Ward & Elynor's Summer 2007 Wanderings--Part VII

We drove from Olivia MN directly to Cousin Harry Kunkle's home in Altoona IA -- a suburb east of Des Moines. There we met Cousin Edythe Cavanaugh, Harry's sister who had drove down from her farm home near Lohrville IA just for this visit.

The three cousins, their ages spanning nearly 20 years, show obvious familial traits -- they are all handsome and good-looking. Grumpy is proud to be related to all and married to one.

We had a late lunch together in Altoona and then the Grand Mother and Grumpy hurried along to Carlisle, south of Des Moines for a late afternoon and evening visit with Grumpy's sister, Hazel, and his Nephew Paul.

Another pleasant surprise greeted us when we arrived at Hazel's house: our cousin, Jeannie "B" had arrived that day from Washington State! Jeannie had sold her farm near Everett and acquired a motor home in which she was planning on "seeing the USA". We (Hazel, Jeannie, Paul and Grumpy) enjoyed an evening of visiting and a meal together before Jeannie had to continue on down the road to find her night's accommodation -- much more flexible when you are driving your home!

A familiar face that greeted us was Tootsie, previously our welcomer when we came to visit her former mistress, Rachel in Marysville WA. Tootsie is as peppy and mischievous as ever, Paul having taught her a couple of new tricks: sitting/staying and laying down, both of which she performs on command from Paul.

We had been unable, before we left Seattle, to make contact with the Bell families in and around Topeka, so it was with great happiness that we were able to get valid telephone numbers from Paul which allowed Grumpy to finally talk to his Niece Kathy Hurla in Topeka. Kathy generously offered to call and try to gather all of her brothers and as many of her ten children as were available in the area to come to a picnic supper the next afternoon/evening after they got off work. This gave us a morning to visit and have breakfast with Sister Hazel and Nephew Paul. We had whole-grain waffles with yogurt and blue berries, plenty of black coffee and some more good visiting before leaving in late morning for our date with the Hurla's and Bell's and Co.