Happy New Year All!

Dinner at Oh Yoko was wonderful with Lindsay, Dave and Dylan. But for Mark and I it was bittersweet too.
This is our last nite with our wonderful grandson! It's been wonderful spending the holidays with him. He
interacts so much now and is just charming and delightful. We will miss him til we next get to see him.
It is back to reality for us tomorrow..................

Dylan Days

 

Random cuteness!

"Dat?"

We are busy enjoying every minute spent with Dylan. His "latest" is a constant barrage of "Dat?" along with pointing the finger at everything. He is busy trying to learn it all and in a constant state of curiosity. We notice that he does actually put 2 and 2 together quite well and he's proved it quite often over the days we've been here. You forget how overwhelming it must be for these little people to pack it all in these first few years.
Dylan is a mellow little fellow with few drastic moods and a quick easy smile and agreeable personality. Smart, sweet, and killer eyes............what more does he need?

The Tradition Continues

 

My good friend Jane has a Xmas tradition she did with her Mom every year. This was to make sauerkraut balls which are
a German appetizer. Inside a triple coating of breadcrumbs,egg wash, breadcrumbs is a delicious mixture of sausage, sauerkraut, bacon, seasonings unlike anything most of you have ever had before. Shirley is no longer here but Lee and I help Jane continue the tradition as it is very labor intensive and it is something the rest of Jane's family love and
enjoy. Jane makes up the "mixture" the day before and we come over and spend the afternoon rolling, coating, dipping and rolling again before Jane cooks them in the deep fryer. Jane sends us on our way with a small tray of our very own to freeze and use as we choose. I've never met anyone who's tried them that hasn't found them amazing. And Lee and I are
happy that we've been able to help Jane continue her Xmas tradition.

Holiday with friends

 

Last evening most of our "progressive" dinner group shared the evening.
We started with appetizer's and champagne at Elto's, then to dinner
at Mangiamo's and finished at Zidjunas' for Jane's wonderful apple pie
and homemade caramel sauce. This is what the holiday's are about.....
spending time with friends as well as family!

Mind cobwebs

 

For the first time in 2 weeks I was able to walk as usual today. I've worked up to it using the
treadmill for 20 minutes the last 3 days. But it was good for my mind as well as my body to
actually get outside and walk today.

Simple pleasures

 

There are certain times when I appreciate Shirley Gruhn's (friend and former owner) love of this condo. Last nite at sunset
and this morning getting my first coffee are two.

Xmas spirit

 

I could live to be 100 and no matter what I would always want to look
out and see a crisp clean snow in December in time for the holidays.
I guess it's just something thats "in" you (or not).

Recovery

I look a lot more chipper in the pre-op pic than the post. I'm glad my very first surgery is over and that I'm now home recovering. Removing my appendix was slightly more difficult than the usual appendectomy as it was buried and attached to my colon.
But get it cleanly they did and it was laprascopic so my recovery should be speedy.
Hopefully better each day. Thanks for all for your concern and wishes!

D at the petting zoo

Just a little Dylan update........at the zoo in Phoenix this week.

Abby

 

For those who may read my blog and are not facebookers........well, this
is Abby our new grandog. Matt got her last Friday at a rescue near his
home and she is a purebred Rottweiller. She is about 7 months old and
is a very sweet, nice dog. She spent Thanksgiving with us today and
I have to say she's even well mannered already. She sits when Matt
tells her to, shakes and can even chase a frisbee pretty well. I have
to say that both of my kids love animals and I know they got it from me!

November 22nd

 

It's hard to believe it's almost Thanksgiving and we're enjoying indian summer today.
It was a day of sunshine streaming into the house to enjoy. Getting my holiday outside
ready. Golf one last 18 holes for Mark. We are blessed today from start to finish!

Brooke is 1

 

Happy Birthday today to the youngest of the Wild cousins, Brooke.
At one end of the spectrum with the oldest is Lindsay at 30. I'm
only guessing but Brooke may be the last in a line of 14 grandchildren
of Ed and Kathleen Wild. And they would be so proud of each and every
one them.

2010 Car of the Year

 

On the day I picked up my new car Motor Trend named the Fusion "Car of the Year".
It has been well over 25 years since I've had a "car" and it's going to take some
getting used to. But it's got alot of bells and whistles so I figure it'll be
rather painless. Thanks to my wonderful husband for getting it for me and thanks
to his brother Dave for putting a dent in the payment for us!

1st time around

My awful flu of 3 weeks ago turned out to not be the flu at all. Turns out my appendix went south on me and ruptured and I've been carrying on with life since.
This past Sunday I had a similarly painful nite and decided this was definately
not the flu. I called the doctor and went in to see him on Wednesay. He ordered
blood work and a CT scan which I had Friday. They admitted me and waited to see
what the surgeon who accepted my case wanted to do. He wanted to put me on megadosage of antibiotics (875) to clear up the infection/inflammation before going in and cutting me and risking sepsis. Thank you very much! Anyway it seems I'll be having this out in the next 10 days sometime and it'll be my first time (other than childbirth) in the hospital. I consider myself lucky!

