Man Cave

Guess Ron has found a new place to hide out.  LOL.  We used to have a butterfly garden next to this shed, which obviously needs a fresh coat of red paint.  Yesterday afternoon Ron decided to clean it out so we could make something out of it besides a weed garden holding gun targets.    This morning he was back at it and, as usual, I went to the bedroom window to check on him but he wasn't in the yard so I checked the back deck and he wasn't there either.  Obviously I have figured out how to keep an eye on him without leaving my air conditioned home.  (There is one place him and the neighbor found I can't see).
Then I happened to notice there was someone sitting on a lawn chair in the shed, which, by the way, was a birthday present for me years ago.  Sure enough it was What's His Name drinking a cup of coffee.
I grabbed my camera and went down the stairs faster than I have in years. I carefully opened the back door to the deck but didn't close it completely cause it makes to much noise.  Rushed over to the east side of the deck so I could get a good angle photo of him setting in the shed.  He saw me, figures, any other time I could shout at the top of my lungs when I want him and he doesn't hear.  But he stayed put and even waved for one of the pictures.
He came up to the deck to see what I was doing and advised he figured he take his "union breaks" in the shed and have his coffee.  I figured, duh?  Walk up to the house and get a cup of coffee and then walk back to the shed?  Not that there is a long distance between the two.  That was when he informed me that he had the coffee pot down there too.
What you see in front of the shed is part of our garden.  The poles and rope are for the cucumber vines to grow on so they don't take over the entire garden.  I realize you can't see anything but the poles but the entire garden is doing pretty well considering the gargantuan amounts of rain we've had this spring.  We had lima beans float up out of their rows but still have some up and growing good.  I'm afraid the spring peas got put in to late but we'll see if we get any in the next few days.

Father's Day

What a beautiful day it was yesterday, Father's Day.  Don't get me wrong, it was hot and humid but it didn't rain.  Ron cleaned and I cooked Saturday and Sunday.  I keep telling him not to clean until people leave.  Saturday I made dill new potato salad and a Texas Sheet Cake.  It's like a moist chocolate brownie with chocolate icing.  Why do people say "chocolate brownie"?  Is there any other kind of brownie besides chocolate? Sunday it was baked beans, creamy and vinegar cold slaw, pasta salad, deviled eggs and got the four (4) slabs of ribs ready for the grill.
Ron wanted to try out the rub recipe I copied off of another blog.  I was a little apprehensive about trying out new things on other people, even if it's family, so we agreed on half rub and half sauce.  As he started putting them on the Weber charcoal grill he realized he didn't have room for all of the ribs.  I suggested turning on the Weber gas grill setting next to the Weber charcoal  grill.  What a novel idea.  Given the fact that he had never made ribs on a gas grill, he burnt the ribs with the rub.  Well not the ribs but the sugar in the rub burnt.  Note to self "tell him to turn down the heat next time".
Thanks to our semi chef grandson, Eric, the ribs turned out pretty good except they were cooked to long and a little dry.  (I'm being nice in case Ron reads this).
Anyway, Elizabeth, Robert, Eric, Alan, Ron and I enjoyed a meal of good food and company.  Jessy and Matt came just as we were sitting down to eat but they had already eaten.  We talked and laughed and had a great time.  At least I did.  I even went out to the vehicles and found my camera to take pictures.  When they all left, it was still sitting where I had laid it down.  Memories will have to sustain us.
I did put the Texas sheet cake and home made strawberry ice cream on the table and it was partaken of.  We managed to send a good deal of the left overs home with Elizabeth and Robert.  Jess helped out with the Texas sheet cake.

