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Back home again and worn out.  Friday we loaded up and went to Des Moines where Leofwyna had found us a nice camping spot at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.  We had time to hit a couple thrift stores and found a great Indian Restaurant on University Ave near 73rd.  It was a short drive Saturday morning to the Coronation site where we arrived in time to ensure seats at feast.  Leofwyna spent a significant portion of her afternoon between courts finishing up the bid for next years coronation and I found an opportunity to present my 'queen's hankies' to HM Ylva and pledge more to come during her reign.  During afternoon court I was having a stomach ache but fortunately it had passed by time we sat down for feast.  

50th Celebration and Michigan lake shore

It was a lovely thing that Leofwyna had obtained a plug-in site for the camper.  It was a hot-hot-hot week in Danville, Indiana and we were able to rest well.  There were some great amenities in the form of a/c'd shower trailers and a/c'd flushy trailers between our site and the Great Machine making things very convenient for us.  We were pleased to attend the founders' get together the first Saturday and had the good fortune of an informal meeting in the hall with several others and visiting with Diana Listmaker herself for nearly 20 minutes.  Leofwyna had three really good drumming evenings which put her in great spirits throughout.  I spent most of my days at the Great Machine helping as I was able, mostly allowing Master Gerald the opportunity on his 'off-days' to know he could get away awhile.  The reception for the Great Machine by folks was consistantly a fission of excitment and awe which was a wonderful boost for his lordship. Wednesday night's bloom compression was especially impressive.  (Back at home we found numerous photos and videos of the Great Machine available in Facebook.)

When 50th was done Leofwyna and I headed north to camp in the woods near the south edge of Lake Michigan.  Leofwyna got to put another stamp in her passport for the Indiana Dunes National Park.  We daytripped to Chicago, Shipshiwanna, and up into Michigan more than once.  Of course we visited many thrift stores everywhere we went and we looked diligently for Habitate ReStores where we did find some of the tiles we need for the laundry room floor.  We developed a special fondness for New Buffalo, Michigan, where we found wonderful ice cream at Oinks and attended the fireworks on the beach on the Fourth of July.  Although we sprayed ourselves with mosquito spray repeatedly through the days we came home with extensive bug bites all up and down our legs, very itchy for days.  One suggestion after the fact was chiggers but that doesn't seem right to me.

NOTE:  Most likely the 'chiggers' were oak mites.  The itching eased off after a week or so and the spots finally disappeared a few weeks later.