Friday, the 3rd of August,

This isn't a great picture, unless you happen to be there beside me to see what is happening. I like to take a walk around the block every night after we have eaten dinner (guess I'm like a dog marking his territory) and I stopped at 8018 n. foss to talk to John and Amber and while we were talking these chimney swifts came swooping down and into the chimney. There must have been 50-75 of them that went into the chimney that night.

Was going back the next night, and I had a phone call from Jim back in Cedar Rapids, a distant cousin of mine, and by the time we had hung up, the darkness had come and the swifts were in the nest. I did get up yesterday morning however to see if I could see them coming out. Don't know if I was too early or too late, for I only saw one go in, and then come back out. This was taken on the 2nd, and I didn't get down to watch them tonight.

I know there is one school or church here in town that they come too every year, but I had never seen this happen in a neighborhood, especially ours. Am wondering now if they have ever used my fireplace chimney for their home.

I mentioned talking to Jim, his great, great, great grandfather and my great. great grandfather were brothers. They were Johann Jacob Schmuckle (1759) and Johann Michael Schmuckle (1764) sons of Johann Michael Schmuckle (1726). We'll be venturing to Iowa later on this month and I hope to have coffee or lunch with Jim, and look over a book his father wrote, using the materials Jim was able to pickup when he was stationed in Germany some years back. I'm also having contact with my grandfathers sisters family,,,,,,,SO, in addition to going to the Stephenson reunion over Labor Day, we're going to do some Schmickling too.

Maybe another year and we can have a Schmickle reunion. Would be nice to have it this year, but time is getting short. The oldest member of the Schmickle's right now is probably Irvin who lives in LaFayette. I used to do chores for him when his family would take a vacation. Their barn had gas lights in them, altho by that time we used electricity. Their house and barn was set up with gas lights, and as I recall they had a cistern like thing they would put clorine or some sort of powder down into the water, and it would put off gas. I've probably got the wrong kind of chemical, and will do doubt blow the barn up, if used by my use.

My bathroom remodel at my daughters is almost done. ptl.... ANd I'm still working on paver stones from back porch to the alley. Got waylayed today, when my wife brought home about 50 zinnias to plant outside our back fence along the sidewalk. Of course the ground wasn't ready, I pulled the weeds yesterday to dry out, and today I worked sand into the soil with my Moe Hoe. Now some of you are wondering what a moe hoe is, so ask me, you probably have my email address, and the first one who asks gets the prize.

Sandra replyed first the other day and she got a hot fudge sundae out of her quick response. So lets hear it. my email howardonna@aol.com

Cherrio

Howard