Iowa Archives - Page 11 of 13

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Waterhawks Ski Show

July 12, 2016April 19, 2020 — Katy Flint2 Comments

Free, family fun! How great is that combo? The Waterhawks Ski Show gives you just that! 4th of July weekend, T and I headed to Waterloo to camp again just like we did last year. I made the declaration that we were going to try something new, go somewhere new, etc. Thanks to the help of the Waterloo Convention & Visitor’s Bureau I learned about the Waterhawks Ski Show and I decided that it would satisfy my desire to “take in” something new and hopefully hold T’s interest!

Waterhawks Ski Show

So, Friday night we followed the directions from their website to their lake to see what this was all about. The Waterhawks Ski Show is free to the public to attend. You just drive in, park, and find a place to sit. You’re welcome to sit on their stands or take blankets and lawn chairs. We were there early enough (not knowing what to expect for a crowd) that we were able to back our truck up to the viewing area and set up our chairs in the back to get a perfect view! Then, we walked around and checked out the facilities and grabbed something to drink from their concession stand. While there is no charge to get into the event, make sure to grab a snack from their concession stand to help support them. You can pick from drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), candy bars, pizza, popsicles, and chips!

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Friday in Franklin County: West Fork Wharf

July 1, 2016April 27, 2018 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Remember how I said I love the town I work in? That love affair doesn’t stop with Forever Yours, Healing Hands, Jaspersen’s or Timeless Treasure either! (Are you sensing a theme??) It extends to the West Fork Wharf and owners Bob & Kim Jensen! If you haven’t visited the West Fork Wharf yet, you need to put it on your to do list, but do it immediately! I find myself actually craving the Wharf! My 12yo step-son says randomly, “it’s too bad we can’t go to the Wharf tonight!” He loves the cheese and onion personal pizza he gets! I love the cheese curds, ranch dressing, propeller fries, and the wings, and….

Well, I think you get the point!

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Friday in Franklin County: Got You Covered

June 24, 2016January 19, 2018 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Friday in Franklin If you follow me over at Learning As I Go, you know that I spend a lot of time at baseball, basketball, and football games, etc. This means I need to be extra prepared with my spirit-wear and when I’m in need, I head to Got You Covered in Hampton! John & Deb Currier have an amazing little business in the downtown Hampton and I’m excited to feature it here today!

Setting Up Shop

Clothing and sewing has been in Deb’s blood for a long time. In 4th grade her mother taught her how to sew and she made all of her own clothing as she went through school. Working with thread and fabric has always been natural to her. She began looking for something to supplement their income. However, she wanted to work from home so she could be with their children. She eventually started to research commercial embroidery and found it was a niche that she wanted to pursue.

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Friday in Franklin County: Country Heritage B&B

June 17, 2016January 19, 2018 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Friday in Franklin

I grew up in Hampton and have been back for almost 10 years now. Throughout my time working there I was lucky enough to get to know several other business people. Two of those are the owners of Country Heritage Bed & Breakfast. This amazing bed and breakfast is located in rural Franklin County on Highway 3 between Latimer and Hampton. Donnis and her daughter Lacey are the owners of this quaint historic home and are fantastic at what they do!

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Opening the Inn

So, how did they get started into the hospitality business? The house, in which they run their business, was built by the ancestors. 10 years ago it came up for sale and they decided it was time to bring it back into the family and share it with others! Obviously it’s a bed and breakfast so patrons can select from nightly stays, extended stays (interns have stayed throughout the summer), and you can even rent the whole house for events. This is a great place for girls weekends, family reunions, or meeting up with college friends and kids . Of course, they will provide a delicious, home-cooked breakfast for those who who stay! When renting the entire house, you and your guests receive access to the kitchen, decks, and fire pit! You can truly make it your home away from home.

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Friday in Franklin County: Cut Loose Salon & Tanning

June 10, 2016 — Katy Flint2 Comments

If you’re a lady, you know that a good haircut or a pedicure can make you feel better than ever! Where do I go for this? I head to Cut Loose Salon & Tanning on Main Street in Hampton and see owner, Ashley Harmon!

