It's the little things in life....

I have had the flu for the last two days....and in true "Susan" form, I couldn't stand laying around any more so I worked from home awhile this afternoon. It is so wonderful that technology and my boss allow me to be able to work remotely from home. I love it. Our office is set up so I can easily work here as if I was there, at work. I can set my hours, when I am not feeling well, to get something done without infecting everyone at work. It is comfortable, my Keurig is close, and I can quickly throw a load of laundry in the washer and/or dryer. 

The simple things.....


Tonight, I absolutely needed to go pick up a few things from Target. Yes, Steve would have gone for me but I really wanted to pick the items out myself. He drove me, dropped me off and the door, and was waiting for me when emerged. 

The simple things.....


When we got home Steve made a fire. He tended to it as he was also puttering in the garage. He just would come in, stoke the fire, check on me, give me a kiss, and off again.

The simple things......

I am feeling very blessed right now.

Its Windy and Cold Outside and Water Everywhere

We went to Fairview Sunday to prepare to get the grain out of the bins. It was quite orchestrated event. I had church and we wanted to eat in Fairview (the best breakfasts ever!) where it stops serving breakfast at 11:00. So...we had a short 75 minutes (if our minister doesn't go over) to grab Starbucks and drive to 40 miles west. No talking after church (not always easy to do). Just head to the car. 

Well we made it with time to spare and the breakfast held up to our expectations. We always order the same thing: A giant pancake with a bigger than normal patty of sausage and a 3 egg ham and cheese omelet and toast. I want it right now just thinking about it.

That cafe has been around since I was a little girl. As a child my brother and I were allowed to walk from either Grandma's or the ball park to get an ice cream. Then the ceilings weren't dropped and they had fans that intrigued me. It is arranged differently, though I could tell you how it was arranged. But they serve wonderful food and always have several home make pies to choose from.

After breakfast we headed to the farm. We have to go over the Spoon River in Ellisville and it is high. The overflow had been taken over from the river and Mt Pisgah road was completely flooded. 

Central Illinois is thawing out. It was in the mid 50s on Thursday and the foot of snow is melting with no place to go.

On the way to work last Friday, we drive by a dry creek that feeds to the Illinois River when it rains. When it is really wet it floods the road. Friday this road was closed and the water was raging over the road and the ditch surrounding it were very full. 

Now they say it is getting cold again. The upside is the ground won't be mushy when they try to get the corn into the semi truck. And we did get the auger in place and the tractor that we use for the PTO has a block heater.

Side note: I didn't get this posted and tomorrow another storm is coming in....will this winter every stop?

Valentines Day was so wonderful!!!

Thursday I worked from home.

Friday I went to work (though I could have easily worked from home again) but booked a hair appointment in the afternoon. It was snowing pretty hard and driving to the salon was tricky; it didn't seem that the snow plows had even been out. Two hours later the snow stopped and the plows had been through so returning to work was much better. To my surprise Steve's bosses boss sent him home....OK you don't have to tell us twice!

I came home to twelve beautiful yellow roses. Steve headed outside to clear the drive while I started dinner:

NY cut steak
twice baked potatoes with homemade bacon bits and cheddar cheese
broccoli with cheese sauce
garlic bread
chocolate ganache tart

Steve made a fire and we decided to just talk; no TV. We discussed our future ski trip and some dreams. I love the fact we really do enjoy each other's company.

Then yesterday I was sick! I slept all day and didn't see the light of day until around noon today. Looking back, my first clue I was getting sick was the fact I didn't eat much of my dinner, including most of my tart. Lucky Steve...he ate leftovers Saturday.

Today he headed to the farm to dig out the sheds. Corn is to be delivered March so he wanted to dig out to hopefully avoid a muddy mess later (and be able to get the equipment out). Hopefully his effort helped. Beside nothing makes him happier than driving one of his tractors!

News just said 3-5 more inches tomorrow. Lucky us!!

