Photo #151/365: The Dove in the Olive Tree

This is another banner painted by my cousin, Nancy. I really love the work she does. She created this work on linens that she found in my aunt and uncle's house, which gives the pieces even more history.

Photo #150/365: The Altoona Cemetery

This is the road in and out of the Altoona Cemetery. Because today is Memorial Day the flags are flying. Since both my dad and my brother, Dan, are veterans, I appreciate the time that people take to put all the flags in place. Today is a very windy day, so you can really see the flags waving.

Photo #149/365: Willits Cousins

These are my Willits cousins, children of Uncle Virgil and Aunt Virginia. This is Bob, Rich, Nancy and Jim. Jacci took the photo above with her iPhone. Below you will see other photos of my cousins and their children.

Photo #148/365: Our Old House

We can't take a trip into Nebraska without taking a detour and driving by the house in Omaha, where we grew up. There were six of us, counting Mom and Dad, and we grew up in this three bedroom, U. S. Steel prefab house. It was green when we lived there, with a stone facade under the picture window. There were lots of good times in this house on South 39th Street.

Photo #147/365: Uncle Virgil and Aunt Virginia

There were many photos of my aunt and uncle, but I liked this one that was taken in their later years surrounded by the colorful candy. Below is a photo of some earlier photos along with some wooden leaves with their names burned into the wood.

Photo #146/365: Turtle Banner

This is another banner made by my cousin, Nancy. This one is to commemorate my Uncle Virgil, who considered the turtle to be his symbol. I was not aware of this until the memorial service. I was always very fond of my uncle, and I consider turtles to be my symbol. For me it symbolizes tenacity, patience, and endurance.

Photo #145/365: Butterfly Banner

It's funny how some weeks, there is an abundance of photographic opportunities, and other weeks, not so much. We've had lots of rainy and dreary days in the past week, so I need to do some catching up again. The next several photos come from a trip Mom, Jacci, and I made to Lincoln, Nebraska. We were attending the memorial service for my Uncle Virgil Willits and my Aunt Virginia Willits. Aunt Virginia passed away this past December, 2008. Uncle Virgil passed away in April, 2008. It was the first time in many years to see my cousins, and the first time ever to meet their children.

My cousin, Nancy, is an artist, and she created several bannors for the memorial. The butterfly is a symbol that my Aunt Virginia liked.