A Visit from the Bowles

This week Greg's parents came to visit! And we got a new air conditioner! So it was a good week. Greg's parents arrived on Monday, and on Tuesday evening we had a nice time attending the flag lowering ceremony at Lincoln's Tomb. Although it was REALLY hot outside! At least we weren't wearing wool uniforms like the 114th Regiment soldiers though. And at least the house was nice and cool when we got home that evening :)

Here are the soldiers in front of the Tomb. The flag lowering ceremony is so neat!

I had to take a picture of this man's shirt--it made me laugh :) Words to live by . . .

Also this week I put together a new mini exhibit display for the museum. When I discovered the "Mormon War" cannonball in our collection, my boss told me that if I could find something else to go with it, I could create a display about the Mormon War. So I was going through our artifact records, and I discovered that we had a pistol that belonged to the Adjutant General of Illinois during the Mormon War period, and that he was involved with the troops who were sent to Nauvoo to "keep the peace"! I couldn't believe it when I discovered the link to the Mormon War!

So I put together this display, and my boss really likes it, so he said we can find a place for it in the museum. I'm really glad because it seems that the Mormons in Illinois kind of get glossed over in Illinois history--but with the Nauvoo Legion and the Battle of Nauvoo, the Mormon period is a significant part of Illinois military history.

So we had a fun week here hanging out with Greg's parents--we had a nice visit to Tuscola to do some shopping on Thursday, and then they left for Iowa on Saturday. This coming week should be busy and fun as well. It is also going to get really hot again this week, but luckily we have air conditioning now! And coming up this week is Pioneer Day--one of my favorite holidays!!