Our local Machine Shed Restaurant opened in 1978, just a couple of years after we moved back to central Iowa. It’s been a favorite through the years, the perfect place to celebrate an event or share with out-of-towners.

We’ve enjoyed lunch there with cousins Larry and Leora Wilson Willoughby, then living in Oregon. Leora was the daughter of Delbert Wilson (the oldest of the five brothers who served in WWII). Several years later their son Jeff Willoughby (from California) visited Iowa for the first time, toured “everything Wilson” (Dexter, Guthrie Center, and Perry), and experienced the Machine Shed.

I’m so grateful that the Machine Shed has carried my books for sale since late 2019. And even hosted book club for breakfast–they’d all read Leora’s Letters.

Our American Stories came to Iowa one July for a special evening at the Machine Shed, with WHO-Radio personalities and an evening of stories. Favorites were chosen, with great prizes.

Retired folks from the Des Moines Control Tower meet there for breakfast once a month.

Duane Wilson is a first cousin of Jeff Willoughby. He and his son Jordan Wilson drove up from Arkansas to see the Dallas County Freedom Rock (Duane and Jeff’s grandfather was Delbert Wilson). I couldn’t do the “Wilson tour” with them, so Gloria was their tour guide–after lunch at the Shed.

Earlham classmates (1962) have met there for a mini-reunion, as have our Neal cousins.

Last year I met authors Craig Matthews (March) and Robin Grunder (April) for the first time. That meant Machine Shed treats with them.

And just us We enjoy regularly having lunch there, greeting long-time favorite waitresses (one who lives on our street and rides her scooter to work when the weather cooperates), all wearing bib overalls. We had dinner there Sunday. Yes, there were leftovers!