July 14, 2011: This blog has been silent for a while due to 2 happenings. #1- we had technical difficulties that have thankfully been resolved. #2 – a trip of a lifetime was gifted to yours truly by my “big brother”.After a family reunion in Iowa with all six of our children and 7 of the 8 grandchildren (the Navy trumps Granny), a KLM jet took me from Chicago O’Hare to Frankfurt, Germany on June 1.I saw museums, cities, family celebrations, beer garden (picnic grove), and castles in Germany.  We took the ferry from Calais to Dover. I spent a week in London seeing the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, a ride on the Thames, Madame Tussauds, and the Tower of London.We traveled on the Tube (underground/subway). Then on the way home to Schweinfurt, we went to Stonehenge, Windsor, and Canterbury. Then back across the Channel to Calais.A day to empty the RV and do laundry and we were off again – on a bus trip to Paris for 4-nights and 3-days. Then it was June 29 and time to come home. Yes, I did miss Shinnston and the Gillum House. We look forward to welcoming YOU to the Gillum House soon.