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.

Mother's Day - 2026

 It was a beautiful Mother's Day here in central IL.    We met Anne for 10:00 Mass at Holy Trinity with Father Bo and then breakfast at Flame@Bloom.    It was very busy but sooo good.   I had not been there for breakfast (just dinner) - we were all very happy with our meals.

Moms and Mimosas

Back home and a quiet day at KK.    So enjoyed hearing from my kiddos, grand kiddos, family and friends.    

Linda and I shopping at Milaeger's and buying the same top!

And the pretty shopping bag

We went for a walk - one new state tonight - Arkansas

Zoom tonight was with 9 siblings - health issues, Auntie Karen's car was totaled from hitting the deer, so she'll be car shopping, what the Moms did for Mother's Day, wedding plans for Alex and Adam, First Communion for Doris's grandson, Paxton, grandparents day for Tom H and his little Evelyn, etc....