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Mason City Honda located in Mason City

Mason City Honda located in Mason City, Iowa

I purchased a new 2016 Pioneer 1000 from Mason City Honda. The salesman was very knowledgeable and friendly. About one week after my purchase, I received one dozen artisan gourmet chocolate chip cookies, including a Thank You note.

My pioneer 1000 has a dump lever for the box in the back of it. I filled up the box with tree branches and pulled up the dump lever, and out went all of the components right into my burn pile. The Pioneer 1000 makes picking up tree branches a breeze. I have also hauled water in the box for watering trees. I have carried bags of dirt to fill up holes in my yard. I use it to check on the fields, and one can put small rocks in the back that you find in your areas.

I also used my Pioneer 1000 in the winter to pick up my mail when it was very icy. I added a windshield and a back window to my pioneer 1000, making moving around much warmer, especially in the winter. Later, II added two full-size doors that help keep the wind out.

This year I added a snowblade to my Pioneer 1000. The edge will make it easy to get out of my garage this winter. I will not have to shovel as much snow by hand anymore. I control all of the levers on the blade inside of the cab. The operation of the edge is controlled by push buttons, making it very easy to maneuver the knife. I also had side view mirrors and a windshield wiper added on. When the snow hits the windshield, I only have to push a button, and the wipers come on, and I press another button for the wiper fluid.

All of the employees at Mason City Honda are very friendly and accommodating. When I need an oil change or accessories added on, they pick up my Pioneer and bring it back to me as soon as they are done.

My Pioneer 1000 is a fun and handy item to accomplish many tasks quickly and safely. The Pioneer 1000 is easy to operate, and I love it.

Copyright 2019. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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Patriot Wings Restaurant next To The Airport In Mason City

Patriot Wings Restaurant Next To The Airport In Mason City, Iowa

My friend and I ate at Patriot Wings Restaurant recently and were very impressed with our food. There is a beautiful Mexican Restaurant there now that opened in 2021. I love how the restaurant was decorated for the Fall season. The surroundings and the atmosphere are magnificent. Our waitress came to our table promptly. She took our order and gave us a nice carafe of water.

I looked over the food delivered to the other tables while waiting. The food that was delivered looked mouthwatering. I could hear them tell their friends how wonderful the food tasted. Their conversation ended as they kept eating their food.

We ordered the Black Angus Burger with french fries. Our black Angus burger was cooked to perfection, and it tasted delicious. Our french fries were seasoned and not greasy, and they were delicious. Our waitress filled our carafe with water again.

 

She had beautiful desserts you could eat in the restaurant or take home. I brought home a wonderful-looking cherry tart and a scone. The cherry tart was out of this world; it tasted terrific. The scone was very tender and had a marvelous flavor.

We saw a plane take off through the window while eating our Black Angus Burger and fries. Watching the planes come and go while you are eating your meal is fun. I always enjoyed eating at the airport restaurant as a young child. I was very fascinated with airplanes, and I still am today.

The restaurant also has a bar to enjoy a drink with your meal. I saw several people having a glass of beer. Some women were drinking mimosas. The food, waitresses, waiters, cook, and baker do an excellent job. I recommend eating at Patriot Wings Restaurant in Mason City, Iowa, next to the airport.

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Traveling 101

Traveling 101

Always be prepared for the unexpected. Always have your passport tucked away on your person and never let it out of sight. A lost or stolen key can end up in an eight-day delay or more in a foreign country before they can replace it. Carry extra money with you and hide it away on your person. Have a list of emergency phone numbers with you at all times, and let a friend know where a copy of your passport and other essential documents is needed.

Have someone lined up to take care of your pets, mail, lawn mowing, repair, and whatever situation may arise while you are gone. Your trusted friend will be at the helm while you are away and enjoying life to its fullest potential.

Plan out your trip and always be prepared for the unexpected.

Plan your trip and list where you want to go and what you must see. Delays may occur on your trip, so allow extra time in your day for delays of all types. Make room reservations, so you don’t have to hunt for a hotel room into the wee hours of the night. I keep a traveling diary of each trip I take as it helps identify pictures and keeps the pleasant memories of my journey alive.

Pack light.

Pack light, as we all tend to pack more than we could ever use. Bring along a small suitcase with wheels that is easy to pull along and maneuvers easily. I also have a small carry-on with me that I put in one set of extra clothes just in case it takes a while for my main suitcase to catch up.

Your hotel room should be to your liking.

