July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day Six

Tuesday was our last day and we just wanted to relax. We slept late and then hit the beach near the Kenosha Marina. This is a lovely park with a very nice, sandy beach and the girls enjoyed a swim while I talked with my girlfriend, Judy. ( Why didn't we take a picture, Judy??)

After a couple of hours at the beach, I told ClaireAnna I was going to take her to the coolest park ever. Bowen Park in Waukegan, is a place we have been going for many years. Jessie had her second birthday party at a picnic table there in the woods. It has always been a great playground too. But little did I know that while we were gone, they redid the whole thing and made it way cooler then ever!

We finally made it back to Jes's apartment and got cleaned up for dinner. I have been dreaming about my favorite meal in all of Kenosha for 4 years and tonight was the night! Steak and Vegetable Kabobs on Rice Pilaf at Charcoal Grill HERE I COME! Ted and I had gone there many, many times and I had never ordered anything else. I told everyone that if they wanted to see me on my last night, that is where I would be and to come on out. Eleven of us met at 7:00 PM and sat down to order. Much to my surprise, the menu looked different. Ahhh......not good. I search and search......no steak kabobs. I ask the waiter....."we don't serve kabobs anymore".......WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I am not kidding either! I almost cried! I didn't have a clue what to order and finally settled on a ribeye with a side of rice and some green beans....close.....but no cigar. Oh well....we all had a great time and took the opportunity to finally take some pictures since we didn't Sunday night.
Barb and Dave and Lisa

David, Lisa and Laura
Laura, Nathan and Lisa
Lisa, Jes, Kate, ClaireAnna and Jason
Mom and her three kids
My friend Mary and Me

July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day Five

On Monday, Kate, ClaireAnna and I headed back to Chicago on the train to go to the zoo. We were going to go to the Brookfield Zoo. In order to get there, you take the Northern Line into Ogilvie Station, walk 2 blocks to Union Station and then take the Burlington Line out of the city to Brookfield. We weren't sure of the times and we arrived at Union Station 8 minutes after the 10:30 train to Brookfield left. The next train wasn't till 12:30. So....Plan B. We hopped on the 151 bus and went to the Lincoln Park Zoo instead! We'd never been there and were VERY happy with our visit. It is a lovely zoo, just the right size for about a four hour walk. It had LOTS of animals in very modern, natural looking enclosures. We loved the monkeys the best, they have many species and two groups of gorillas. ClaireAnna loved the Zebras and Giraffes.

We got back to Waukegan about 5:30 and hit the local Jewel, ( ahhhhh, to be in a Jewel again!) and grabbed a rotisserie chicken and some veggies and fruit for dinner. Then we all went to the last game of the season for Cornerstone's softball team. And guess what? Jes is on the team! And guess what else? She played second base and made 4 outs and helped the team achieve their first win of the season! The small crowd of Cornerstone supporters went wild! It was too much fun. Way to go Jes!

July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day Four

Sunday was a really fun day. We started off going to Cornerstone Community Church. This is a church we attended for many years, taught Sunday school, went on mission trips with, we were deacons here. It is a very special group of people in our lives and I was trilled to see some wonderful old faces. I only wish I had had more time and gotten to see more of them. The new building looks fantastic! And Mike is as cool as ever up there with his guitar.

After church, we went up to Barb and Dave's for a family get together that lasted the rest of the day. Thanks, Barb, for putting up with all of us and the mess we made. The food was great. We had fruit salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, BBQ burgers, deviled eggs, outstanding smashed potatoes with onion and some grilled egg plant. Yum! Yum! I can't believe I didn't take more pictures...this is the only one....Jacob and Nathan and Kate. Those in attendance at this "family reunion" were Mom, Dave and Barb, Laura, Paul, Nathan, Jake and Rachel with her boyfriend Mike, Lisa, Jes, Kate and ClaireAnna. (Plus a friend of Jake's) It was a great day! We got home late and went to bed.

July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day Three

On Saturday, Jes was off work and we all went to the City on the train.

Claire was excited to take her very first train ride and bus ride! Below are the revolving doors at Ogilvie Station on Madison.
We walked to Millennium Park and saw the "Bean".

Here's ClaireAnna playing in the face fountian. These faces change and then spit water out. It's weird.
We stopped in front of the Art Museum but didn't go in. We walked to the Shedd Aquarium. This shot below is just outside the Shedd.

Beluga WhalesThis is inside the oceanarium, looking out across the dolphin pool, through the window at the lake. Our favorite things at the Shedd were the dolphin show and the sea dragons - very elaborate sea horses - crazy looking animals! After the Shedd, we walked to the Field Museum.

Looking out at the city standing on the steps of the Field Museum.

After the museum, we took a bus back to Olgilvie and then a taxi to Ed Debevics. For those who don't know, Ed's is a 50's type diner where the waiters are rude to you and dress up and act crazy. Every so often, they jump up on the counters to dance. Here's a shot of some of the wait staff dancing to YMCA.

Yummy! Cheeseburgers and Chocolate Shakes!

( Jes got a quesadia??)

The train ride home with an Ed Debevic's hat on.

