Today we had sunshine almost all day, and it got up to the mid-70s. Tulips, daffodils, ornamental crab apple trees and plum bushes are in bloom, so the Iowa springtime drive has been just glorious. Shortly after lunch we drove out into the country by Shellsburg, IA to a farm home called Villa Comagena. Inge Schminke hosted all of us in various rooms throughout the main floor, all beautifully decorated with Austrian treasures. We were served English tea or Austrian coffee or cold beverages plus a plate of tiny fruit kabobs and a variety of delicious cakes. It was definitely a taste treat. Afterwards, we listened to Inge tell us how she had come to America. She had grown up during WW II, and commented that when childhood is taken away, it can never be replaced. Eventually her family came to Canada, adjusting to a totally different way of life and learning how to speak English. Inge worked at a resort close to International Falls during the summers of her college years and met a single man from Iowa. They knew each other 12 days, spent the next year in a long distance relationship, and after one year were married. At that point she moved to a farm Iowa. Her openness about how hard that adjustment was and how she sees life in America was very sobering. Ah, but Inge also has a sense of humor that had us roaring in laughter between the serious parts of her talk. Our time there was such a good experience. She also had a gift shop in her home that was visited by many. We are staying in Coralville at the AmericInn tonight.
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