How Was Your Weekend?

What a great weekend it was! My sister Karen is here visiting from Tennessee and we met up for breakfast yesterday. We were joined by my nephew and his darling kids.

This is Gabriel. He is just a riot. He sat there while we chatted and entertained himself with a straw and a toothpick!

This is Alivia. She's going to be in first grade this fall and she's really excited that she is going to have her own desk at school.

This is my nephew Jason. He's a police officer. I really enjoyed watching him with his kids. He's a great Dad.

Last but not least.....yours truly and my sister Karen. It was so good to see her. We don't see each other often enough and it was great to just sit and chat for a couple of hours.


Besides the nice breakfast, I finished painting our bedroom! It's a small room, but still a lot of work. On Sunday I ran errands and then started to put the room back together again. We decided to switch out dressers and move a book shelf and paint a dresser. I also opted to take sandpaper to a vanity and chair rather than paint it again. The distressed look turned out great.

As soon as I have the room finished, I'll take some pictures to show you. I love the new look. I also started cleaning out my workshop. Right after the showers I will be back to creating things for my etsy shop, FourDogDay. I have some wonderful patterns for aprons and tote bags, and I also want to try my hand at some other ideas....so it should be a busy fall!

Off topic.....I made an appointment to get my hair cut really short on the 18th and I can't wait. This is too much hair for me. Also, I see the doctor Tuesday to see what my treatment options are for my not so happy uterus. I'll let you know what she says.

I hope your weekend was a good one. Have a wonderful day tomorrow and do something nice for yourself and for someone else too!

Family Fun for the Fourth

We had a wonderful day yesterday, celebrating the holiday with the kids at Michael and Bernadette's lovely home. They just had their patio redone and it is fabulous. We had some great conversation, really delicious food, roasted s'mores in their fantastic fireplace, played that crazy and frustrating game again and watched the fireworks display taking place at the race track....from their front yard. It was just a grand day!


Every time we see Tresa, we take a photo like this to send her brother in Colorado and her Aunts around the country. Three months to go!!

Tresa and Bernadette.....



Michael the Novice Griller....getting tips from Chris the Master Griller.....

Chris with Michael and Bernadette's Aussie....Teagan......

Bernadette relaxing while we wait for dinner......

Even though it was warm and sunny, their patio is completely shaded....so we had a nice little fire going. You have to so you can make s'mores you know.....

The soon to be mommy and daddy.....

Michael.......
Bernadette playing that crazy game.....that the girls won.....AGAIN!

Chris during the game....the guys did come close....but only for a short time.....

Look at the frustration as Irv tries to come up with a clue to get his guys back in the game! It didn't happen.....

The game always makes us laugh......a lot.....

Beautiful flowers from the yard......

Look at the concentration while waiting for Baby Boy to move so Bern can feel him. We all got to feel him moving yesterday. It's just so magical......

Bernadette and Teagan while we waited for the fireworks to starts so we could head back outside. The mosquitoes were a bit on the hungry side.......


Have a wonderful day today and do something really nice for yourself.....

Far Away Family

Every time I see Tresa I take a couple of pictures of her to send to Matt out in Colorado. We always do one against a light colored wall, so he can really see her tummy growing.

I knew that this was going to be a difficult time for him. He loves "family". It will be hard for him to be a long distance uncle.

The baby is due in late September and Matt will be here in October to run the Chicago Marathon and then he's always here for Christmas.

After that, they can use web cams until he is home again.

Do you use a web cam to keep in touch with family and friends?

Happy Bunny Day

Happy Easter to everyone that celebrates. We are meeting Michael and Bernadette for breakfast this morning. They will have dinner with Bernadette's family and we will be having dinner with Tresa and Chris at his parent's house. It should be a wonderful day.

I was thinking about what Easter morning was like when our kids were little. Lanyard Lady had posted an Easter picture of her kids when they were little. It was so cute. I was telling her that my favorite Easter memory is when my boys would hurry up and find Tresa's Easter Basket before she got up, and then hide it again in a place where we would never ever hide one of their baskets. Then they would find theirs, sit back and watch Tresa look all over the place for hers. Oh my gosh the fun they had!

My least favorite Easter memory came when I was probably about 8 years old. I was riding my little sister Kay on my bike. We were going down a hill and I was swerving from side to side. Well we hit some loose stones on the road and down we went. No broken bones....but talk about skinned knees and elbows and .......faces. We looked just lovely a few days later all dressed up for Easter with scabs all over the place!

Have a wonderful day today....and make some special memories!

