Monday, August 26, 2013

Sunday so it must be Vanilla Ice Cream

It has happened that during the past few weeks whenever we've had company for a meal, vanilla ice cream is the dessert.  Not just any vanilla ice cream, mind you, but home made vanilla custard ice cream. 
So this week end I decided to do something about that.  First Ron and I squeezed a bag of fresh limes and made lime sorbet.  Figured since the ice cream maker was out and still frozen we whipped up a batch of regular vanilla ice cream.  When that was done I removed half of it and added chopped up chocolate chips.  OK, Three desserts, see if I can find someone who might be interested.  Got our daughter and son in law to join us for Sunday dinner with the lure of different desserts.  Sure wish my son would join us but he still has little ones at home to keep up with on the weekends.  I'll be glad when he can join us for family dinners again.
We had a nice visit and made plans to celebrate her birthday before we leave for Wisconsin.  She choose lunch at Merichaka's.  That's alright with us.  Been a month or so since we've eaten there.  Remember garlic poor boys, hand made onion rings and salad with house dressing.  If they're reading this just have it ready Friday for lunch. 
This morning was the day for Ron's annual eye exam.  He passed with flying colors, even the colors were right.  No new glasses this year.  Hip Hip Hurrah.
Then a stop at the grocery store down the street from the eye doctor, Food 4 Less.  It's a Kroger store and we love it.  No frills, just fresh produce and name brand products. 
Next lunch.  Hey Hey Hot Dog.  It's one of those places that qualify for the "comfort food" catagory of your life.  When we were dating we used to hop on the motorcycle and head on down to the A & W root beer stand for a frosty mug.  Well that place is gone and the owners retired but his son has all the recipes.  We had a frosty mug of root beer, sloppy joes and a bag of potato chips.  Tastes just like it did 39 years ago. 
Had a great day.  Hope you did too.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Life Goes On

Couldn't resist posting this picture.  It's of our youngest great grand child, Hailey Elizabeth.  She's growing into quite a cutie.  She's 20 months old today. 
Life is progressing here in humid Lockport.  We enjoyed some beautiful fall like days but now that school has started, summer has returned.  Our dry weather has caused some trees to start dropping their leaves already.  Such a shame.  Just no rain in July.
We did venture out to Peotone to see the Will County fair.  Not much has changed in the few years since we attended.  Seems to get smaller and smaller but it definitely is about the farmers.  Livestock exhibiting and farm equipment is the main focus, as it should be, in that rural area.  Tractor pulls and demo derby are the night time entertainment. 
The complete opposite side of the coin occurs the weekend after Labor Day.  The De Kalb County Fair in Sandwich.  Also known as the Sandwich Fair.  It's a nice drive north and west thru rural towns like Plano (They make Plano Tackle Boxes).  Lots of farm animals, horse races (no riding on the back of the horse, just the buggy) and plenty of food.  Carnival rides of the little kids and huge farm tractors for the big boys to ogle.  Of course there is the 4-H building with all the exhibits of cooking and sewing.  Commercial buildings and exhibits willing to sell you just about anything from Huskavarna sewing machines to Huskavarna saws and everything thing in between.  Food is plentiful but we always gravitate to Fay's BBQ.  Best Pork Chops in the state and you can only get them at fairs and such. 
Before that occurs we have some things to take care of, Ron's annual eye doctor appointment and hearing aid appointment.  Then a trip to Milwaukee for the Labor Day Weekend.  Hope everyone has a safe weekend. 

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Ending up the Week.

First, I want to wish our friends, Gerry and Larry a happy anniversary today.  You both enjoy your day in your cabin up in the PA mountains.  We miss you and are looking forward to seeing you this winter in AZ.
Now on to the everyday doctor's stuff.  Had my pre op visit with my ophthalmologist yesterday.  Left eye set for Sept 9 and right eye Sept 23.  For awhile I didn't think I was going to be able to get them done before we left for the winter but the good doctor stepped in and arranged it all.
A special thanks to my brother in law, John, for sharing his many years of ocular experience to help Ron and I make an educated decision on which lens
To have implanted during surgery.
Today is a quick trip to the grocery store and then an easy Saturday with Steak and Caesar Salad and baked potato for dinner. 
We shared our bounty of tomatoes with a couple of the neighbors this morning so Ron is happy none will be going to waste.  They are so meaty and sweet.  Hardly any seeds at all.  Yes, they're sweet before I add the sugar. 

