Moved On

When Mike and I bought this house on Shady 13 years ago, I told the couple we bought it from that I would take good care of their house and make it our home.

I left a letter for the persons buying our old house telling them about the house and the memories we made there.
I don't know if they wanted to know all that stuff, but I had to tell it.
We had wanted to move for some time, but our neighbor and special friend, Tom, was getting old and  He asked me to stay. He was a sweet, gentle man, who had a daughter named Karen. She never came to see him. I once told him that I could be his Karen. We were close. 2 weeks before he died he thanked me for staying and told me that he loved me. I lived there 26 years.

Tom passed away in April 2004 and Mike and I started our search for a smaller house to retire in. We found Shady.

I used to drive by the old house, even took a few walks by it. I had to stop going. It was looking really bad and I would get very sad. I want someone to love that old house and make some memories there. I could see it wasn't happening.

When Bryan came to visit this weekend he asked me if I had been by the house. He took the kids by it to show them where he grew up. He had some great memories there too.
"No, it makes me sad."
"You need to go see it."

This morning I did. I am so happy.
Kate street is alive again.
Someone is putting some much needed love into the place. New siding. New roof. New chimney. New shutters.
The tree we planted on Bryan's first birthday is gone. Replaced by a playground set.

Looks like the house is complete and they are starting on the garage.

This makes me very happy.....

Golf Show

It started out as a typical trip to a show at the Rosemont for me and Sharen.

Picked her up.
Stopped for breakfast/lunch.
Only thing different is the boys tagged along.
Actually this a show for them and Sharen and I tagged along.

Man, If I was single I would so take up the game of golf. Women were out numbered 50 to 1 easily.

It's raining Men - Hallalua

 Another thing that didn't go unnoticed was the liquor booths and snack area.

Beer - Beer - Cold beer here

There was a booth to buy booze in every aisle. 2 small snack areas and we only saw 1 table. At the quilt show the line for food was almost as long as the line for the putting contest at the golf show.

Mike and Dup were both searching for a 3 wood to add to their arsenal. Jon suggested they talk with Bryan at the Tour Edge booth.

They found a couple left handed 3 woods, slightly used. Which probably meant they were used in demos for the company. Over to the hitting area to try them out.

They both liked the same club.
They found 2 with different shafts. After trying them out and a phone call to Jon to confirm they would work. Dup put his salesman's hat on and got them a great deal.

While the boys were doing that Sharen and I walked around. Sharen found some pullovers to add to Dup's work wardrobe and I found some cool spikes that fit over my tennis shoes. Bought them both.

I did notice that wandering around the resort booths and signing up for everything, the people manning the booths are talking mostly with me and Sharen. I guess they figured out by now who is gonna plan the vacations. Ha.

It was a great day spent with the hubbies.

Warm Weather

The weather this weekend has made it possible for me to get some much needed yard work done that didn't get done last fall. Yup, you are reading that right. It  says 73 outside. In the Midwest - In February.

I raked out around my house, the flower beds, and the ditch.
Mike helped me with hauling everything to the fire pit and it we watch it burn.
We got the mulch from our tree that was cut down spread around bushes and flower beds. We got the pile knocked down to just the stuff that is still frozen. I wanted to get more done, but it's February. Things are frozen. Though my tulips and daffodils are peeking out.

I was very excited to get some windows washed.
And even though he turned down an invite to go play some golf.
He did get some swings in, in the backyard.

They say this weather is supposed to last for another week.
Thank You, Mother Nature. We will take it.

What was I thinking?

There are 2 reasons not to blog. One a person gets to busy (not me) and 2 you really have nothing to say.
Me - I mostly think I have nothing important to say.

When Steve was here visiting in January, I was frantically trying to get a 4 patch quilt done for a friend who was severely injured in a car accident. Her husband was the guy who rushed over here when our furnace went out and Mike was sick. He wouldn't take any money. He said "That's what friends do".  I thought what a great way to repay him. I keep his wife warm in her recovery like he did for Mike when he was recovering. So I made her a quilt. My favorite 4 patch pattern.

Michelle's Quilt

Anyway Steve says to me - AGAIN... You can make me a quilt. This time I was paying attention. Huh?  I asked myself  Why haven't I made this friend a quilt?
I don't have a answer. I screwed up.
Most quilts are not cheap. I couldn't even use that as an excuse. It wasn't about the cost with him.

 Here is a guy who is SO "quilt worthy!"
 I'm thinking - Hey Stupid - he just wants one of your 4 patch quilts to stay warm while he watches TV. Make him one!!!
If I get the material on sale I can make one of these for under $100.
He even offered to go with me to JoAnnes to get the material. Now I am really feeling guilty. He really wants one. I wouldn't let him, If I was going to make him a quilt I wanted it to be a surprise.

I did have to order some of what I wanted online (red chenille) and after 3 hours at Joanne with Sharen mixing materials (no hard ship there) I finally got what I wanted.

And because I like to make this 4 patch pattern for most of my baby quilts I made a special one for his babies. My first doggie quilt.

Sally and her quilt

Steve sent me this picture of Sally lying on the quilt.
I am so sorry Steve, it took me so long to make you a quilt. I have no excuse.