Facebook....a Different View

Over the weekend...in between pricing, inventory and packing up things for the craft show this weekend....I managed to pop on and off the computer now and then. While chatting with my sister on Facebook I noticed a status that popped up and it was the name of the town we grew up in. I went over to take a look and I was immediately transported back the my childhood.

People had already posted pictures of Fox River Grove and comments were appearing. Of course, being a woman of MANY words....I piped right in. There were discussions about the Picnic Grove (our old amusement park), the Tastee Freeze, the candy store, the burger joint, the Marina,the castle, the ski jump and so much more.


I suggested my sisters that live in TN and SC join up and it turned into a weekend of the three of us, plus another old time "Grovers" writing about their memories of this awesome little town as well. We talked about so many things from our childhood like standing in the frigid weather at the ski meets every year (my brothers jumped when they were younger) to things like my sister buying angora at the dry goods store to wrap around her boyfriend's class ring.


There were moments when the tears filled my eyes as I remembered a gentler, kinder day when kids got to be kids. When you could run and play and just never worry about anything. Parents didn't worry either. It was a different world.

People use to make fun of Fox River Grove. Yes, it was a tiny sleepy little town with few people, but to us then and to us now...it was the greatest place in the world to spend a childhood!

Facebook is definitely a strange world in itself....with all of the games people play and hundreds of ads appearing that are soooo geared to your profile. Are you on Facebook? If you are, do you spend much time on there? Do you use a social networking site to keep in touch with family? Do you use one to reconnect with old friends? Has it had any kind of impact on you either positive or negative?I sure had fun on there this weekend. Please share your thoughts.

Beautiful Holiday

In spite of Michael's basement flooding yesterday, dogs trying to rip each other's heads off, forgetting ingredients for the nacho dip, Michael not realizing the stores would be closed so he wouldn't be able to get the sandwich rolls and burnt Brussels sprouts....we had one heck of a wonderful day! I hope you did too.

Matt, Rebecca and Moki fixing breakfast

Michael got his flooding under control and was able to get to our house by dinner. The dogs loved each other one minute and were trying to kill each other the next. I somehow forgot the taco seasoning for the nacho dip, but Irv found some at Walgreens of all places, and bought some small dinner rolls that worked for the sandwiches and the Brussels sprouts.....well, lets just say...they were pretty ugly!

Rebecca and Moki

Like I have always said, I don't get stressed over things like that. The dog issue is a bit unnerving, just because I wouldn't want any one's dog to get hurt, but they seem to work things out themselves as dogs usually do.

Chris, Tresa and Moki

Rebecca's little dog, Moki is about the funniest little dog I have ever seen. If the big dogs even look at her the wrong way, or what she interprets as the wrong way...man that little 3 pounder growls and snaps and the dogs back off like she was a big pit bull. We have had more laughs over her BIG attitude this week.

Rebecca and Sparky

On Christmas Eve when Rebecca's flight was due in, we just kept hoping that the weather would cooperate and she would get here on time. Well, her flight from Grand Junction to Denver was delayed and she missed her flight to Chicago!! Thanks goodness they had added a flight and she got in an hour later than expected. The plane was almost empty and she had 5 seats to herself!

Tresa refusing to smile for a picture

I have saved some pictures for other posts, but here are a few from Christmas at the Kroll's.

Moki the Magnificent

Matt unwillingly trying on Rebecca's new scarf

Nice fit

Bernadette and Michael keeping an eye on the wii scores

Have a wonderful rest of the day! Chat with you soon.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you! I hope you have a wonderful day today. Remember to smile, hug the ones you love...and maybe even the ones you don't love....you never know... you just might make their day. I hope your day is filled with family, good food with lots of laughing and lots of love. Make it the best day ever and I will chat with you tomorrow.

It's Christmas Eve!!

I almost forgot to post the awesome stuff I got in a little gift exchange I did. It was organized by Angela of Pickles on Pizza fame. I was so excited when I opened my package from Creative Coquette at Foxy Monster! Some little birdie told her that I LOVE socks, and she sent me these! They are just so soft and so warm....I could live in them.

Then as if the socks weren't enough, she sent me this darling gingerbread girl necklace from her shop. It is so cute. I wore it to work the next day and got tons of compliments on it. Isn't it just the best?

So, here it is Christmas Eve. I am cleaning house this morning and then just chilling out. We normally stop by Irv's nephew's house on Christmas Eve, but we need to see if and when Rebecca's flight gets in. The weather is suppose to be horrific over much of the country today so we are playing it by ear.

Later this evening, we will be popping in some frozen pizzas that Irv will work his magic on and just enjoy each others company. Tomorrow it will be a full house....full of family, food, fun and DOGS!

Enjoy your day and if you are celebrating Christmas today....I hope it is the best ever!

