Finished

Finally, the last step toward perfection.  Yea, right.  Today was manicure and pedicure day.  Two hours at the day spa goes fairly quickly because of the chatter, even though the most people in the room is 4.  The number one topic for the day, and most days, is the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy.  Some have read it, some are reading it and some can't decide if they want to read it.
The amount of wedding gifts, should it depend on how much they couple spend per plate or should the reception entertainment make the call.  Some said they've heard people take their envelopes back and put more money in and some take some out.  Very interesting since we have three weddings this summer, should we wait and see how we like the festivities and then decide how much?  Grooms, maybe you'd better keep an eye on us to see if we take our envelope back and head to the kitchen to steam it open.

Pre Wedding Prep Work

Got to get ready for the weddings.  Today was Mary Kay morning and hair cut afternoon.  My Mary Kay lady is the best.  She's been with Mary Kay, as near as I can figure, 39 years.  She has her 18th new Cadillac.  I know it's a Cadillac cause it has the emblem on the front but the metal tags on the side say Mary Kay.  It's a beautiful SUV keyless entry pink vehicle.  So much for pink Cadillacs, I've been with her most of those 39 years so I've seen them come and go but this one is the nicest, I think.
She worked with me on minimal makeup with some special highlights.  I even get to use what I already have with a couple added items.  I'm going to wear eye shadow and part of it is going to be blue.
Hubby says I'm always beautiful but when he got home this morning he said I was especially beautiful.  He knows which side his bread is buttered.
Off to get a hair cut.  As I can't seem to find anyone who wants to cut my hair on a regular basis I've been going to one of those walk in places.  I lucked out today and got the same stylist that cut my hair before and she remembered me and my cut.  Now I just have to try and get her the next times I need a cut and I'll be in like flynn.
It's getting a little muggy here but I have managed to spend some time outside today.  Sitting on my porch swing reading.  After finishing the 50 Shades of Grey series it's hard to get into another book.  50 Shades was an excellent written trilogy.  Even without the explicit sex it would have been a good read.

Weekend at the Framnes

I know I'm slow but wasn't quite ready to blog yesterday.  The weekend in WI was great.  It went really fast tho.  Saturday afternoon was a trip to a brewery to learn how they make beer and pop.  However it is made, the PA system the guide used was of such poor quality that I couldn't understand most of what he said.  But it didn't take long to get to the free beer and soda room.  SIL's brother is the accountant for the business so he got us in for free plus his employee discount on our after purchases.  For that we thank him very much.  Thanks David.
The beer was limited to 4 glasses a person and was strictly maintained by the four patches on our wrist bands.  The pop was unlimited.  We ended up buying the orange, root beer, grape and cream sodas.  The others were excellent but decided we probably wouldn't want a lot of them though the cherry coke was really good.  Sorry Betsy.
Then it was time to come back to the house and get things ready for the evening meal.  Well relax first the get ready.  John marinated boneless chicken breasts and boneless chicken thighs and then cooked them on the grill till done, dipped them in BBQ sauce and cooked them some more.  The thighs were excellent but I didn't try the breasts.  Mary's German potato salad and taco dip were both fantastic. Kim's veggie tray and slaw were too.  Pat made baked beans and bought fresh fruit and cookies.  Not one went away hungry.  A lot of talking and world peace was reached.  Good thing their politics are pretty much all the same.
Sunday was a lazy morning with four showers to be taken and coffee and juice to be consumed to tide us over till breakfast.
Breakfast was at Blues Egg.  I believe that's the spelling.  I've never eaten in a gourmet breakfast only restaurant before but I'm sure this one would qualify.
Fancy Bloody Mary's with a thick slice of apple wood cured bacon and olive for siring.  AND since it was Wisconsin, a pony of Miller Lite for a chaser or a mimosa to keep you till you were seated.  I opted for water.  I know, I'm a party )(*&.
When we got seated the two guys got coffee with a jigger of Bailey's, doesn't everyone?  I did taste Ron's and it was really pretty good.  The usual breakfast fare was ordered with a high end up kick. I opted for that apple wood smoked bacon, two eggs and hash browns.  I know, Party (*(*&.  I did take a bite of John's Dublin eggs Benedict and Pat's pancakes and they were both really good.  Ron wasn't in a sharing mood?  Definitely a treat for the eyes and pallet.  
The afternoon was topped off with a trip to the mall dress shopping but it didn't work out.  The Macy's and Boston Store didn't have any selection so we'll try Oak Brook and Yorktown here in IL next month.
We had a pleasant drive home on Sunday evening with hardly any problems from Wisconsin road construction.  

