The Land of Cheese

Great Great Aunt Dorie and Eleanor

Today we made it to Monroe, WI, the ancestral home of my father's side of the family. The Bennetts were dentists, farmers and bankers and descended from Swiss cheese makers that settled in the New Glarus area of Wisconsin.

We met my parents at the Gasthaus hotel late in the afternoon with our car full of cats, baby gear, and baby cries. Grandma and Grandpa were eager to see their little Granddaughter, but were understanding when Eleanor seemed a little out of sorts from the long ride.

This evening we were invited to Eleanor's Great Great Aunt Dorie's house for drinks before dinner. Eleanor was a little disgruntled from her long car ride from Ohio, so we decided it would be best to just order pizza instead of going out to a restaurant. Her Great Uncle David was also at Dorie's house and the 7 of us had a nice relaxed evening dining on 3 types of pizza, Monroe cheeses and Dorie's wonderful homegrown and homemade rhubarb cake.

Great Aunt Dorie presented little Eleanor with some lovely childhood books and her family baby ring. Dave and I were very touched to receive such precious gifts for Eleanor.

Great Uncle David holds his Great Niece