He's Home

Matt arrived at 9:00 last night. He drove 8 hours on Monday afternoon and evening to get himself over the mountains and a little past Denver. That left 14 hours for yesterday. He managed to beat the bad weather and his trip was uneventful....just the way mommy likes it.

There were some nice big hugs, we introduced Luna and Maggie, Matt had a bowl of vegetarian chili and then off he went to see his brother. He stayed overnight at Michael and Bernadette's house and was heading out this morning to do some shopping.

Irv and I both took today off. My plan is to put on some Christmas music and do some baking. The weather is suppose to be nasty, so I'm happy to stay inside. Irv has some shopping to do. Rebecca's (Matt's girlfriend) flight comes in at 3:00 p. m. tomorrow. We are hoping the weather will be okay by then. That will also mean one more dog introduction.

Smile, be grateful for all that you have, hug someone you love, enjoy your day and I will chat with you soon.

Holiday Preparations

Yesterday was a wonderful day. I started cleaning the house and when it was time to take a little break, I made some hot chocolate and an English Muffin, put on some Christmas music and watched the snow fall. Then it was back to work.

In the afternoon, Irv and Bernadette met at the local park to introduce their Aussie Teagan to our little Maggie on "neutral " ground. It went well. Four dogs familiar with each other....now just two more to throw into the mix next week!

Bern wanted place mats for her dining room table. She found a tablecloth and napkins in the fabric she wanted, but no place mats. She didn't want a tablecloth, but the smart little girl bought it along with the napkins and decided to make her own. She brought the fabric over and we figured out what size she wanted and how many she could get out of the tablecloth. She left and headed over to the fabric store to get the fabric for the backs and the thread. She'll get it all washed and dried tonight and as soon as we can, we'll get together, get them cut and sewn. The fabric was awesome and they will look fantastic when she gets them done.

After that I sat and put the finishing touches on the menu for Friday's dinner. We will have eight people.....two are vegetarians and one is gluten free...so coming up with something yummy for everyone is fun and challenging.

I ended up with pork roast, roasted new potatoes, cheese and potato pirogi from a great deli, a broccoli cheese casserole if I can find gluten free cream of mushroom soup....if not, broccoli with toasted garlic and hazelnuts, roasted Brussels sprouts with pecans and a wonderful green salad. I am hungry just thinking about it.

We'll have lots of snacks, and I'm going to get some packages of gourmet hot chocolate in a variety of flavors and a great big jar of marshmallow fluff!!

Today we will be buying baby food and other baby things to add to the bags for our local food pantry. Haven't bought that kind of stuff in about 26 years!

Matti and Luna will be leaving Telluride early Tuesday morning. He will stop somewhere for the night and then finish the journey on Wednesday. I can't wait for him to get here. His girlfriend, Rebecca, is flying in on Christmas Eve. We are hoping for good weather so her flight gets in on time. We'll pop some pizzas in the oven and chat the evening away......

Is anything better than this time of year? I don't think so.

Being Thankful

Being a vegetarian....I prefer my turkey alive and happy like good old Courage here. Courage received a Presidential pardon yesterday and will not end up on anyone's dinner table today!


I hope that your day is filled with family, fun and good food as mine will be tomorrow when we celebrate. I have so much to be thankful for that when I think about it I get choked up. I have such wonderful kids and such an awesome husband. I have a darling little home. I have clothes to wear and food to eat. I have a great job and a car to get me there. I have three (sometimes) fantastic dogs and so many people in my life that mean so much to me. I have my health and I am so unbelievably happy. I don't know what I have done to deserve what I have, but I thank the "powers that be" every single day for finding me so deserving of this life.

This holiday season, my plan is to share what I can. Irv and I have decided to skip our holiday parties at work and make a donation to our local food pantry and PADS. PADS provides nightly shelter for the homeless in our area. There are so many people in need, and I have so much....

Today I will count my blessings as I do every day and keep in my thoughts those who are not as fortunate as I am. I want them to know that I am thinking about them with love and caring...and hoping that life will be better for them soon.

Have a wonderful day today everyone!

I Need Another Day Off

What a wonderful day it was. The weather looked "iffy" for a while, but it ended up being pretty nice. The kids came over in the early afternoon...we ate, and chatted, and laughed, and ate, and chatted and laughed and ate some more. The perfect holiday I would say.

Tresa and Chris are doing well. We listened to stories about Casey, the kitten from hell! I just laugh. I never thought Tresa would have any pets, and now she gets one that likes to terrorize her. Too funny!

Michael and Bernadette found a house that they might put an offer in on. It needs some MAJOR updating, but has great potential. It's in a wonderful area and if they can get it for what they would offer, it could be a nice first home for them. It will need lots of wallpaper removal, and the kitchen and landscaping need help, but it's a cute house.

