Fall Decorations

After a visit to JoAnnes and Hobby Lobby I decided that decorating my house with fall foliage had to come from the forest preserve down the street.
The fall decorations were ridiculously expensive and the ones already made up ran up to $80. Ridiculous. I can do this for no cost, Just a little fun work.

Sharen and I took a walk around the trails collecting my stuff. Anything that looked good or interesting went in the pile. I don't use it - so what - I throw it away.
It was a beautiful fall day. We have been really lucky around here with the weather. November 14th and it's still in the 60's with clear blue skies.

Sharen collecting fussies

I decided to take the car down to get our treasures home. We would look mighty funny carrying all this stuff down the block. And I think this is illegal - taking weeds from a Forest Preserve.
Not Sure - Don't care!!

Back home I dug out my old crock pots, washed them up and got down to business.

Me at work

I made a big mess in the kitchen, but I am loving the results.

Yeah, poo poo to Joanne and Hobby Lobby! This was much more fun and the best part is I don't have to put it into storage for next year. I can throw it all away, because I have free weeds down the street.

Go Golfing

Just exactly what are you supposed to do when it turns 70 degrees in November?
You take advantage of the sunny beautiful day and call the Dupplers for some free golf at the Country Club.

It was also a good time for me to try out my birthday presents from the Flory crew.
Bryan and Mary gave me beautiful shining chrome golf balls.  "Her favorite color is chrome".
I tried using the yellow one, but they were super hard to find in all the yellow leaves. I had to put them away for next summer.

Mike brings home golf balls everyday from work. We have a storage bin in the garage full. Most of them are pretty good used balls. Lets just say golf balls will not be on our Christmas or birthday lists any time soon.
I took a dozen of the not so good ones  (Lets be honest he works at a Country Club - most of the balls are high caliber) and put them in a egg carton for Roger and Luke to decorate for me.

Bryan told me that they worked very hard to get it just right.
Being the great Grandma that I am, I picked 2 of my favorite, one from each of the boys to play with.

Roger's was colored in red with a piece of tape around it. He knew that red was my favorite color.

Roger's handy work

Luke's, of course, had to have stickers. Not just any stickers either - Spiderman Stickers!
All 6 of Luke's were taped together - in case I lost them.

Luke's sticker ball

I knew they weren't going to go very far, but it was fun playing with them.

Splitting

So it's been a few days since we helped Sharen and Dup split their wood.
The soreness is gone but the bruises are still here.
Sharen rented this major splitter from Home Depot. Only $100 for the day. We had to haul ass and get it done. This was a Deluxe, Heavy duty monster machine. Sweet!!!

Putting the splitter in the right position is crucial.

positioning

Sharen positioning the wheelbarrow

 Mike and I have done this a few times and have a routine by now.

Wheelbarrow - Tractor with cart - and something under the splitter to catch the shavings and bark that falls - Check, check, check!! Sharen had a brilliant idea and put the kids saucer sled under it. A whole lot less raking.
Lets Roll.....
 We had a perfect day for it. Sunshine and cool.

We had a fire going - logs were getting split and stacked, momentum was building. Then Dup's mower decided it didn't like the workout and stopped in the middle of it all.

Time for a break. Mike walked down the street (so nice that we live 6 houses away from each other) and got our tractor. Back to work.

Stack number one complete.

Time for a lunch break. Jimmy Johns is next to Battery Plus so the boys killed 2 birds with one trip. Battery and Lunch returned.
It wasn't easy getting back up from those lawn chairs after eating, but we only have this machine for 1 day. Back to work...

Me at the controls with the boys lifting the logs

 Dup hasn't done anything like this before and just went were he was needed. Tell him where to go and what to do and he did it. Yeah, I would definitely put him back on my splitting team.

Sharen and Dup stacking

Mission accomplished - All of the Duppler's logs were spit by 2:00.

Now down to our house to split the branch that fell a few years back.

It doesn't look like much, but it took us another hour before and I called it. We have enough wood to last us 4 or 5 years and another dead tree that has to come down next year. We are done.
The last of the wood is going to have to go to someone with a fire pit. NO more splitting.

Home Depot had their splitter back by 5:00 and we had a hot tub that was calling out.
Funny, I still find this hard work fun to do.

Owen is 1

His birthday is October 17th, but since all the family was going to be here visiting last weekend we decided to celebrate a week later. He' 1, he has not idea.

Happy Birthday dear Owen

Luke blew out the candle for Owen - Then I had to re light it for Roger to blow it out too.

Roger was standing by to help with Owen. His present was pretty big.

 Turned on it's side it was a bit more manageable for him.

Owen and his foot locker. I had given one to Roger and Luke on their 1st birthdays also. Now Mary has a place to put away all their childhood memories.
He wasn't interested in having his picture taken. He wanted to check out how the hinges worked.
I couldn't pass up the giraffe. Mary had told me that lately Owen likes to hug the full garbage bags that have to go out. So I thought this giraffe would be a good replacement.

