Taking a Family Break in Iowa, at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park

 

Renita called her sister Pam, and as they were going to be home we decided to stop and visit them. Now we usually stay at Lake Sugema but we decided to try Lacey-Keosauqua State Park and it turned out to be a great choice.

You kind of forget how peaceful a small town in Iowa can be and the state park is even quieter. Added to this was the cost at eleven dollars a night and that was for  a site with electric and water. So we took a spot in the new campground section and set up for three days of family catching up.

Roy and Pam visit us in the winter in Texas and Roy does lapidary and makes jewelry, (He started shortly after I did). We were both surprised at how much we enjoyed working stone and they even have a place in a local art store in Bentonsport, Iowa. It’s an artist coop, where the artist donates his/her time for a big discount in the stores commission.

So we went there and enjoyed visiting with other artists and viewing their different styles and mediums. As the Des Moines River is at an extremely low level I soon wandered off to look for rocks. I  quickly found a beautiful fossil rugosa coral. It’s the same coral that is called Petosky stone in Michigan and as we have collected and worked that, it’s a welcome addition to our collection!

Of course Iowa means breaded pork tenderloins and I had to try both of the town’s restaurants. Misty’s, the local malt shop was first and their tenderloin was the largest one I have ever eaten. It actually was so big that Renita tasted some and I had enough for another day’s lunch.

The next day we went out to the other restaurant in town and the tenderloin was also excellent but I do have to award Misty with the best tenderloin in Keosauqua award. However if you are ever there be sure to try both as they were both great!

We also took time for some site seeing and drove to Ely Fords Crossing, where the Mormon migration crossed the Des Moines River. It was a quiet spot and a great blue heron waded in the slow moving rivers current where thousands had once crossed on their way to Utah. Just a week before we had been at the Oregon Trail, at Sweetwater Station in Wyoming, another river crossing for the Mormons and while we are Catholics it is neat to view the history of another religion.

So we rested and visited and talked rocks and jewelry, Roy is now making multiple cabochon necklaces, like we are, and of course they are beautiful and unique. It’s Folk Art and is so unlike the jewelry mass produced and sold most places. It’s really about the joy of creating and making each piece, and that’s what it should be! Clear skies

 

(The last image shows the reintroduced long grass prairie in Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. The grasses are taller then I am and its so different then the western short grass prairie we are used to.)