I traveled back to Minnesota for the first time in two and a half months. It was a welcome relief from the heat since it was 99 degrees when I left D.C. I do miss the great State of Minnesota! While I was back, I attend a Hopkins Raspberry Festival meeting, caught up with some of my friends and family as well as many co-workers. Miss you all!
One of the events that happened while I was in D.C. that I missed more than any other was the birth of my niece Jennifer's babygirl - Kaitlynn Rose. Isn't she cute.....
September 18th
I began the drive back to D.C. heading South to Ottumwa, Iowa to see my Aunt Bernice and cousins. As I drove to my cousin Terry's house in Eldon, IA, I saw the sign for the American Gothic House. I always knew that masterpiece by Grant Wood was painted in Iowa but I had no idea where. Since I was so close to the actual place where the home still stands, I had to see the house and take a picture or two....
American Gothic by Grant Wood
September 19th
I had breakfast with my cousin and his wife and I spent several hours with my Aunt Bernice - miss her already. I left Ottumwa, drove through Illinois and headed toward Indianapolis.
September 20th
I drove into downtown Indianapolis to the Federal Courthouse where I met a friend, Greg Barnes, who used to work at the Minneapolis Courthouse. It was wonderful to see Greg again and spend a few hours with him and other court employees. We joined a tour of the 105 year old courthouse, given by a very pleasant and knowledgeable historian. It is truly difficult to put into words the beauty and detail taken during the construction of this magnificent courthouse. The two courtrooms in the oldest section of the courthouse have stunning murals and incredible stained glass windows with paintings behind each bench representing justice. There is blue and gold marble in one courtroom, and pink and yellow in the other courtroom, I wish I had pictures to share because they were truly stunning, but they do not allow cameras in the courthouse. So I could only take pictures of the outside of the courthouse.
Greg and I tried to enter into the Indiana World War Memorial because Lori recommended that I see the dome inside this monument. However, it was closed! Next time....... I did walk around the Soldiers and Sailors monument, which was built in 1902. It was pretty cool.
I left Indianapolis in the afternoon and headed East. There was not a lot to see before Columbus, Ohio, but after that the hills and mountains engulfed the road and made my drive much more enjoyable. I never would have imagined the countryside in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland would be so beautiful. Some of the leaves were changing in a small portion of Maryland, which only makes me want to drive back to this area when more of the leaves have turned. I would have taken pictures if they had areas to pullover, but they did not have such areas. I have been told that Autumn is a wonderful time on the East Coast and I hope to capture the beauty of it while I am here. I arrived back in D.C. in the afternoon on the 21st and I was happy to be "home."
