Saturday and Illinois week coming to an end!!

Here is a stop that we always make at Avanti's in Normal...
these kind people showed up to see us....

Yeap it is Saturday or so they tell me!! When you are away from home you sort of get mixed up on the date and the day..Kind of fun!! SMILE!!

We are still in Rochelle at Julie's house. Katie has been planning this big party at their church for tonight!! What a thing this is going to be!! They are going to be playing BIG BATTLESHIP!! The kids have made Huge battle ships and ships out of cardboard. They are playing it in the gym. I will try to get some pics for you to see.

Julie is doing much better but all of these kids do not help with all that goes on here. She is going to wake up one day and not remember all of this. It all goes by so quickly for sure...Just ask me.

These are old friends that we went to visit up in the Chicago area!!

We have been shopping at my favorite store, Kohl's several times and loving it!! Found some sales!! The only way that I buy.

Mikey and SIL Bill went to the Cubs game today and the CUBBIES WON!! YES!! Glad that they did with Mikey being there...Good of them to do that!!

I had a very pampered pedicure today and enjoyed it..Now my tootsie's are really smoothe and probably happy once again!!

WE have had more ice cream than i ever have..more food than I ever have. Finally found a CURVES in a small town a few miles away and have got to go twice now. Learned some things there too.

This is Tommy the BIG CAT!! He weighs around 22 to23 lbs!!

We leave here in the AM to go back to Bloomington/Normal..Our old stomping grounds to meet a couple in the morning and then one in the afternoon!! Trying to see as many people as we can.

Dad and Mother are happy to be home again. Dad was a bit confused but starting to realize that he is indeed back home again...He has a birthday in just a week...He will be turning 91!!

I am here alone in the RV ...WHY..because it is quiet and well I like my quiet time when I can get it!! Vacations are for that...right??

Will finish this post tonight so that I can show you this game that Katie and all are going to be playing...Hope it all works out like she wants it too..

This is what the gym floor looked like after a few hits and
misses..The red paper plates are the hits and the white are the misses.

This was very clever. There was a tarp in the middle of the gym dividing it...Each team had a regular battle ship game. They planned their strategy by going out on their own side and putting their battleships where they thought they needed to be. Then if the other side called out a number and it was a miss the white paper plate was put on it..IF they hit then a red paper plate went on that square. Really turned out great I think. The kids had a good time. We also had sloppy Joes and a cake that Emily and Katie decorated...

Cute cake...they did all of this themselves..Clever dont you think??

It is late. It was a good day...Missed my hubby all day but spent time with our daughter!! Now it is late and I am tired!! I will get back to everyone once we get home...

FLIP FLOP

Arrived in Illinois

Bumpy roads, with teeth almost rattled out of our mouths, dishes jumping in the cabinets, loud noises...well that describes trying to drive and ride on these Illinois highways!! We had a bumpy time trying to get here. But arrive we finally did around 5:30 pm...just in time for my dad to get confused as to where he lived and hoping that his car's battery was still going to start after being gone for 2 whole months. I think that he just got excited about finally being home. We carried all of their things in and then went to our favorite place here in Tuscola to eat...Monicals!! They do have the BEST of all pizzas. Dad was so upset that he told mother he wanted that thing with scattered things on it!! I just hope that he settles down because Mother is really worried about how she is going to care for him. I told her to try to look at it with laughter but she says it is not funny!! NO it is not funny but I guess I would rather laugh at it than to get upset and cry!! Just me I guess!!
Last night we got to Murfressboro, Tennessee. We easily found the Bill Rice Ranch. We pulled in and saw our sweet granddaughter, Brie waiting for us. We were all so happy to see her. Dad knew who she was but could not remember her name. He says that he has never been good with names...i think he is just forgetting...Plain and simple!!
We got her in the RV and went back into town. Stopped at the BIG HOBBY LOBBY and looked there. Mother and i are looking for some more of that great Sugar and Cream yarn in the striped patterns to make more things. Speaking of that...I made Maddie a cute little green and white purse while traveling. It just needs to be lined and finished. I also have another one about ready to put together once I get some more yarn. Fun but my fingers are starting to hurt!! SHOOT!!
We went to Cracker Barrel and ate. Always good food there. Back to the campground...the air was so cool!! It actually got COLD!! We heard that it made it all the way down to 56 last night!! Freezing for us but it was great to feel the cool air again.
Tonight while driving back to our RV I saw lightning bugs!! Oh I have missed those..Why don't we have them in Georgia...??? Wonder if I picked up a couple and brought them back would they make more? Smile..Mikey said I would probably get two boy fireflies!! Would be my luck!!
Well it is late. We are VERY tired. At least Dad and Mother are back home now. Been a good two days.
Oh, forgot the most important thing. Our daughter Julie was taken to the hospital Saturday in pain and feeling awful. Found out that she had to have her apendix taken out quickly. She is better now and back home. We will go there sometime this week.!! I am so thankful that she is okay!!

