Down the Rabbit Hoel

Stories of family, creativity, and diverse distractions.

Storekeeper’s daughter to high school mathematics teacher: Remembering Grandma Kellogg

Hazel Anna Durfee was born February 26, 1917 in Morristown, South Dakota.  Her parents, Aaron Bradford “Bud” and Anna Durfee ran the general store there.  They moved to Reeder, North Dakota in 1921 and had a store there as well. 

This photo was probably taken in Wyoming, where Bud’s parents and some of his siblings lived. I’m not sure yet which cousin Sonny was. Ella was Hazel’s aunt.

Reuniting the Band: Voices In My Head

Voice Communications for Virtual Tabletops

When we decided to try using Fantasy Grounds to restart my old D&D campaign, we started with a bunch of demo sessions. We wanted to kick the tires and see how it went. The whole idea of playing virtually seemed new and strange, and we weren’t sure how well we would like it.

During these sessions we had a phone call going with the other player. This was enormously helpful, both to get the initial setup complete, and during the actual game play.

Barmaids and Gunslingers: Designing an art quilt

For my parents 50th anniversary, I decided to make them a small quilt.  Many of my quilts are wall hangings, instead of bed quilts.  I like to create designs that are unique.  This one was based off a photograph my parents had had taken while they were on vacation in Wyoming some years ago.  They had used it as a Christmas card a few years later and I had my copy of that.

Barmaids and Gunslingers

Remembering Kempker’s Family Store: Then and Now

John and Catherine were married in Cincinnati Ohio in 1853. Sometime before 1859, they moved to Iowa and opened Kempker’s Family Store in West Point, Iowa.

Image show the Kempker Family store building in the late 1800s with wagons out front.
The store in the late 1800s

What is a Virtual Tabletop?

A virtual tabletop (VTT) is software on your computer. It connects to the Internet and allows you to play traditional tabletop games with people in other locations. A VTT provides a shared view of images, die rolls, and other game components (boards, cards, miniatures, etc.). It also provides a communication platform, generally a chat window but sometimes voice communication too.

A game of Scrabble using Tabletop Simulator

Well That Was Fun! Now What?

Not to worry. We have a plan! No, really!

So far this blog has been a bit of a mishmash. Which shouldn’t be too surprising. After all, “a bit of a mishmash” would also describe our interests, our book collection, our home decor, etc. It isn’t exactly a shock that our blog would end up that way too.

But reaching the end of the Grand Tour posts gives us an opportunity to bring a bit of order to things. And we’re going to use it.

Grand Tour of The West: Day 27

March 15, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

After we left Hannibal, we came straight home. Arrived March 15, 1946.

The last line of the story.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 26

March 14, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

A local tourist map of Hannibal from the trip.

The next morning, we drove to Hannibal and stopped there to see the Mark Twain Museum. It was very interesting.

March 14, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

A local tourist map of Hannibal from the trip.

The next morning, we drove to Hannibal and stopped there to see the Mark Twain Museum. It was very interesting.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 25

March 13, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

Stayed in a small town in southern Missouri that night and drove to Springfield the next day. From there we went to Bagnell Dam and through the Ozarks. It was just starting to be spring there – it was the day before the fishing season opened and the streams really looked inviting. Saw many magnolia trees blooming. Went through Jefferson City and stayed overnight at New London, Mo.

March 13, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

Stayed in a small town in southern Missouri that night and drove to Springfield the next day. From there we went to Bagnell Dam and through the Ozarks. It was just starting to be spring there – it was the day before the fishing season opened and the streams really looked inviting. Saw many magnolia trees blooming. Went through Jefferson City and stayed overnight at New London, Mo.

Grand Tour of the West: Day 24

March 12, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

Stayed overnight in Oklahoma and drove into Arkansas the next day. Came through Ft. Smith and Van Buren, the home of Bob Burns. This was hill country. Stopped at Burns Gables and bought a pair of shell earrings..

March 12, 1946

February 1946. World War II is over and wartime production jobs were ending. During the war, Carl and Georgie worked a number of jobs in several places, finishing the war in Pocatello, Idaho. They elected to return to Iowa, where they both had family, but opted to make a grand tour of the west on the way. Georgie wrote a journal of the trip. The story starts here.

Stayed overnight in Oklahoma and drove into Arkansas the next day. Came through Ft. Smith and Van Buren, the home of Bob Burns. This was hill country. Stopped at Burns Gables and bought a pair of shell earrings..

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