The Victory Ford mechanics were surprisingly quick in finding parts and replacing our truck starter! We were out of there by 3:30 but that was too late to arrive at the scheduled campground without some difficulty working in dark to get ourselves backed in and set up, so we went on a hunt. Our Harvest Hosts membership really paid off once again. Harry called Ardon Creek Vineyard. Having closed at 4:00, she still told us to come on ahead. Her home is right next door so she met us when we drove up to show us where to park. Such a kind person and a beautiful place to land for the night. Pictures to follow…
Bright and early the next morning we set out for Sangchris Lake State Park in Illinois. On the way, we passed through Muscatine, Iowa, nicknamed “The Pearl of the Mississippi”. Home of The National Pearl Button Museum. Had to stop and we couldn’t believe we stayed for a tour given by the director, Terry Eagle, that lasted over an hour and a half! So amazing! I was wearing one of my Button Bracelets and when they spotted it …from that point on we were treated like family. The gift shop manager, Vada Baker fell in love with the story of The River and donated some plastic buttons for us to use in our bracelets and gave me a recipe for dyeing them. Kind of crazy! I was wishing my friend, Stacy was with us! Even Harry thought it was a fascinating tour!
The top picture is of fresh water pearls they would find in some of the clams. Frame with clams with buttons cut from them.
Both the burlap bags of blank buttons and the pearl (valued at $5,000.) with the red arrow pointing to it…Terry found over the last few years. He knows the places to hunt along the banks of the Mississippi for such things!
hkdorr 
WOW!!! I had no idea you were stopping in Muscadine!! I, too, wish I had been there! I love the pictures and am so excited to learn how to dye the buttons!! We missed you tonight at our River Button Bracelet Brigade meeting. Thanks for the share!!
Oh, Stacy. You would have wanted to go on a hunting spree to all his places if you were here! The adventurer in me would like to try my hand at searching, too but alas we are headed home and didn’t have time.
You guys are amazing!! Totally sure we would not be as upbeat as you all with all these twists and turns. But gorgeous scenes! Peanut butter cookies remind me of Grandma’s great big sugar cookies that she kept on the top of the “fridge” ! Mary Ellen
Harry remembers those fondly! I haven’t made too many sweets on this trip so it was a real treat! I hate half of one and Harry ate the other half plus three more.😊
And this is rhubarb season. I’m sure Harry remembers Grandma’s rhubarb.!! You really would enjoy Greenland. It would be really different as most towns are not connected by roads but a fabulous country to explore before you can’t! M.E.
Beautiful campsite with the lights. That is a huge pearl! Love you guys!
They had just set the place up for a nature conservancy gathering the weekend before so they still had the tents and lights up.
You two just roll with the punches! Isn’t it wonderful that being retired allows you to as you please? Love to you both!
Thanks, Debbie! When things happen that we have no power over, you just have to roll with it. No sense getting upset.❤️
You were in button paradise! How cool a story.
Loving that camp ground. Now that looks like a quiet space, with no buses or dump truck or train tracks to keep you awake. love you guys and miss you bunches.
Won’t be long now! Love you, too!❤️