FIREWOOD

We took advantage of the warmer dry weather and split some more wood.
These pictures should show everything, except that we worked together as a team for 7 hours straight taking turns lifting, manning the splitters blade, stacking, and burning the bark and rejects.

Before

Mike and Brian moved all of the large pieces (It looked like a scene from the Biggest Loser when Jillian has the contestants moving those big tires watching them trying to muscle those tree trunk pieces)

During

The bark was really wet and once I got the fire started it burned through the night and into all the next day.

After

We really had a good time and will reap the benefits of all our hard work for a few winters to come.

Yardwork

Seriously anyone who wasn't outside on Sunday missed a great day to get things done in the yard.
Mike and I started early with our yard work and then helped the neighbor split some of his tree. Just like when we were little we had to stop and come in because it was getting dark outside.

Before

During

I mulched all the leaves and then I bagged them

After

We still have quite a bit of the tree to split and will probably get to it some time this week if the damn rain will hold off long enough.
It's not easy work and our muscles are sore, but we have a great time doing it and the logs are rewarding during the dark cold winter days. An added bonus - I love the smell of fresh split oak.

Job Done

My one goal this summer was to get our shed painted. I thought I could get this done last week when Mike was gone, but the weather thought different.
On Tuesday we finally got the shed painted. The shed at our house now matches the deck at the Dupplers. Thanks for the paint, Sharen.

Before


During


After

Back to School?????

I received a letter in the mail from the KCDEE (Kane County Department of Employment and Education) just the title made it look official and something I couldn't ingore. It was for a meeting about a new federal program the TGAAA (Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistant Act 2009) another big title.
It turns out that any job that was lost because of outsourcing out of the country entitles you to a federal grant for job training paid for by our lovely Federal Government.
I went to the meeting with an open mind because I knew from Mike's old job that there was money thrown at people through grants. The lady in charge told us that 60 people were invited to attend - 21 showed up. Most of the people there were Hispanic from a factory that was shut down and the work sent to Mexico. It was so sad to hear these Women just asking for another factory job - None of them wanted to go back to school or better themselves. One guy just wanted his GED. Very sad!

I had no idea that I would qualify for the program - turns out my old newspaper threw my name in with the others that were let go in the Ad/Production Dept that was outsourced to India, so I was offered assistant to go back to school.

Holy Sh*t! ME back to school. This program will pay me the amount of my present unemployment AND pay for all my schooling. (tuition, books, fees) everything.

I had to absorb this before I took it seriously and now I am looking into a second career. Something using my creative side.
I have to go down and complete an application and of course be accepted, but the lady in charge didn't see any reason I couldn't do what I wanted.

I will keep you posted and wish me luck.

All Alone

We have had company at our house for the last six weeks. Friends. Brothers. Sister.
It was nice to have the company, but I'm glad that everyone is gone and I can get back into my regular routine. Whatever that is.
I will miss Kathy staying with us. She helped cook, cleaned my kitchen, and even did laundry. The thing I will most miss is the sibling bonding that I saw between her and Mike. Kathy always claimed Mike as her twin and not Keith. They talked, laughed, teased, and whispered, just like siblings should and I know Mike loved having his sister with him.

While I still have the house all to myself. (Mike is still in AZ with Kathy)
I am gonna eat squash for breakfast and popcorn for dinner. I am going to turn ALL the lights off when I go to bed. I will set the temperature in the house to 65 and keep a fire going. I am going to pee with the bathroom door open. I will stay in my PJ's all day. I will let the phone go to voice mail. I will NOT turned the TV on and read a book. I will play video games on my computer.

Then I will realize what a blessing family is and miss everyone.

