My flights from Lima to St Louis were uneventful and on time. Steve and Antonio dropped me off at the airport
and it took me less than thirty minutes to check in, give them my bag, get through security and immigration. I spent the time waiting for my boarding call having an airport hamburger and reading some from a book I have with me. Rita was waiting for me at the airport in St Louis, my bag was on the carrousel quickly and we were in the car on our way to Albion. This would be my first opportunity to see her new home, finished except for a few minor details . All I can 
say is that it’s a huge beautiful monster. I’m sure glad I don’t have to clean it. She’s very happy though and that’s what matters in the end. I unpacked, toured the house and we lounged after arriving; I was tired from lack of sleep in the last 40 hours.
The next day it was up and at it, lots to do. The Sorghum Festival doesn’t organize itself. Rita and I were off to Carmi. I 
needed to stop at the Walmart there and pick up a few things, chief among them, a renewal card for my pay as you go phone. Rita shopped for some food supplies and then we headed to the local pumpkin stand to buy an assortment of the squashes for decorating and carving. Thirty three small pumpkins and five large ones later, we paid and headed back to the house. For the next two days it was all about getting ready for the festival. Large pots of Mums for decoration, bales of hay had to be moved and the park area needed cleaned up somewhat. That’s only the end of it. My dear Sister had much more on her plate that was finished before I even arrived. They had actually made batches of Sorghum the weekend before I arrived.
My niece Amy and her family arrived Thursday evening. It was great seeing my grandnephews again. They sure have grown in the last year. Amy has started home schooling them and so far it’s going very well. She and the boys seem to enjoy the experience and from what I 
can tell they are learning at a faster pace. Amy and David jumped right in and also helped get the area ready. George’s, my sister’s husband, were also on hand to help. By the time Saturday morning rolled around, we were all ready to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. As always, the festival was a smashing success. The crowd was the largest of any that I had attended.
Friends and family brought a large assortment of goodies for everyone to eat. My favorites were the persimmon cookies and walnut pie. Two guys made chili and butter bean soup, the Wyman Brothers made fresh squeezed apple cider (hmmm hmmm good) and I made pancakes for the 
morning crowd with my sister’s great batter. For interest, there was a man making brooms, one deseeding corn and another making cornmeal from the seeds. There was a little train ride for the kids to a pumpkin patch where they were able to pick one to take home with them. All in all the entire event was a smashing success.
Friday morning I went for a walk down a couple of the country lanes with my cameras. The opportunities for good photos were at every turn of my head. The day was beautiful and the sun at the perfect angle for lighting. I walked all the way to Bone Gap Road, I love that name and a short story is in the works. It leads you to the small town of Bone Gap, look it up in 
Wikipedia for a small bit of interesting history. The only writing I will have accomplished this week will be the beginning of that short story and this post for my webpage. I’m not feeling guilty about it though considering the extra work I have been doing for my Sis.
Well, that’s it for this post. I will be here spending time with my Sister till Thursday. Then, I’m off to spend 11 days at Mona and Kelly’s while I try to get some visit time in with as many of my old friends as possible. I hope all of you enjoyed your week as much as I have mine. Stay active, work a few puzzles for the old brain and remember the joy of life.