Festival–3–Children’s Fund Auction

The Sasha community’s annual fund raising auction brought in a bit over $8,000. With the fund matching programs, the charities will realize around $17,000. Here are a few of the items auctioned and the sales amount.

This nice hand knitted sweater and cap for Gregor with coordinating pants brought $120

This original 8x8 oil on canvas artwork was created for and donated to the auction. It realized $120

These three outfits each generated spirited bidding. When the dust finally settled the total proceeds from the three outfits were $570.

Tom

Sasha History

To celebrate the new History of Sasha book the authors treated us to a display of old and rare Sashas. This posting only hits a very few of the highlights.

Sasha Morgenthaler studio dolls

Another set of studio dolls: Very different but all in similar distinctive outfits.

These unique dolls are factory prototypes that were never produced.

Princess Sasha: A late limited edition doll.

Tom

Festival–Day - 1

The biggest news at Festival is that the book is here…
(If you need to ask what book you’ve not been paying attention)

Here is the book along with the model from the book cover.

Some of you may know that my favorite Festival event is Dress a Sasha. This year the theme was white house children. Here are a pair of Coras pretending to be Malia and Sasha Obama. They even have a dog…

Finally, this early Goetz redhead shared our luncheon table. I think she has absolutely stunning eyes.

Tom

Glade Creek Grist Mill

Glade Creek Mill in WV’s Babcock State Park is arguably one of the most picturesque mills in the country. If you have ever seen a photo of an old mill along a small stream there is a very fine chance that it was Glade Creek. Yesterday the light was difficult but it is such a nice site that I’m working through it.

Here is the mill itself.

This is the classic view.

This is a variation on the classic view.

Tom

Playtime for the Sashas

Our poor Sashas have been cooped up in the car since we left home and we won’t be to Festival ‘til Thursday so we thought we’d let them out and play a while at Carol’s aunt’s. This was really fun for them because Francis has a really big yard with trees and fences and…

Here are all three of the girls playing on the footbridge.

Carol found a tree to climb

Cora liked climbing on the fence and Julia offers her a hand up.

Day–5 Iowa to Indiana

Crossing from Iowa into Illinois we crossed the Mississippi River and stopped at the Illinois welcome center. Due to budget problems Illinois has closed all their tourist information offices but from the grounds I got this shot of a tugboat and barges on the river.

Later we stopped at Starved Rock State Park which is on the Illinois River. This boater was out enjoying a beautiful summer day.

Day - 4

If you drive I-80 through Nebraska you’ll see the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument as it is built over the freeway.

We’ve talked about visiting it before but for whatever reason it has never actually done so. This time we did.It’s a pretty impressive experience. When you go in you’re greeted by a costumed greeter who directs you toward the ticket seller. After you obtain your ticket you ride an escalator to the entrance of the exhibits.

Exhibits trace the linking of the coasts, by wagon trains, telegraph, rail, telegraph, pony express, stagecoach and finally the Lincoln Highway which became US 30 and then I-80. All of these took advantage of the Platte River Valley. The lighting of the exhibits was absolutely exquisite making photography easy. The Wagon Train segment covers all of the routes, Oregon Trail, California Trail and Mormon trail.

Diorama of the ill fated Mormon handcart train.