FLIP FLOP
No though for the day and no Pictures this time..It is late and we are tired!!

Leaving Savannah soon

Off to Curves first thing to get my work out in then home to continue the washing. Great to have Mother here washing but this is my last day for her help!! Been great!! I did not work her to death so don't get that impression. It is hard sometimes to make her stop!!

We are going to Dad's favorite place for lunch and then who knows. We have the motor home here in the drive so it is like telling the whole world that we are going to be gone!! Not the greatest of advertisement for this neighborhood!! Got any other ideas on how to load it without everyone knowing???

Yesterday afternoon I was on my way to work. I was going along Abercorn here and about 3-4 car lengths in front of me this red truck dashes out from the right hand lane across the left hand lane, hits the concrete division in the middle..that threw him up in the air and back over to the right hand lane again!! He turned completely over hit the top of the truck and flipped back over onto his wheels...The man in the truck was young..probably in his 20's...somehow he managed to get the truck off of the road. In all of this he only hit ONE car and that was in the drivers rear end!! He went through some 5-6 cars!! I felt like I was watching a movie...(the kind that I like..car wrecks and stuff)...Then I remembered if I had been just a minute earlier I would have been in the middle of that. My guardian angel was on stand by yesterday plus the man in the red truck had one working hard for him too!! WHEW!! I got to work and just sat in the car thinking WOW...!!! Took me a minute to calm down...

Making another purse..this time for Maddie. She picked out the yarn so am working dillengently on it!! Fun these purses!!

Mikey is working a long way from home today!! He is so so ready to be on vacation. As you know we are on our way to see Brie (our oldest granddaughter) in Tennessee at Bill Rice Ranch where she has been working as a counselor this summer..We will stay the night with her and then go on to Illinois. I know my parents will be happy to see their friends again..Course they will be coming back to NO Church since the one that they HAD attended is now no longer the church they will be attending..God is good..He has plans for them to go to the right church..

This will be my last blog for a bit until I get a hook up and can blog again...Hope all is well in your worlds! Good here!!

FLIP FLOP
Thought for the day: "The greater part of our happiness depends on our disposition and not our circumstances."

Tuesday Tidbits

Here is what I have been doing lately..crocheting!! I cannot believe that I actually made this myself. I even lined it and with my new sewing machine it actually sewed the handles to the purse!! I was amazed at that because sewing on yarn does not seem to work...in my head that is...BUT I think this new machine is just incredible!! I have wanted a new one for a long time now.

I am working on my second purse. It is a different pattern from this one. Hope you like this..Just wanted to brag...I guess...Still amazes me!!

Today it is HOT again!! I want to get the house cleaned up this week before we leave. I got both bathrooms cleaned up and mopped..Now sitting here waiting to go get these nasty nails of mine done. This is a very busy week with working every afternoon and trying to get things ready for the trip this Saturday. I know that my parents are ready to go back HOME. HOME is always a good place to go back too.

Hubby needs a vacation really bad so glad that it is getting close for him. He has been working a lot which is good for our bills but i know he gets really tired too!!

My dad is an avid BURGER KING nut! He has to have at least ONE a week..so since they have been here I have taken them to ours. Today we took some funny pictures...

Dad with his crown on

Mother in hers!!

He has to have his whopper junior...and a drink and that is it!! Okay!! I love the onion rings which of course are not helping this weight problem at all!! GOOD though!! Mikey joined us today too. He was off doing a job and got done in time to stop by and eat with us and then he was off again.

Also today I went to get my nails done for the trip that is ahead. While there Helen's littlest was awake so we got to see her. Remember Tommy and Helen that do my nails have 3 kids all named Alex in some shape or form. This little one is Alexsandra (sp)...she is a cutie. What names but that is what they wanted and after all it is their children...

She is a cutie..Only 4 months old now

Back at work this afternoon. Not many coming in but then again it is Tuesday and it is supposed to rain once again. Every afternoon this week we are to expect rain. I like it. The temps have dropped considerably with the rain too.

