Shish Kabobs

Saturday night with good friends. If anyone hasn't heard the story, I'll repeat it because I think it's worth repeating.

I met a tall skinny girl at the roller rink. It was obvious she was much older than me. (3 years) But we became friends. Not every day in your face friends but cycle friends. Sometimes our lives didn't have the time or the need to stay in contact but whenever things fell apart we were there for each other. The last major one was the summer of 1983. Two of her husband's cousins were the first ones killed by a serial murder that summer. Needless to say, we spent the summer on the phone trying to figure out what was going on and who did it. That summer is another long story that maybe I'll document some other time.

She invited us over to their home for dinner one night. She was going to try out a new recipe she found. It involved marinating steak and putting it on a stick along with onions and tomatoes and potatoes and mushrooms and peppers and cooking it over an outdoor grill.

Their three kids and our two were quite young at the time and not very willing to try new tastes so we counted on them taking one bite and heading for the hot dogs and hamburgers. Well, as they say, the rest is history. The kids all loved the shish kabobs and the adults waited while another round was cooked.

I've had the recipe for them for years and she's had my recipe for Caesar Salad but we never fixed each other's on our own. It was always the treat to go to each other's home and enjoy them.

My friend, Caryl, died three years ago so we kind of all figured that was the end of that. But last year we decided we'd carry on the tradition. Now the kids put it all together at their dad's house and we all get together and tell Caryl stories and catch up with our lives since the last time and enjoy the shish kabobs.

Last night was one of those nights.

Sandwich Fair

Thursday, September 9, 2010. A day at the last county fair in the state of IL. Some things never change and Sandwich Fair is one. It was a perfect sunshiny day with gentle breezes to add to the beautifully shaded Fair Grounds. We were early enough to get a great parking place where we walked past the trotters doing their thing on the way to the ticket booth. Since we're seniors and Thursday was senior citizen day we put down our eight dollars and joined the other seniors enjoying the fair. The flag at right is suspended high above the race track for everyone to see when they pull into the parking spaces no matter which way they come in.

We met Betsy and Alan (our daughter and son in law) and split up to do our own things with a time to meet up for a late lunch.

Betsy and I enjoyed the 4H exhibits drooling over all the delicious foods that would not be eaten cause they were entered into the judging. Sure would like to be a judge.

We met Ron and Alan at Fey's Pork Chops and BBQ Chicken tent. The line was a little long, looked like everyone else had the same idea, but it moved fast. People were saying they pricing had gone up since last year so I took a little extra of everything on the buffet. I chose a pork chop which they placed on a plastic plate and I started by adding baked beans to the same section as the pork chop then cottage cheese in another and cold slaw in the last. I passed up on the apple sauce but I was the only one who did. I took a couple slices of bread and several packs of butter, grabbed a packet of plastic silver ware and stopped at the beverage counter for their famous watered down lemonade. I was given a surprise, the lemonade was pink but it was still watered down. No seconds for me. The pork chop was moist and tender as usual, cutting it with the plastic knife is the norm for Fey's. If you ever get a chance to go to this fair, don't pass it up. The week after Labor Day weekend is the date every year.

Birthday Lunch

Nice day today. Started out with a retirees meeting and candidates forum. We didn't get to hear them all but the judges that were running gave very interesting speeches. I believe I have decided which one I will vote for in November. We left there early for another appointment.

We met up with Betsy and Alan today for lunch at Sweet Tomatoes. We sure do love that buy one get one free. They even gave Betsy a bag of chocolate chip cookies even though her birthday isn't till tomorrow. We only talked for two hours since Alan had to go get his after bypass stress test.

I'm finishing up my Linus Project quilts so I'll have to work on my tee shirt quilt. Got the pattern laid out for an apron and was just waiting for my new scissors. Got them today from Betsy, she had two identical pair. Been trying to keep busy with my hands so I don't use them to insert food in mouth.

I did make a couple knitted dish cloths. That was fun. Haven't knitted since I was in high school but with the help of a great how to book I'm doing pretty good. I'm going to miss my sewing center when we go to AZ. I'll take the sewing machine but won't have access to all the counter space I have here.

New Experience

I guess you never get to old to experience new things. Someone egged our van last night. Whoever did it threw the egg with a lot of force since the shells on the ground were tiny. It doesn't appear any other vehicles in the neighborhood got hit but I still think it was an act of opportunity and not deliberate.

Weekend

Wow, what a great weekend we had. Ron cleaned out the "dark room" in the garage finding stuff we forgot we had. Some of it was left here by my father when he left the house to us. That was 1974 in case anyone forgot. He bought new shelving and put that up. Now the garage floor is looking a little overstuffed but only till garbage day. They're not going to like us this week.

I, on the other hand, tried real hard not to leave the house on Sunday and won by a nose. I cut out two aprons, started knitting a dish cloth, finished my last Linus Project quilt top and got out the new fat quarters I bought in Morris last week. I'm trying to decide if I want 4 or 6 inch squares. Leaning toward 6 inch ones for the first quilt. I've got my sewing center set up for cutting so I want to get as much done as possible so I can put it back to sewing, otherwise it takes up to much room in my little "green room".

If I can get around to it, I want to make some more water bottle covers from the material I picked up at JoAnn's. Loved the material shop hopping last week. Ron's a saint. Morris, Braidwood, Frankfort and Orland Park. Quite a road trip.

Put a pork tenderloin in the crockpot Sunday with potatoes and kraut. Turned out great. Plenty of tenderloin left over for sandwiches this week.

It's supposed to be hot and humid all week. Perfect sewing weather. Hoping to see Betsy and Alan this week but have to check with Betsy on when they're available. I understand he has doctor's appointments after his surgery and I have an appointment Friday to make me beauteous. Don't think they'll succeed but at least my roots will match. LOL

Good day. Son in law, Alan, came home from the hospital. Daughter, Betsy is so happy to have him home. The stress of running back and forth to the hospital was really getting to her. This was day nine counting the stay at the first hospital.

Others seems to be having bad days but mine is great. Worked on a quilt top and tried "stitch in the ditch" on one I didn't want to tie. Looks pretty good. A friend had her last chemotherapy treatment. All in all a good day.

I'm not going to think about grandson, Michael, going to Afghanistan in less than 90 days. I'll leave that worrying to when it happens.

Son in Law

It's been quite a week around here. Thank God it ended on a high note. To make a very long story short, son in law, Alan, ended up with double bypass surgery on Wednesday.