Mayberry? No, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin

Duane (aka Shelly or Butch) was born and raised in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.  I think it bears a strange resemblance to Mayberry from the Andy Griffith show.  Here he is frolicking on the train tracks near where he used to live, when we visited a few years ago.

The "Falls" in Sheboygan Falls gave the town its name.  Not to be confused with the neighboring town of Sheboygan.  Duane has lots of stories of when he and his friends played on or near this river.  I think he was very much like Tom Sawyer.

Another "Mayberry" like place is where my sister Darlene lives----Marion, Indiana.  She's here with her husband, Robert, when we visited them a while back.  The thing that strikes you about both places is the sea of GREEN.  Of course, then there is the sea of white in the winter.

I was born in Chicago, Illinois, but when I was twelve, our family moved to McHenry, Illinois.  Here we are in our backyard.  Another Mayberry to be sure, as we had a large vegetable garden, rabbits and ducks.

After I was married, my parents moved to a small (very small) town called Koleen, Indiana and bought a farm.  One year when Heather and I visited, this picture was taken of my sister and me with our daughters, Heather and Chantelle, who are only a few days apart in age.  As I recall, Koleen had one store that still had high button shoes in the window (for real) and the post office was in someone's house.  Fun place to visit though.

Even though we lived in the big city of Chicago---I'm the little girl in the picture---people still congregated on porches or in backyards.  Holding me is my Uncle Leo, on the left is my dad, on the right is my Uncle Frank, and in back is my Grandfather, Anton, and my Uncle Eddie.  They are all from my father's side of the family.

Here in California, we still congregate in backyards, but many times there is a swimming pool.  At this barbeque we had lots of good friends.

And, maybe the porch is used for grilling when it rains.