ROAD TRIP!!

Last Friday my brother David and sister-in-law, Marcia arrived.  They wanted to visit Beloit College and see where Lauren was doing all her 'book-learnin'.  So David, Marcia and I left Coralville Saturday morning for Beloit, WI.

Lauren gave them a little walking tour.  Here they are in front of Middle College.

Above, is the house that Lauren and, her next year roommate, Julia will be in next year.  They are pretty happy about the location.
We had a very nice visit with Lauren.  We spent most of Saturday in Janesville.  Had lunch at a Ground Round (not bad!), wandered through a consignment shop for an hour or so, wandered through the countryside and even stopped at a garage sale in the dinky town of Plymouth.
That evening, we took Lauren and her friend Zoe To a very nice restaurant in Beloit called Little Bistro.  It was quite good. We bid them farewell after supper.  They both had plans for the evening.  We headed back to our hotel in Janesville (for some reason, there were no rooms available in Beloit!).
The next morning we left for Coralville, after breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  Lauren chose to sleep-in instead of joining us.  She'll be done May 7!!!  Won't be long!!!
We took Wisconsin 11 home instead of the interstates.  So much more to see! The highlight had to be Gravity Hill in Shellsburg!.. We stopped  at the cheese shop in Shellsburg.  That's where they make Shellsburg Cheese.  The lady behind the counter asked us if we had been to Gravity Hill, we said 'no'.  She told us how to get there...drive down County Road U till you get between 2 hills.  Put the car in neutral and a magnetic force will pull the car backwards (there is a lead and zinc mine there)!  So we did, and it did!!! Highlight of the day!
We ate lunch in Coralville and then Dave and Marcia went home.  I got a few things done and packed and then left for Des Moines.   I spent the night with Dave and Marcia.  At 7 the next morning, their friend Kay arrived and we all piled in her Highlander and Dave drove  to Kansas City.  There, we did some major power shopping!
First stop was Nell Hill's in Briarwood. It is a fabulous shop of gee- gaws and knick- knacks, furniture and fabric.  All with a country French twist to it..fabulous and affordable.  Next, we went to Ja'Dore.  This also had a French feel to it, but smaller and lots more plants. Very nice. Next stop was Crate and Barrel! Got a fabulous quilted coverlet for my bed.  Last was Dean and Deluca  (fun to shop in but terribly expensive).
We were back in Des Moines in time for supper at Cool Basil, a great Asian restaurant.
I'll  post pictures tomorrow of my 'purchases'...