I am embarrassed to say that I have been very sick

AGAIN!

I don't know what the deal is. 

I haven't really been sick for the last couple years.

And I actually bragged about it to my husband,

who has been sick more than usual the past couple years.

Well that will teach me to shut my big mouth.

I actually had to visit the doctor and he said 

it was probably to late for a flu shot,

seeing as I've already had 

all that there is out there to catch!

Ugh!

Enough about that!

Over the summer I was on the hunt for an arbor!

I looked everywhere and I found

"A Rustic Garden"! 

Click HERE to see for yourself!

They also have a blog HERE!

It's located in Mt. Sterling Illinois.

Which sadly is a little far from my home.

But....you can order online! Yay!

 I love it!

I planted bittersweet vine on both sides and

hopefully it will look great by next summer!

I spent a very long time looking at their website!

I have already stored up a few ideas that I might use!

I am thinking that I might put my main Christmas tree in a urn! 

(Now this is a little too country looking for me but I could come up 

with  a urn and a tree that would go with my style!)

Think about it, 

the tree would be up off the floor and you could put

all kinds of wonderfully wrapped gifts underneath! 

Since moving to the new house I could use a taller tree so

putting it in a urn might solve that problem too!

I already have a smaller tree in a urn 

but putting my main tree in a urn had never dawned on me.

So...if you get a chance check them out!

On the mend,

Off to Chicago!

Yep!

Every year at this time Mike and I take a little trip to Chicago.

He has business meetings and I get to go along.

There are lots of dinners and meetings and for me a little shopping.

Now if I were really organized I'd do a little Christmas shopping.

But I'm not....darn it!

Actually I might take it easy on the shopping.

After all the shopping and walking in New York 

a couple weeks ago I don't think my feet could take it.

Oh but what fun it was.....

They have these wonderful open markets.

 Farmer's markets!

 Aunt Kathy lead us to this place!

Only the best cupcake I have ever had!!!

Quaint little shops!

 

Check out all  those old sewing machines!

 

Now I am a big fan of Papyrus.

But Kate's Paperie was to die for.

Now let me tell you after all this shopping and walking

and high heel wearing 

my poor pigs were killing me!

(the poor babies were even swollen....but I just couldn't stop!)

Ouch!!!

So the last night we were there I threw on my tennies

(real classy....huh?)

and Mike and I headed for
The Waldorf Astoria!

He's a Hilton Honors member so it was free with his points!!!

How fun is that..... beautiful and free!

The room was a suite and it was lovely!

What a lovely place to

rest my pigs!

So now off I go to Chicago! :o)

I'll be back posting next week. 

Have a fabulous weekend my friends!

Hugs,

Friends~Family & A Beautiful Fall Day!

Did I ever tell you that.....

I LOVE FALL!

I know I know....I have said it before.

But days like today make me love fall even more!

We packed up the kids and headed to Oregon IL for...

Now when I say packed up the kids 

I really mean our son and daughter-in-law!

And we really didn't have to pack them up,

they actually climbed in the car all on their own!!

We headed to Aunt Kathy's house.

She lives just a block away from all the festivities!

Here we are left to right, Aunt Kathy, Kelly and I.

It's fun to put a name with a face.

You have seen Kelly and I before but now you can see the infamous "Aunt Kathy "

 Who has a beautiful older home and wonderful gardens. 

And a great husband, Uncle George, who made us a yummy lunch.

 Thank you George for the great soup!

    It just so happens that my son snapped a few shots of their

gorgeous home for you to see.

So Pretty!

Don't ya think!

Next we were off to check out the vendors that were set up 

       all around the Ogle County Courthouse.

 

We ran in to these two crazy ladies!

 My mom is the one on the left and 

the one on the right is her childhood friend, Karen!

The four of us continued on and had a great time!

Check out this peanut gourd! 

It came home with me!

~FUN~

After shopping and lunch we headed for a 

lovely visit with one of my husbands other Aunts.

Hmmm.....

A wonderful crisp fall day spent with family and friends....

tell me, does it really get any better then this!

*P.S. Don't forget to sign up for my Plush Pumpkin giveaway!

~click HERE to do so~

Hugs,

Plush Pumpkins!!

I recently went to Aunt Kathy's house and 
she had some of these little beauties!

They are called Plush Pumpkins and they are to die for!

Ever so often I come across something that just calls my name!
And after I saw hers I couldn't stop thinking about them.
Aunt Kathy is the Ultimate Shopping Diva!!
She always finds the best stuff.


So.....
after I asked for her blessing I went and purchased my very own.

Now I know some of you have already heard of these
rich colored velvet pumpkins made with real pumpkin stems.
They are stuffed with rice
{like a beanbag}
and you have to lift them from the bottom
so you don't pull off the stems.
{they are pretty weighty}

But this was the very first time I had ever seen them.
They are a "tad bit pricey" and there are others 
out there that are even more expensive!
  So turn them over and check the bottom for the "PP" logo!

Check out their site HERE!
If you live in the area they sell them HERE!
If not... you can order them online from HERE! 

Now, another alternative is to make your own.
My mom is going to try this.
She's pretty crafty so we'll see how hers turn out!

Hugs to you all,

Do you love a good musical?

I was invited by my friend Gina to go see....


It was a bus trip to Chicago!
Gina's mom coordinates these trips
for the bank she works for.
And she had some extra tickets to the
Oriental Theater!

The show was wonderful.
If you get a chance.... you really should go!

Now, I feel like I need to tell you
that they do drop the F-bomb several times.
But...
for some reason when they say it with
a British accent it's kind of funny!
;-)


No trip to the
"Windy City"
would be complete without a trip to
Garrett's Popcorn!
After all, it's right next door!

I am a Cashew CaramelCrisp girl my self!
Gina goes for the sweet/salty thing,
so she gets the
"The Chicago Mix"
which is caramel & cheese mixed together!

We pigged out on the ride home!
And for some reason I am still picking
cheese corn out of my purse!
{Know anything about that... Gina?}

You can even order it online!
It makes a great gift!

Click HERE!

Wow..it sounds like I work for Garrett's.
But actually I just love their popcorn!

Along with a wonderful show we
ate and laughed ourselves silly!
Thanks for the invite gals!

Hugs,

I know there has probably been a bazillion posts
about Farmers Markets
and.....
this is going to be another one!!

Because, again I feel as if I have been out of the loop.
I just discovered my first farmers market last summer.
I had heard of them but had never actually been to one.

And now I am hooked.
In the new town where I live you can find a farmers market
almost any day of the week between
the months of May and October.

But Wednesdays are my day of choice right now!

Most times I meet Mike's Aunts there or
my daughter if she gets a chance.

~this week I met my eldest son~
( I told him to pose nice.....but does he listen?)

~and his girlfriend~

Who had a little trouble with her new sunglasses!

They were celebrating, because it was
the beginning of summer vacation for them.

They are both middle school teachers
and had finished up earlier that day.
Woo hoo!

My daughter even showed up for lunch!

This is her, showing off her new bag
she uses to put her market goodies in.
Silly Girl!!


We bought veggies.

A few plants and flowers.

Some homemade jam and even some Wisconsin cheese!


Then we sat outdoors and enjoyed lunch!


Wow!
I love summer days like this.

I wish I had figured out this Farmers Market thing sooner!

Hope you get a chance to enjoy yourself today!