Our Day Trip To Galena

My mom and I took the kids to Galena for the day. I will just let the pictures speak for themselves! I'll be back soon with pics from the weekend! Isn't my mom beautiful??!! She doesn't look like she is turning 69 on the 24th!

Smelling The Roses

The days have gotten away from me! I didn't realize it had been 10 day since I posted!

Our roses are blooming beautifully!! Look at that crazy cat!! Her water bowl is full, yet she prefers to drink from the crystal vase! She has no manners, but great taste! Notice how she grabs that runner with her claws to pull it closer to her!!!!
My trip to Galena was beyond wonderful! It could not have been a nicer time. My mom and I had great food, great fun, and great memories were made. I didn't buy as many "things" as I usually do. I did get gifties for all the kids...including this one...She LOVES this toy, along with the new cat nip bags, and laser lights I got her! The kids love the laser lights as much as she does!I got the kids sunglasses and Kyle a new pair of sandals he had been wanting. I also got the grandkids the COOLEST gifts! They are AWESOME, but I can't share it here yet. It is just as much a surprise for Rachel as for them, and she might read here still. Just incase....I know they will ALL love it!
My mom got all the kids a little something too.I did come home with this.....A new Keurig coffee pot and carousel. Isn't that cool how the carousel matches my spice rack?? We still use our main pot as the coffees are quite costly. It is nice to have a "cup" when you want just one though, and we have used it everyday!
I also bought a new Iced Tea maker a while back. I forgot I even had it til I was pulling pictures for this post!Another thing I got on my trip was some wonderful teas. An Orange Spice and an English Breakfast tea. I think the Orange Spice will make a nice iced tea, don't you?
So I have spent my days, since returning home, taking care of home tasks, caring for children (and a cat), and enjoying my Sweetheart...who REALLY missed me!! I have also been reading a couple of books, and trying to spend a bit of time everyday catching up on your blogs. I have this wonderful quote, shared by a sweet friend, posted on my frig. I read it daily and try to make this my thoughts toward my home and family. It has certainly helped! Feel free to take it from my blog (right click on it and "save picture as"), print it out and put it on your own frig. Attitude is everything!!!Now I am off to "take the trouble to make things nice" here!!!

Galena: The Sequel

My trip to Galena was wonderful, as I knew it would be! This time we did not do all the Historical sight seeing. If you are interested in that, you can look at my first Galena trip by clicking here. This time around, it was all about the shops and just relaxing. We ate lunch at the Desoto Hotel...our favorite place to eat in Galena. I was able to visit the Phat 1/4 shop and picked up a batting for TJ's quilt along with some fabrics.3 different Civil War repos and a fat quarter of green for a pine tree block.We made a jaunt over the Mighty Mississippi to my mother's favorite spot. The Greyhound Dog Track's Mystic Casino, to play the penny machines. I can not for the life of me figure out the thrill in this. For a little over an hour, I sat next to a lady who chain smoked me into emphysema, and lost $110 of my mom's money.....you KNOW I am not putting any of my own cash in those machines. She lost $60, and was somewhat dismayed....I guess she usually wins. Her attitude was it was worth it for the enjoyment of it all. My parents both love the casinos! They are heading to Jumer's next week.

Our hotel was so nice the last time, that we stayed in the same one again. This time our beds had quilts on them.The room was so pretty. The night table was an old school desk and bench.We spent the entire evening in the room....we came back to it around 6pm, played a game of Phase 10 Twist, and headed to bed by 9....I did not sleep until midnight, but once I fell asleep, I slept great. The next day we headed out early and spent the morning in downtown Galena....first stop was my favorite coffee bar...Kaladi's. BEST coffee EVER! We decided to take our time coming home and stop at the many little towns along the way. It was a relaxing trip.....until we hit Freeport. We got hit hard by a storm. We sought refuge in a Salvation Army store and waited it out....it was as dark as midnight at 2:30 in the afternoon! Heavy rains, high winds, and LOTS of lightening!!! It was very scary. It poured the rest of the way home, but once we arrived, the sun came out. My poor mom had no power at her house until midnight last night. We had 2 more storms come through after that one....each just as bad. The same storm that trapped us in Freeport, blew out half a dozen windows from the Sears Tower in Chicago!

Anyway, I am glad to be home safe and sound. I brought goodies for the kids and for Sassy too!! A little pillow stuffed with cat nip and she was CrAzY!!! We all laughed hysterically as she woolied that thing like it was her long lost love....she rubbed her face all over it and rolled on it!!!She played for so long, she wore herself out!Eventually she took a nice long nap....with her cat nip pillow!While I was gone, the kids and Sweetheart kept busy. When I left, this is what my house looked like......white with blue shutters and a blue door.Here is what I returned to. I LOVE IT!!!!!!For years, I have asked pleaded BEGGED Sweetheart to redo our house in the black and red....he is so wonderful. He worked hard the whole 2 days I was gone in order to have it done for me. It is perfect!!!!

I have lots of things to share with you over the next week. I finished the sailboat top, and I have an afternoon of granddaughter pics that are too cute not to post! For now that will all wait.

Have a blessed Lord's Day!!!!