UFO

 

Can you see the 2 fighter planes that did a fly by at the University of Illinois and University of Michigan game last night? Nah, neither can I....guess I need to do some work on night photography....but let me be the first to tell you that they were moving pretty fast!! If you enlarge this, you can see some redlights on the right hand side next to the thing that might be a moon......the lights on the wings..... Here are some pictures of the band...which is awesome...at the start of the game..... the teams come in running with their school flags......the cheerleaders do push ups(guys) and back flips(girls) every time the team makes a touchdown...enlarge the photo to see it all.
 

Fall Colors

 

I wish I had thought to have the husband put in some fall colors like this at our house.....now....almost too late....winter will be here pretty soon.....this was taken at the Morten Arboretum. I have this posted here as well...

Blog Action Day

Think globally, shop locally

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

Blog Action Day is about MASS participation. That means we need you! Here are 3 ways to participate:

* Post on your blog relating to the environment on Blog Action Day
* Donate your day’s earnings to an environmental charity
* Promote Blog Action Day around the web

Lots of our stuff ends up in landfills. While we were out on Saturday, we saw the above sign, made by some girl scouts. I think this qualifies as an environmental issue. I would love for everyone to be on board environmentally. This is what the girl scouts made out of their old stuff.
 

College visit

My Motherinlaw is an amazing woman. Besides having had 10 children and keeping good tabs on all of them...she has 22 grandchildren that she really keeps up with. She also drives everywhere she can....She is 87 and is in full, complete possession of her mind and body---well, she is a bit deaf(don't laugh, in laws, I KNOW she is more than a BIT deaf) but she refuses to wear hearing aids. When asked why? she says she doesn't want to look old. When you get your laughter under control, feel assured that I asked her that if you aren't old at 87 when are you old? and she responded.....anyone 10 years older than I am is old. Ok, having said that, she was driving back from Arkansas and she decided to stop and visit one of her granddaughter's(my daughter) at college as she was driving back to Chicago. She arrived at my daughter's house at 10:45 PM where they fixed her something to eat(she lives in a Vegetarian co-op), showed her around the place (13 people live there), made sure her car was parked in an area it wouldn't get towed(you know how police in college towns are), visited with the granddaughter and her roommates and then drove 3 hours home. Not only were her roommates impressed that she came for a visit, they couldn't believe she was going to drive 3 hours home at such a late time of the night....Like I said....she is an amazing woman.

Two girl cousins

 
It is always so great to see 2 of the girl cousins together. These 2 love to get together but it doesn't happen very often as one of them lives in Hong Kong....The one in flip flops is mine and the other is my (husband's) niece...

Why I should never leave home

My husband and I have this "thing"...ok ...not a rule but an agreement.....
I take care of the inside of the house and he takes care of the outside....
not as clear cut as that..there are exceptions....for instance...
he plants the garden and I weed. I plant the flowers...I weed. I want a room painted inside...his job...I need something repaired inside(garbage disposal, leaking faucet.) his job.
So.....yesterday I went to see a University of Illinois football game with a friend who had an extra ticket...I only do this in order to see my daughter and take her to dinner....not a big fan of ANY sport but it is fun to go with my friend and we enjoy the ride down and back....as I come into the kitchen, I notice it looks strange out of my window.
Apparently when asked "how I like that crab apple tree with the diseased leaves" and I responded.."I really like it...just spray it to get rid of the disease" translated to my darling husband as
CUT IT DOWN

I guess I can't leave home again.....until we are REALLY clear on whose job is whose and what I REALLY meant.

Happy Birthday, Clancy!!!

 

It's Clancy's first birthday and he has a LOT to celebrate. He passed his CGC class!!!!!(Translation......Canine Good Citizen class). This means he did 10 things he was supposed to do....sit when a stranger comes up to you, sit while a stranger pets him, grooms him....walks on a leash without pulling, doesn't sniff other dogs when we pass them in the street(without permission), sits and stays, down and stay, comes when called(ok --I thought he would flunk right about here...but he THRIVES on working in the classroom), can be left with a stranger for 5 minutes without barking, pulling, jumping or being a nuisance and plays well with other dogs....this is the first step in his becoming a therapy dog. They(dog trainers in my most recent classes with him) think that with his exuberant personality he is a good dog to go to visit in nursing homes (no fear of wheelchairs or so they think)....I'm still on the fence about that but so far so good!
He received a scarf(shown) and he had a birthday hat and a new stuffed, squeaky toy. All in all, a good day for him!