Ashley has been in business for almost 2 years now after having a passion for hair since she was very young. She actually started coloring other kids’ hair in middle and high school along with her own. She knew that cosmetology was exactly what she wanted to do for a living. Owning her own salon has always been a dream of hers and with the help of her family she has been able to make that dream come to life!

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Friday in Franklin Co: Healing Hands Massage

June 3, 2016 — Katy Flint1 Comment

I love sharing what I believe are the best kept secrets of businesses in Franklin County! One of those is this weeks’ feature, Healing Hands Massage and Kim Reicherts!

But, before I get to that I want to let you know that between both of my blogs and thanks to those who commented and who participated and helped out! During the month of May, we raised a total of $18.50 to donate to Laura & the MS Walk! Thank you to everyone

Now, on to Kim and her Healing Hands Massage! 😉 No, really…they are healing hands! Kim owns Healing Hands Massage in her home in Sheffield and I’ve been going to Kim for massage therapy for over a year now! How did she get started 6 years ago? Well, she has personal health problems and found a lot of relief from massage and myofascial release, which is a therapy that treats the connecting tissue restrictions in the body to eliminate pain and restore motion! She found so much relief in it that she wanted to share it with others (and having experienced it…it’s great!)

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Friday in Franklin County: Forever Yours

May 20, 2016April 27, 2018 — Katy Flint5 Comments

Have I told you how much I love the town I work in? I do! You see, I get the privilege of working in one town and living in another…both within Franklin County! One of the many things I love about Sheffield are the small business owners like Lori Sanders (and her husband Scott)! They are the owners of Forever Yours on main street in Sheffield.

Unconventional Beginnings

While a lot of small business owners have always dreamed of owning their own brick and mortar store, Lori did not start out that way. In fact, over 11 years ago her mother-in-law persuaded her to purchase the existing flower store in town from someone else and take it over. Not wanting to see a business close in town, Lori took the risk and learned almost everything she knows about the business from Rita Reiter (who previously owned the flower shop under the name “A Family Affair”). The rest as they say “is history”!

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Friday in Franklin County: Jennifer Gruelke Studio

May 13, 2016 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

I’m so excited to introduce you to today’s Friday in Franklin County business…probably because I spend time there every Tuesday & Wednesday morning at 5:30AM! I’m so happy to introduce you to Jennifer Gruelke, owner of Jennifer Gruelke Studio!

Jennifer moved to Franklin County 17 years ago to be near her now husband Butch. Since being here she has worked a variety of business jobs in Hampton and she has had the honor of meeting and working with dedicated and hard-working individuals. Now, in addition to running the Studio, she and Butch own and operate Butch Gruelke Auto Body and they continue to raise their son and family in the area.

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Friday in Franklin County: Jaspersen Insurance & Real Estate

May 6, 2016 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Is there anything better than a locally owned family business? Yeah, I don’t think so either! This week we’re visiting Tim Christianson from Jaspersen Insurance & Real Estate in Sheffield (very Northern Franklin County). Jaspersen’s has been a fixture on main street Sheffield since January 1, 2000 and in that time they’ve earned the trust and confidence from their customers and grown exponentially! So much so in fact that they are in the process of expanding from the current building into the building next to them to make room to bring more people on board. Now a growing, locally-owned, family business…well, it just doesn’t get any better than that!!

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Friday in Franklin County: Sheffield

April 29, 2016 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

I might be a little biased (I work there), but the town of Sheffield located in northern Franklin County is a pretty great little community! They have a lot going for themselves and yet are working hard to battle the typical small town community demise. Their efforts vary and come from the heart, which is why I decided to feature the entire town today in “Friday in Franklin County”!

This quaint town is located on the northern border of Franklin County and is population 1172 (at the last census). The current mayor in office is the youngest Mayor in the history of the town and they are home to one of the busiest Casey’s General Stores in the state.

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