Birthday brunch

Sunday was Mary's birthday and we had a present for her so I made plans with Bryan to have brunch together. I also promised Bryan some of the coffee cake and cinnamon rolls that I had made.



We thought it would be cool to go into the city and sit outside somewhere and enjoy the great weather. That is exactly what we did. We ended up at O'Donovans. The brunch was really good and I had my first mimosa since Thanksgiving (Couldn't let Mary drink alone on her birthday).
The traffic was light coming and going and it was great to catch up on their doings.

Job Search

When I first signed up for unemployment the guy asked me what my experience was. Since I had been working in the newspaper Advertising field that is what he had put down for job openings for me.
My keywords for a job search is marketing, advertising, and clerical. I have 2 job sites that e-mail me with job openings with these keywords listed. Now I have been getting a few job postings each week - Only one that I applied for (at a golf course)

After moving plants around in my gardens this weekend - sewing new bags for the bags game and also starting on my "patriotic" quilt table runner - baking bread, muffins and then the coffee cakes - I changed my keywords to baking, sewing, and gardening.

I contacted the job training dude down at the unemployment office and told him to change my training class from web design to cake decorating.

You know what, I have had enough with the desk/computer world to not want to do it again and I would rather spend my time in a kitchen baking, planting flowers in a park, or helping quilters pick out material for a quilt for that special someone or even making that quilt.
I may never get any job offers from Career Builders but it's worth a shot!

Rhubarb Coffee Cake

We always had rhubarb in our back yard growing up. Sharen and I would grab a bowl of sugar and sit in the grass and dip the rhubarb in the sugar and eat till we got stomach aches. I had some on Kate, but I didn't bring some to this house. Don't know why.
When I stopped by Mom's yesterday she had received some rhubarb from her neighbor and since I have been craving it I asked her for some.
I don't remember where I got this recipe, I think it was from Bryan's great grandmother Mazie, but it is one of my favorite for rhubarb.

Recipe "Pioneer Woman" style.

1 1/2 C. packed brown sugar - 2/3 C. Vege oil - 1 egg - mix until smooth

Combine 2 1/2 C flour - 1t salt - 1t baking soda - add to sugar mixture alternating with 1 C milk




Stir in 2 C rhubarb chopped

In a small bowl combine 1/3 C white sugar - 3/4 C chopped walnuts - 1T melted butter

Sprinkle on top of batter and bake 350 degrees 35 minutes

When all baked give some to Sharen (she loves coffee cake) Take some to Mom to say thank you for the rhubarb and then send some to Mike's office for the goodbye breakfast.

I also baked some more cream cheese coffee cake for the last time for Mike's office.

Saying goodbye part 2

This weekend we said goodbye to the "little red truck".
Dup, being the greatest salesman of all time, actually sold it for us. The guy who works in the body shop at Heritage son was looking for some cheap, reliable wheels. They came and test drove it and then took it home. He's 17 and so excited to have his first car, or truck in this case. I think the thing that was the most exciting for him was the CD player that I had installed for Mike's birthday a couple of years ago. He was afraid that it only had a AM radio.

Saying Goodbye

The City of Elgin's Community Development Department had a retirement party for the 5 people in management from their Department that are leaving.
Many of Mike's co-workers and friends came to say goodbye and wish him well.

Anyone who know us knows that usually I'M the one with a beer in my hand hopping from table to table visiting with everyone at a party while Mike drinks his Diet Pepsi.
Last night it was Mike's turn to let go and have a good time sharing beers and shots with his friends.

Tequila shots with Sofia and Shelia

John R. who is retiring too and John M who wishes it was him

Debbie, who Mike hired and is leaving too and Carolyn who started 6 months before Mike and leaving soon

Mike's conference partner in crime, Dan from Lake Zurich showed up.












Sharen and Dup made an appearance.











All of our kids were there (special thanks to Bryan and Mary for leaving work early and driving out - I know it meant a LOT to Mike)

I sat there drinking my iced tea listening to stories and watching Mike getting hugs and hand shakes from members of the city council, city attorneys, city inspectors, city clerks, and all the office staff.