Look over your hotel room and ask for a different room if it is not to your liking. If there are not enough towels or you are too cold, do not be afraid to speak up and ask them for the items you need to make your stay enjoyable. The hotel will want to please you if possible because they want happy customers who will tell their friends and family how wonderful their stay was there. Word of mouth can make or break a business, so think twice before you make a rash statement about a company. Did you tell them you had a problem, or did you think they could read your mind somehow?

Unwind and take in all of the sights and sounds.

Please relax and enjoy your vacation to its fullest. Leave your worries behind, unwind, relax, and enjoy the scenery, nature, architecture, and sounds. You may hear cowbells, church bells ringing, the ocean’s pounding waves, and much more. Go to the local museums, concerts, plays, and much more. Ask your hotel concierge what some of the main attractions are in the area where you are staying. He can arrange a cab to take you there and back to your hotel.

Home again.

You are now home again. I unpack my suitcase and put my clothes in the wash. I go through my mail and return to the swing of things again. You will be exhausted by the second day you are home, so take a nap and recover from your trip. I put all my pictures in an album and identified them with my travel diary. I certainly enjoyed my vacation to its whole, and I hope you will you and your family are on your trip of a lifetime.

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Williamsburg Inn

Williamsburg, Inn Located in Williamsburg, Virginia

The Williamsburg Inn has been a home for royalty, heads of state, and guests worldwide. The Inn’s policy is to treat every guest as royalty.

John Rockefeller Jr. and his wife made a massive commitment to the Inn. They helped with design, construction, and furnishings. The facility opened in 1937 with 61 guest rooms, unlike a hotel, but more like a comfortable Virginia country estate. It is perhaps the most perfectly appointed Inn on the continent. More than 70 years later, the Inn remains one of America’s finest and most elegant hotels.

The Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of Historic Hotels of America and top Hotels of the World. The Inn offers its guests a world-class experience. The Inn has a unique ambiance and timeless style. The Inn is located next to America’s premier living history museum. In 2012 the Inn celebrated 75 years of hospitality.

We stayed at the Williamsburg Inn before Christmas. The Inn was decorated with the most beautiful flower arrangements, Christmas tree, and Christmas arrangements. Fresh flowers were placed daily in your room and on tables throughout the Inn. The flowers and arrangements put you in the Christmas spirit.

The hospitality of the staff was outstanding, and the entire service concierge and the fact that they had drivers to take you to any place that you desired to go in Colonial Williamsburg. The drivers would open the door for you upon entering the acceptable vehicle. A doorman held the door open for you as you left and then returned.

Our room had the bedding turned down at night with mints on our pillows. We had robes in our room, along with slippers. The towels were thick and luxurious. We had fine soaps and lotions, and a rose in our bathroom. Our room was very spacious and elegant.

The food at the Inn was magnificent and very generous. I loved the chicken, fish, Oysters, Rockefeller, and more on the dinner menu. I would order an omelet or two eggs over easy with a hash with sweet potatoes, potatoes, sweet onions, and green peppers at breakfast. I ordered their sweet potato pancakes which were thick and amazingly delicious. I had espresso ice cream, raspberry sorbet, sticky toffee pudding, and American Heritage hot chocolate, which was thick and decadent with an authentic rich chocolate flavor.

I would highly recommend treating yourself with a stay at the Williamsburg Inn in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Please book your rooms now as they are filling up very quickly.

Copyright 2018.    Not to be reproduced in any form.

 

 

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Stores and Food That I Love in Kalona

Stores and Food That I Love in Kalona, Iowa

My Grandmother grew up in Wellman, Iowa, not far from Kalona, Iowa. I have relatives in Kalona, Iowa. My Grandmother was in the Pleasantview Nursing Home in Kalona, Iowa, until she passed away. My family and I would always shop in the stores in Kalona, and I still enjoy shopping in the stores in Kalona. Kalona is an Amish and Mennonite community. I love watching the Amish buggies go down the road.

 Kalona Antique Company

I always enjoy going to the Kalona Antique Company, an old church converted into an antique store. I have made numerous small purchases there over the years. In my younger days, old metal toy cars, marbles, and other objects enticed me. I purchased a few old oil lamps in my later years. They have a vast assortment of acceptable items for sale.

Hardware Stores in Kalona

Yotty’s Ace discount hardware store is my favorite hardware store. They have the old hard-to-find items. I purchased a nice heavy gauge aluminum scoop shovel with a metal and wood handle made like the ones from years ago. I like the old wood floor in their store. I have purchased oil lamp parts, dehumidifiers, paint brushes, fire king bakeware, and more. I like the fact that it is a family-run, multi-generation business. They are very friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating to your needs.

