Greetings from Kennebunk, Maine Thursday I very carefully typed in a journal note for the blog, and as I went to strike "post" the computer shut off! It was mine to use for 30 minutes, and it had a timer that shut it off automatically at that time. This was in my hometown library, Portsmouth (NH) Public Library. Here at the Kennebunk Library we are signed in for an hour with longer time available if no one is waiting for the computer. We left southwest PA last Saturday and I must say we've accomplished a lot. We spent the first night in Wilkes Barre, PA. On Sunday our path took us through Acquidneck Island, Rhode Island, the site of Newport and Portsmouth. We checked out the old Cornell homestead (of my ancestors, 1600s), which was rumored to have reopened as a restaurant and perhaps bed and breakfast. Had it been, we planned a meal there. However, it was deserted. At the Portsmouth Historical Society they said the owner had died and his daughter lived there, using it as a private residence. That evening we arrived at my father's cousin's Cape Cod cottage in Dennis Port. We'd only met briefly once before in 2003 (I'm from a split family so have not met or at times even known about some of my relatives). We had a delightful stay there, getting to know each other and trading genealogy information. Bob graciously presented me with a family Bible, a wedding gift to my great great (I think) grandparents in 1853. And the sunsets were beautiful! On Monday Monte and I took a walk, leaving Bob time to perform the tasks of closing his summer cottage and opening his winter residence in Florida. We stopped at a fish market where Bob said he purchased fish, and lo and behold there was a 16 pound lobster! The owner held it up for a photograph, although he didn't hold it too high because he said it was so heavy. At $8 a pound, Monte calculated it would cost $128 to purchase this lobster! And at it's age, it was likely to be a pretty tough eat! Monday evening we took Bob and Monte's nephew, Gaylord and his wife Dale to a restaurant for dinner. We arrived during a great short-lasting sunset that brought my camera out of its case. Tuesday we took off to Worcester, Mass., the site of the Antiquarian Society, where we spent Wednesday and half a day on Thursday. It was easy to get to and easy parking, to our surprise. It was an interesting experience. They have many RULES. We had to present two forms of identification, one with a photo, and a description of our research project just to get in. Then we filled out two forms and met with a staff member who instructed us on how to find documents. Only THEN could we use the facility. And there were rules. No pens, only pencils. Purses, bags, etc. were to be placed in a locker, not taken into the library. We could take paper and laptops in. They had wireless connection, which I didn't use. I used the electric plugs under the tables. We could use the computer for E-mails and personal use. I was corrected numerous times. To hold book pages down, they had "page holders." I didn't use them, initially---didn't know about them.You don't set the clear plastic book holders on your lap, only on the table. Oops! You don't lift manuscript papers up to read them (I was doing that with a paper that was glued to a piece of cardboard). You'd better not let your folders get too close to the documents you are perusing. And you had to present a card to leave the facility. However the staff was generally very helpful. I was disappointed they didn't have some of the materials I thought they'd have, but otherwise I was able to examine original documents I'd only seen snippets from. We were in the library when they had their Wednesday tour. We saw an old printing press and the file rooms where old newspapers, documents and books were stored. In the old section there were glass floors, and in the newer section they had rolling shelves that saved space. I caused somewhat of a problem because I needed to use the elevator (my knee was giving me some trouble and the stairs were many). A staff member took me back through stacks and files and offices to the elevator each time stairs were necessary. In the room where a contracted company was making microfilms of various works, the current item being filmed was a Washington County (PA) newspaper from 1820. He nixed the idea of my taking a picture for the local Pennsylvania newspaper, however. Meanwhile, we had word that a distant cousin, Sue (nee Des Isles, a mutual family name) was to be in Portland through Saturday. That changed our plans somewhat, and we proceeded to Kittery, Maine, within an hour's drive of Portland, where we could be positioned to meet her (we'd been in correspondence since about 1999 but never met---her living in an Atlanta suburb and me living outside of Pittsburgh). She would check with her hostess to see if there was a time we could arrange to meet. And so for now, I close this notation. Next to come will be the people we've met along the way, people we had on our list and were successful so far in scheduling. We hope all of our writers in Pennsylvania and our friends all over are doing well. Take Care! Carolyn | 