I always knew that Mike loved his job with code enforcement and the satisfaction that he got out of doing his job and teaching code enforcement to others, but now I know how much he actually contributed to the city and that the people respected and loved him.

"Honey Do" List

I had a "Honey Do" list of things for Mike to do when he is in retirement.
My being layoff with just time on my hands has put a major dent into HIS list. Monday I stained the hot tub - Tuesday I moved the cord of wood that was leaning up against the shed so we can paint it later - so today I said enough of that "Sh** I called my Mom and asked her to spend the day with me.
She had some things to get at Walgreens so we got that taken care of and then headed down to the Veteran's Memorial Park I know she had never seen it and I wanted to show her the bricks that Mike and I bought for the family.
She was impressed with the park and I was proud to tell her that Mike had a hand in getting the thing in Elgin.

Water Aerobics

I signed up for a water aerobics class with Terri on Tuesday mornings at the Y. Our first visit we sat and watched to see what kind of class it was. Our first class last week we were 20 minutes late. We thought it started at 9:30am. opps!
Today we got there a little early to see if the 8:00 water "boot camp" was something we could handle. We are the youngest in the 9:00 class by far, in fact I went all through school with the teacher. It's all old women who sing during the exercises. Terri and I both were wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.

We decided we would rather be the young ones pushing the old ladies instead of being the slow ones holding the class back. Myrna asked me if I was coming on Thursday too. Terri has to work, but I just may go and sing along.

Birthday Weekend

This weekend we celebrated 2 birthdays.
Friday was Brian's and he came over for some ribs. Him and Mike went and saw the Star Trek movie. Both liked it!
***Nothing to do with the birthday's but our Netflix movie this week was Australia - Loved it, even though I did not think Nicole Kidman would be any good in it (she is too soft for me)! Mike liked it too....
Sunday we were invited out to Stacy's for her birthday and to watch the Hawks game. Mike let me borrow one of his Blackhawk sweaters because I don't have anything hockey and we were all decked out in hockey gear.
We got Stacy's a blackhawk t-shirt. I knew she wouldn't have anything hockey to wear either.

This is how she watched the game. Her Saturday night was a long one.

Kory cooked steaks on the grill.

After the game we had cupcakes and ice cream.

The dog gave up on Logan sharing his cupcake and caught some rays instead.

Hangin with The Great Nephew

My phone rings early Tuesday morning. I'm thinking no one calls me this early, must not be good. Turns out it was WAY good - It was Carrie asking if I would watch Matthew who was feeling under the weather. Dave had to be at work at noon and would I come over. Yeah!!!
We hung out, sang some silly songs, read a book (Sox and the City), had a nap, took a long walk around the neighborhood (of course Bailey wouldn't let us go without her), swung in the swings out back, and hung out in the driveway till Mom got home.
I think Matt heard that I was off work and wanted to play hookie from daycare and hang with his Great Aunt Karen.
The smile tells it all!

Mother's Day

My Mother's day was filled with love. Bryan and Mary and I went over to my Mom's Sunday morning for a quick visit. She had to get ready for Nate's college graduation. Congratulations Nate - Good Job!
On the way home I had the oldies station on the radio and this song came on the radio. I left it on because Bryan and Mary hadn't heard it before. It really is tough to get through the first time you hear it without crying especially on Mother's Day. Right Bryan!




All my kids came over to visit.....
The big kids hung out on the deck the little kids played with my Mother's Day Present

Crash Boom Bang

Friday night while Lahcen, Bryan, Mary, and I were sharing a few bottles of wine, Steve consuming his version of water (Diet Coke), Mike disappeared.
There were noises coming from the basement. Of course the conversation was too interesting for anyone to go see what was going on.
Apparently when Mike was down there blowing up the air mattress this happened.

Mike's first project in retirement - New ceiling in the basement.

