On our way to Romania recently we stopped at Frankfurt for 2 nights and stayed with my niece, Javonne.

She showed us around this unique building not far from where she stays.

Notice the hole going into the building.

And then there were so many escalators going from here to there.

We walked in the rain and enjoyed looking at other buildings in the square.

The next day we took a boat ride up the Rhine River and enjoyed looking at the castles, vineyards, and landscape along the way.

This is the little port at Bachrach where the Heatwole’s hailed from.

I get to take care of Kirby today.

Yesterday afternoon we went to the Senior Piano & Violin Recital and Graduation Ceremony of Rachel Mast.

Rachel is so talented in both piano and violin. And then she was also so good in school.

Vicki hold’s Ashton.

I recently had a ride with Dustin in the tractor pulling the grain cart. We met up with Quinten in the combine.

Quinten swings out the auger getting read to load us up.

We drive back to the farm and meet Nathan & Trent coming for their load of wheat.

Dustin starts unloading our wheat into the grain bin. I keep watching the spout on top of the bin and nothing comes out. I keep checking and still no wheat is flowing into the bin.

Suddenly Dustin quickly opens the tractor door and hops over me to see what is wrong! A broken shear pin on the PTO.

On our way back East we traveled through Iowa …

… and made a stop in Missouri …

… at the Golden Gate Arch.

Here we are waiting for our turn to get in the little buggies that you ride up to the top of the arch.

We are inside the buggy now. I remember 33 years ago taking this same little ride with Grandfather Ralph and Grandmother Vera and my sister Polly the Patchworker. I took a picture of Grandfather & Grandmother cramped up in this little buggy which turned out so good. I went looking for that picture to post here and just couldn’t find it.

Amy at the top of the Arch.

Looking out over Saint Louis, MO.

Looking across the Mississippi River.

And then it was on toward home.

From Tennessee to Mississippi.

Thus ends our wonderful trip West.

Our trip West last summer included a drive through part of the Badlands.

The land is so vast and spectacular. It looked mighty dangerous for those 2 people at the top left of this next picture.

And then, our children did the same thing. I’m so thankful for God’s protection over us.

We stopped at this little out of the way place for a short break.

And then it was on to Iowa.

This morning I went to Maynard & Mary Bontrager’s auction.

And of course I found the quilts interesting.

I think Maynard’s mother, Fannie made this quilt that grandaughter Myra bought.

This one has a lot of hand work in it.

And this one is a hodge podge of fabric.

We attended our school’s closing program with a ball game first. These youngsters had fun together while some of the older ones played ball.

Play ball.

The cheerleaders.

After the program our Sewing Circle presented a quilt to Ms. Rosalie for teaching for us for 3 years.

Each of her students names and grades were embroidered into the blocks.

Recently the wind blew 1/2 the roof off of one of Paul Shirk’s hog barns. Lots of help showed up to help clear away the mess.

This view is from the inside of the barn.

Some of the church ladies served lunch.

Grandchildren are so special.