Poor Irv bent over to pick something up this morning and tweaked his low back. He's been hurting all day.

Man, I ate way too much. I didn't even finish what was on my plate, but about 45 minutes later the desserts came out and I didn't hold back. I had to have it all. Now I feel like crap. Right after we ate, everyone was comatose and ready for a nap! Including Wrigley!

Wish we had just one more day off.......

Made With Love

Those of you that have been following my blog for a while know that some of the members of our family had decided to have a "toned down" Christmas this year...a more meaningful holiday. We wanted to keep our traditions, but eliminate the over the top gift giving and the waste.

I made my Christmas cards this year using a beautiful snowy mountain photo that my son, Matt had taken, and I wrote a personal message inside each one. I made a special card for my 4 siblings using a photo of our Christmas dinner from 1954.

I purchased less gifts, but I purchased gifts that were needed and wanted. In that same spirit, Matt, my 25 year old that lives in Colorado decided to make gifts for all of us this year.

Matt is very conscientious when it comes to recycling and not wasting. He hates that people run out at Christmas and buy, just to buy, with little care as to whether the gift they are buying is really needed or wanted. Many of those unneeded, unwanted gifts don't get used and end up in our overflowing landfills.

When Christmas came, I couldn't wait to open Matt's gift. He is a very creative young man. He can draw, take wonderful photos and writes amazing poetry. His gift to all of us was a 18 X 22 inch framed print. He had cut and pasted words....lots and lots of words....things like "magical, forgiving, friendship, optimistic, faith, love, thankful, promise and dreams with the word FAMILY in larger, bolder letters throughout. Then as if that wasn't beautiful enough, when you look at it closely, each of our names runs vertically within the words....Kathy, Irv, Tresa, Michael, Matt, Bernadette (Michael's wife) and Chris (Tresa's fiance)! You can see my name in the close up on the far right side....Kathy.

We were all so touched. Matt's gift will be loved and cherished forever. It will hang in a place of honor in each of our homes and it will never, ever end up in a landfill.

I received many wonderful gifts for Christmas this year. Everyone really took the time to find things I had asked for that I truly needed. It made the holiday so very special.

Have you ever received a handmade gift that made your heart melt because you knew how much love went in to it's creation? I would love to hear about it.

Christmas Cards to Remember

When my kids were little, I always let them make our Christmas cards. I had them draw a beautiful picture and then we had the cards printed on red or green cardstock. We always put their name on the back to make it an "official" card. When they got a little older, they lost interest in creating our card. That's when I started purchasing them. For a long time it was Hallmark, and then I transitioned to the cute line of cards at Target. I never thought about making my own cards...until this year. I own a card shop! There is no way I am going to the store and buying cards this year.

I mentioned in a previous blog that I had selected one of my son's beautiful mountain photos and I am making our cards. They are turning out quite nice. I scanned one to show you. It's done on white cardstock, and I chose to use black photo corners to attach the photo. The picture itself is so gorgeous, that this way people can keep the picture and even frame it if they like.

While I was making my cards, I thought about how fun it would be to send my brother and sisters a special card this year. So, I started digging through my old photographs to find ones that would be special.

My sister Karen is a few years older than me. She lives in Tennessee. I see her a couple of times a year. I found a "very posed" picture of her and me that I am going to use for her card. I will write something about sisters and friendship and love and make it very personal. I just love her pants!!

My sister Kay is a few years younger than me. She lives in South Carolina and I see her every few years. I found a cute one of the two of us dressed in our little coats and hats. I'll write something very special for her as well.

My sister Ann, or Sis as we have always called her lives in Arizona. She and my brother Jack who lives in Georgia, are a bit older than my other two sisters and me. Their dad died when they were quite young. Mom remarried and had Karen, me and Kay. There is a 10 year gap between Sis and Jack and the three of us. Do I have you totally confused yet?

Anyway, in my digging for photos to use for cards for Sis and Jack, I came across a Christmas dinner photo from the early 50's. The photo was obviously taken by my dad, since he isn't in the picture. The only other person missing from this picture is my little sister Kay, and I am guessing that my mom was pregnant with her when this was taken. The picture has three of my grandparents in it, my grandma's "boyfriend", my mom, Karen, me, Sis, Jack and my brother Bob who died in an auto accident many, many years ago. I just love this photo! I plan to write something about family in their cards. I don't get to see either of them very often, so I want to make it very special.

I think I will get the pictures ordered and start thinking about what I want to write in all of them. Christmas is about family and the love we all share for one another. It's about traditions and special memories. I wonder what special memories we will be making this year....