Beautiful Friday

Finally the weather has cooled off to the point of being able to sit outside for a while and not dive back into the air conditioned house.
Ron is off this morning to requalify at the Sheriff's Range.  He has to do it once a year in order to carry.  AND he gets to meet up with people he used to work with and enjoy swapping a bit of news.  Men don't gossip.  I had thought of going with him too but decided there really wasn't anyone I wanted to see. It's been 11 years since I retired.  Figure if I haven't kept in contact with them this far, I probably didn't want to in the first place.
We're having a slight family problem.  My children's birth father is in bad health and since he has no one to care for him he's refusing to have the needed surgery.  My children have to deal with what they are going to do.  I feel sorry for them having to go thru this and wish I could make it all go away as when they were little children.  But they are not and all I can do is be prepared to help them deal with their decisions.
I am pretty excited about this weekend, it's the first of many summer parties we're committed to.  Brown Deer, WI to stay with one of Ron's brothers and SIL.  She's planned a tour of a bottling company where her brother works.  I don't know much about the brand but I'm really looking forward to seeing and tasting.
Then a cookout at their house with another brother and sister and their families.  Haven't seen them in a year so really looking forward to that.
Sunday is probably going to be shopping day for SIL, Pat, and I.  She needs a dress for her nephew's wedding and I just bought three dresses for our weddings this summer.  So I guess that makes me an expert.  LOL

Summer in the City

Our shopping trip pretty much ended there.  I pooped out but my daughter did fine.  Since SIL knows the area he suggested a late lunch at "The Weber Grill".  Sounded good to hubby and I so off we went.  It really wasn't far.  Between Yorktown and Oak Brook, I think.  Betsy and I both ordered ribs and they were perfect.  They looked beautiful and tasted great.  They served extra sauce on the side but they didn't need a thing.  The guys got hamburger and turkey burgers and said they were good.
We did make a quick stop at Oak Brook but I was to pooped to participate so off we headed back to Betsy and Alan's house.
Sunday, father's day, was a bit odd but nice.  Daughter, SIL, grand daughter, great grand daughter and baby's daddy came over for awhile.  Ron's son sent him a text msg and Bob called later in the day.  A new recipe for sloppy joes and old recipe for cold slaw and Texas Sheet Cake made the meals.
Ron said he had a nice day.  Him and Alan always find something to talk about and Matt joined in, surprise.
This week has been very hot and humid so I'm staying home, enjoying the central air.  I've ventured out in the morning to sit on my front porch swing and read but that's about it.  I've started on my selection of quilt top kits so that will keep me busy for awhile.  I believe I brought 12 home this year.  I have the batting but I'll have to buy some backing, I'm sure.

Catch Up.