We got home late, close to 10:00 Pm. What a fun day!

July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day Two

On Friday, the girls and I slept in a bit and then went to Congo River, an adventure miniature golf course we used to go to. Claire had been there as a toddler, but didn't remember it, so she was very excited. Mom won the game!

From there, we stopped by Temple Baptist Church to chat with my home girl, Judy. ( She works there) We went to her house to say hi to her youngest son, Caleb, and meet her new dogs, three giant Golden Retrievers! We hurried up to meet my sister, Laura and her oldest son, Nathan, at Cousins and had yummy turkey bacon subs. Then the five of us drove the the lake front and let Claire play at the park and in the water a bit. We stopped by Laura's house to see her dogs and new kittens and then headed back to Jes's for Pizza and games.

July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day One

The girls and I were finally able to take a trip home for the first time in over 4 years. We had a wonderful time and were excited to see Jes. We left on Wednesday, July 23 and drove straight through, about 12 hours, arriving at Jes's new apartment about 10:00PM.

On Thursday, we went to Baxter to have lunch with Jes and my mom and sister ( who both also work at Baxter)

This is the building Jes works in.

Jes was pretty mad at me for taking this picture of her at her work station. She'll get over it. After lunch, the girls and I drove all over Kenosha County, taking pictures of every home Ted and I shared during our 20 years of marriage while living there. I just had to see them all for probably the last time and get a pictorial record of them. ( See future post) It was fun for me but a little boring for the girls.

We had dinner at the China House, a sort of fast food Chinese place we used to frequent. They have the best Egg Fu Young in the world and Kate and I had fun tasting it again. Yummy!

We also stopped by Pfanstiehl to get a picture. This is where Ted spent 18 years of his life and the source of the money we used to buy the farm. Hence "Harmon PFarms" The PF is a tribute to the years of blood, sweat and tears that were spilled in order for us to be farmers!
Thanks Hon!

Later that night, we all went to one of my favorite places on Earth. Tinseltown! I LOVE this place! I LOVE going out to the movies, the popcorn and soda, the reclining chairs, the colorful decor! I just LOVE it all. This night we saw Dark Night and Grama B. met us there and took ClaireAnna to Wall-E. We all had a great time!

Spring Concert

I'm behind on my posting so upcoming are several from this spring! This is from June. ClaireAnna and Ms. Shirley, music teacher.

Spring Music Concert for ClaireAnna's homeschool music class. She tried out for a solo and was given a part!

Two Girls In a Creek

ClaireAnna and her friend, Kirsten, spent a beautiful June morning splashing in the creek behind our house and picking blackberries!

Jack Frost

***UPDATE**** We have changed our minds. Jack is no longer for sale. He is such a sweetie that we just couldn't part with him.****UPDATE****

Jack Frost was a Christmas Present for ClaireAnna 2 years ago. He was left here by Santa, who asked Claire to take care of him. Anyway, Jack has been fun and is a sweat heart. He is very good with people and kids, is easy to catch and loves a treat or a scratch. Claireanna could lead him and bath him by herself when she was five as the pictures show. Jack gets along with cows and even bulls, horses and our Llama. Unfortunately, he is VERY territorial and does NOT get along with dogs or smaller stock. He will chase goats and sheep and he will attack calves and dogs. He is fine with cats and poultry.

Because of this, we are trying to find him a new home. We have so many different animals here and it is getting difficult to keep Jack away from the ones he may hurt. We love him very much, but playing pasture roulette is getting annoying. Jack has spent the last year living in the bull pen with 2 full grown Red Angus bulls and he has done just fine. He would be a GREAT companion animal for a bull, a horse or anything bigger then himself that won't run away from him. He would be a wonderful guard animal for a poultry flock. He will NOT let a dog or predator in the barnyard, PERIOD! Jack has been to several petting zoo events with our 4-H group and did very well. He is tiny and cute and makes a big to-do with his EEEEAWWWW when anyone visits the barnyard. We will be sad to see him go and are looking for just the right home for him where his sweat personality and protective instincts are both assets. ClaireAnna understands that Jack may be sold and why. She has so many other pets and a new pony foal that I don't think she will feel a void when he is gone. She also now knows that Santa is really Daddy, so she won't feel guilty about that! Jack Frost is a gelding. He is only 3 years old and could live well into his 30's. If we don't find just the right home for him, he will continue to be a companion for our Bull, JT.

You Can't Go Home

Well, It's been a couple of months since she left. She's been busy. I've been busy. The time has flown by. I'm outside so much now that I don't usually answer the phone when she calls. She probably thinks that I don't notice that she's not here. But she's wrong.

I was listening to the radio yesterday and heard the Bon Jovi song, "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" I thought about how much she wanted to go "home" and how happy she is there. I know it's the right thing for her. But......the down side for me is.......I don't live there anymore.

I am having a hard time accepting that our separation is so permanant. The other times she left me, I always knew she was coming back.....in a couple of months. But now I have to say, "She lives in Illinois." And I live in Arkansas. And.......I can't go home.....to be where she is.......Because home means something different to each of us now.....and that is hard for me to accept.

Jessie, I love you and I miss you more then I could ever say. Mom