I always stop at Gambles hardware to get my garden seeds. I purchased a friendly homelite gas-operated hedge trimmer that worked perfectly for years. I also bought a pellet gun there years ago. I love shopping at hardware stores. Gambles hardware stores carry a wide array of products.

 Kalona Coffee House

The Kalona Coffee House can take care of all of your coffee needs. They make stunning lattes and cappuccinos. They have a wide array of cold coffee drinks—a nice place to meet, gather with your friends, and enjoy an excellent coffee drink. Try one of their muffins for a beautiful snack—a pleasant and fantastic atmosphere with a unique fresh coffee smell.

Tuscan Moon Grill

I love to eat my evening meal at the Tuscan Moon Grill on Fifth in Kalona. I purchased their lamb dinner several times. The lamb came with a large baked potato and grilled vegetables. The lamb was cooked to perfection. I also bought a glass of white wine with a lovely delicate flavor. Tuscan Moon’s owner visited us at our table, and he was originally from Italy. I like a restaurant where the owner or chef visits with you directly as you know they take great pride in their restaurant and customers.

Kalona Creamery

I love the Kalona Creamery. I love their fresh cheese curds and other cheese. They have old-fashioned candy bar brands from my childhood days. I have purchased a sky bar, milk duds, etc. They sell canned pork and chicken, which is amazingly delicious. You can watch them make cheese curds.

Stringtown Grocery Store

Stringtown Grocery Store is an Amish convenience store. I have purchased their homemade bread, pies, and more. The Amish are excellent bakers. I love their fresh carrots, potatoes, apples, cherries, and more. They have all kinds of spices and seeds for sale. They have a wide variety of candy. They have all the baking ingredients available for your baking needs. They have nail clippers, harmonicas, and much more for sale—a fantastic, welcoming, immaculate store.

Plan a day trip to Kalona.

Kalona is a beautiful town to spend your day shopping with friends or family. You will have plenty of things to do to keep you pleasantly occupied all day long.

 

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Visiting My Relatives In Germany

Visiting My Relatives In Germany

My friend and I went to see my relatives in Germany. We arrived in Amsterdam, Holland, on time. On the plane ride, I visited with a woman from Germany who now lives in Singapore and has a wine business. On the autobahn, I drove a rental car to  Oldenburg, Germany, and we stayed in the Hotel Sprenz. She called my relatives, and they picked us up, and we drove for one hour to their house. We were treated like royalty at my relative’s house in Selverde, Germany. She had a large lunch prepared for us to eat, which included the following: Pork Roast, potatoes, and gravy, cauliflower, green beans and onions, tea and cream, carbonated water, fancy desserts, and homemade pudding with currant sauce. We had a pleasant long visit with them and discussed what we wanted to see.

In the afternoon, we went to the farm where my Great Grandfather had lived until he came to America. My Great Grandfather left Germany because work was scarce. The farm has three 50-acre plots for 150 acres or 60 hectares. The man where my Great Grandfather had lived showed us the farmland and told us his Mother’s maiden name was Weers. My relative’s daughter took us on an afternoon tour of Selverde, Germany. We had a large dinner with my relatives in the evening, and everything was excellent and perfectly cooked.

We went to the family cemetery. The tombstones were destroyed in World War 2. A large rock was engraved with the name Weers Family to replace the lost headstones. The church by the cemetery is a Lutheran church built in 1885. The church has written documentation of the people buried in the family cemetery. The church is brick and all original. It was nice to walk into a Church that my Great Grandfather had worshiped in.

My Great Grandfather’s house was destroyed in the war in 1945. There is a beautiful brick house there now that was built in 1950. My relative’s house is brick on a cold sac, and about seven other brick homes. My relatives are employed in the following occupations: hairdresser, secretary, construction worker, and farmer. My relatives are very friendly and outgoing and very pleasant. They have a Lenz tractor that is over 51 years old. We saw several beautiful horses. The farmland is now used for hay to sell to farmers for their cattle.

We went back to our hotel in Oldenburg. Our rental car did not start in the morning, but the owners got it up and running for us ASAP. She gave us a wonderful sack lunch to take with us when we left.

I loved visiting with my relatives from Germany and seeing the land and the area where my Great Grandfather had lived. My relatives and I write to each other at Christmas. I can see why my Great Grandfather loved living in Selverde, Germany. Everything was so clean and well-kept in Germany.

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Isle Of Man

Isle Of Man

My friend and I boarded a small plane in England, and it took one hour to get to our port. We boarded the Ferry to Heysham, then took us to the Isle of Man.