Followers, I apologize for not writing sooner but my creative juices took a long nap.  I'm happy to report my daughter is still home from the hospital and looking better every time I see her, which has been regularly lately.
They came to visit last Tuesday, hungry for a local fast food restaurant specialty, Chicken and Spice.  So chicken chunks, poppers and fries were enjoyed along with Brown's Chicken's deep fried baby mushrooms. We all try to stay away from fast food but Chicken and Spice is a rare treat.  Chunks is a misnomer.  Their "chunks" are half a boneless, skinless chicken breast seasoned and fried.  Their resemblance to chunks is in name only.
Friday was a shopping trip to end all shopping trips.  One of my grandsons and daughter's sons is getting married this summer.  I happened to find my dress for the wedding while she was recovering from her surgery.  So our mission was to find her a very nice mother of the groom dress with a side of finding me another dress or two.  Husband and I have three weddings this summer.
Betsy found one on line that fit her price range but not her style.  It was at a store called Von Maur.  I really don't remember hearing about it but the son in law knew where there was one.  Fortunately he grew up closer to the city than we did and had adventures in the area, which has been a life safer to our travels.  Ron drove but SIL came along cause she needed his opinion after I okay ed it.
It turned out Von Maurs is in Yorktown Center Mall which I didn't remember ever going to but after several hours of thinking, I imagine I have been there 50 + years ago when my friend, Caryl, and I used to go to Oak Brook and I think Yorktown shopping.  I stress the word shopping because all we could afford to do was look and then have lunch.
Von Maur had an excellent selection of dresses for older mature women so we went to work figuring out the size and then the style.  The size was a pleasant surprise for her, I had to go back and get smaller sizes for her to try on.  The one was easy to find but we made her continue to try on others, just in case.  She was also given the option of looking other places but she decided, after the glowing praises from her husband on how good she looked she decided on that one.
After making sure she had what she wanted I tried on a couple of dresses for the other weddings.  I can't wear the same dress to all three weddings.  They'll take pictures and it wouldn't do for me to be in the same dress.  Besides, I want to save the one for grandson's wedding to wear to his first and we have another wedding before his.  I succeeded in finding not one but two dress.  One a pretty purple (my favorite color since I was a little girl) and a LBD.  The LBD was marked down from $175. to $44.  Couldn't afford not to try it on and when it fit, couldn't afford not to buy it.
This has gotten way to long so I'll break for now and continue on with our saga later.

Betsy and family updates

Betsy is home, thank God, and has her staples out.  She's sounding much better this time.  Going to go see her tomorrow.
Grandson, Matt, got his driving permit yesterday.  My oh my how time flies.  He's only 15 but it will give him a chance to get some experience under his belt before her gets to drive my himself.
The weather in IL has been so beautiful that I don't like to be inside during the daytime.  It's going to get hot and humid so I want to enjoy the nice weather while I can.  Haven't done hardly any sewing or quilting since we got home for that reason.
Looking forward to the wedding the last day of June.  It's nice to have weddings again.  Nieces and nephews and grandson are all getting to that age.  As it's worked out they are all from different sides of our diverse family so we'll get to see a lot of people this summer.

Shower

Our second oldest grandson is getting married in August of this year.  We're tickled about it. He has a smart, nice, hard working fiance.  Today was the day Julie's sister, Cindy, and mother, Norma, honored her with a bridal shower.  We got to meet her mother and father for the first time as they came in from their retirement home in TN.  Norma is a very nice person and enjoyed talking to her a lot.  Jim came in at the end so we didn't get to speak with him.  Yes, it was we.  Since Betsy is still in the hospital and unable to attend her son's doings I drug Ron along.  Eric was there and so was his best man so Ron wasn't the only male.  I'm glad he did come since the "luncheon" was full of fabulous food he got to enjoy too and I didn't have to cook when we got home.  A bowl of soup, choice of prime rib, talapia or chicken parmigiana and then ice cream for dessert.  Ron said the fish was excellent and there's not much you can do to kill the chicken so we both enjoyed our meal and conversations.  Not only with Norma but Cindy and Eric's aunt and two cousins.

More Updates

Well, Betsy is still in the hospital and will be for awhile.  Now she has an infection that she probably got from the hospital.  She says she's feeling better and is able to get up and walk around some.  I forgot to ask what she's getting to eat but I'm sure it tastes great.
She'll miss her son's fiance's bridal shower tomorrow but I'll try and take both our places.  LOL.  I do have the gift from us both and all I need to do is get a card.
It's another cold day in northeast Illinois.  The indoor thermometer that registers the outside temperature says 57 which is 7 degrees warmer than it was all day yesterday.  I sure miss sitting outside and enjoying the fresh air.  We did get almost an inch of rain yesterday and we needed that very much.  How's your week going?