is a difference with the scar tissue reduction in that corner.
The doc mentioned going back to VA and I told him since I couldn't get the drops he ordered thru VA -- and that I was planning on being here nearly 6 months every summer, could I transfer my care up here to this clinic and he said YES!!! YIPPEE!! I go see him again in September.
I told my sister one day last week I thought I was able to see movement more clearly on the top part of my eye -- and maybe I did -- maybe there is a difference with the scar tissue reduction in that corner.
The doc mentioned going back to VA and I told him since I couldn't get the drops he ordered thru VA -- and that I was planning on being here nearly 6 months every summer, could I transfer my care up here to this clinic and he said YES!!! YIPPEE!! I go see him again in September.
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