The Isle of man is one of the British Isles located in the Irish Sea near the N.W. coast of England. Douglas is their capital. The pop. of the Isle of man is 83,314. It is self-governing with British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. The symbol for the Isle of Man is legs running, which means you always land on your feet.

Food on the Isle of Man

We arrived in the evening at our Inn, and the Chef prepared a wonderful meal for us. We had scallops cooked to perfection, along with green beans and potatoes and a small chef’s salad. On our first evening, we saw a beautiful rainbow in the sky. There are many nice Pubs and restaurants on the Isle of Man.

We shopped in the local stores and enjoyed the scenery. We packed all the purchased items and took them to the post office to be mailed back to the USA. We rode on the narrow gauge steam railway from Douglas to Castletown, Port St. Mary, and Port Erin.

Racing on the Isle of Man

The Isle of man is famous for racing cars and motorbikes. They close off 27 miles of HWY for the races. The motorbikes can reach speeds of up to 180 miles per hour.

Manx Cats on the Isle of Man

We ate at our Inn, and I asked about the Manx cats because they originated on the Isle of Man. Our waitress said two left on the Isle of Man at the local pet shelter. She called a taxi driver for us. He picked us up, and we raced down the road to get there since they would close very soon. He was a charming Irish taxi driver. We arrived at the pet shelter in just the nick of time. The woman at the shelter told me the fawn-colored male Manx cat would sell for 200 pounds, the gray-striped male would sell for 45 Us dollars, and a top show cat could sell for 4500 Us dollars. I looked at the two cats, took pictures, and then returned to our Inn.

 

The Manx cat originated on the Isle of man. It has a naturally occurring gene that shortens its tail. When the Vikings came years ago, they had Norwegian Forest cats with them on their ships, and some of them left the ship and blended with the native cats, which were short-haired cats—the short-haired one of the original show cats of the CFA in 1906. Manx cats are both long-haired and short-haired. They are excellent hunters.

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Poland

Auschwitz, Poland

It was heart-wrenching walking through the Auschwitz concentration camp. A sign on the gate entrance said work sets you free in the translation. How anyone could treat anyone like the Jews were treated is beyond comprehension. They lived on a five hundred calories a day diet. The soup was only a broth. If the grain had worms, they still had to eat it. Diarrhea and lice were common with their horrible living conditions.

The concentration camp known as Auschwitz, Birkenau, opened in 1940 and was Poland’s largest Nazi concentration or death camp. The amount of Jews that died in Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945 was about 1.1 million. During World War 2, Hitler had his Nazis and SS men rounded up and killed many people that he felt was not a superior race. Hitler wanted only an Aryan race. The master race is the Nazi ideology. Hitler was obsessed with racial purity.

During the Holocaust, 6 million European Jews were murdered in World War 2. Nazi Germany was responsible for the genocide of many Jews or people not of the Aryan race. Soviet citizens and POWS, Poles, Serbs, Romani, Freemasons, Slovenes, Spanish Republicans, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Homosexuals, and Disabled people were Holocaust victims.

When the Jews entered the Auschwitz concentration camp, they had to remove artificial limbs, clothing, shoes, jewelry, and personal items. After entering the concentration camp, they left their suitcases, pots, pans, and money. It was heart-wrenching to see the baby’s shoes, makeup, and everything that was robbed and how their families suffered from the atrophies they had to endure.

They were told they had to shower before entering their living area, which was a ruse to get them to enter the gas chamber. Those they wanted for work detail were tattooed on their wrist and wore a striped jump suits.

The gas chambers would kill a person in 20 minutes. The very young and the old were immediately taken to the gas chambers. The young and the able were forced to work until they could not, and then they were taken to the gas chamber where the cyanide gas would suffocate them. If you happened to live through the gas chamber, you would be taken out and shot to death. You were shot to death if you could no longer work or collapse.

If you were a Doctor or chemist or had a skill they highly needed in Germany for the War effort or medical purposes, you would live until you could no longer function or someone with more knowledge replaced you.

The ovens burned many bodies in one day because they killed many Jews in one day, and the ranges were operating at total capacity 24 hours a day. People said they could smell the burning bodies from miles away.

They had a public restroom with no privacy. There was a standing cell where four people stood next to each other naked and could not move. There were straw mats on the floor for sleeping and four to five people per mat. They would all have to turn over on the carpet if one turned over. Some people were forced to stand for sixteen days in a row. If you ventured beyond the fence, you were shot and killed automatically.

Gold fillings were removed without painkillers. Your hair was shaved off of your head, and your hair was made into mattresses or blankets. Human skin was made into lampshades. It is beyond human what some people have to go through in their lifetime because of who is in control, and no one can stop that person. Jesus went through a lot to save us from our sins.