D 1

 

Dearest Dylan,

Today is your first birthday and on it Grampa and Nana want you to know the joy
you've brought us both. It's unlike any we've had in our lives before.
This time around we can simply enjoy each and every little change and
accomplishment and marvel at the endearing personality traits we see
emerging in you. We love your sweet nature and ready smiles, your love
for reading and seeking out the small details in everything you touch.

This past year has been one of renew enthusiam for life for us due to having
you in it. To know that we will live on in you is a gift we don't take
lightly. So Dylan James Kohler, on this your 1st birthday we wish you the
happiest of days and hope for you another exciting year of wonder to come.

All of our love,
Nana and Grampa

Happy Birthday Randy

 

Today is my baby brother's birthday. For all his very human faults he has many
virtues as well. His wonderful sense of humor, willingness to do anything for
you without a second thought being just a couple of those. I love each of my
brothers without reserve and "in spite of" many things as I'm am sure they do me.
So today I wish Randy a Happy Birthday and know that I love you!

The Unexpected Op's

 

While you can always shoot the buildings and views one might "expect", what your eye finds
interesting is quite another thing. In a place this big you'll always find things that are unexpected
and maybe only unusual and unique to yourself. Nonetheless, sometimes they are your best shots.

Gastronomic Chicago

 

To say that Chicago has a few good restaurants is an understatement. There are numerous wonderful
choices to be had in this city. French country, Italian, seafood, Brazilian, new age Mexican fushion
were a few experienced by our group. Soaking in the atmosphere of each was almost as wonderful as
experiencing the fare. Yes, Chicago can hold it's own in the culinary department.

Chicago Images Buildings

 

Last month we were able to go to Chicago for a few days. It's been some time since I've been
there and I've made a vow to go more often. It's a very vibrant and alive place with much to
delight the eye. The buildings and architecture being only one aspect I found fascinating.
The next few posts I'll share a few more images of why I found it so interesting. I'm sure
I've only scratched the surface too.

Retirement II

After much thought I've decided to leave my little part time "retirement" job at Baskets in the Belfry. So as of Christmas I will no longer be part of work scene.
I've made this choice for several personal reasons and the list of which is important only to myself. I will miss Polly and Pat and all the other women I've had the chance to work with over the several years there. I will also miss the
creative outlet it afforded me. On the other hand, I've managed to stay creative in other faucets of my life and will continue to do so.
The peace of mind in even making this decision has already made the choice the right one. Life is short and if you don't believe me, wait til you are my age. You'll spend your time not looking back with regret but forward with anticipation of getting the most out of each good day!

High the on Window list

 

I love to photograph windows for some reason. Some for whats behind the window,
some for the reflection in the window, some for appreciatian for the artfully displayed
"stuff" and some like this one just for the "art" of window. This one completely wins
on many counts. I'm in love with it!

Long arms

 

I really could not get the true length of the branches in one picture lest I have a wide angle lens.
All I can say was I was amazed. In certain spots I saw it was anchored even to stabilize it. Yowsa!

Flu's long road

The last 9 days and counting I've had the flu. Not the respitory type but an equally insiduous, gut wrenching, bone aching, headsplitting type. I have never craved so much ice water and panic at the thought I might be able to get it. The first 4-5 days there was no question of being anything but lateral. Did not answer phone (I apologize) and from there after I could move but would have preferred an amigo so much did my bones ache with each step. On top of all that I get my yearly visit from herpes simplex (always on my nose) and the conditions were ripe for a truly huge one that not only went from nose to lip but up the nose too.
Yes folks, these last days have been just awful. Paralleling me almost day to day has been my son-in-law Dave with pneumonia and in ICU for a week. Just came home yesterday and faces a recovery as well. I'm thinking maybe in another 9 or 10 days I might feel like human being again.

All souls nite

 

One of my favorite memories as a kid was going out on Halloween with my brothers and friends bag in hand to collect our trick or treats. The first order at hand was to get to Flath's house for the carmeled apple because they ran out fast.
I can guarantee you most kids in our neighborhood will remember that part. We'd go for what seemed like hours but in reality it was more like 1 to 2. We'd get home and separate our "take" into various groups for future consumption.
Just as much fun in those days for us was jumping in leaves after raking them into big piles. We'd rake them all up next to the porch and jump off the porch into them. My friend Mary Kay and I would also rake ourselves a "house" by making borders for each room with the leaves. It spanned the whole front or side yard.
Fall holds many fond memories for me over the years and I still enjoy living where there are 4 distinct seasons and love something about each one.

 

Had to capture this one.........

It's almost that time again!

Media day today. Midnite madness Friday. Let the season begin!!!!
Yeah baby!

Fall morning

 

Fall came while we were away last week.
We came home and turned on the heat.
Everyday I can go for my walk is a good
day. Some are just better than others.

Grampa grins

 

 

Never let it be said that Mark won't act goofy to get a grin from his grandson!