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Busy Week, Part II

Well this week is winding down and so am I.  Ron is finished with Jury Duty.  He got an exemption for tomorrow so he can accompany me to the eye doctor.
Today was hair cut and color. Turned out out nice.
Ron had his share of excitement.  The wheel fell off his lawnmower.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Busy Week

It's going to be one of those weeks where I'll need next week to recoop and I don't think next week will be much help.
To start it off Ron has jury duty this week.  He has to call in after 4:30 pm and at noon.  He got the word Friday that he didn't have to go in Monday morning but when we finished eating lunch on Monday he called and he had to be there at 1:15pm.
It's not a long drive but he obviously wasn't going to be able to drive to downtown Joliet, park in the jury's parking deck, top floor, and walk to the courthouse in time.  I did my part by taking over his projects.  I finished my lunch, put the food away and the dishes in the dishwasher.  Then went to check out the clothes drier to see if it was done.  It had stopped ages ago, clothes were cold.  I don't know why he doesn't take things out right away.  So I emptied the drier and reloaded it from the finished washer.  Then checked outside and sure enough he had left clothes hanging on the clothes line.  Out I went, couldn't find the laundry basket so I folded the sheets and pillow cases as best I could and brought them inside. 
Sat down at the computer and what do I hear "Honey, I'm home".  Two hours.  I couldn't believe it.  I think he set it up so he'd be gone long enough for me to finish up his chores. 
Today was no jury duty morning or afternoon but we needed groceries so we rushed to the store to be back in time for him to go in if they had called his number.  I had a pedicure appointment so he decided to get a hair cut since he didn't have to go anywhere.
Sure enough his 4:30 pm call said he had to be there tomorrow (Wed) at 10 am.  It was the only day this week I didn't have anything planned.  We usually go out for a late lunch on Wednesday.  Guess the Jury Commission must have wanted their agenda. 
I'll keep you up on how the rest of the week goes.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Using New Cookware

Well, I have a picture of my new dutch oven on the stove holding a Ree Drummond recipe for beef stew and next to the dutch oven is a wire rack with an apple pie on it but the picture just will not upload. 
The stew was delicious with a few ingredients that I normally don't put in stews but they did something to make it taste better.
Don't know where I got all this enerty today but it sure made the day enjoyable.  I had planned on finishing up my stained glass runners but never touched the blocks.  I did do some reading.  I'm working on reading as many of Sherryl Woods books as I can get from the libraries. 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

More Running Thursday

This morning was get up, fix and eat breakfast, get ready and hit the road morning.  I don't like those kind of days but at least this morning was a 10 am class minutes away at 10th and State.  Thimbles.

Yep, it had something to do with sewing.  From 10 till 12 noon we learned how to make a "Cathedral Windows" place mat.  There were several steps but the instructor broke them down and made sure we all knew how to do each one.  I got two thirds of a row done which proved I could do the rest so "class dismissed"

Of course finding my husband took another 45 minutes.  He dropped me off and went tool shopping.  That wasn't where he was though.  He was mowing the yard (surprise) and of course he doesn't carry his phone with him. 

We did manage to get that taken care of and after he cleaned up a bit headed for Aurora/Naperville and Sweet Tomatoes.  Been awhile since we've been so we really enjoyed our fabulous salads.  We're pretty good customers at that restaurant during the summer so the manager treated us to a baker's dozen chocolate chip cookies.

Nice drive home.  Not to much traffic.  Ron finished mowing the lawn.  Managed to give a neighbor some tomatoes Ron had picked earlier.  I don't know why more neighbors aren't interested but they're not.  They don't know what they're missing. 

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Wednesday's "Us" Day

It's August in the midwest so it's hot and humid, enough said.  This morning started out with a sleep in of 8 o'clock, a quick shower and off to our favorite breakfast restaurant.  It's only a few blocks away and is reached without going on a main highway.  The last time we were there Ron tried Eggs Benedict for the first time and loved them but, as we have learned, the portions are way to large.  So this time we split an order.  One egg, ham, sauce etc, hash browns and a large pancake each with warm syrup.  I still couldn't eat all of my half but I did enjoy it. 
Last time we were there I had stuffed crepes with fresh strawberries and bananas and granola.  Turned down the whipped cream.  I don't know how many crepes there were and I'm not sure what they were stuffed but they were so delicious and I couldn't even make a dent in them so next time we go there for breakfast we'll split that between us.  Yes we tipped accordingly.  Didn't stiff the wait staff. 
Then to Wal-Mart to pick up a sewing machine carrier for my class tomorrow.  None there so it was off to Orland Park and JoAnns.  Walked in the door and there was a display of sewing machine carriers.  One even looked like it would fit perfect.  The sign said 39.99 to 89.99 but nothing as to which was which.  We walked the store but didn't find any other so I opted for the pretiest one there.  Figured it would be the higher priced one but what to my surprise it was the 39.99 one.  Now that's a bargain.  Didn't need any of their famous 50% off coupons this morning. 
Ron had said he was going to mow the lawn today but he suggested we drive up to Pleasant Prarie, WI to the outlet mall.  Not my place to turn him down. 
Off we went the old way.  We were to far east to catch 355 so we hit 55 south and hooked up with 294 past O'Hare.  Haven't gone that way in years.  When we were getting close we were wondering about the new Rosemont high end mall and WHAM there is was, huge, right up against the toll road.  They are so high end you have to pay to park in their parking lot.  Seriously.  Looks like I won't be shopping there in the near future. 
We did make it to the outlet mall in Wisconsin before 1 pm and did our share of shopping and buying.  Got some new pots, that's another story, so going to go thru what I have and put some away for anyone who might need them.  Hit the Coach, Haines and Jockey stores and headed for home. 
All and all it was a great day.  Hope you had one too.