This book evolved from a story about a horney toad in the Nevada desert to a group of stories about our ancestors. What tales! From gold mines to grocery stores, a drum corps train trip, a litter of Scottie puppies, red heads and sand dunes. At least we have the Mandeville genealogy figured out: "Half Scotch and the rest ginger ale."

Originally, we wrote this for our children Todd and Sonja, their families and future generations. But when we reached the end of writing stories and finding photographs in old albums, we felt the book had taken on additional significance. It is a tribute to four generations of our ancestors and the amazing lives they lived.