A nice Italian lunch

 
I went to visit my daughter at college and her friend from grade school was visiting as well. While the football team (Illini) won against a ranked team (Penn State), we were enjoying a bottle of wine and good food and company.

The Three Colors of Labs

 
I might just as well rename this blog my dog blog......hey, but it's MY blog I can post what I want.....Anywho...this yellow lab is TANK....isn't that a great name???? He is my god daughter's dog and we had him for the weekend. TANK and Clancy had a GREAT time playing ball together....And I love that I have all 3 of them, the chocolate, black and yellow lab together. What a hoot!
 
 

A rant.....

My younger sister and I are a lot alike(truly...so is our older sister like us...she just hates to admit I am right on this!!!) however...in one way are we ALL alike....and that is in rules......Many times in life, whether it is work or play, there comes a point where a line has been crossed.....and then you get the CHARMING side of our personalities....we claim we get this charming trait....bluntness.... directly from our dad ....

My sisters and I all have professions that have rules.....and we follow them. So don't be surprised when you are trying to get around the system...whatever it is....because you are "SPECIAL", -and I don't mean like Clancy is---or you're ill, or hormonal or frustrated or think the rules are for all but you........and we chose to remind you that there are RULES to follow and because YOU failed to plan for them.....this, in no way, makes it ok for you to yell, scream, be disrespectful, ungracious and flat out mean ....and think we won't make a comment on it....Because you would be WRONG. Here's a little tip for you.....it is hard to make me(us) feel guilty over YOUR bad behavior. Take responsibility for your bad behavior and apologize...or ...here's an idea.....behave in the first place.

A great picture

Isn't this a great picture? Look at those dimples....if we could all be as happy as this!!!

The inlaws or "outlaws"

 
I married a man that is the oldest of 10. Here is a picture of all of us in laws at the most recent family wedding. We did this picture by marriage order...in other words...when you married into the family...I am the first (#1) daughter in law -and as it works out...the oldest in law.....by 3 months....#5's wife is only a few months younger than I am(she is in the pink dress) and we are both the same age as brother # 6....tells you I married an older man! We constantly tell each other that all 10 of the kids had the good taste to marry well! This is our Mother-in-law with us and we all agree we have the best MIL ever.(For those of you that can count.....sister #2 was actually married first but that marriage ended after 25 years in a divorce and brother # 7's wife was unable to come in from Singapore).We are a very International family--In order from me.....I am from West Virginia, K- Maryland, B-Chicago, O-Beijing, K-New York, G-Shanghai, S-Indiana, and J-from Germany (L-who was unable to come in from Singapore...is from London via Vietnam)....All 10 accounted for! OK Mom....did you keep up? I apologize for the picture as it is not very good quality....

A FIRST place dog!

 
AWWWWW. Look at me!!!! Aren't I special??

Who would've thought that Clancy would come in first place in his dog obedience class as well as the most improved dog in the class?? Certainly not me....especially after his styrofoam escapade!

A very funny video!

I thought this was very funny...hope you do too!

The wedding party

Here is a picture of the wedding party...I love the colors in this....

A gaggle of groomsmen

 

I could have used this for ABC Wednesday for "G"!! (lol) Here are some of the groomsmen from the wedding. I think they are pretty darn handsome if I do say so myself! They are all cousins and my nephews...unless you are going by blood and then only my sons are related to me and the others are my HUSBAND'S nephews....but I don't count things that way!.

Just when you think you have him trained......

 
How much fun do you think Clancy had with this Stryofoam while someone was in the shower?

Nowhere NEAR as much fun as I did when I cleaned it up I can assure you (sarcasm added)......

My 3 children

 

24, 21 and 26....these are the ages of my kids...and in that order...and here is what they looked like the morning AFTER the wedding.....
 