When the war was won, the Americans came to the concentration camp astonished by the condition of the Jewish people in Auschwitz. The people still barely alive were skin and bone. When the camp was liquidated in Jan. 1945, 9,054, out of 9,792 people were Jews.

With all my heart and soul, I hope that we never let history repeat itself. There is no one race or religion or one person that is any better than anybody else. We all want to enjoy our lives productively and peacefully. God bless our diverse nation.

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Switzerland

My Favorite Swiss Village is Giswil, Switzerland

I have stayed in the small village of Giswil, Switzerland, at least four times. It is like the town has stood still in time. Some of the people still have horses and old farm equipment that they use in their everyday life. Everything is sparkling clean and very well cared for.

I stayed in the Hotel Krone, which was nice and clean, and they were very accommodating. It was located right in the central area of the village. The pop. of the Giswil is 3,513. I loved the charm of the old small churches as it seemed I was stepping back in time by going to a church like my Great Grandfather would have attended years ago.

Wagon Ride & Alpine Cheese

My friend and I took a buggy or wagon ride to a little old Swiss House that had cheese and homemade wine to drink. A woman in the house gave us a history lesson on how the Alpine Swiss Cheese was processed and distributed years ago.

Farm Animals in Giswil, Switzerland

In the early morning, I was awakened by the Brown Swiss Cattle ringing their cowbells in the meadows, which was very comfortable and relaxing. The sheep would Baa, and the Roosters would report to you that morning had come. I would feed some of the sheep in the morning and pat a few of the Brown Swiss Cattle on the head. The dairy farmers would be out at 5 AM to milk their cows, and a few anxious cats would follow the farmer for their chance at some of the rich, wonderful milk from the Brown Swiss Cattle.

Churches

The cemeteries back of the churches were kept up to perfection. A lot of live flowers had been planted on the plots. Dead flowers were removed daily, and the live plants were watered daily. The inside of the churches reminded me of ancient country churches. The altars were stunning, with the small church pews and the bibles in their place back of the benches.

Switzerland’s  Stunning Beauty

I would walk around Giswil frequently and enjoy the small tame rabbit family that one family had running loose in their front yard. I would look at all of the farm animals and enjoy the breathtaking mountains in Switzerland. I could go to Giswil, Switzerland, every year and never tire of it. I can see why some of my ancestors are from Switzerland, as its beauty has no match.

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Iowa Tulip Festival

Pella, Iowa Tulip Festival

The Pella, Iowa Tulip Festival will be held from May 1st to May 5th, 201,9.

It is best to come to the tulip festival early for the best seating and car parking spots. It is good to bring lawn chairs along to sit on for the parade. I love to look at all the beautiful tulips in their full glory. I love watching the street scrubbers and the people dressed in Dutch costumes. I try to sample many of the different dutch foods, which are mouthwatering.

What to do while in Pella, Iowa.

May 1st is their preview day. You can visit the different museums, historical villages, and quilt shows and run late in the day if you wish to.

May 2nd and 3rd events. You can visit museums, look at antique cars I enjoy, go on a city tour, visit the garden club and more. You must sample some Dutch food and look over their Dutch costumes. I wanted an organ recital one year in the Dutch tradition held at Second Reformed Church and enjoyed it very much. Since I love cheese, try some Dutch cheese at the market. It is fun to watch the Dutch dancers and the street scrubbers. I have watched street scrubbers ever since I was a small child.

Volks Parade for the Pella, Iowa Tulip Festival

The Volks parade starts at 2:30 PM, my top highlight for the day. The Volks parade is lit at 8:30 PM, which is spectacular. Make sure you attend the train, as it is exceptional.

May 4th has city tours, a Dutch craft market, Dutch delights foods, an opera house, street scrubbers, and the Volks parade. I enjoy the beautiful Opera House, a magnificent grand old building.

May 5th has a Thanksgiving and Praise service.

Excellent Dutch Food and Letters

My two favorite Pella, Iowa bakeries are Jaarsma Bakery and Vander Ploeg Bakery. Both bakeries have famous Dutch letters. I always go home with at least four letters just for myself. Scholte House Museum and Maria’s Tea Room is lovely, open Mon. thru Sat.

You and your family will have an awesome time at their annual,l tulip festival in Pella, Iowa. I always enjoy Pella, Iowa, and tulip festivals. For more info. go to: TulipTime@PellaHistorical.com or www.pellahistorical.org.

184Fans
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184Fans
81Followers
338Followers