I am so excited!

By the time this article is printed the new carpet will have been installed in the library expansion area and the items that used to be displayed there will all have new locations elsewhere in the museum.

We will have several computers available for researchers to use when

they visit our library as well as additional table space.

I have been asked how I am accomplishing all these changes when we barely have enough money to make payroll and bills! If there is a will there is a way has always been my philosophy.

Most of the changes have been labor intensified changes and the out pouring of volunteers has been overwhelming!

It is amazing what 10 pairs of hands can accomplish in a few hours and what friendship can form as these hands work together to complete a project!

The need for new printers and a few other items were paid for by an anonymous donation.

The only outstanding bill is for the carpet and some of that will be paid by donations that have been made to the museum library.

If you would like to help defray the remainder of that bill, you may send a donation with

&8220;carpet&8221; marked in the memo section of your check and we will use it for that purpose.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, think back to what you learned in school about the first Thanksgiving and how lucky we are to be living in Freeborn County, Minn., today.

When your family gathers for the holiday, share stories of past gatherings with your children or grandchildren and maybe start a new tradition.

What holiday traditions have continued in your family or which have not and why do you think they have not.

The final proof for &8220;Glimpses of Freeborn County 1930 &045; 1980&8221; has been submitted to the publisher for printing and we hope to have delivery of the finished book by early December.

Please watch the newspaper for more information on delivery dates and if you have not yet ordered your book, stop by or call the museum for details at 373-8003.

&8220;Glimpses of Freeborn County&8221; is a hardcover, coffee table style book that you will not want to miss getting, so don’t delay, order yours today and if you would like to order one for someone as a gift, we can send it directly to the recipient for you.

Remember to mark your calendars for our Christmas open house, which will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4.

It’s already beginning to look like Christmas in a few spots in the museum and the spirit of the season will continue to evolve as we uncover items from the past to preserve and represent traditions of the holidays from the past.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

(Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum in Albert Lea.)