Summertime

Well this long hot summer is coming quickly to its simmering end here in Indiana. The past few weeks have set some records for heat index. But we've managed to stay cool through all kinds of activities. One of the highlights of our visits is playing with our "grand dogs." Here's one of them, Rio, who is absolutely devoted to retrieving anything you throw for her. She's intensely watching her "Gramps" for any twitch of his body that may indicate the ball will be going airborne.

Our trip to the Allen County Genealogical Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a couple of weeks ago was a great time. If any of you are interested in genealogy, this is a fantastic place to visit, with a huge selection of references, records and data. For those who aren't genies, it's a fully functional, new and impressive library in a nice town. There's a friendly, helpful atmosphere throughout. We spent a few days digging up some old bones and enjoying our spot at the Johnny Appleseed Campground. Do you know about John?
Wikipedia says:
Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman (September 26, 1774–March 18, 1845), was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced the apple to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. He became an American legend while still alive, largely because of his kind and generous ways, his leadership in conservation, and also because of the symbolic importance of apples.
Well some friendly folk at this campground pointed out that Johnny is buried just up the hill so we had to go find his gravesite.




While at our home in the Johnny Appleseed Campground, we made some new friends who invited us to their sing-along night. It was a blast! You just never know who you'll meet out on the road. We are thinking that these will be some of our most cherished friends in the coming years. Whadya think?


And what better to complete the summer than a visit to the State Fair?! A few days ago I had a great time taking in the animals and eating everything fried with my daughter, Krissy. We had just enough time to watch the Percheron horse shows, see the worldest largest sow and the state champion piglets, peruse the photography, art and crafts building, sample the fair food-contest-winning Cajun Corn Dogs. Then for the perfect ending to the day, we had to get an elephant ear to go.