Thursday - October 5

 An ugly start to the day - very dark and gloomy with rain (heavy at times) amounting to 1/2" here at KK.    We took off for town around 9ish and had several errands.    Stopped at storage and sorted thru a bunch of clothes and gave 2 big piles to Goodwill.    We need to keep on clearing out as so much we are not using and probably never will???

We had lunch at Panera and then to see our attorney (and former neighbor), Tom about some ? regarding my farm land.    Tom, Amy and 2 girls (Lydia and Anna) live a few doors from where we were on Jackson.    He caught us up on who is still in the neighborhood (not much change) and some other interesting tidbits.    Great to see him as it's been 8 years since we left Bloomington.

On home and the sun was shining - beautiful afternoon.

Got a canister of compressed air to clean our computer keyboards - when we were going thru the check-out lane at Wal Mart, a light came on?    The lady helper came over - had to make sure we were "old" enough to buy this stuff....guess kids (or whoever) use this to get "high"?   Oh my...

 So this morning in the rain, the 4 seniors on the CCHS golf team went to Prairie Vista to practice....

Connor - Patrick - Luke A - Luke B

Liam arrived home this afternoon for the weekend and brought a little gift for his buddy, Gibson

A Hawkeye bandanna

Tonight we went to Destihl with Steve and Peggy.    So much catching up - had not been with them in a long time and our friendship goes back to the 1970's.    Great dinner and visit

Steve and Peggy

So sorry to hear tonight that our friend, Sigrun fell down 8 steps today breaking her wrist.    Wishing her a speedy recovery....🙏🙏🙏

Wednesday - October 4

 Today was the last warm day for a while, but also windy!   Had some rain overnight.  We checked out of the hotel and headed to Scooter's coffee - really nice and new (January) but has inside and outside dining.    We've seen Scooter's in FL and other areas but usually a small building just drive thru.   A new one is coming to Mendota.    The barista told me this is the largest one of all their franchises.   I had a very delicious caramelicious latte (caramel, vanilla and hazelnut) + a very delicious caramelicious muffin!!!

Very nice coffee shop

We ran a few errands - WalMart to get a new bicycle tire and tube as Liam's was flat and he is very dependant on his bike.    Hope it works out ok.   Also browsed around Von Maur - lots of Christmas decor.   Love this area (River Landing) and remember walking around when we were here for Drew's graduation in May, 2022.

Met Liam at Harry's downtown for lunch.    This is fairly new spot and he wanted to try it.   It's a diner - food was ok...nothing special!    Liam liked his omelet, so that's what matters!!!

We said our good byes and on back to KK.    Liam is coming home this weekend for the state golf tournament and CCHS homecoming with Jaycee.    He seems very happy - enjoying his classes, friends, and being a Hawkeye!

Bye bye Liam....enjoyed our time with you and Iowa City!

Home around 4ish....unpacked and settled in - temperature dropped and cloudy - supposed to get some rain tonight

We missed Drew last night but he sent some pics from view he was enjoying on the 53rd floor of the Aon building in downtown Chicago which actualy has "83" stories.

Gotta love this views

Mark and I shared the driving coming home today.   Whoever was the passenger would try and figure out what was what with all the buttons to push and how to get what we wanted?   Could take a while to figure it all out!

      

Tuesday - October 3

 We had a big day starting with Mark off to WalMart to get a Rx driving Anne's car and me in "Ruby" heading to the Minonk Chocolate Co.    I picked up several caramel apples - what an awesome place.   I was blown away by hearing that from the day after Labor day thru Halloween, they make 4,200 apples with and without nuts EVERY single day!!!!!    They are shipped all over the country!

This man is sorting thru the apples making sure they are top notch

Dipping the apples into warm caramel and then rolling in crushed peanuts

The finished product ready to be individually wrapped

Soooo good!

Onto The Uptown Grill in LaSalle to meet Bob, Linda, Jane, Allie and friends, Ruth and Butch.     Jane, Allie, Ruth and I all went to Midstate College so have known one another since 1966 (several years earlier for Jane and me).    I was in 4-H with Butch many years ago.  We enjoyed our lunches and catching up.  

The Midstate Gals

Ruth, Pat, Allie, Jane

Butch, Ruth, Pat, Mark, Jane, Allie, Linda, Bob

Said our good byes and hope we can get together next year!    Sooo many happy memories from so long ago.