Rainy Days

Boy o boy did we get some rain yesterday.  The gauge on the deck said 4 1/2 inches around 8 am and it was still sprinkling then.  Actually the gauge doesn't talk, Ron had to go out and pick it up and read it himself.  That would be nice though.  Push a button and it "tells" you how much water is in the container.
As an added bonus we got to turn off the air conditioner.  Well, actually, "we" didn't turn it off.  ComEd did.  After a night of thunder and lightening and rain had stopped, the lights went out........and then back on.......and then out.....and then we made a mad dash for the thermostat to turn the air conditioner off before the power surges blew it up.  I guess we made it in time since the electricity didn't come back for awhile but we didn't need the artificial cool air.
Ready for this?   The people across the street, Carlsons, babysitter told us that she couldn't get the Carlson's children from their sleepover at our old paper girls house cause two transformers blew up in front of her house and no one was allowed out of the house till ComEd got it fixed.  Phew !!
The electricity did return just before noon just as I finished reading a book.  So we ate lunch, cleaned up and headed to Oakbrook to get Ron a new shaving brush.  BTW, the reason we hadn't washed up or brushed our teeth, for those of you who have city utilities, is when we don't have electricity we don't have water.  We really need to invest in a gas generator.  Not so much for water but to make sure our food stays cold/frozen.  Our little area of the world has more than it's share of electricity free days.

Michael Philip

Well, today was a good day in many ways, the least of them was I finally got my nails filled in after two months of trying to take care of them myself.  The other two occurrences  that fall into the category of making my day are equally magnificent.  So I'll list them in their order of occurrence.
First, my dear friend, Paula, got released from the hospital.  She's been their for a week and I miss her so much. While she was in the hospital a "big wind" came through her town and did a lot of damage.  I have thanked God for Paula and Carl's safe status.  I know they have lost most if not all their trees but they are both in their home together.
Second, and equally as important, we got to spend the afternoon with our Grandson, Michael, and his friend, Janice.  They are leaving tomorrow after a to short a visit of 10 days.  Janice is going back to their home in California and Michael is flying to Hawaii to spend some time with his beautiful daughter.
It has been so good having him back with us after seven months in Afghanistan.  We picked them up in downtown Naperville after they dropped off their rental car and took them to lunch at Sweet Tomatoes.  We had a nice leisurely lunch and a nice visit.  We talked and laughed.  It felt so good.  But time does fly so we took them back to his mother's, our daughter, so they could get in some more time with her and Alan before they leave in the morning.  We love you Michael.

Graduation Party

Yesterday was a mixture of emotions.  Sorry son, I was dreading going to Bob's for Matt's 8th grade graduation party but knew it was something I had to do.
Surprise, Matt met us as we got out of the truck.  (Of course we took the truck, there were people who hadn't seen it)  Took his envelope and the dish of pasta salad I'd brought upon Bob's request.  Then met up with a former sister and brother in law that were just arriving.  It turned out they had made provisions for people inside their air conditioned home.  Hip Hip Hurray !!!
Food was as usual for Tara and Bob's parties.  Even though we haven't been to anything at their home for years it was still up to their usual standard of fantastic and plentiful.  
The family made a good showing and chat and laughter abound.  A short break when the weather took a turn but it was over about the time we got the outdoor things secured.
What we didn't know at the time was the storm that virtually missed us met up with another from the north and hit Demotte, IN where Tara's parents live.  They weren't at home at the time, for which we are all thankful.  Paula, Tara's mom, is in the hospital with a myriad of bronchial infections and Carl, Tara's dad, was there with her.  
Someone posted an 8 minute video on U Tube driving thru Demotte cussing and videoing the car dashboard but it did show enough that not all of the buildings were destroyed.  In fact the only damage I was able to see was trees up rooted.  I know Paula and Carl lost some windows and don't have electricity.  Sure wish I had a generator to take to them so they could save the food in the deep freeze.  I think Tara was going to try and load some of it in coolers and bring it back to Joliet.
Since we didn't find out about the tornado till this morning, yesterday turned out to be a very nice day.  Thanks family.

A Beautiful Day

It's been quite a day.  We decided not to go to Missouri this week either.  Didn't want to take a chance on the storms and they were coming to put in the new garage door.  No I didn't run it down.  Ron finally got around to calling his contractor to have it enlarged so I can get the van in the garage AND open the drivers door to get out of the van.
The bonus part of the day came when my phone buzzed with an invitation to lunch at Merichkas from oldest grandchild, Michael.  We agreed to meet there at 1pm to avoid the rush.  Didn't work.  Worst service and food I've ever had there and I've been going there 50 + years.  The company was great, we sat and talked till after 3pm, compensating the waitress accordingly.
After a few errands we made it home just before the garage door people arrived.  While Ron supervised that I started reading email and Facebook mail.  Got several surprises, all of them great.  It's so nice to get nice surprises.