Democratic Debate

Go, Hillary!  I like Bernie as well, but it is time for a woman to be president.  It is not good to hate anything or anyone, but in all honesty I hate the Republicans. 

My New Red Tulip Purse

When Gretchen and I flew to Uganda in 2011, we changed planes in Amsterdam at Schipohl Airport.  We had quite a bit of time before boarding the flight to the US so we went into many stores, one of which sold these tulip purses.  I wanted to buy one. So -- when I needed to replace my beloved red flower purse which is too small, immediately I thought of the tulip purses.  I googled tulip purse and they came right up just as I remembered them!  I ordered one!  Mailed from the Netherlands, it took about a week to arrive.  

Laurie and Girls in Seattle

Today, October 12, 2015,  Laurie is 48 years old!  Seems like yesterday our baby girl was born. 

First Baked Apples of the Year

As my Grandma used to say, baked apples 

need to be shiny.  And these are!

Core 6 apples and peel about 1/3 down.  Fill openings with raisins.

1 Cup brown sugar, 1 Cup water, 2 Tablespoons butter, 1/2 Teaspoon of both cinnamon and nutmeg.

Bring mixture to boil.  Poor over apples and 

bake for 1 hour.  Baste occasionally. Continue

basting when finished baking. 

A Horrible Day for Me and Little Red Car

I had an car accident.    As if the hole in the windshield in June wasn't enough.  I picked up a prescription at our Oakland Osco and used the drive thru.  Making the 180 degree turn to head out and turn left to get to Mercer, crash!  I stopped at the stop sign and meandered out because no car was coming but I was wrong.  A car sped by but I was committed and I hit the speeding car.  I was hardly moving but the other car was going so fast .....awful.  Little Red Car suffered a hole in her right fender and the turning light is damaged.   The lady driving the other car called 911 right away and was mean, truly a weird person.  She called her husband and when he arrived he was quite nice and said,  "accidents happen". Her bumper will need to be replaced.   LRC is at Kurts body shop and will be as good as new by this Thursday with the cost estimated at $3000.00 

Then the Water Came --July 8, 2015

The adventure began when Signy came upstairs to tell us she and the girls heard a beep.  Immediately we went down to the sump pump and found it to be working fine.  But it couldn't dispose of all the water and thus the pit overflowed.  See pictures below.   Wonderful Max Banks came up right away.  Water also seeped in the front of the house as well because of the gutter run off (erosion).  Signy and the girls had an adrenaline high because they had such a great time helping.  The next day we left for Springfield where they flew back home.   Such troopers!

Menold's, the premier restoration company in B/N did a wonderful job.   Remember the flood of September 14, 2008 where we had 6" of water? This was not nearly as bad.  And Menold's is so much better than Service Master -- no comparison. 

What a Summer

• The hot water tank needed replaced. 

• The Pella windows in the girl's bedrooms rotted at the bottom and were replaced.

• Over the years there was a small leak in the toilet in the powder and thus it needed to be replaced which meant some of the wooden floor needed replaced as well.  Thank goodness we saved the unneeded Bruce flooring when the house was built.

Learning to Share

We've never seen two hummers eat at the same time!  Happily the camera was handy.

Glorious 10 Days with Signy, Roslyn and Liesl

After your visit to Wisconsin, you three were with us for almost 10 days!  Wildlife Prairie Park, swimming in the Charterwood pool, Chocolatier, Sugar Grove, Discovery Museum, and of course the dollhouse and the patio garden where Signy was mesmerized by the many flowers.  The first day here the girls wanted to visit the Hort Center!!!  Plans were to go there for homemade ice cream and view the Fairview Pk fireworks.  A magical evening. 

The daylilies were beginning their prime show of their huge blooms.  I picked the blooms each morning and piled them on a plate for us to admire for the one day.  Not many hummers, though, even with the extra feeder which Laurie presented to me for my 75th birthday.  You ate well, slept well, and were so helpful.  And twice we made bacon which I haven't made in years.  And of course, as usual, Oompa loving his sweet treats and excelling at pancake and waffle making.

Roslyn flossed Liesl's teeth and fixed her hair.   Twice Liesl made the beds!  What fun to have Liesl and Roslyn at Zumba Gold -- Lucy adores having them there. Sometimes when I was in the kitchen the girls would individually ask, "Meema, can I help you with anything?"  Wonderful!

Black Bear at Wildlife Prairie Park

Brave Liesl at Sugar Grove

Signy studying the flowers.  The sunflower has not yet bloomed.

July 4 or 5th

Roslyn is flossing Liesl's teeth.