Where Everyone Knows Your Name . . .

Friday, the 22nd. (I’ll catch up all the way eventually.)

Well, after our 15 hour drive on Thursday, it would have been nice to sleep in a little more, but we were excited to get together with the family, or at least the first part of it. So we were out the door a little before 9 to meet the group down the road a couple of miles at the Denny’s.


The Denny’s here in Vandalia is pretty much the local hometown diner, not only where everyone knows your name, but you’re probably related by blood or marriage to three quarters of them. But the food is good, the service is great, and the manager stops to chat with everyone. Just a really great place.

After breakfast Jan rode back with her sister Debbie to her house while I came back to the hotel to catch up on some client computer stuff, (and to also catch a nap) finally heading down to Debbie’s about 3pm. Tried to get some shots of all the hummingbirds around Debbie’s flowers and feeders, but they were mostly too fast. Did get one though.

Debbie's Hummingbirds

Debbie's Hummingbirds2

Later in the afternoon we drove south to Salem, IL to Debbie and Jim’s son Jason and his wife Laura’s home. Laura and Jason have 3 daughters close to Landon’s age so they all had a great time playing on their trampoline.

Jason's Trampoline

Then it was off to the Village Garden, a favorite restaurant in the Salem area. Once a defunct Golden Corral, it’s now a great dinner location.

And this little cutie is Annisten, Jason and Laura’s youngest, who just sat across from me and stared. All night. I guess she was wondering just who the hell I was. But she’s a real beauty.

Village Garden 1

This is Ella, Annisten’s older sister, who looks more and more like her mother Laura every day.

Village Garden 3

Another cutie.

The oldest, Avery Jane, I never did get a good picture of because she never stops moving. I’ll try again later.

Then after a great meal, it was back to Debbie’s for a while, and then on to the motel.

Sleep at last.

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Thought for the Day:

Don’t gamble; take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it till it goes up, then sell it. If it don’t go up, don’t buy it. — Will Rogers

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