So Mark and I were back on the road traveling west on I-80 to Iowa City.   Traffic was heavy with so many trucks and plenty of construction. About 2 hours later, we were with Liam.    We took some treats to him, he showed us his dorm room, we met Joe, his roommate from Minnesota and then we all went to our hotel room.   Settled in and later, drove to the Wig and Pen and met Tessa (Drew's girlfriend).     Great to be with these 2 Hawkeyes and hear about Liam's freshman year and Tessa's job out in the working world!   Bummer Drew couldn't be with us - he's in Chicago this week working.

Tessa, Pat, Liam, Mark

After seeing a picture of my new car, Blair thought it should be called "Ruby".    Good name and that's what I'll call her.    Although this Lincoln Corsair is 3 years newer than Little Navy....oh my, several new features and things moved around.....will take some time to figure it all out!

Monday - October 2

 Very warm (86) and sunny.    We met Ken and Sigrun at Cracker Barrel for yummy breakfast (new menu since we were there last) and good visit.    And then off to Pontiac.

Six months and 4 days ago (March 28, 2023), I ordered a new car and tah dah....got it today!!!    Went over all the stuff with salesman Eric and Keith (who took our $) and we were on our way.    Stopped at Anne's to pick up one of their cars to take to Liam tomorrow in Iowa City.  

Back to KK for a few hours and then I left in my new wheels to pick up Sue and meet the Monday Night Friends at Joe's Pub.   We sat outside on this beautiful evening - `1st time to try this place for me.....4 of us had the Polancic tenderloins from Ottawa, IL   Yum!

Pat - Marsha - Jody - Nadine - Sue

Excellent tenderloin

My new car!

On home to finish packing.    Tomorrow we are meeting some family/friends for lunch and then off to Iowa City to see Liam.

Congrats to Connor and the CCHS golf team who are state bound this weekend!    Exciting times and both boys and girls are headed to state!

Saturday-Sunday, September 30-October 1

 Saturday - Today we said good bye to our friend Joe whose life we celebrated at a beautiful Mass at St. Jude with wonderful music and homily by Father Patrick Henehan.   It was so nice to see several cousins (Jane's siblings) we hadn't seen in a long time.    We sat with Allie and Owen and after mass we enjoyed the nice luncheon the ladies provided.    Said our good byes to Jane....hope to see her in a few days.

Back on I74 and picked up pie slices (the sisters favorites), stopped at KK to drop off Mark and me to change clothes.    By 1:15, I was on my way!     Had an awesome weekend (9) of us at the 30th annual Chamberlain Sisters Weekend hosted by Beth and Sharon near Danville.    Doris gave Marilyn and me a golf cart ride around the property, we yakked a bit and then off to 5:00 Mass at Holy Family with Father Loftus.   Tom (Mark's brother and Beth's hubby) joined us at Mass and we invited him to have dinner with us.    So 10 of us in a neat alcove with big table had a wonderful dinner at The Possum Trot - a very nice, huge supper club - highly recommend.    Said good bye to Tom who went on home and we headed back to the country.

Karen (Auntie) taught us a new game "Mean 7's" which was a lot of fun and won by Lydia.    In years past, we girls would stay up and play games and chat till the wee hours, but not anymore....by 10:30, we were all ready to call it a day!

Scenic view of Vermilion River  

Selfie - Marilyn, Doris, Pat

Janet savoring her coconut cream pie

Connor and Haley

LeRoy Homecoming

Jaycee and Liam

Iowa/Michigan State game in Iowa City

Michael, Brooke and Davis

NC State/Louisville game in Raleigh

Bye bye September

Sunday - anther gorgeous day.    We gals were up and enjoying our breakfast casserole, muffins, bagels, etc.    The girls had lots of memories growing up in a big family on the farm.    Lydia, Beth and I enjoyed all the reminiscing.   Got the beds stripped, kitchen cleaned up and divvied up the leftovers (lots of goodies).    I left at 10 - had 99 miles to go.....what a very enjoyable weekend!

Wonderful weekend hostesses

Beth and Sharon

Cute tote bag that Lydia's daughter-in-law, Mary made for each of us.

The back side has our name!    What a nice thoughtful gift!

Small group on zoom since we girls were all together.....Theresa, Doris, Tom, Karen and us

Enjoy the week ahead and WELCOME OCTOBER!!!