Family

Spent Wednesday driving south from Hannibal toward St. Louis Missouri, to visit Cahokia Mounds.  We took in the Visitor's Center and climbed the largest Mound.  I followed a path through the prairie vegetation from one site to another.   It was very interesting and informative.    From the top of the Mound we could see the St Louis Arch.  We spent a second night in Hannibal before heading home,

Thursday we took backroads driving from Hannibal, Missouri to Elgin, Illinois  It was lovely countryside.  We discovered Coatsburg, Illinois is the birthplace of William S. Gray, one of the authors of the Dick and Jane readers.    We also drove through Cherry, Illinois and learned that in 1909, it was the site of third largest Coal Mine disaster in the US.   It is truly amazing what you discover when you go off the beaten track!

Waddles is parked in my sister's driveway for the next week or so. Today I did laundry and changed out the flannel sheets for cooler sheets.    It was almost 90 degrees today and predicted to be hot and humid for the next couple days.    The Pendleton blankets are also off the bed!

Today I took the car in for an oil change and general check to make sure everything is operating properly.  Got a clean bill of health.  My sister and I then drove to Rockford Illinois to visit the gravesite of an aunt and uncle.  I had never been there, so it was lovely.   Then we attempted to find the historical society office to see if we could find more information about these relatives.  That search took us to a museum, where the historical society meets, but they do not have an office.  What WAS there was the Sock Monkey Museum!!!   I didn't know that was on my bucket list, but it was pretty darn cool!

We will be attending my great niece's High School Graduation party tomorrow.