Creative (and completely frustrating) challenges of grandchildren

We have two grand children. Boys; ages 4 and 7. Usually they are well behaved and cooperative. We do fun things (go to the farm, ride the 4-wheeler, sled, etc) so you always have good choices of "if you want to do <something fun> you have to <eat your dinner, pick up your toys, etc>

Last night was not one of those nights. The four year old had been up all night sick to his stomach. We heard the 7 year old did not think he should have to go to school since the 4 year old "got" to stay home with Mom. Thus the beginning of his day. Mom asked us to pick him up after school, take him to our house, feed him, give him a bath, and bring him home in time for bed (trying to keep the germs contained).

So we picked him up, told him the plans, and plotted out our evening. First, snack. Second, play a bit. Third, start homework. Homework was to read a eight page story. Yes it was big print with lots of pictures, but eight pages. WOW. 

First page in, he started to grab his stomach, and made himself hyperventilate to get himself to cry. It was quite the drama. No, mean Nana didn't by it with a statement like "how could you suddenly feel bad when two minutes ago you were bouncing around?" Blank stare. Then we did the "I just miss my Mom." Answer, "I thought you were going to Dad's for awhile tonight." Blank stare. We read a page through gulping breaths (very dramatic and almost funny if I wasn't just put out he would act like this). We got some juice. Page by page we read and then took a break to work on supper. Suddenly he was laughing and bouncing around again. Assignment read. No more drama. 

Then supper was ready (we made homemade stew with carrot and red potatoes). He knew he had to eat one carrot. He agreed. Just one. He picked out eat piece of meat he wanted, each piece of potato, the carrot. Well, first it was too hot; later it was too cold. He saw me put salt in it so he said it was too spicy (right, actually it needed more salt and there wasn't even pepper in it). Than this was wrong with it and that was wrong with it. He tried saying he wanted something else (Steve already told him this was the menu). Suddenly the hyperventilation, crying, and stomach ache came back. So much of a challenge. 

We sat there and sat there and sat there. 

Steve reminded him he got to take a bath in the big tub. Suddenly he was full - right. As Steve filled the tub I caved. I hated doing it, but I took the potatoes out and said if he ate the meat and sauce he would be done. He downed it (I caught him several times licking the sauce off his spoon it when I walked away so I couldn't figure out the fight - maybe just because he wanted a grilled cheese and we said no to him?).

So it ended on a high note cause he played, and laughed, and told storied in the tub. 

Hopefully he learned something. I learned that his will is strong and he uses tears as a means to get his own way. Oh the life of parenting; even part time as a grandmother.

ILLINI finally won!

I am a huge Fighting Illinois fan, especially basketball!

I sat in Block I for three of my four years at Illinois (my senior year I sat in my big brother's fraternity section). I had season tickets all four years for basketball, which included being an Orange Krush (that year they spelled it with a "C") the very first year of its existance - a small claim to fame. So, though I had high hopes during pre-season, their poor BIG TEN showing has been hard to stomach.

A fun fact - my niece is an Orange Krush member (for those who don't know about this student cheering section, they now raise funds for each 3pt basket made for a variety of charities).

Well today was the day. They played Penn State at Penn State. The Orange Krush, Nichole included, traveled the 12 hours <story> by bus ride to cheer them on. AND THEY DID IT!!! They won after a 8 game losing streak.

So I am having a happy moment and hope the Freshman continue to start :-)

Let them eat cake....or bread...or cookies

I love to bake. I get the love from my Nana. As a little girl she lived across the pasture and took care of our family. 

My mother was a teacher so Nana got our meals, cleaned the house, and did our laundry. She was at our house every morning through the week and made breakfast: eggs, bacon, toast. Now I wasn't big on breakfast so didn't care, but Conrad got up every morning and "helped." I can remember she would call up the stairs "putting the eggs on." That would be our cue to get downstairs.

As a preschooler, I followed her through the house as she did her chores. I "helped" when allowed. She made homemade yeast bread every week and we put homemade butter and homemade strawberry jam on it (and we thought we were put upon because we wanted it from the store - kids!) and it was the norm. We always had a homemade treat waiting for us when we got off the bus and then off to play. We were not allowed in the kitchen when Mother got home from school; that was their time.

