The book is done, and isn't it neat, as Bob observed two minutes ago, that it was finished on Memorial Day weekend. I woke up this morning to orioles calling, as well as wrens, cardinals, and robins. What a joyous awakening!

Well,it is now May 30th, and I am at Dick's, in Nevada, Iowa. Have been here a couple of days. Today we drove up to the family cemeteries, in Fort Dodge and Humboldt, and I took pictures of all the pertinent family stones, to add to my Ancestry.com Family Tree. We put in flowers(from WalMart-Dick went there in Fort Dodge! I kept my mouth shut and helped him pick them out.) for all, including Marie and Judy II. And wished all well. Dick bought flags, and he put them on the military grave sites, our father, Major Williams, John Duncombe, Alexander Hawley. It was a nice drive up and back.

Dick is watching the Indy 500, and I have been looking up a couple of relatives on Ancestry.com.

I went over to John and Tara's house yesterday afternoon. John has done wonders, with a new kitchen 95% finished, living room, bath, mud room, and three bedrooms upstairs. Both of them look wonderful. I assembled John's book, and gave it to him, and have Dick's here. I think I will give it to him when I leave here. I don't want him to critique it at this time.

I have found many interesting photos and papers among Dick's stuff, and we are now looking for the Civil War letters of William Hawley as well as James B. Williams, the Major's son. Dick is going to get the Major's diary out of the bank on Tuesday - I am delighted that I will be able to read it.

John and Tara have invited us to dinner around 4-5, and as it is 3:55 now, I better finish up.

I am so glad that Dick was driving, because I would have been lost in Fort Dodge. We did go by our house at 1859 8th Avenue North, and other than color and fence, it looked much the same. In fact the whole street did, which I found great!!! Dick was pointing out where everyone lived. He has a better memory than I, but I immediately knew where my friend Mary Agnes lived, and the house looks the same. We didn't go out by the Diggings. But I will, when I go back up to Fort Dodge later in the week.

It was great to see all the windmill farms along the roads. Dick said the farmers get paid $300-400 a month rent, per windmill! And they can still farm the land. Ethanol plants are popping up, and we went past one. Dick said there is a big ethanol plant just outside of Nevada. If you buy ethanol enhanced gas, you pay 10 cents less at the pump, and usually it is a higher grade!

A male pheasant crossed a road we were on. They are beautiful birds, and I haven't seen one for such a long time. It was a joy to see.

Adios, mahalo,
Love,
Sally