Happy Birthday, Dear Owen - Happy Birthday to You...

5000

Two months ago Sharen and I were doing our morning walk around the neighborhood and noticed that Jill, one of our neighbors, was having a garage sale.
Sharen spotted some puzzles so we walk up the driveway to get a closer look.

Then I saw it!
A 5000 piece puzzle.
Aaaahh,  The clouds parted and the sun shone down right on it - I had to have it.

Jill was busy selling one of her quilts. (Yup, she's a quilter too, and her kids informed her they did not want them and suggested she sell some. I feel bad for her. HER KIDS DON'T WANT HER QUILTS??)

I took the puzzle (along with a few others) up to her husband and he was ready to do a little jig. He and Jill have tried to fix it and gave up on it. He was glad to see it go.

I took it home and got started sorting pieces right away. 4 large zip lock bags stuffed.
I sorted pieces from the box about 7 times before I got smart and got out extra work space..

The puzzle is 5'3" X 3'4" so I knew it wasn't going to fit on just one card table. It took 3 and some extra pieces of wood for more pieces. AND most of the living room.

3 card tables

added work space with pieces on top of pieces

Jill would stop by to keep up with my progress and was surprised that I stuck with it.
What she didn't know was I had help...

Roger found a piece 

Luke tried one too

 I ended taking out all the pieces they put in, but I applaud their efforts. Mike would just walk by shaking his head. The pieces were so similar in shape and had muted colors. It was Hard... I took a few of my pieces out too.

 Sharen would have to put a piece in every time she stopped by and also spent a few mornings with me  toward the end.

After 2 month I got it done. I never gave up and never wanted to quit. I really enjoyed fixing it.

Me crossing the finish line

4998 pieces later - 2 were missing.
I invited Jill down to see it. I put the pieces in baggies by section so she and her husband could fix it if they wanted too. She laughed at me and told me her husband does NOT want it back in the house, but was proud of me for finishing. I am pretty proud of myself.

Lets Go Hawks

As soon as our friend Charlie got some tickets to the Hawks game he called Mike. He asked
"You and Karen want to go to a Hawks game?"
It took us all of 5 seconds to say Hell Yes!
You weren't the first person I called, you are the ONLY person I called. See, Charlie understands that Mike and I love the Hawks too.
He provides the 4 awesome seats in the 200 level with a parking pass and Mike and I provide the ride in and his beer for the night.
Last year he got the tickets I got sick and stayed home. I swore that was not going to happen this year. Though I did spend the afternoon at Urgent Care getting exrays on my foot. Don't ask how it happened I ain't gonna tell. Way too embarrassing.
Nothing broke - just give me some Meds I got a hockey game to get to.

There is nothing like watching hockey Live!
The seats were $145 a ticket and Mike and I were so grateful, and gladly bought Charlie all the beer he wanted.

View from our seats

 I thought I would miss the old guys - but watching these young kids speeding down the ice. Man it's exciting to watch. I think it's going to be a good year.

2 happy Hawks fans.

Hawks WIN!!!!!!

Here is a suggestion to all the ladies out there - For you to spend a little less time prancing in line at the potties - how about leaving a little tail on the end of the toilet paper roll. There is nothing more frustrating than having to search for the end of the roll. Just Saying!

Race for the Kids

What do you do when your child is born with a health problem?
You research doctors, hospitals, treatments, and hopefully some day find a cure.

Bryan and Mary did just that when Luke was born. They found a Doctor who not only has Luke headed in the right direction to a (fingers crossed) healthy life, but genuinely cares about his little patients.

Luke and his Doctor

Mike and I joining the Flory family on Sunday to "Race for the Kids" at the University of Chicago, was a no brainer. We both would walk a hundred miles for Luke, if it meant he could get off all his medicines and Bryan and Mary could spend just one day without looking at the clock checking if it's time for his next dosage.

It' was 5k run/walk around the University campus.

We joined Luke's doctors Team "Robo Kids"  - so named because he does a good amount of surgery with a robot.

We started out strong, but just pass the 2 mile marker there was a short cut to the finish line. We were steadily falling into the back of the pack. The boys would want to walk a ways and Luke had to stop to pet every dog he saw, so we took the path,  just in time to witness the Kids Dash. Ok, I admit I was ready to cut it short too.

Roger saw all the kids running and insisted on running the rest of the way pushing the stroller. Papa, of course, helped him.

Mike and Roger running it out

Luke had no choice but to walk the rest of the way too (no stroller). He sprinted to the Finish Line with his Mommy and Daddy with the crowd cheering.

Bryan, Luke and Mary crossing the Finish Line

I was tailing behind to capture a picture and got a lump in my throat watching Luke waving at the people cheering for him.
He is why we walked, but there were so many other parents there with stories about Comer and the great work being done there. I am glad Mary fought and didn't give up until she found this place.
Luke is a bright, funny boy who knows that his smile will get him anything he wants.
Sign me up for next year!