A special weekend in Iowa……

Marcy (and I) have been looking forward to this little road trip! Marcy’s employer sponsors an awards banquet in honor of its employees for accomplishing various milestones in their careers……Marcy has completed 15 years of service…..best part is it is an all expenses paid occasion, including the hotel, a huge banquet and beverages. My kind of trip! At any rate, it was a delightful weekend!

 

We left home on September 30, and leisurely made our way…..a little fall color showing up in Huron as we left…..

we were in Minnesota for a short time, not long enough or the right area for any really scenic stops, so I just took a couple pictures of pictures at the Minnesota Welcome rest area just East of Sioux Falls….

On to Iowa……crossed the border on Highway 86 …..

At the junction of Highway 86 and Highway 9 there ws a landmark gas station//general store……Marcy found a friend there…..

Vicks’ General store has been there for over 50 years and has quite an interesting history….I had a nice chat with the owner, an eccentric, but interesting person…..

The LAKE OKOBOJI AREA is nice, albeit it appears to be somewhat of a touristy area…..We took a short break…..

We stopped for the night at the WILD ROSE CASINO at Emmetsburg, Iowa….it’s a pretty new place,with nice accommodations….played the slots for a bit,no luck…..we did have a very nice supper…..

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Bright and early the next morning, we were on the road again for the next stop, the GROTTO OF THE REDEMPTION  at West Bend, Iowa…This is a special place for us, as Marcy’s Mother and Father, and her Aunt Rose and Uncle Fred used to visit here with us when they were still living…..click the above link to learn about it…….it is a very quiet place of solitude…..visit it if you have the opportunity……these pictures will give you some idea of the beauty and wonder of the place…..

 

 

 

Close ups of some of the stone work….Many colors are displayed….

 

View of the Church from atop the Grotto…..

Inside the church…..

Some fall colors along the sidewalk in front of the church

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We continued on to Ankeny, Iowa, and the corporate headquarters and distribution center for Casey’s General Stores……very impressive place!

 

Marcy under the corporate flag!

This sculpture in front of the building is modeled after a picture of the founders grandchildren and their dog at play…what a legacy!

A view out the second floor wall……

Marcy felt quite welcome!

The afternoon reception…..

Tour of the distribution center….busy place!

Back in the main wing, looking down at the artifacts display from the second floor….

The nerve center…..corporate and support offices……

After the grand tour, we continued on to Des Moines and the Embassy Suites…..

Now, the part we’ve all been waiting for! The Awards banquet…..and that means FOOD!

The ice sculpture was neat!

A beautiful setting, and lots of people!

Marcy and Rita, her Area Supervisor…..

Girls talkin’ business

Everyone  enjoyed a very delicious meal, including a scrumptious dessert! I got so engrossed in eating it that I forgot to take pictures….sorry…..(blush)

Marcy’s big moment! She is receiving her certificate and ring for 15 years of service from the President of the company! Congratulations!

There were well over 125 honorees…….and a very nice program…..

a last look at the City of Des Moines skyline…..

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And away we go again, headin’ for a visit with son James and Kris……Along the way, we stop and visit the FREEDOM ROCK just South of exit 86 on I-80.in Western Iowa….This is another very solemn place, and I did get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye as we viewed it…..click on the link for more info, but here’s our pictures…..this is another place that is a “must see” if you are in the area!

 

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We spent the rest of the weekend visiting with James and Kris in Omaha….Marcy and Kris decided to go shopping, so James and I visited the Bass Pro shop In Council Bluffs…..they spent way more than we did!

 

Sunday we headed for home, and stopped along the way in Sioux Falls to have a late dinner with Jared at the Texas Roadhouse……another delicious meal……OK, OK, OK…….I’ll go back on my diet now……..

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