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.

Keeping Them Clean

I have had my quilts on display in the living room for awhile.
Hanging on this old laundry rack I found at an estate sale. I blogged about it.

I noticed that they were getting kinda dusty, so I decided I needed a cabinet to store them.
I wanted something old looking with a glass front so you could still see my lovely quilts.
I dragged Mike down to the Kane County Flea Market and I saw some that were way over priced and got some good ideas about what I wanted - and didn't want.

I went to Home Depot and Menards thinking about maybe a kitchen cabinet with a glass front. No they weren't deep enough.
Pinterest had some old dressers that were turned into storage and I'm thinking that's closer to what I was looking for.
When I was visiting with Bryan and Mary I walked into their bathroom in the basement and there I saw it. The old lady that lived there had left an OLD dresser. Bryan told me I could have it. Saves them from throwing it out. We hauled it home.

I didn't even have to paint it. Mike took the drawers out and took them apart and used the bottoms for the shelves.
I got some trim and some Plexiglas and Mike got to work and made me some doors. I few cents spent on some hinges and I have me a new display cabinet. Still need to find the perfect handles, but I'm sure I will.

installing the doors

 This old thing came with a glass top. What better way to display my Mom's old hankies. Yeah, every since I can remember my Mom would have a hankie in her purse. I can also remember as a kid the dreaded spit on the hankie and wipe the dirt off of our faces. No baby wipes back then.

Mom and Grandmas old hankies

I love this thing. It is exactly what I wanted. My quilts are protected, but you can still see them. I have a place to see a reminder of my Mom under the glass top.

I am not sure where I am going to put it. Right now it is in the middle of my living room, but that's ok. I love looking at it..

Extra! Extra!

I have always been a jigsaw puzzle fixer.
Starting back when we were kids and Mom would bring one along on vacations to the cabins up north just in case it rained - we would have something to keep us occupied (besides playing cards) till it stopped and we could go outside. That's also were I got my love for Pinochle. Playing with Dad.

I have always loved puzzles. Mom liked to fix them too. She fixed them all the way up till her eyesight went wrong.

Now thanks to my sister, Linda , who has an unlimited supply from a friend, I have been back to fixing them steadily. Some could say obsessively.
Each puzzle is different and it NEVER gets old. It challenges my mind and keeps me entertained. There is a feeling of accomplishment and comfort there for me.

There are some where there are pieces missing. That can get frustrating and I usually throw them out.
BUT never in all my puzzle fixing (There have been hundreds, maybe close to a thousand) have I ever seen this.

Duplicate pieces

I wish I had taken a picture of the puzzle all together - It was a fun one with gas pumps.
After it was all finished - I had an extra piece.

PowderPuff Volleyball

Genoa doesn't have a boys Volleyball team. I guess the conference doesn't have enough interest in their schools.
Where the girls play a PowderPuff football game the boys play a PowderPuff volleyball game.

Logan played on his freshman team and they lost to the Sophomores. He was trying out his sports goggles for the first time. Looking mighty fine.

 Dylan obviously played with his fellow Juniors. They had a boy who plays on club volleyball, so they had a huge advantage and beat up the Seniors. Dylan played a hell of a game though. Surprised me. He also did his fare share of trash talking. Clearly they were having a good time. I was glad we went out and supported the Athletic Dept. It was fun to watch.

So both the winning teams of  the Sophs. and Jrs. played together to beat the  Faculty.

After Logan finished his games he came up in the bleachers to say Hi and sits down in front of me.

All the kids were wearing the year of graduation on their t-shirts.
Holy Crap!
Logan will be graduating from high school exactly 50 years after me.

I love a Parade

I haven't talked with Bryan for a few weeks so I called him to see just what is up.
I think, gosh, my Mother used to do the same thing to me.
Anyway they had plans to go to their neighborhood parade on Sunday so I invited us to join them. Who doesn't like a parade where the adults are all drinking beer and throwing candy and beads.
The Flory boys are "Murphey" boys for the day. ALL Irish!

Roger

Owen

Luke

The parade is 2 blocks from their house and it starts just around the corner. We got to our spot a little early so the boys decided to gather sticks. I'm thinking they should come to our house. We have sticks!!

Notice the cool neck ties

Owen snuggles up to Daddy and roger and Luke fill Mary's lap.

Owens hands were getting warm down Daddy's shirt

Then it started and the candy was flying. Mary had stricked  orders for the kids to let the candy come to them and not to go out into the street to retrieve it. So a older boy standing next to them went and got it and shared - every time - with the boys. His Mother told us he is big into sharing right now. Nothing wrong with that.

I gave a shout out to  2 politicans I recognized Jan Schakowsky and Michael Ouigley and Bryan asked how I knew them. There was no posters or banners.  Ahhh, They are your Congressman and House Rep. from this district. He had no idea. I watch the news and read a paper.

Then a guy from the police Department "Thank You, Blue" float was smoking a cigar. You clearly smelled it before you saw him and before I could say anything Bryan says "Hey, I smell Grandpa."
I did do... Couldn't help but think of him - He too loved a parade.