An aunt and her nieces...some of them!

 
These are some of my nieces we were with over the weekend. Don't you just love their smiles???? I do!

A girl and her grandma

 
This is my husband's great niece and my Sister in Law(mother of the groom). The little one was having no part of standing still...isn't she cute?!

puppy treat!

 
I said "puppy treat" and this is what they all did.....came running and were stopped by the screen.

Family news

For those of you that are stopping by and are family...new news...Erin is pregnant and due in March....It will be the 3rd great grandchild for my MIL. Other news.....Laura and Alexi will be getting married next July 4th in Montreal....save the date....Laura is staying with Grandma until after the current wedding and then she and Alexi will be moving into their new place in Hyde Park...or that's what I've been told. Get those passports up to date! We are off to my nephew's wedding in Madison.....it is on Saturday...should be alot of fun what with the Taste of Madison and the first home football game for the University...look for pictures later next week! Greg is home from Beijing for the wedding, Andrew is in from the Navy, Mike and Olivia are in from Hong Kong with Mikey who spent the summer in Germany, all the sibs are in from California, Baltimore, Dallas, Singapore, and Iowa. That's all the news I have or have heard, been told or flat out made up! Have a great weekend.

Clancy and Gryffindor

This post is especially for my blogger friend JoAnn. This is the Bernese Mountain Dog, Gryffindor, that lives across the street from me and, of course, Clancy. They are both having a fabulous time. Gryff is about 5 and he wore out pretty fast after this picture!

A girl and her baby.....and dog!

This is my great nephew, Teddy and his dog, Maddy. I love how they are both asleep on the "Great" aunt. Are you practing "great aunt nene" with Teddy? You know he can only call me "great" if he says I'm his favorite!lol

Simpsonized!

One of the girls I work with is totally into the Simpsons and insisted I do this.....Can't say I was ever a big fan but.........Who knew that even I could be Simpsonized? Go here to have a go at it!

Happy Birthday, Vicki!

<
Hope you have a wonderful day, Vicki!

Tim Hortons Coffee

 



















I posted a coffee shop on my other blog not too long ago and mentioned that I wasn't a big fan of Starbucks.....WAY too bitter for me...I don't care how rich the guy is he doesn't appeal to my tastes. One of my fellow Daily Photo bloggers mentioned that he prefers Tim Hortons that is like Starbucks in Canada. For the fun of it, I looked to see if they sold Tim Hortons in the USA. Well, imagine my surprise that not only do they sell it, there is a Tim Hortons in my hometown of St. Albans, West Virginia. Of all places. Not one in Illinois...or anywhere close...but there are quite a few in Michigan. If I had only known I could've picked some coffee up in Michigan instead of having my mom send me a can from St. Albans. It has arrived and I'll be the first to tell you that this is GOOD coffee. Thanks North Bay Daily Photo. I appreciate the tip...and thanks mom for finding it, buying it and sending it! I'll share if anyone wants a cup!

Girl Club!!!!

The last night of camp 3 of my nieces came to our cabin for a sleepover/girl club. This was instigated by the 2 younger nieces who wanted to spend time with the 2 older girl cousins....Why not at my place? I had 4 empty beds. We spent a lot of that day playing beauty shop (I braided their hair) and I did manicures and pedicures on them so the evening they came over we were going to giggle and laugh and play cards. Well, some how we started with the younger ones giving the older ones a back rub. The older girl in pink shorts fell asleep pretty quickly and the rest of us chatted until the wee hours....We had a lot of fun! Can't wait to do it again next year! And, yes, we all ended up with either pink or orange toenails. Fun, fun fun.

Johannes and Mina

Mom and I went on the canoe float with Shannon and Johannes was out with Mina. He very kindly offered to take our picture but we were too far out. I love the way this looks.(Click on the photo to make it bigger.)

