Sunday, September 30, 2012

Papa Joe celebrates another year and a Windy City Wedding

Celebrating Papa Joe's birthday at the farm, and


The inaugural lighting of the new fireplace at the farm.....happy Papa Joe!


What a wonderful fireplace!!!


Setting out for their first tour of Lake Jozark


Fishing off the dock.... This is the pond...not the lake!!


Sue, Beth, Marilyn and the birthday boy


Maggie, Baby Ju and Jody


Brad and the children enjoying a perfect evening at the farm


Fin joining the boys, having fun.


Claire, Jody and Sarah


Cake time...


Papa Joe with his gift from Jake...from one Goober to another...


The next morning I picked Maggie up at their farm where I was greeted by this...Finley, Henry and Charlie. Then Maggie and I set off for Chicago.


Did you know that city buses have bike racks? I did not!


Did you know that the Chicago city buses are currently sponsored by my favorite state...Michigan? No, the lady in the forefront is not meant to be the focal point...the bus was...oh well, she looks happy though...


Giant golf balls on Michigan Avenue...The Ryder Cup was in town....


Walked past The Berghoff...happy memories of happy meals there with my Daddy


Parked in front of our hotel....I tried speaking to the military men in the lobby. They did not respond...Maggie told me that I was no longer in Jacksonville, and that people might think I was a freak if I tried talking to them. Well, I did not speak to the gentleman who was panhandling in the middle of the street, but he still started chasing us....I mean, come on, all I did was stop and look at him. Yes, we scurried off quickly. He wore out after a block...or was it two? Don't know....


This guy did not chase us, but he did entertain us!


Lunch at a favorite place, with


A favorite girl....


A great day in the city was followed by a great evening at Annie and Brian's Rehearsal Dinner


Held at The Chicago Yacht Club...great views of the city





We were early....we forget that city folk don't usually arrive early.....more time to admire our Great Lake.


Maggie wore her party shoes and actually received compliments from passersby...all men, on the street while we waited for our cab


Annie, the darling bride to be with Maggie


Michigan friends...Susie, Mags, Annie and Heather


The next morning we stopped in to see the bride, here with her Daddy.
Then the wedding....filled with lovely moments and full of love..


Nell, Sherri, Margaret, Heather and Ann...all Michigan friends


Their first dance as man and wife...


Katie, Brady and his darling wife with my girl


JJ, Meghan (last months bride), Maggie, Susie and Andrew


Maggie, Annie and Meghan...lifelong best friends celebrating the happy evening together. These girls certainly know how to pose!


Mothers and daughters....we hardly recognized one another...out of our beach wear... Happy memories!

Location:Chicago and home

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Week in review




I led alot of Spinning classes at the Y


Jared wanted to smash Madeline and Jake's pumpkin....don't worry, he didn't.


The York boys are busy...harvesting near The View...and what a view it is.


Kate came to town...and brought the tattoo she got while visiting Maggie in Texas


My friend Penny went to see Carrie Underwood...


Jake converted a coffee table into a desk for Madeline......


And hung more chandeliers


And loved Beau...again....


And us?.....well,


We looked a bit white trashy..getting a new hot water heater....and...we got rid of a dear friend of Papa Joe's...


His favorite BarcaLounger......we took it to Maggie's...


For her garage sale...and, it sold!!!! I am SMILING!


Madeline got creative....the states she loves...


Here is our esteemed Mayor being interviewed by News Channel 20, as we drove past, Papa Joe honked...really???


I took Henry and Finley to the farm....just look how massive the fireplace is.....


The ceiling going in....


Pretty awesome....


They swang...(is that a word???)


They ran...


Henry shoveled.....or tried to...


Yep, they covered all the important sites...then, the inevitable happened..Henry saw Papa Joe's tractor....problem is we didn't all fit, so I got to experience what I call tubing behind the tractor....


My vantage point...


It was a beautiful day for a tour....


Albeit a bumpy one....


Yep, my foot on my "tractor tube"


Papa Joe has been splitting wood getting ready for THE fireplace....


Don't the benches look great? and Papa Joe is digging a hole around the fire pit to put the rocks in...


They were busy bailing hay at the farm, Henry tried to catch up with the farmer...


We went to see Beth....sorry about the closed eyes. Finley told Beth that she was a "good maker" when we got our food.


The beautiful day turned into a great evening. Papa Joe and I walked downtown to see the cars for Cruise Night....we saw ONE car...


Ron and Jacqui...


On our way downtown we ran into TeeTaw and Rick...so we had a beer...at Lahey's. Yep, you read that correctly...Lahey's. Come on, a girl has to have some adventure! Then we cruised on downtown to see the cars..or vehicles if you are a man...








Great "do"


Interesting.....I guess...


We listened to a song and a half...


Ok, well. We saw this... Need I say more? I mean, really????? Well, it is an interesting world.....I thought we were back in Talladega...but of course, I just had to take a picture!


A much better parting picture....my favorite place on earth...Michigan, on a blustery September day!

Location:W College Ave,Jacksonville,United States