Sorry this sounds like dribble like another one of my friends talked about...but it LIFE and that is what I am living here...Everyday things that for some reason I THINK that I have to share..Smile!!

FLIP FLOP

Thursday Thoughts

This is the little church that we stopped to see yesterday!!

Good Morning and Welcome to my part of the world...Georgia!! We have been getting rain which we always seem to need here. The temperature has went down a little and that always helps too. I am still watching my neighbors home and going over to our daughter's home and feeding her kitties...

Today I take Mother for her first massage!! I sure hope that she enjoys it as much as I always have...I am really envious of course but she needs to say she has at least had ONE..Right?

Yesterday we met Mike at noon for lunch...Mike took Dad home with him and Mother and I set off looking for a new sewing machine for ME!! I have had mine for years and years and it is just so old that so many things do not work on it...It has also yellowed over the years too. It is a Singer. We went to Hancock Fabrics and right there was a great bargain. We came home with a Brother Sewing machine...I am crocheting a purse and need to make a lining so that is my first sewing project in a long time. I am still crocheting the handles for the purse. Hopefully this will turn out okay...If it does not work out well I had fun in the doing of it!! Smile!!

We went to see the kitties and got them fed and talked too..Fed the little bitty fish too. Came home and collasped....after playing with the sewing machine. It is a very nice one and i am going to enjoy it. Mikey said...Why did you get that? Well I bought it with MY WORKING MONEY so there!! smile!! He is a sweetie you know!!

Here is Tigger our daughter's cute Maine Coon

Are any of you on facebook? You know I love it because I have re-found old friends from some 30 years ago...Love that aspect. They have little things that you can become fans of like: Flipping the pillow over to get to the cold side; Life is good; I love Oreos; fan of marriage; Love brownies; Love laughing; going barefoot; love being a parent and so on and so on!! Kind of fun...I know some of you think it is a waste of time...Oh well at least it is MY time..right...

Mother and I stopped to take a picture yesterday of a historic church...it is really a cute one...The picture is at the top..here is the sign out front...

I received several great pictures yesterday via email of my oldest grands and their parents...Here is a great one that I wanted to share..We make them gorgeous in this family for sure!! I am a little bit prejudice.

Aren't they a beautiful bunch of ladies!!

Better get going this morning!! Much to do!! Smile!! Drop by when you have the time...

FLIP FLOP
Thought for the day:" Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in"

Tuesday and A Birthday!

From Mother's bouquet

I have "blogging fodder" today so wanted to post while I had something of importance to write about..SMILE!!

Yesterday was my mother's 85th birthday!! I remember when she had her 35th!! I thought she was old then but my mind has changed on that since i am pushing 65 now..She is no longer old..I am!!

I knew that she was getting flowers yesterday from our daughter Becky. I had to go work out and do some errands so was hoping that i would be home when they came. I had just pulled into the garage when my next door neighbor, Josie stopped by. We stood outside talking for a while (I felt like I was melting)!! The floral truck pulled up. A nice big black man stepped out looking for Mother. I called and had her come downstairs to the door. He gave her the flowers and it ended up that all three of us sang "Happy Birthday" to her. Even the floral delivery guy!! She had a 3 person chorus!! Smile!! She was surprised.

Josie and Mother with her flowers

She had several calls through the day plus she received several birthday cards too. We took her out for supper. There I gave her my card and she read what I was going to give to her. This Thursday at 10:00 I am taking her to get her FIRST 1 hour massage!! That is what I had thought about and could not tell in here earlier. She has never had one and so I thought what a good way to get some stress out of her body...A good ole' comforting massage. I am just hoping that she loves it. I am envious as i would love to have one too. Great stress reliever for me that is!!

I am crocheting a purse. I am wondering if it is going to work out well or not but it is something to keep my hands busy.

Today I am taking it off to watch Michael Jackson's funeral!! I am a big fan of his...always have been. Really enjoyed his music in the 80's especially but still have loved him. I am so sorry that he had such a bad life but as you know we make our own choices....so did he!! I hope that he is out of his misery but then again only God knows that!!

We are having rain and that is a good thing!! We so need it here. I am watching my neighbors home and watering her plants for her plus going over to my daughter's and watching her two sweet kitties!! So I run from one house to the other and try to take care of things here too. Oh well!! Being busy is a good thing!!

Hopefully all is well in your home today!!

FLIP FLOP
Thought for the day: "Don't make old ladies mad. They don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to set them off!!" What out for we old ladies!!

Fun, 4th and grandkids

Gpa Mike, Garrett and Maddie having fun last night!!

