Potter Mania

I haven't read the new book yet or seen the new movie, but I took a quiz on sorting-hat.com and discovered I'm a Ravenclaw. I'd rather be in Griffindorf with Harry, Ron and Hermonie...

July 24, 2007 - I'm 51!

It's my birthday! I'm fifty-one today... really, it's a good thing.

St. Patrick's Church Mexican Fiesta

Gorgeous, colorful, big paper flowers decorated the fiesta giving it a Mexican flair! As usual, the food was great - ole!

Day Trippin' in Galena

Mom and I stopped at our favorite restaurant on Highway 61 for breakfast. They have great Flapjack potatoes in addition to Flapjack pancakes! Good coffee too.

We arranged to take two trolley tours of Galena. The first one was a two hour tour that included three properties, such as Dowling House, the oldest house in Galena 1826, the Belvedere House & Gardens and President Ulysses S. Grant's home. Our next tour was of the city. Our guide drove us around and pointed out beautiful architecture indicative of Galena, Illinois.

After our tours we went shopping in downtown Galena. This town is packed with all kinds of shops, like antique and book stores and of course, coffee. I found a fabulous Laurel Burch tote bag and a book on Galena architecture.

2peas Challenge:

If you could take a drive to anywhere, where would you go? Niagara Falls!
This photo just takes my breath away. Someday I'm going to experience the majestic beauty of these falls.

Welcome Kiwi

This is Kiwi. Denver adopted her from the Knox County Animal Shelter this spring. What a beautiful, energetic little kitten. She's a keeper!

Little Bit

Aunt Madge's new dog, Little Bit. She adopted her early this spring. Welcome to the family!

Fourth of July

Group picture taken in Oquawka July 4, 2007 (left to right): Denver, Renee, Erin, Patrick, Nichole, Lara, Mom, Cindy, Aunt Madge, Aunt Ethel, Jerri Anne, Jean Murray. Not pictured: Little Bit & Kiwi

President Clinton at Knox College

President Clinton surprised everyone when he popped out the east door of Old Main at Knox College. The crowd exploded giving Clinton a rock star welcome! His commencement address was peppered with humor and wit. The crowd loved hearing him talk about his antics with Stephen Colbert, Rush Limbaugh and George Bush Sr. Colbert threatened to burn his honorary degree, so Knox sent him a fireproof, steel diploma!

Bill Clinton is no stranger to Galesburg. While president, he came to Carl Sandburg College on January 10, 1995, to announce his Middle Class Bill of Rights. Me, George, Mom and Jerri Anne saw Clinton at Galesburg High School in the gymnasium. It was similar to a pep rally. That was my first experience in meeting a president and the secret service.

Clinton will be the latest in a line of current, former and future presidents to visit Knox College: Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush. Maybe we'll see Hillary Clinton in 2009...

Knox College's commencement was one of the hottest tickets in town. We were able to tote our lawn chairs and listen to his speech. Nearly 6000 attended. Knox provided President Clinton's transportation but didn't have to pay anything for the speech. What a guy!