Almost the whole fam Damily

This is our portrait at camp. Many of you know who we are but for those of you who don't.....here goes.The number after some names indicates what number in the line up of 10 children they are. (6 of the 10 kids were at camp)
Back row standing: Johannes, Fred(6), Kevin, Janet(7), Brenda, Matthew
Standing in front of Fred: Kathleen(2),Kieran, Frances, Gean, Douglas
Sitting by herself:Sheila(10)
Sitting on bench: Ellen(9),Motherinlaw with baby Mina,Avis(my mom), Me(neva), Shannon, Charley(1)
on the deck:Kelly, AnnaMay, Colin.
And another break down for those that are curious...Sheila and Johannes, AnnaMay, Frances and Mina; Fred and Gean, Douglas, Kelly; Janet and Kevin, Brenda, Matthew, Colin; Ellen and Kieran; Charley and Neva, Shannon; Kathleen had none of her kids here. Hope this was a reminder for you, mom!Just imagine trying to figure out which kid goes with what parent if you haven't seen the kids before or their parents for 30 years....mom did an amazing job remembering and she for sure has Kevin and Janet's kids in order!!!! It was a great week at camp and if you weren't there....you missed a fun week. Looking forward to next year!

No good deed goes unpunished!

You know I was watching Chin the chinchilla and he went off to Camp with my daughter. We were at camp this past week and the real owner of Chin was so glad I took such good care of him that I got this award.



I thought you would like to see how well Chin is doing. Here is a picture of him in his chin condominium.


I am thrilled he is at camp and having fun. I am sure he will enjoy his new semester at the University of Michigan with his real owner.
By the way....he remembered me and promptly ran up my arm when I went to pet him. I am sure this makes you as happy as it made me!

Visiting Dogs

 

I have 2 visitors....we are having a sleepover with the Akita/Lab mix(Nicki) and an evening visit (doggy play dates...who knew?) with Emma, the springer spaniel......isn't it amazing that they know where I keep the dog treats? And how patient they are! lol

How do you lose a........

I have two items I am missing....How does one lose a 6 ft vacuum cleaner hose that is used every week? I went to vacuum with the hose attachment and wonder of wonders...it is not where it belongs(in the closest with the vacuum cleaner). When I tell you I have torn the house upside down looking for it, it is not much of an exaggeration.....my husband swears I threw it out.....threw it out????? an item I CLEAN with???? not in this lifetime, baby. He swears I just don't remember where I put it....ok, how hard is it to locate a 6 ft hose EVEN if, for some reason, I didn't put it away?...and the last I checked, I didn't have Alzheimer's......or any reason to believe it might be setting in. I can't even begin to tell you how frustrating this is....I even went so far as to ask the 24 y/o son if (and this would qualify as a miracle ) he had used it to clean his car out....the only way it could have come close to the trash can.....he said no....I believe him only because I have seen his car.....
The other item is my battery charger for my digital camera....It is always by the computer and I put the battery in to recharge once a week...sometimes more... sometimes less.....so, yesterday I went to recharge my battery for my camera so I can take some pictures (for my other blog....Inverness, Il (USA) Daily Photo)and IT is nowhere to be found.....again.....something I use a lot and no, I wouldn't "throw it out" (from the husband again!). I will admit to throwing things out that aren't important....some stuff he might have needed or wanted....but, in general, I don't throw that much away.....
I can't even begin to tell you how frustrating this is not being able to find the 2 items I not only use but need.....and , of course, now that I can't find the hose to the vacuum, I can only think of 100 uses for it.......
sigh......how annoying.

the musical aunt....

It may surprise no one more than me that I have used my musical ability...what it is...as an adult. I play the piano..not well, the cello...not well anymore...used to play the clarinet and saxophone (tenor). I sang in high school. I still play the piano but only for my own enjoyment. I can sight read very well....to the point that I won't practice cause I never get much better than the original sight reading.....I used to play the cello with my son and nephew when they were 10 and 11, I played with my niece and other nephew when they were on the violin....I played for my niece at a family wedding reception, I played for my nephew when he got married (that was hard because I was crying). I play at Christmas, I play for my nephew who is studying opera sometimes as accompaniment for the family...I have another nephew getting married in Sept. and I am playing a song for their wedding breakfast....ok--really I won't be playing...but I will be playing before then when we all practice together. Who new that out of all the things I did as a kid that the very thing I was only so so at (both of my sisters played waaaayyy better than me) would turn out to be so special to me?