Mini Vacation Part 2

So, the journey continued north to Conrad, Iowa.  Here Google led us to Hen & Chicks Studio, a quilt shop and retreat center.  I had participated in their online Christmas Bingo and December Stash Buster Challenge, so had a 40% off coupon to SPEND!!!

I will honestly say that after watching all the You Tube videos from Hen & Chicks, I thought it would be bigger.  The retreat center is upstairs and we got to take a peek, but no photos since there was a retreat going on.

It is a really cute shop though and the people are so enthusiastic.  It was fun to see them in person.

I made use of that coupon and picked up an assortment of really nice thread and a fun hen and chicks panel (which I sent to Aunt Judy!).

They were so helpful and gave us better directions to get to our next stop and told us to look for this sign along the way..........

Yes, "You're not dreamin', you're in Beaman, Iowa".  Beaman was not the destination, we just were told to look for this sign and turn.

Here it is, the ultimate destination............

Campbell Hall on the University of Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls.  Why?

To see this guy............. nephew, Carter Morton!  He was recruited for track and his first college track meet was the next day.  He showed us his dorm.

Not the neatest, but definitely not the messiest dorm room I've seen.

His collection of shoes...........I thought maybe they were for track.  Since he is doing the heptathlon and decathlon, he has several different shoes for the different events.  I was wrong.  These just go with his different outfits!

He is on Scooby Hall and Scooby is right outside his door.

We took him to dinner - his choice was Huhot, a Mongolian Grill.  We'd never been and really enjoyed the meal.  

We didn't keep him out late since he had a meet on Saturday.  This ends the adventures of the first day of our mini vacation.

Carter only competed in 3 events the next day as it was a small meet.  Yesterday and today, he is competing for the first time in a heptathlon.  He did high jump, long jump, shot put, and the 60 meters yesterday and sits in second place.  Today will be pole vault, 60 meter high hurdles, and the 1000 meters.

Our Saturday adventures including the track meet will follow in the next post.

Christi