September in Illinois

A week ago this morning we left for Macomb, Illinois.   It was a good trip.   Got to go to a Farmer's Market on the Square Thursday monring.   Bought some Alpaca socks for Ted that the lady had spun the yarn and her mother had made the socks.   He says they are WARM and I bet they are.

Looked at a couple of houses and saw one I did like but it just wasn't quite what we wanted yet.

Friday we had dinner with other friends that had arrived in town for the big class reunion on Saturday.   That was fun.   Here is a picture of my class - 1954.   Out of 44 members we still have some that are healthy and crazy enough to want to get together every year.

After we had our fill of a really good dinner at the reunion we ventured over to Normal and a visit with Kim and Ron and the youngins.    

Monday Kim got one of her projects out that she is working on.   I'll leave the actual project for her to share later.   I know she likes to do this and the results are so beautiful but I can't help but wonder if part of the drawing to it is because now and then you get to break dishes.   I have a feeling she enjoys this part a lot.

Monday we went with a realtor (Kim rode along to be sure we didn't buy the house next door) and saw some houses.   I found two that I really liked.   One of them I LOVE and still do.   It only has one bath and a one car garage but I LOVE that house.

Then we just chilled and as you can see the weather was beautiful and the kitty enjoyed the relaxing too.  He seems to relax a LOT.

 Monday evening I got to go see Jeremiah and Sierra in their swim classes.   They are preparing for it here.  They are good swimmers and I wouldn't be at all surprised if someday at least one of them gets some 

awards.

When we got there we were admiring some of the things Kim has made and several we had seen on her Blog but she has more that were stunning.   I really had admired this ball from "afar" and when we were looking at them she said, "You can have this if you want".    "IF I WANT"?    Are you kidding?   She didn't have a chance to change her mind on that.   I know it is made to hang but if I leave it on my coffee table we can ALL enjoy it most of the day.    I LOVE IT!!!!

Had a great week-end and lots of fun memories to keep.

DIFFERENT SOUNDS

Sunday afternoon I went to Jill and Tim's to stay the night with Sam.   I didn't see much of Sam but we did visit a bit, he helped me with the T.V. and all was well.

Yesterday morning I woke up about 3:30 and looked out the window at the dark night and realized it was VERY QUIET.   I think it's quiet here but there was not a sound in their back yard.

I did go back to sleep but when I really woke up again about 5 a.m. the light was just breaking and it was still VERY quiet.   I could see outlines of animals on the hill behind their house and all of a sudden I heard a DONKEY talking to another DONKEY.  Now that was a first for me.

I got out of bed and went to see if  I was right and sure enough there were two white donkey's in the pasture.

Then I thought I saw a young fawn.   Just the way this animal stood looked like a deer. I got the binoculars and saw only a couple of cows.   Then all of a sudden the deer slowly jaunted down the hill and up into the woods.

It is a beautiful sight to see when you first get up and things were so quiet.  We were really about 5 miles from the heart of Brentwood but I heard no cars or children or even adults making any sounds.  

I'll stay with Sam any time they want me.

NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALES

This week-end is our neighborhood garage sales and WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING OUT!!!!

I ALWAYS have a garage sale - every year - sometimes two a year.   Not this time.  We have cleaned out, tossed, given, advertised in the paper and given to Good Will all our extra THINGS.   We do have two pieces of furniture we'd like to get rid of and have a sign in the front yard to come see them but so far no one has ventured in.

Last night we walked to one neighbor's house that I was interested in her wares.   She had a little oval tub and it's great to put potted plants in and they can be watered or changed easily.  I bought it.

Another neighbor has a chair I really would like.   I don't need it but I do like it.   I could sell my recliner but then where would I take my afternoon naps?   Woe is me!!!!
She wants a table to work clay up on for a class she is going to teach and I could trade her the table I use for a computer table for the chair but really hate to give up this old table.   It's not very pretty but it sure is handy.

I think the neighbor hood sales actually mean;   one neighbor trades what he has to someone else that has something the first one wants.  

Tomorrow there will be some other sales by neighbors that had to work today.   I can't wait.