On Display

Well, I checked out the website that Pam (Mike's coworkers' wife) sent me about the Estate Sales in the area..

I looked through all the pictures and saw something that peaked my interest.
Talked Sharen into joining me and decided to give it a looksie.  This wasn't too far from the house.

Now, in the past, we have stood around for endless hours waiting at auctions for our items to come up. More often than not we didn't need what we bought, just wanted it. Anybody want a crock pot or mixing bowl?
This sale was more like a garage sale, but on a MUCH larger scale.

Checked out the 2 pole barns and damn if we couldn't find it. It wasn't in the same place as the picture. I'm thinking I was too late - already been sold.

Wander on over to the house and run into a friend of my step-daughter. Turns out Dawn's grandmother runs these estate sales and Dawn and her husband Tommy were helping. This was a HUGE sale.

I spot my treasure in the garage. It had $25 on it. Dawn gave it to me for $20.

I remember my Grandmother (or maybe it was my Aunts) that lived on a farm - anyway one of them had one of these on their back porch for the wet laundry.

It's old and needed some cleaning, but was pretty sturdy.

 And perfect for showing off my quilts.

I can get 4 or 5 more quilts on this thing - so I better get sewing.

Mean while Sharen is in the house looking around and gravitates to the sewing stuff. They have a basket full of small buttons and snaps and eye hooks and ribbons and lace - "perfect for doll clothes" I tell her. Dawn gave us another discount and the basket ends up coming home with her.

They also had a shit load of thread. 2 thread holders full. Way over priced! I couldn't get it out of my mind, so the next day I talked Mike into going back over there with me. It was still there.
Dawn is there again and gives me the "friend" discount.

Now I always quilt with white thread. I don't know why, I just do.
Not anymore, I have some thread to use up. The 2 on the left are what I got.  I am sure some of it is weak and fragile, but 68 spools of thread and 18 bobbins for $20 it's worth a try. AND 2 thread holders.

Yeah, I think there is going to be a few more estate sales in my future.

Town Festival 2

It was a perfect night to listen to some Country music.

Sunday night Mike and I head on down to South Elgin's Riverfest to listen to a friend of ours.
Mike's short stop on his softball team, is also the lead singer to a popular country western music band in the suburbs.
Smokin Gunz
They even have a few groupies that show up.

I have to giggle. Granted Jim has an amazing voice (sounds a lot like Keith Urban), and he is not to shabby to look at, but seriously ladies. That's Jim!

 

 

He works as a custodian at our catholic Parrish during the day. When he's not singing with his band he is drag racing with his daughter. He lives in South Elgin. He loves to entertain.

When he's not climbing up onto the speakers he is out among the crowd singing.

 

Crowds get up off their feet and dance. Women go up to sing with him.

 

This same guy calls our house each week to find out when the softball game is.

Dummy me - I should of brought along his phone number I'm sure I could of sold it to a few women there. On second thought - Deb, his wife, probably wouldn't care for that though.

 

If you like country music and get the chance, go see them. He puts on one hell of a show. Most are free!



Tonw Festival 1

I love these neighborhood festivals.

Edison Park is just a hop, skip and a jump from Bryan and Mary's house.
We decided to join them and the kids for some music and fun on Saturday.

First we had to get the little ones snow cones. Roger made quick work of his.

 Luke couldn't get enough with the straw so he just stuffed it in his mouth with his hands.

 Roger took his first visit to a port-a-potty. Bryan said He was more interested in looking and touching everything instead of actually using it. Come on Dad, that's what handy wipes are for.

 Roger and Meemaw rockin' out to music. Turns out Roger likes the electric guitar. Me - I just like dancing with my grandson.

 On to the kiddie section. Papa bought a sting of tickets and Roger took off. They only let you go on each one 2 times and Roger was good about listening.

 He did get stuck on one slide. He couldn't get up the ladder that was in the middle of the slide. Mary had to reach in and pull him out. Thankfully there were other ones to play on.
Poor Luke - they didn't have ONE thing for him to climb on. Next year buddy!

 While Bryan and Mary stayed and had a quiet Anniversary dinner, Mike and I took the kids back to the house. We found this amazing foam U.S.A. puzzle for Roger and Luke is happy with stickers. We found some Mickey Mouse ones for him. And of course Mickey on the TV! Win - Win. Roger knocked out this puzzle in no time.  He knows most of the states and a few capitals. Amazes me!

Corn Boil

When I left my job I knew that I would not miss the people there.
I missed the job. The creative side of advertising. The solving of problems.
There is one person that I keep in touch with through emails, but that is about it.

Not the case with Mike's old job.
After 5 years these people still like each other.
Of course, all are retired and the conversations when they get together are not work related anymore, but they still get together once a month.
This month it was Larry's turn to pick the lunch place.
Larry is now working for Klein's and he has a "Corn Boil" picnic. 

The picnic was in Tyler Creek Forest Preserve. I forgot how beautiful it is there. The weather was perfect. No bugs. No Humidity. Just sunshine and fresh air.
The wives each brought a dish to pass.

 Larry boiled the corn out of the back of his pickup truck.

 The men gathered around the grill. No Surprise there. Larry had to move his melted butter to make way for the brats. Most watched as Mike and Gene cooked.

It was just nice to sit and visit with old friends.

I got reacquainted with some of the wives. Vicki, Gene's wife, has just started quilting. That conversation got me excited about sewing again. I gave her a few websites to check out. She has made 4 quilts and I laughed and told her to wait, if she likes it, it can be addicting. I am now on quilt #52.
Pam, Larry's wife, invited me along on her "Estate Sales" day.
I exchanged emails with a few of them and look forward to hearing from them.

We have been friends with Ed and Debbie for 30 years. It's been a few years since we have visited with them. The conversation continued like it was just yesterday.
It was so good to see them and meet their grandkids.

Yeah, 30 plus people showed up and All had a good time.

I Want One

My husband is pretty handy.
And he loves a good project.
After all the chairs, tables, flower and garden boxes he has made for everyone else I finally had a project for him.

My cushions on my back deck needed a home.
If it looked like rain they would end up just inside the back door on the floor in the family room.

 I needed a box for the back deck that would serve as a table and hold my cushions.
Something light weight so I could move it around and also water and animal tight.
All I had to do is give him my dimensions and he was hard at work in the basement.

I saved some old fencing from when the tree fell on our fence a couple years ago and I finally had a use for it. My original thought was using it for picture frames.
I told Mike that I wanted crap wood for the trim. He suggested I go with him to the store. That was a smart move on his part - he was not seeing my vision. We were the only ones looking for the beat up, nasty, no one wants wood. A quick coat of white stain on the trim and it will look perfect.
The top is still blank, but I have big plans for a quilt top pattern made out of tiles. The Re-Store shop has tile for a nickel.

 My pillows fit in it perfect.