OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2011

Our October 20^th-23^rd outing was held at Fort Kaskaskia Historic Site Campground, Ellis Grove, IL.  Those in attendance were Kelly & Chris Crabtree, Buddy & Judy Lyles and Loretta Schneider.  The fall weather was beautiful and after arriving we walked up to one of the pavilions that over look Kaskaskia Island.  Sometimes in the fall you are able to see bald eagles riding the air currents but we did not see any.  After a nice walk, we headed into town for dinner.  On our way to the campground we passed a restaurant called “Hook, Line and Sinker, so we decided to try it out.  They had either fish or chicken with several sides to choose from.  Their German potato salad and stewed tomatoes were delicious.  The evening turned cool as soon as the sun went down so we retreated to our warm motorhomes.  On Saturday, we headed to Fort de Chartres.  They were having a program on their heirloom vegetable garden.  Their focus of their fall jardin was their root crops:  beets, radishes and turnips.  They also had leeks, lettuce and spinach, herbs and a few winter squashes.  When we arrived she was making a Radish Slaw with black Spanish radishes, cabbage, carrots and onion.  The black radish has to be peeled to remove the black outside.  The inside is white like a regular radish.  They were also picking their lettuces and spinach for a salad.  They also had a Red Seeded Citron Watermelon.  It is a hard and tasteless when raw.  It is cooked and made into preserves, pickles and used in “sweetmeats.”  They have these programs throughout the year on their gardens, baking breads and other interest from that area in our history.  Next we went to Prairie Du Rocher and took the ferry over to St. Genevieve.  They were having their Heritage Day Festival.  It was lunch time when we arrived so we ate at the Hotel Ste. Genevieve.  A very nice lunch menu with the plate lunches averaging $4.75-$5.25.  The hotel décor of yesterday has one of today’s finest restaurant and modernly furnished rooms.  It is situated within walking distance of the many antique shops and historic sites of St. Genevieve.  After lunch we walked around St. Genevieve and then headed to the festival which was on the outskirts of town.  They had butchered earlier in the day and were just cleaning up when we got there but demonstrations of blacksmithing, soap making, apple pressing were still be going on.  You could purchase fresh hominy, sorghum, kettle corn, soaps made from goat milk and honey.  Across the road they were harvesting and grinding corn.  On our way back home, we drove back over the Chester Bridge and stop to get a picture of Popeye.  For dinner we had our potluck with Senate Bean Soup made by Loretta.  After church on Sunday we had our meeting and started to plan our next year outing schedule.

Our November 3^rd-6^th outing was held at Cape Camping & RV Park, Cape Girardeau, MO.  Randy & Linda Burlison and Loretta Schneider arrived on Thursday.  Kelly & Chris Crabtree arrived on Friday afternoon and Buddy & Judy Lyles arrived Saturday morning.  Friday evening went ate a Delmonico Steakhouse.  They have built a new building and have a very nice buffet.  Afterwards we needed to walk after our meal so went to Buckheit’s.  They were remodeling but we still were able to find some deals.  On Saturday, we once again went to the Giant Indoor Yard Sale at the O’Sage Center.  These booths are set up for 4 hours, and then they close and reopen with new vendors at 4:00p.m.  Linda was the big winner on finding deals.  She was looking for good used bikes for the children’s home their church sponsors in East St. Louis.  She found 3 good bikes.  At noon we had lunch with Ann Neilson at the Chateau in Cape Girardeau.  George passed away earlier this year.  Ann looks very good and was happy to see everyone.  Bob & Nathalie Walker, John & Esther Balch and Wilbur Hemmer also drove in to have lunch with Ann.  A very nice lunch and visit with Ann.  For dinner we had our potluck and meeting in the campground meeting room.  On Sunday, Randy & Linda attended the Cowboy Church in Cape and the rest of us headed home.  

Correction:  The names of our host at Dixon Spring State Park are Don & Reita Bradshaw.        

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OUTING SCHEDULE

Christmas Party—December 3^rd—Noon

Grecian Steakhouse, Pinckneyville, IL

502 S. Main

No reservations needed

2012 Dues--$10.00

You can mail your dues to Linda Burlison at 7520 Tunnel Hill Road, Goreville, IL  62939

HAPPY BIRTHAY DAY TO:

Judy Huller—11/20

Vonda Kloke—11/28

Virgil Kloke—1/1

Ken VanMeter—1/1

Ann Neilson—1/14

Randy Burlison—2/15

Loretta Schneider—2/22

Esther VanMeter—3/1

Judy Lyles—3/7

Bill Smothers—3/10

Bob Walker—4/7

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

Bob & Judy Huller—12/28/63