Apr 12, 2011 - I Love Road Trips!

The settings for the two sculpture installations in downtown Omaha are not adjacent. The artists ( one for the wagon trains and one for the buffalo-geese) found a way to connect them by having the wagon train cause a stampede of a group of nearby bison that flushes a flock of geese from a nearby pond. Brilliantly executed! I was so happy that I got a chance to see "the rest of the story" this morning on my way to the Durham Museum. There are two wonderful museums in Omaha - The Durham and The Joslyn. I chose to visit the Durham for two...

Mar 27, 2010 - Library Time, Bridges of Madison County, and a Famous Birth Home

We as we said yesterday, Debi spent the better part of today in the Winterset Library, searching records. And that search paid off. She found the marriage record of her 3xGreat Grandfather's 2nd marriage, found cemetery records for a 3xGreat Grandmother, a 3x Step Great Grandmother, and not only military records for another 3xGreat Grandfather, but also records showing that he was one of the first families to settle in the Madison/Adair County area. Very Cool. But while Debi was spending all her time in the Library, Scott got to do some...

Jun 13, 2009 - The bridges of Madison County

I finished my work in Milwaukee on Friday 12 JUN 09. Jo Ann came back with me this past Monday for a planned vacation through northern Wisconsin, upper Michigan and a long overdue trip to VA. On Tuesday, I got a call for potential work in Phoenix, AZ. By Friday, I was committed to go to Phoenix to do an assessment, proposal and presentation. We'll be there for at least two weeks and the proposal could lead to work. Today, we left Milwaukee and travelled via Madison, WI, Dubuque, IA, Cedar Rapids, IA and Des Monies, IA to Winterset, IA....

Mar 9, 2009 - John Wayne

The humble birthplace of John Wayne - born Marion Robert Morrison - is in Winterset, just outside Des Moines, Iowa - we took a guided tour of the tiny 4 room house (conducted by a breathless lady of advanced years who commented how handsome and strong he was at regular intervals!).

Aug 15, 2007 - "The Bridges of Madison County"

(Ron Writing) Today we took a drive over to that famous town in Iowa, Winterset. What, you don't remember Winterset? That's where the most famous Iowan, Marion Robert Morrison (aka Duke, aka John Wayne), was born. It's also the setting for the movie and book "The Bridges of Madison County" starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. It's only about 50 miles or so from Pella where we are camped and was a very nice drive through hilly countryside with lots of trees and farm land. Those who think Iowa is all flat-land need to drive this part of...

Jun 2, 2007 - Winterset , Iowa

We drove in the rain in the states of Oklahoma , Wyoming , Montana , South Dakota and part of Iowa. Today we are leaving Des Moines , Iowa, in the RAIN . Got to Winterset , Iowa just down the road and the sun has just popped out and it is going to be a great day. Any day is a good day to be on vacaton. EVEN IN THE RAIN. Gary had told us that he would take us to see the home of John Wayne. When we were in Bartlesville , Oklahoma we wanted to go see Tom Mix Museum and it was RAINING , RAINING we did not go to see TOM. We got to the town of...

Apr 15, 2007 - Winterset, Iowa

Winterset 25 miles southwest of Des Moines is a small sleepy town. It has two calls for fame. Firstly a certain Marion Robert Morrison was born in Winterset. He grew up to become Hollywood hardman John Wayne. We visited his birthplace which also gave us a brief history of John Wayne's career. Secondly Winterset and the surrounding area was made famous by Robert Waller's, The Bridges of Madison County which was then made into a film in 1995, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. The film was filmed in and around Winterset. We therefore...