Are we in heaven? No, it's Iowa...

“A traffic jam in Allamakee County is when you get caught behind a school bus AND a tractor.”

Summer in northeast Iowa is beautiful. Sunshine, occasional thunderstorms (like last night) with amazing lightning and thunder, fireflies and locusts – all day and all night. We were blessed with a full house today as Uncle Bill, Aunt Darlene and Zach came up from Dubuque, Aunt Carol traveled from Bloomington, Wally, Gloria and Pam came across town, and Dan Whalen (from Eugene, Oregon!) joined us with his sister for dessert. It wouldn’t be summer without homemade peach fuzzies by Pam, sweet corn, and grilled pork for dinner.

It’s the first time we’ve been back to Waukon since Grandma passed away. Hard to believe it’s been four years since her death – her laugh and memories haven’t faded from the home. We’re heading to Mass in the morning at St. Patrick’s, and back for breakfast here with Bill’s famous homemade grape juice (which is almost enough to make me want to move to Dubuque).

We finished the night down in Doc Brae’s fields, getting shots of his newly painted barns, and the sunset in Waukon. A few of those should be posted shortly...