Leaving our idyllic campground at Van Meter State Park, we spotted this barn with a quilt pattern painted on the side. It seems there are several like this in the area to the extent that there is a 'Quilted Barn Trail' published that you can follow to see these barns. Moving on east, we arrived at the home of Mary Lou's cousins, Dickie and Kristy Waddell in Moberly, Missouri. The accommodations were absolutely fine! A nice place to park and clean place to work on the jeep's electrical problems. We were fortunate that the fire extinguisher in the RV was nearby. Wound up needing a new battery and ECM (computer) which caused us to stay an extra day. 'Course with Kristy's excellent meals of veggies fresh from the garden out back, who's complaining. View from our parking spot. We had the opportunity for another 'factory tour' here. The Waddells run an embroidery business called 'Log Home Stitch' in their basement. It's a facinating operation to watch. They have seven sewing machines arranged in a 'U', so they can be conveniently operated from the middle. There are 3 singles and a four-machine unit. Four machines all stitching simultaneously. The process starts with an image in a computer where the stitching sequence, patterns, and thread colors are programmed. This program is loaded into the sewing machines along with the needed thread colors and once the article to be stitched is 'hooped' and clipped into place, stitching can begin. Programming the machine. Sequencing of stitching is important. Starts in the middle and works out. Each needle has a different color thread and moves into position as needed. More progress. Finished. Note the bears. They are stitched with yellow thread, but because the stitching is in different directions, features of them show up differently. A finished shirt. Water has been sprayed on the new logo to dissolve the plastic overlay used in the stitching process. Hats are hooped up differently. The cap rotates as the stitching moves from side-to-side. With the stitching done, we took a ride in the country. They showed us this massive relic of a 'drag line bucket' (I don't know the proper term). This was used to scoop out dirt to expose coal deposits to be mined. Note the size of the scoop relative to me, and the chain relative to the cap on the ground. Finally the jeep part arrived, and with repairs successfully made, we said our goodbyes early afternoon and headed north for Ottumwa, Iowa. Those who are Facebook friends with Mary Lou get a heads-up on why we are going to Ottumwa. Ottumwa was the home town of our dear deceased friend and neighbor, Obe Hokanson. He was always talking about the hamburgers at a hole-in-the-wall in Ottumwa. When he had a chance he would go there just for the burger. Since we were in the neighborhood, we thought we'd stop in and see what the fuss was about. Actually we're making a special trip just to try it. The place is in a little brick building with the business established in 1936 (that's even older than I am). All the other buildings around it were torn down, but due to protests from the citizens, the Canteen survived. A parking garage has been built around and over it, and access is either from 2nd street, through the garage, or from the alley. Inside there is just a u-shaped counter, seating about 8-9 people - local of course. What tourists would come to Ottumwa? The burgers are really 'loose-meat' which means crumbled up ground beef. We first heard of these in the old Roseanne TV show where she opened a Loose-Meat joint. The meat is 'steamed' in a cooking apparatus in the middle of the u-shaped counter. Raw ground meat cooked somehow with dry heat I think, and then shoveled into the right side from whence (!) it is 'spatula-ed' onto the buns which have been prepared with mustard, pickles, onions, and cheese as desired. The 'burgers were definitely tasty, but the experience was priceless. A fun stop. The patrons highly recommended the malts and shakes here, but the burger makers recommended the 100 year old ice cream place down the street, so we did that. Our curiosity satisfied, we left Ottumwa heading west to Lincoln, Nebraska. We made it to Osceola for the night ('far away places with strange sounding names' - old song lyrics). Facebook friends know why we are going to Lincoln - others will have to wait. Stay tuned. View Topeka, Kansas to Os in a larger map
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