Hump Day Giveaway and Day 7

Hello friends

I'm back in the routine so much so I even got round to defrosting the freezer yesterday!

The door got left open when I was away so it was all very frosty,

(it's one of those messages you would rather not receive!) 

Also pleased to announce Hump Day Giveaway is back.

This week the giveaway is...

A pre-loved set of Make Mine Lemon Lime

A fun die set designed by Debi Adams.

Yana from the Spellbinders office has made this gorgeous project 

using this die set.

If you would like to win this pre-loved set please leave a comment on today's

post either on this blog or the Hope and Chances' blog here.

A winner will be picked out next week.

If you would like to purchase Make Mine Lemon Lime,

it is available new and pre-loved on the website here.

(Free postage!)

Day 7

I have lots (I really mean lots!) of photos to share with you today!

I'm in beautiful Iowa.

Kim and I left Tami's home after a breakfast of doughnuts and melon

(I call that perfectly balanced).  

Interestingly Tami puts salt on her melon...!?

First stop Winterset.  This town is famous due to it being John Wayne's birthplace.

We spent a few hours in the brilliant museum dedicated to his life and films.

I had not realised how many films he had starred in.

What stood out to me was that he was such a personable man,

there were copies of many letters he had handwritten to fans.

I also did not know that he was very tall...about 6' 3".

Had a custom built car at one point.

And this was his home.

Inside it has been fitted with furniture, appliances of that era.

I espied this original photo on the wall and thought it was wonderful,

look how small that pup is.

Just along from his birthplace is a 'Freedom Rock'.

These boulders are popping up all over Iowa, painted by Ray Sorensen II

as a thank you to veterans.  

"Painted with the ashes of the dead, a Freedom Rock is a living reminder of fallen warriors".

Incredible!

My head was buzzing as I left Winterset and Kim still had lots planned for the day.

Next stop... Bridges of Madison County - oh my goodness, a dream come true!

I first read this book in the early 90's and then was thrilled when 

Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep starred in the film adaptation in 1995.

If you haven't seen the film, you must!

There are a total of six covered bridges built in the 1800's.

The reason for them being covered is to protect the wooden struts in bad weather.

The woodwork inside.

Sadly Cedar Bridge has been badly damaged by fire.

By this time we were ready for lunch and we visited Northside Cafe,

the actual cafe featured in the movie.

My first experience of a Hot Beef Sandwich.

It is pulled meat placed on white sliced bread, mashed potato and gravy.

It is delicious!  Filling food served to farmers back in the day

(or today to a UK tourist who wants to try everything!)

And to add just a few more calories we went for Apple and Blueberry Crisp,

similar to a crumble but with oats and cereal on the top.

We were then heading back to Kim's home but not without one further stop,

a garden centre - Howells.

This was fascinating, it differed greatly from our garden centres.

A wonderful collection of dried flowers.

 

A 'tub' ride!

Another use for hay bales!

My first day in Iowa - it was jam packed and wonderful!

We arrived back at Kim's home late that evening, 

my room - country and perfect.

Zzzzzz!

And, as promised, I'm sharing with you the book that Kim gifted to me.

Here are my pages documenting John Wayne and the Bridges.

If you are still with me then thank you, I know it is a long blog post!

Stop by tomorrow - there's more and crafty stuff too.

Take care friends.