When I started 4-H she helped me with my early projects. I would win so many awards and it was from her careful instructions. There was only one way to measure, one way to mix, really one way to do anything. No exceptions.

So today as I decided to bake a couple quick breads ( banana with cream cheese and cranberry orange) I am thinking of her. It would be so much fun to have her here checking them out over a cup of tea of coffee (I don't know what she prefers because I was not drinking either when she left us).

So my bread is going to work for the gang. That is where my baking binges go. 

Bon Appetit!

Marriage contracts.

When my husband and I were getting married we decided we wanted to sell both our houses and buy one that was ours and make it our own. We took the house and yard plans and with pink and blue highlighters we divided responsibilities. Pretty much the entire inside of the house was mine (except for the utilities rooms in the basement and a square where his chair would be) and one wall in the garage for my workbench. His was the rest: yard, garage, utility rooms, etc.

I had been single for over a decade and had to learn to do everything myself. My father was a "teach a person to fish..." kind of Dad so he showed no mercy when it came to "guy" jobs. I learned to change my mower oil, replace my own furnace filter in a timely manner, clear my own snow, and mow my yard. I knew how to do general wiring. I can use a hammer, drill, and wretch like a seasoned veteran. So when we were getting married, I had trouble letting go of being in charge of everything. 

An example of my independence was: We were not engaged but serious about each other. I wanted a snow blower because my driveway was so long and narrow. Steve said that was not necessary and he would be happy to help me so I could save my money. Well he did as promised, then we had a huge dump and where was he? In Myrtle Beach golfing. I called up my brother, told him I wanted a snow blower. I asked what should I look for in one. The next day he had to come into Peoria for parts and being a farmer, stopped at every implement dealer from Fairview to Peoria checking out snow blowers. By the time he got to my house he said "I think you need this one and here is why." OK. We got in his truck and drove to Yates City. They let me try it out to see if I could handle it (I think I cleared most of the back of the store) and bought it. Yes Conrad helped me but that was his personality. He researched everything so why reinvent the wheel? What a surprise for Steve when he got home. And let it be said that every time it snowed he was at my house "borrowing" my snow blower. So much for the shovel. Man have I digressed!

So back to division of jobs...

After a few years of marriage I finally learned that helping each other was what a marriage was; you know, divide and conker. 

So he mows our lawn (I help mow the farm) and clears snow (though I did the sidewalks tonight). He also cleans out the gutters (though I did do it a couple times last summer) and chops wood. I keep all the books, deal with flexible spending (which is a huge pain), and do the laundry (my choice!). He also drinks the bottom half of my beer. Don't go awwwww...he hated, when we were dating, I left some in the bottom so this is our compromise. 

I generally clean our home but he does run the vacuum in the middle of the floor when I am crazy busy and he usually empties the dishwasher when I am dressing in the morning. He is also in charge of getting me out of bed; I hate alarms!

So as my husband is now vacuuming the water out of the garage from melted snow and dumping down our toilet, I say good night!

It is snowing!!!!

For those of you who are not from central Illinois, you may not understand Illinois winters are unpredictable. Last year we had one signification snow the end of February maybe one super cold spell and that was it. So this year with many snows and three super cold spells, people are whining. 

IT IS ILLINOIS PEOPLE!

I love the snow. It is pretty (who wants to look at brown grass), it protects my perennials from the weather, and hopefully puts water back into our water table. I have had several snows in the country memory lane, so I won't go there. But, our grandchildren love, love, love coming over and playing in the snow.

My sweet hubby spent the afternoon cleaning us out, most of the neighbors (he plows the cul-de-sac even though there is someone who is suppose to do it, but he loves is), and his two girl's houses (how he loves to spoil). He was one happy guy. 

I grew up in a rural community. My Dad's rule was if you don't need to go someone don't just venture out. It is harder for snow plows and other emergency vehicles to do their job when cars are on the road. I have always followed those rules. We got groceries on Thursday and I totally loved my day making snickerdoodle cookies and drinking coffee while the world turned white.

So I hope you are safe and warm where ever you are...and enjoy this weather!