ROAD TRIP CONTINUES!!

I love when you can find something different and exciting on a road trip!  We drove into the little town of Weston, MO--heard a lot about this town from sister-in-law--we walked Main Street, poked into some of the antique shops, had a malt at the soda fountain and had some tastings at McCormick Distilling Company--I have never seen so many flavored vodkas in my life!  But, they also have a nice whiskey too

 

 

And then there was this shop--Polish Pottery Shop--there was no way I could pass this colorful shop by without buying something! 
After an overnight stay in St. Joseph, Missouri to visit with family, we headed north through Iowa.  Can't say I've spent much time in Iowa, but there are some very interesting things in each state, if you just know where to look for them.  Here we come across Amana Colonies-- seven villages off the beaten path of I-80

In Amana proper, we had to stop at Amana Woolen Mill--I'm in heaven anytime I see the word MILL.

Warping threads beamed onto the loom

One of their looms shown with yards of woven cloth

I like to see the tensioner on the right keeping the cloth at the proper width

A warping reel on the right with yards of thread ready to be measured

Whoa!  yards and yards of finished cloth just waiting for the right customer

And any shade of wool on the bobbins ready for the shuttle--fun stop! Since we are in Iowa why not stop at another Presidential Library and Museum?

Herbert Hoover, President during the Great Depression

In this small Iowa town comes this big presidential museum loaded with information about lifestyles in the 1920's.  While we were visiting there was several busloads of school children waiting for their turn to walk through the galleries--wonder what knowledge they took away?

I really liked these photos of Hoover as he grew up

Mrs. Hoover encouraged women to learn the art of lace making

Samples of bobbin lace making and a sample of table cloth that was made by lace makers during 1920's. 

Our trip continued across Iowa into Wisconsin where we spent the night in Madison--this was a diverse from a regular trip--just to say we spent time in Wisconsin--onward we go--a short drive across Illinois (Chicago area), along the lake, into Michigan--missed Detroit so went across the state to cross into Canada at Port Huron.  Our first night in Canada we stayed in London--Okay, we must rest before we hit our next stop..........................

Niagara Falls!!  This is the view from our hotel room of the horseshoe falls and the casino that sits right at the edge of the falls

Off to the north is the other falls of Niagara--what a beautiful sight!  I could sit there all day long just watching the water flow over the falls!

When in the area, we must visit the ice wine makers of Niagara-on-the-Lake--sample, sample, sample!

Niagara at night

Niagara Falls at sunset

Niagara Falls at sunrise---