The Trafton Trio

These are my 3 sweet nieces.

Nicki, who just finished 6th grade

Ally just completed her freshman year of high school

Katie with the first year of ISU under her belt.

the rest of Tuesday

Traveling on quite a distance, we finally came to Tuscola. We made a visit to the restaurant and candy kitchen.

Thanks to me telling Devon who is one of the sisters who own this place about Lori's blog and how we were all the way from Scottsdale and Buffalo to stop in, she invited us back into the candy room where she was making horehound squares. She was a pleasure. Mom had horehound but Mona and I opted out. Devon said you either love it or hate it and I am a long standing hater. However, I did partake of some fabulous hand dipped chocolates.

After several hours at the outlet mall we headed up the road to Champaign-Urbana. Got thoroughly lost, found I don't remember my way around at all. We all had the giggles a few times and ended up having some dinner at Silver Creek, a restaurant my son-in-law David managed when they lived there.

The place is still pretty and the food was still good. My delightful dinner of roasted corn chowder and crab cakes. Tuesday was a very long day. We didn't get home until after 11 and we were all very tired.

Favorite things

This is one of my favorite places anywhere and at this time of year, it just can't be beat for heart warming beauty. This is known as Elkhart Hill and in central Illinois always seemed like height to us. The archway over the road is rather unique. I believe it was recently in danger of being demolished and the town's people fought to keep it.

While we were living in Mt. Pulaski, IL from 1986 until 1994, I passed under this arch every time I drove from our house to my parents' house.

Just before going under the arch heading east is Elkhart's cemetery which houses this cosy little chapel. One year we attended a Christmas concert here and it is a fond memory for me.

Tuesday, June 16

Tuesday was a very long day for us. We decided we would go to Tuscola to the outlet malls and also a little candy kitchen and restaurant that Lori, a friend of Becky's had blogged about. As we got off to kind of a late start, we decided to stop in Elkhart at yet another tearoom that has opened in the past year. Here are Mom and Mona in front of the Wild Hare which is housed in the old Elkhart bank building.

It was very charming and we had another great server, Rhonda. Here is mom enjoying her lunch and Mona taking a picture of hers.

The main room is green with murals of animals painted by the owner's sister.

This is my lovely lunch accompanied by hot tea. Little rabbit shaped sugar cookies were given to us for dessert. Yes indeed, we enjoyed it.

June 15

On Monday, we had a "work" day. Did the few little projects that mom wanted done. Then a little ride to Lincoln to the Court House. Mona and I got birth certificates and mom had a little business, also. We rode around Lincoln looking at all the parks and homes. This is my dad's brick in a war memorial to Logan county service men.

We spent quite a while thrift shopping . I practically forced Mona to buy this dress. She bought the shoes on a whim and discovered them to be very comfy. I made her pose for me.

I might have made her pose for this, too. We bought quite a few pairs of glasses at the dollar store. Had another really fun day.

Sweet Land of Lincoln

When I was a girl growing up in Illinois, this was my favorite house, and I still kind of like it. It is located in the tiny little blip on the map known as Sweetwater, Illinois. There is a fairly deep porch that wraps around at least 3 entire sides of the house. I used to imagine how wonderful it would be to spend rainy days in a big swing out on this porch.

This is the Menard County Court House. I came here with our friend Bert when I was 16 years old for my first driver's license.

Our family spent many pleasant Sundays picnicking at New Salem State Park and going through the log homes and businesses. There used to be a Conestoga wagon and team of oxen that meandered through the village. No matter how many times we went through the village, we always wanted to do it again.

The road into the park is canopied by geenery. After 15 years back in the desert, this is just heavenly to see. And yes the humidity is dreadful although this particular day was cool. We had a very pleasant drive on mom's birthday afternoon.

June 14

June 14, Flag Day, is also our mom's birthday. Mona and I both went back to Middletown to celebrate her 84th birthday with her. We drove to Petersburg where we have previuosly visited a sweet little tearoom. This year the restaurant had changed and although no longer a sweet little ladies tearoom, still a charming and delightful place to eat. Mona and I had a delicious buffet brunch of items that tasted as though they had been prepared small batch style in a home kitchen.

Mom enjoyed the turkey sandwich.

Our lovely little teenage server took this picture of the 3 of us, an amazing shot because mom and I usually cringe and look hangdog in photos. My sister informed me that I now have more gray hair than mom. We had a great time.

Who knew?

Who knew how excited it would make me to find these pink peonies at Trader Joe's yesterday? When I was a girl growing up in Middletown, Illinois peony bushes grew everywhere. I was very disdainful of them and hardly considered them worthy of being allowed inside. Now 50 years later, it just fills my heart with gladness to have these 5 stems in my favorite vase bringing their beauty to my kitchen. Reminds me of running barefoot through soft, moist lush green grass.

Myrick aviation news

Yesterday Dennis asked me to come out to the garage and help him move some things. The things were the airplane body and the airplane tail.

Historic news was made when these 2 pieces became one.

I think this little piece of equipment might be getting crowded out of its home.

One fine day

My friend Linda and I had an outing today that we have been planning to do for awhile. Earlier in the spring we went out to Queen Creek Olive Oil Company for shopping and lunch. We had planned to go to The Pork Shop which is is just a little ways down the road but discovered it to be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. So today we had lunch at the olive oil place and then made a visit to the pork place. Here we are at lunch.

This funny piggy is a decoration out by the road at the pork shop. I don't know if the barrel actually holds anything or is purely ornamental. Her eyelashes are pretty cute.

These are the products I chose. I have both maple syrup sausage and Swedish potato sausage. The smell is the shop is delightful, very spicy . I look forward to trying my goodies.

On the drive back to Linda's we stopped for a little Ross shopping and I found this duffle which folds down quite nicely and has wheels and a long handle and only $25. My 25 year old Land's End bag is getting quite travel worn. I hope I will like this one as much as I think I will. A fun day. Thanks, Linda.

Clicking the tiles

Today I was included as the 4th for a very delightful afternoon spent learning mah jongg. My friend Michaele thought it would be fun to learn, so she invited Jennie, Karen and me to lunch. Jennie has been playing for 5 years now and offered to teach us. When we arrived Michaele had this lovely table set up for us.

Karen and Jennie have a glass of wine. I was the driver and enjoyed a nice green citrus iced tea.

This is a warm pasta and vegetable salad Michaele was making for our lunch. Proscuitto and fresh Parmesan were added at the end.

Jennie got out the tiles and holders and the game began. We got so busy and engrossed in learning about dots, flowers, dragons, bams and cracks that I totally forgot to take any more pictures. I think this is a game that I could really get into.

Favorite things

This is one of my favorite times of the year, when all the fruit is available and some even at great prices. Although I paid rather dearly for my all-time favorite fruit, Ranier cherries. I think they look absolutely mouth watering pictured here in my favorite bowl. One night I met my friend Linda down at Fashion Square and while we were enjoying dinner she told me she had a present for me if I wanted it. She was getting rid of this set of dishes. Did I want them? My God! I could hardly finish my dinner I was so anxious to get these delights in my car before she could change her mind. I have loved using these dishes every day that I have had them. Thank you, Miss Linder! And may everyone be enjoying their 5 a day of the seasons bounty.