Steve comes Home

Steve hasn't called Elgin home in quite a few years, but he WAS born and raised here and still has family and friends here.
It was great to see him and meet his new friend, Lahcen.
They were in town for a family reunion with all of Steve's brothers and spent a few days with us. After a delayed flight on Thursday night we caught up with each others lives for a few hours before jet lag kicked in. Friday Mike drove them around Elgin to show Lahcen Steve's childhood stomping grounds and then into Chicago to taste some deep dish pizza and shop on Michigan Avenue. I stayed home and made a crock pot dinner and way too much food.
We visited some more, drank some wine (Okay Lahcen and I were the only ones drinking till Bryan and Mary came). We got acquainted with Lahcen and liked him more and more. He was living in Paris and has a sexy accent.
Saturday morning we put a major dent into my baking and all feedback was positive. Yay to me!
Steve and Lahcen headed out Saturday night. We enjoyed having them here and are looking forward to going back to New York to visit.

Baker

Herb's bakery is a local bakery in town. Dad would go there every Saturday mornings to get a loaf of their bread. If he worked on Sat. we would stop after church on Sunday to get it. I loved to go inside with him and look at all the goodies and take in the smell of fresh baked bread.
As I mentioned before I love the website that Michelle has posted - "Pioneer Woman" - I especially wanted to try the Cinnamon Rolls.
Yesterday my kitchen was turned into a bakery. I have the time and I had a reason with company coming this weekend. I got all the ingredients (I did have to run down to Sharen's and raid her pantry for some vege oil) at the store and had a ball spending the day in my kitchen baking. I know Steve loves my cream cheese coffee cake so I made him some of that too and the bananas on the counter were just asking to be made into bread so here is the results of my day in the kitchen.
2 loaves of Banana Bread - 4 Cream Cheese Coffecakes and 53 Cinnamon Rolls

A Great Walk

Sharen took off on Monday and we followed Jon around the golf course. He was competing in a tourney at Bull Valley in Woodstock. I remember watching him in HS at this course, but I almost forgot how beautiful it is.
Sharen commented on how lucky it is to have a son who plays golf so we can enjoy walking around a park that would cost a bunch of money to see otherwise, listening to the birds, watching some good golf, and enjoying the weather. I am certain that we would not spend 3.5 hours walking 7 miles (pedometer) on a Monday afternoon if it wasn't for Jon being a golfer - So Thanks from me too Jon.

Moose Mother's Day

Stacy, Kaylyn, and I went to the Moose on Sunday and partook in the Mother's Day celebration.


We had to bring a dish to pass (fruit) and a white elephant. I emptied the coffee mugs in my cupboard. Mike will be soooo happy those are down sized. They had games we played for the adults and the kids. I didn't win the marshmallow driving contest, (we used kids clubs with one hand) but I DID win the "Happy Mother's Day" word contest. I came up with 47 words in 5 minutes and scored 107 points. We were given points for words bigger than 3 letters. There was a "S" so it was really easy.
Note to my English teaching Niece:
The 3 words that I think put me over the edge: Rather - Therapy - Yesterday

First Softball Weekend of the Season

This weekend was Mike's first Senior Softball tourney in Indy, so I was left alone to my own devises. They lost in the championship game.
After the train wreck of Thursday night, Friday I did my usual Friday things. I went and visited Dr. Nate, got my back and head adjusted, and got to see pictures of his new son. He's a tiny cutie.
Saturday Bryan came out to spend the day with me. I mowed the lawn on Friday, but the riding mower won't fit into the ditch so Bryan grabbed Mike's new toy and took care of the ditch for me. You won't see me pushing a mower that doesn't have a motor.

I planted over 200 Tulips and the deer thought it was all for them. They treated my gardens like a smorgasbord. I went out and bought some Liquid fence to warn off Deers and Rabbits. It is the most foul discussing smell I have ever come across, but it's working.

Bryan stayed and we watched the Kentucky Derby (He won the KD pool he was in with the guys) and then the Bulls. We pigged out on Garbage Pizza. Super Good!