Where have I been???

Well, I have no idea..just here, there and a whole lot of nowhere!


Watching Finley get into Millie's pantry...she knew exactly where the fruit snacks were hidden...


With matchy matchy Matt and Jared on basketball Saturday's at the Y. Watching them field crazy phone calls from over zealous parents who think their 5 year old is the next Michael Jordan. Really? One grandmother wanted a refund because her grand child's team kept losing. When she did not get a refund, she pulled him from the team. Then, the team WON...without him. So you know what????


Is that too mean? Well, I do not care! Crazy people...come on..


!!!!!!!!!


Watching Brad and Rich patch holes in the Y parking lot..Brad then ran over it over and over in his car...never seen that before... But they are doing a great job!!!


Patrick all dressed up washing windows at the Y... Looking sharp!


Have you gotten the new Y cookbook? It is awesome!!! Above are the black bean burgers...


Fruit salsa


9 hour mushrooms. This is one awesome, HEALTHY cookbook. Come on out and get one, or two, or ten!!! Photos by Jake... Who else?

Location:W College Ave,Jacksonville,United States

And where was Cole?

New York City!



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Weekend wonders....

The perfect way to start the weekend is with my favorite latte at The Three Legged Dog. Made by Jake, of course!



Judi drove..and Jake commented that she had some serious rims... I did not notice!



Then the perfect way to end the day? At Osaka with the kids.. Above are Ruri and Alex. They met at American University, Ruri is from Indonesia. This was her first visit to central Illinois.



So a toast to Ruri!



Sushi and



A big hibachi flame...



Flying rice...... Hitting Jack in the face



Chopstick lessons...Papa Joe giving Claire lessons....can you say blind leading the blind?



Family... Maggie and Adam



In awe of the chef... is that what the Japanese call them?  I don't kow.







Beth and Adam



Madeline and Jake...



brad and Jody (yes, I needed the flash!). Trust me, they are darling!



Ruri, Alex and Papa Joe. A wonderful way to spend a cold evening.



On Sunday morning, Finley came to visit.... She really wanted to go to the farm with Papa Joe...but...she went on adventures with me instead...



We watched the neighbor shovel Ninny And Dede's snow. Sooo nice.



Finley loving Ninny



And Dede



And Aunt Ju...



Off to Walmart... Why not?



We saw Miss Pam



And Wes.



She decorated her new boots... Mama was not happy. Luckily we ran in to



Adam and Beth. Beth de-stickered the boots



And at Walmart...Finley found Dora Jammie's...that she had to have. Who am I to argue?

Location:,Jacksonville,United States

At long last....snow

We had snow today...finally! Yesterday I walked outside in 59 degree weather. Today, another story...12 degrees and terrific blowing snow...





Henry was ready to handle it, all bundled up!


Angie came in post surgery....


And Judi and Jeanine changed her bandage


Yep, a full service YMCA!


Still trying to get a photo of Judy.


When the wind died down, it was so pretty! My sister's house. Shovel the walk Millie!!!


I rode the bus after school to pick up the Y kids...we never did figure out why this lady was hanging out of her truck....


Our other friend Angie subbed at Washington School today. Must have been her lucky day....snow duty. Poor Angie!


Here the little darlings are...waiting to load the bus. Snow is so magical...and so darned messy. New carpet at the Y...killed me to let them in! Enjoy it! And WIPE YOUR FEET!!!

Location:W College Ave,Jacksonville,United States

A weekend away....

Papa Joe and I got away for a quick weekend at the lake..


Before I left work, Rich was busy painting light poles at the Y...in our amazing 60 degree weather...take that January!!!


Scout and Harry were ready to go....long before we were.


They knew that ice cream in Pittsfield was on the agenda!


A beautiful sunset on the drive down...


Happy to be here....heck, they are happy wherever they are...as long as Papa Joe is with them


We re-arranged furniture.... Alot





And that led to a gaping hole...in the family room...


Which led to ordering a new sectional. In this fabric. You can't tell, but it is pretty! And durable...


While at the decorators, we saw this....Lake Lifestyles newest magazine..Top 10 Women of the Year...and our very own Terri Hall is one of them! after only living here for 3 years...go Terri!!!!! She is top left. I went to get a pedicure...it used to be LA Nails...now it is LV Nails...go figure...


While I was there, Papa Joe showed up...he was feeling brave....while we were there, there were workers next door, remodeling...


And while Papa Joe was enjoying his pedicure, we heard a large drilling noise...


Look to the left, above his shoulder, one chair over.... They drilled right through the wall!!!


Oh goodness! A blonde Fran Drescher wannabe, who was getting a manicure went flying over there and gave them a good tongue lashing. The thing is, no one working at LV Nails went over to talk to the construction workers, nor did anyone from the construction site come to talk to them. Just another day. As for the blonde, she was getting a manicure to go to an 80's party....where she was going to wear hot pink leather....if only I had the courage to take her picture!


Breakfast today...a local favorite and John Goodman's favorite place while in town. 'twas cozy!


A gray day at the lake...but still so pretty, and so peaceful. And as for the super highway...just too ugly to photograph this trip!


We fed the hydrangeas.... Yep, really pretty right now! And where was Jake this weekend?


Visiting American Pickers in Iowa


Maggie...she was organizing and making the shelf curtains.


Have a good week!

Location:Spindrifter Ct,Osage Beach,United States