Seems like when I lay down at night I start to thinking...that is probably why I cannot sleep most nights!! Thinking and thinking !! I started remembering when I was about 20 years younger. I would hear people talk about their 40 year old children. I remember thinking that was really OLD when you had "kids" that old!! Well I have caught up now and I am in that group of parents with 40 year old...CHILDREN!! IMAGINE that!! I just thought about that and was thinking how did that happen? How DID THAT HAPPEN???? Years just passed by all so fast and then one day I woke up and here I am in my 60's already!! Time sure is a funny thing...seconds melt into minutes, minutes into years and before you know it time just flew right by you!!

On to more fun things!!



Last night we went to church then stopped at the McCoys and ate pizza with them. (They had ordered my favorite bacon pizza). From there we got into our cars and traveled out to Hutchinson Island to park our cars and wait for the fireworks to begin. Dad and Mother said that they had not been to see fireworks in years!! So this time they got to see them. We had a pretty good seat. Everyone pulls their cars up over the sidewalk and into the grass. Some people came really prepared with a grill in the back of their trucks. They cook supper there. We had some popcorn and soda, sparklers and some funny fire works called EYE BALLS. When you light them they spin around and then pop loudly!! We had a great time and had a lot of fun taking pictures too...

I tried taking some pictures of the fireworks...did not do a great job....

Garrett and his sparklers

The Statue of Liberty alias Garrett the funster!!

We got home at a decent hour!! Fun..I just love fireworks!!

Today we have been lazy except for Mother and I. We went shopping and looking in this stupid heat. Found a couple of bargains. Shopped for a bird feeder since ours fell down and broke...It just cannot take this heat either!! Now the birds will be happy again!! Smile..

Take care my friends!!

FLIP FLOP
Thought for the day:

"You can’t help getting OLDER, but you “don’t have to get old.”

Friday Grands, Curves, knitting and orchids!!

Pretty rough going for Garrett

Hello!! I have been busy once again working and running and in this heat too!! WHEW!! Nuts I know!! Oh well!! NUTS is fun!!

The other day my grands stopped by when I was working. Garrett (our 8 year old) said, "Grandma those machines look easy!!" He knew if he said that I would show him. (Kim if you are reading this..I was with them all the time!!)

Garrett struggling!!

Anyway...He tried and could not make them go like he "thought" he could!! He pushed and tried and tried. Maddie (she is 10) tried and did a great job!! That little girl has the muscles...Since Garrett was having trouble I asked him to get off so that I could show him how to do it!! He watched for a few minutes and then said, "WOW, You are SUPER GRANDMA!!" Funny!! Love what kids say...they always say what they are thinking!!

Maddie doing great on the machines!!

We have been doing a lot of things. We have decided to take Dad and Mother back home on the 18th of this month. We were going to wait until the last week in July but that was because we were going to our family reunion. There was not enough interest this year so it was cancelled. My dad is ready to go home so we are planning to leave on that date....

I just hope that Mother has received some good R&R while here and that the doctor appointments have helped her. We have tried.

Today our granddaughter, Emily, is having a MRI. She has found out what is wrong with her hip...She has extra bone on her hip which is pinching the tendon that is giving her the pain. The bone makes the tendon tighter. She is going to have to have surgery. They will go in there and grind the bone down and put in something to keep the bone away from the tendon. The doctor said that she probably will have arthritis in her hip when she is older. Thank goodness she is so so small!! We don't know yet when the surgery is. Have to wait to find that out!!

Emily (17)

Mother has a birthday this coming Monday the 6th. I have been trying to think of something unique and think that i have found something...cannot tell you because she reads this..dog gone it!! Anyway, I found orchids at the shop in Savannah Mall at a really good price...If they die well then I did not spend a bunch for just one!! I bought two of them..One for Mother for her birthday and one of course for this old lady!! They are gorgeous. I took Mother out there today to show her the pretty orchids..Here is a picture of her under one of them..

Mother at the orchid shop today

Mother has also been teaching knitting. A friend of our daughter came over the other night all ready with yarn and needles..Off they went and she has learned how to make our nice dish cloths that we all love here.

J.J. and Mother learning

Well that is about it friends from here in the HOT South east!! Wow!! It is really boiling here.

We are taking Mother out tonight for her birthday so that our daughter and family can go too. They are taking off for Myrtle Beach Sunday so wanted to take Mother out before they leave!! So better get around!!

Take care...

FLIP FLOP
Thought for the day: "It's important to have a twinkle in your wrinkle!!" I so agree!!