Taste Testers

I felt like I was a judge on Top Chef today.
Bryan and Mary came out to spend the weekend with me. I'm pretty sure that Mike had something to do with this since he is on his way to AZ and didn't want me to be alone the first weekend he was gone.
He did call and tell me that they decide to drive through on Saturday and got to Mesa around 10:30 pm.
Anyway I had to go over to the house because we had a showing and Bryan suggested we stop for some lunch. Bryan, Mary and I stopped into Booker's in South Elgin. We ordered some food and the bucket of beers special. They had a chili cookoff goin' on and Anne, the owner, asked if we wanted to participate. We all have never done this before and so we said why not?
You had to pick the best and the "not best" out of 17 chilies. I honestly spit one out it was that bad. Mary and Bryan picked it as their worst too. How #7 that awful chili did not get worst was beyond me.
Bryan picked the winner #3 - It was the hottest by far. I liked it but I chose #5 cause I like my chili thick with a lot of beans. Mary chose #13 cause it was full of all kinds of vege's and had pulled beef in it. There was some good chili's there and it was fun.

School Lunch

Stacy called and invited us to have lunch with her at her school.
I have been there several times but Mike had never been to her classroom or her school for that matter, (shame on you, Dad) and Aunt Kathy was leaving on Friday so we headed to Hampshire Middle School with our brown bags in hand yesterday.
We visited her classroom and took the tour around her school.
The kids all waved and said Hi. It seemed strange them calling Stacy -"Mrs. Kribs".

Mike is very proud of his daughter and how she has turned her life around from a troubled teenager to a very well liked and respected special education teacher.
She is responsible for 22 students with special needs, not a small task if you ask me, but she loves her job and I can see that she was born to be a teacher.

The blank board in the background is waiting for her smart board
to be installed. It is driving Stacy crazy that is not ready yet.

Chimney Sweeps

The cold weather is approaching and I am looking forward to having a fire in my fireplace.

Mike has stacked the wood on the back porch and the only thing now is to get the chimney cleaned out.
We have had our fireplace for 5 years now and had never gotten it cleaned. (I know a fireman's daughter shame on me) I called some places and the price was way too high.
So with the price of a brush and a crock pot dinner I got my chimney cleaned - and we have the brush now so it can be cleaned every year. (I know my Dad would be proud of that)

Another Acorn

Yes - another acorn has entered into my life. As I was walking through the aisle at Hobby Lobby (trying to spend some of my birthday money). I saw a ceramic pumpkin and thought it would look good on my mantle. I reach for it and it was sitting on this....

I started to laugh. I just had to buy it. With my luck this year I was really surprised that it didn't fall on my head in the store. I smile everytime I look at it.

Germ Free

I very rarely get sick. I don't get the flu or colds.

All that said I don't understand why I'm so obsessed with germs this year. When we took the train into the city a couple week ago I found myself purposely not using the handrails at the station or holding on on the escalators.
When taking the brown line I found myself sitting with my hands in my armpits so I didn't have to touch anything.
Today when I had Matthew at the store I took along wipes to wipe down the cart before I put him into it, because I knew he would want to bend over and put it in his mouth like he does in his stroller.
I only have gotten one flu shot and that was 14 years ago before we took a cruise, but this year I'm gonna get one. Paranoia has set in!

Just Like Carrie

Carrie always says that she is afraid there is no "Carrie" in her baby Matthew. Well I am here to tell you that there are things that he does that has Carrie written all over it. I know this because I watched Carrie when she was a baby too.
First he can fall asleep by putting his finger or thumb in his mouth a few versions of "You are my sunshine" and he is out. Today I turned the ceiling fan in their family room on and the TV to channel 973 (instrument music) and he was asleep in 30 seconds.
BUT the one thing that he takes after Carrie for sure is his love of shopping. I took him to my favorite store (Joannes) to find some Fall decorations.

He helped me pick out this scarecrow. Actually he kept grabbing for the Dracula scarecrow and I said no. He sat in the cart and swiveled his head back and forth, not missing a thing.
He grabbed at everything that was sticking out into the aisles and flirted with every sales girl. - Born to shop.