Friday - May 15

 WOW....11 years ago today Mark and I closed on our Jackson Street home and became full-time Nomads!    Who would've thought.....and we're still having FUN!!!

Rained earlier today and after one calm day, the strong wind is back!

Liam is back from his junior year at U of Iowa!    Now in a few weeks he'll start his summer internship in Minneapolis.

We went into town at 11 and picked up Nancy, a long-time friend (Jim and Mark worked together at SF), we went to the same church, etc.    Jim passed away April 10th.    Such a nice guy.....it's been awhile since we've seen Nancy, so.....let's do lunch at Lil Beaver Brewery.  We had a great 2 hour visit over lunch with tears, laughs and memories.    3 of  4 of Nancy's kiddos live in the area, along with many grands and 23 great grands scattered here and there.

Mark, Nancy, Pat

We took Nancy home with hugs and went to Starbucks to get some coffees for Donna Rae and us.    She had just returned from the beauty parlor and looked as good as ever.    What a delight she is at 94.    Another 2 hour visit catching up on a little bit of everything.

Donna Rae

And then to Martin Health Care to visit our friend Paul who was admitted there from the hospital a few days ago to regain some strength.    This was a short visit as the nurses, occupational therapist, etc. were coming and going in his room.   We wish Paul the best for recovering his strength and going HOME which is where he wants to be!

Next stop was O'Reilly Auto Parts for new batteries for our key fobs.    Then to Culver's for a small cup of their flavor of the day - "chocolate toffee crunch".    Yummy and finally on home!

We walked and then chatted with Greg and Patty from Ocala, FL.    They are originally from Clinton, IL where Greg was a chiropractor before retirement.    Now they travel all over and usually spend a month here at KK.   We've been with them at least 3 springtimes and just a real neat couple who used to boat.     In fact, before they moved to Ocala, they owned a lot at Cypress Woods next door to Cypress Trail (CT).    They are going to be in Sandusky, OH in September but we'll be leaving Port Clinton right after Labor Day.

I watched the last episode of "Call the Midwife" tonight for Season 15.    Lots of tears and such a heartbreaking story but yet joyful, too.    

Connor received his Associates degree tonight from DACC (Danville Area Community College).     Proud of him and wishing him all the best as he pursues an engineering degree from the University of Illinois,

                                                                   Congratulations Connor!

 

Thursday - May 14

 I went into town - gas for Ruby at Loves, stopped at Anne's, then met Claire for breakfast at Fort Jesse Cafe.    I had not been there in ages and it was sooo good.    Busy place for breakfast and lunch.   

This was our last outing here in IL................Claire and Kathy will be visiting me in Port Clinton in August.    We've sure had some good times and meals.

Claire and Pat

On home.    It is a gorgeous day.   Mark had walked while I was gone.   He took a nap, I visited with Micci in the office and then walked.

Tonight the Monday Night Friends met at the Pickled Radish in Eureka - sooo good and everyone was very happy with their meal.   Marsha's daughter Laura joined us.    Fun evening.

Sue, Laura, Marsha, Pat, Ruth, Jody, Nadine, Brenda, Donna

Wednesday - May 13

 More crazy wind here at KK - what a "windy" spring we've had!

Our Champaign friends, Joyce and Butch arrived around 10:30.   We visited them at their Frostproof, FL home in March and always look forward to our yearly get together here when we enjoy the Mackinaw tea room, Braker's and Scottwood Floral in Eureka and then Revive for coffee in Goodfield.    

Another fun day with these dear friends we first met in Okeechobee in 2016 when we were on Daisy and all together at Water's Edge.   

Joyce and Butch at the Depot

My lunch - garden salad, chicken salad croissant, mint chocolate pie 

All DELICIOUS

Pretty spring decor in the dining room

Us in Mackinaw

Anne will have her 1st "slow" Moh's procedure on Monday afternoon.

 

Tuesday - May 12

 Said our good byes to George and Susan - so many connections - both Air "Streamers" (a new term George used), Notre Dame, Brady knowing Professor O'Rourke and his namesake "O'Rourke's Irish Pub", Susan a pilot along with our boys, etc.    They are headed to St. Louis today to visit friends.

I left for town at 9:45 and had several errands before I met the BBB gals for lunch at Rob Dobs.    Many years ago we bridge friends formed this club - "Babies, Bridge, and Books"    Well, we haven't played bridge in a LONG time, we now talk about grand kiddos (no more babies) but we all love our books.     In fact, for several years, we would all bring our favorites to trade and share.    But that was long before the kindles, I-pads, etc.,     It's been many years since we got together and sorry that Karen and Holly could not join us today.

Ruth, Pat, Sharon, Sue

But the rest of us enjoyed yakking away for 2.5 hours over a yummy lunch.    Ruth was our inspiration.....91 years young and sharp as can be.    It was a delightful afternoon!

It was a VERY WINDY afternoon - crazy out here in the country.  Mark and I caught up on our day and read and played games rest of the time.

Had a very light rain - walked later - no new states tonight.

I watched the 7th episode of "Call the Midwife" and then Anne and I beat the computer 2 of 3 games of euchre.   And we had some heavy rain!

Monday - May 11

 Nice sunny day and warming up a bit more each day.   We met the Monday morning group at The Hornet's Nest in Heyworth for breakfast.....Ken, Sigrunn, Pat, Brenda and Darrel.

The girls sat in a booth and the guys at  a nearby table - plenty to chat about and food is good and cheap here!

Stopped at Holy Cross Cemetery and visited Patrick's gravesite.

Then laundry time in Normal - 3 loads, washed, dried and folded and on back to KK.    Nice quiet afternoon.     The MNFs are not meeting tonight as we're having dinner Thursday night (Pickled Radish is not open on Mondays.)

An Airstream came in across from us this afternoon - they are from Colorado and just came from South Bend.    George is a South Bend native and they were visiting long-time friends,  James O'Rourke was head of the Mendoza College of Business and retired 1 year ago.   Brady remembers Professor O'Rourke and later we had a chat with George and Susan (our Airstream neighbors) - small world.    Susan retired one year ago as a United pilot after a career in the Air Force..   George's Grandfather was a track coach at Notre Dame in the 1920s and was a roommate of Knute Rockne's.    George's Dad was a dentist and one of the football team's dentists for 20+ years.   

The Social Security Administration recently released the top names for boys and girls per their records and the #1 name for boys for the 7th straight year is "Liam" and "Olivia" for girls!    How about that!!!    I remember so well Patrick saying his firstborn son would be "Liam" and that was 21 years ago!!!    

Colorado is a new state tonight     Orange chicken from Trader Joe's was supper.