Grillin'

Mike has been making do with his old grill for a year now. He has ordered and replaced parts on it maybe 3 times.
He needed a new one and has been shopping around this spring for a deal.

I suggested a visit to Sam's to pick up a couple things Sunday morning.
First of all, why would a retired couple go to a box store on a weekend, when the crazy people who go for the free samples are out, when you can go during the week?
Well, we went anyway and it's a good thing we did.
There it was...The ultimate grillin' machine...  Everything he wanted.
I could tell he really wanted it bad, when he started stroking it like a pet. Then when he found a tray for wood chips I knew it was a done deal. You didn't even have to be a contortionist to turn the gas on, I'm thinking even I could use this.

The price was higher than he wanted to spend, but I figured with the winter he had - he deserved to be treated to something special that he really wanted. Kinda like he did for me with my new sewing machine.

My husband loves to grill and now he has a brand new super grill to work on.

 He has been wanting to get a smoker ever since he saw Bryan's. Ok, maybe before that, but that put the bug back in his mind.
Sharen had one in her shed that she wasn't using and gave it to Mike to try out. She told him if he liked it that he could have it. Ohhhh he likes it.

His first attempt was ribs. Not too great. Mostly becasue of me. I had way, way, way too much rub on those things. YUCK...

The second attempt was boneless pork chops. We went with no rub, just seasoning. He described them like hockey pucks, but I didn't think they were that bad. Maybe overcooked.
Next came a beer can chicken.  I must admit he was getting better.
Next up he wants to try some different flavored chips.

I am looking forward to some tasty meals this summer.

Happy Easter

We had the family over for our Easter celebration.
The tulips I planted last year all all in bloom. I won't bore you with all the flower beds but they all look like this. Man do I love tulips. My Dad would love this too.

 Mike was in charge of hiding all the eggs for the hunt.
He even managed to hide a egg for the older grandkids - one each with their names on it. I think they only went looking because I told them Papa had put money in theirs.
There was one "golden" egg that Roger found. Mike had put some change in it.
Spreading out their bounty to show Mom and Dad.

"Now, How much can I eat?"

When ever the boys come over Luke and Roger want to play legos, but Owen is obsessed with this truck. He pushes it back and forth and back and forth around the house.
I happen to wander in the kitchen and got this picture.
He told me he was tired and this was his "rest Stop". That little boy is hilarious.

Owen's Rest Stop

My favorite part of the day was when the boys wanted to show Grandma Murphey "Grandma's Creek" and take her for a walk in our woods to find sticks. Apparently we have the best sticks ever.

And we had to stop and throw sticks in the pond.
I'm thinking  - Wow - they do have fun when they come over.

The creek was very high from the rain so they didn't get to go to close.

best stick ever

not too close

Mary's parent were in town and came over too. We had a perfect day for lounging on the back deck.

It's in there

Roger discovered one more hidden egg in Grandpa Murphey's pocket.

Another favorite thing that they like to do when they come over, and had to show the Murpheys, is our hill. They had to show them how they run up and down it.
Silly me - I had talked with the township about burying a pipe and filling in the ditch so Mike wouldn't have to mow it by hand. I can't quite get my big riding mower down it. Looks like that can't happen.
The Flory boys vetoed it.
One final picture on the hill before they head on home. With ice-ees of course.

Happy Day and Happy Easter

Catch Up

Now that April the giraffe had her damn baby, maybe I can get back to blogging instead of spending my computer time watching her.

I have a hard time telling things that I am not sure everybody cares about or if I should even mention. I enjoy posting pictures and talking about all the grandkids and telling happy stories.
This post is not about them.
So....

Here is what is happening  not about the grand kids.
Mike and I both had sleep overs with the Doctors and Nurses at Sherman Hospital. Not at the same time.
Both of us checked out fine and we have moved on. Nothing to worry about.

Mike's brother Jack (that's him in the red) was in a very bad car accident. He lives in AZ..

It was touch and go for awhile, but the amazing Doctors in Phoenix put Humpty - Dumpty back together again. Only problem is, he will not be able to walk again. His car was totaled and his wheels are now attached to a chair. One good thing (if there is such a thing in something like this) is he is just paralyzed from the waist down and gets around pretty good in that thing.

He was hit from both sides in the middle of an intersection. He doesn't remember all that happened. He has a lawyer looking into everything. I'm thinking his memory lose is probably a good thing.

He had to give up his apartment and has since moved in with Mike's sister, Kathy (that's her in the picture too). She has a handicap accessible apartment, but it's way small. He is learning how to get along on wheels and hopes to be on his own soon. In the mean time he is hanging out with Kathy.

Jack has always been a loner. Always goes where the wind takes him.  I'm sure as soon as he has figured out this handicap thing he will be cruising down the streets of Mesa again.