A Non-Traditional Thanksgiving

We decided not to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal. This year we were going to have a standing rib roast. There were twelve of us, nine adults and three children. I was worried not everyone would want to eat beef so I decided to cook a turkey breast, too. Besides the kids probably wouldn't like a piece of medium rare meat on their plate. If I made turkey, I'd have to make dressing, if I made dressing I'd have to make mashed potatoes. Then there's the jellied cranberry. O.K. so we had both a traditional and non-traditional Thanksgiving!

Through the Eyes of a Child

Last week I got to spend some time with my two grandsons. They live in Canton, MI so it was a 7 hour road trip. Arrived late Monday night so I didn't get to see them until morning. They both get up at the crack of dawn. I decided to stay in be until sunrise. By the time I came downstairs the kids had eaten breakfast and Adam was getting ready for school. Kasia, Noah and I walked him to the corner to meet his bus. Noah had on his bee jacket, he had worn it for Halloween and decided he liked it, so that's the only jacket he wanted to wear.

When we got back home Noah wanted his pumpkin that was filled with candy. Mom said "no candy, you didn't eat a good breakfast." Noah wanted his pumpkin filled with candy. Mom said "you can have the pumpkin but you can't eat any of the candy. This seemed like torture, but Noah didn't seem to think so. He just wanted to take out each piece and line them up on the floor and then put them back into the pumpkin. He did this over and over again. I found this fascinating. I decided to get down on the floor with him and help him sort it. We sorted the dumdums, tootsie rolls, chocolates, peppermints and so on and so on. He loved it. We did it over and over again for the next four days.

Noah and I also played with "hot wheels". I haven't spent that much time on the floor in a long time. Getting down is much easier then getting back up.

Celebrated Noah's 2nd birthday on Saturday morning , collected leaves with Adam, went to Adam's Hockey game. The five days flew by and before we knew it, it was time to go back to Milwaukee.

Indian Summer

Wow, what a beautiful day! This whole Autumn has been miserable but today was gorgeous. This is what fall is supposed to feel like. Gene and I went for a walk after work. Didn't need a jacket or hat. The colors were peak and the houses we passed were decorated for Halloween. Just wanted to share some "boo"tiful pictures.

Summer's Here

It's finally summer. How do I know? I can finally get the morning newspaper without bundling up. I can go to work without a jacket. Summerfest has started. If you're not from Milwaukee and have never heard of Summerfest you're missing out.

Summerfest is music, food and more music. It's an 11 day music festival and Gene and I enjoyed listening to Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals), Barenaked Ladies and Cowboy Mouth yesterday, all for the price of less than a movie ticket. Besides eating great food and listening to great music we had fun people watching. We watched lots of fans going to the Kiss concert (main act at the Amphitheater for an additional ticket fee). It was a hoot. Lots of face paintings, funny clothes and funny shoes along with normal looking people.

Summerfest started Thursday and the main act was Bon Jovi. Friday was Keith Urban and the coming week will feature Stevie Wonder, George Strait, Earth, Wind & Fire along with Chicago, Boy Dylan with Willie Nelson, No Doubt, Kenny Chesney, The Fray and last but not least Kid Rock with Lynyrd Skynyd. Quite a lineup, hey?

Gene and I plan on going another day but haven't decided which one. I'm sure we won't go wrong on whichever day we pick. Now what food haven't I tasted?

Happy Mother's Day

Looking forward to brunch today. Going to the Venice Club with Gene, John and Joannie (Gene's brother and his wife) and Chris and Rachel (our nephew and his girlfriend). Went there last year and the food was great.

Mother's Day is a little sad for me. My mom passed away last year and it feels strange seeing all the people at Walgreen's looking for a Mother's Day card. I don't do that anymore. I will bring flowers to the cemetery but I won't get a hug.

I did say Happy Mother's Day. My kids are out of town so that's not happy either but Sundays are webcam day and that makes me happy. I' ll see Jason, Kasia and Adam and Noah on the computer and we'll talk and the kids will make me laugh. I probably won't see Nick but hopefully I'll see Mel and Alexis 'cause she always makes me smile. Nick is working 7 days a week, 12 hours a day for the next few weeks so I don't think I'll see him.

Mother's Day changes as your kids get older. I remember breakfasts in bed and handmade cards. Having my eyes pried open and seeing those smiling faces - I'll always cheris those memories. At the time it seemed like it would be forever before I could sleep in on the weekend. Now that the kids are gone I could sleep in every weekend but somehow when you get older you don't need as much sleep and I usually wake up at the crack of dawn. So enjoy those little munchins. They grow up before you know it.

Signs of Spring

After all the rain we had in the last two weeks, signs of Spring are popping up all over. My beautiful bleeding hearts bush is growing fast. My daffodils are in bloom and my tulips are just chewed up leaves. Those darn rabbits, they just can't be happy eating grass. Had to put chicken wire around our burning bush this winter 'cause last winter they chewed it down to a burning twig.



Gene cut the grass this morning and the smell of grass is a sign of Spring, too. That and the smell of barb-b-cue. We had hamburgers on the grill for lunch and ate them out on our patio despite the wind and rather cool temperature. They were oohhhh so good!

Trees are all budding, the grass is that bright crisp green, people are out cleaning up their yards, kids are yelling and running around the neighborhood - all signs of Spring. Now the only thing left to signify Spring is truly here is the shining of the Sun. Where is it? Has anyone seen it? Do we still have one?

Oops I did it again!

Have you ever had a brain freeze? I did recently. Alexis Grace is being baptized on Memorial Day weekend. Gene and I decided to fly to Minneapolis instead of driving it if the price was right. So Gene finds this incredible rate of $91 round trip including all taxes. It's a go. I book the flight through Northwest and a car through hotwire. Car is only $60 for 3 days.

Two weeks ago we were playing cards with some friends and when it was time to go home we made another date to get together. They suggested May 30. No, we can't make it, it's Memorial weekend. No it's not. It's not???????????? I check the calendar. Memorial Day is on the 25th. Who scheduled it so early? We have a flight that's not refundable and a car through hotwire that's also final.

I call the airline the next day. I want to change the date. I know there's a penalty but I'm willing to pay the extra $50 to change the date. It's not $50? It's $155. What??????????? The young man on the other line suggests I just make another reservation seeing as how the flight's less than the change. That's just not fair!

I think about it a day or two and get online and make another flight reservation and another car rental, same price. So now the incredible deal isn't as incredible as it was before.

We now have reservations to Minneapolis two weekends in a row. Hey Nick and Mel have any plans for May 30th weekend?