August 8-9: Lake Oswego, Oregon

Near Portland. A full dance card of friends to see.

I splurged on a room with a beautiful new of the lake.

Eloise in the Water

I spoke too soon. While I went to have dinner with an old friend in Bremerton, Penny took the dogs down to the lake, where Louise once more slipped her harness and proceeded to play in the water, but not swim.

August 4-7: "Cousins at the Lake" in Port Orchard, Washington

A houseful of relations at a rented lake house at Lake Carney. Many young children. Eloise, as it turns out, is just fine with kids, even with young and clueless ones. They have to be told to leave Bobby alone, however.

Eloise has no interest in water, however, while my Washington sister's Jack Russell terrier enjoys swimming and waterboarding. Go figure.

August 3: Missoula, Montana

Across the beautiful state of Montana to Missoula.

The Missoula LaQuinta offers creekside breakfast--a terrace off the breakfast room overlooking the water.

I find Missoula very appealing, but my relations remind me that this is August. If I don't like winter in New England, I sure wouldn't like it in Missoula.

August 2: Gillette, Wyoming via Mount Rushmore

We took a little detour to the south to see Mount Rushmore, and arrived late in Gillette. Today, on to Missoula, Montana.

Lammas in Sioux Falls

Through the farmlands of southern Wisconsin and Minnesota, rich and green-looking.

Windmills are everywhere. One billboard blares the input that "Wind power is not the answer!" It looks to me as if it is working for some people, anyway.

We made Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the night. On across South Dakota today.

Little Dogs on the Prairie

July 31: Madison, Wisconsin via Ripon

We took a detour a bit north to Ripon, Wisconsin, the town where I was born but which I only dimly remember because we moved away then I was three.

The address of the house where we lived is on my birth certificate, and Siri found it with no trouble:

One of my dim memories is that the house was white, but that of course can easily change in 70 years. Also that it was bigger, but it would be me, not the house that has changed in that respect.

There were at least 3 apartments--ours was upstairs and the bow-shaped room was our bedroom. There were kids cut-out pictures in the window, so it is still a kid(s)' bedroom.