My week

Monday I took Amber to Regency and once again met Bo coming in for a therapy visit.  She thought Bo and I shouldn't be back to back and we should coordinate.  I said I was on a schedule with the activity director who signs my visit sheets.  She has a nurse sign her sheets.  I told her to meet in the sun room where the activity person is.

I then gave tours at the tomb and took Sophie with me and put her kennel on the porch of the caretaker house.  It was very busy and the only staff member there was the grounds keeper.

Tuesday I took Amber to the 1st day of her 3rd session on agility training.  Once she was off leash she ran like she was on turbo power.  I said no more sugar for you.  When she performed for me, I was so happy I went to her level and let her kiss me doggie fashion...yeah ... the mouth.

Then I went for my massage.  I originally started going for my stiff neck but come back for shoulders.  I also asked for a little on my left leg which the sciatica nerve is bothering me.

Wednesday I watched the giant Lincoln statue installed in front of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

crane lowering Lincoln

I sat on the concrete wall by the presidential library across the street for the best view but when I jumped off, I skinned my knee.  No I didn't stay the whole time because this took up most of the day.  I ran over to the nearby Salvation Army since it was senior discount day.  I found some nice exercise clothes then came back.

Wednesday evening I went to the Interveterans council meeting.  This was important since we were putting together final plans for Memorial Day.


Saturday morning I was involved in the American Legion color guard for baseball.  Sunday morning I was a Reader at mass.
Sunday I was a reader at Mass and changed into 3 different outfits.  My sons and sister said nay to this patriotic dress.  Off to the Goodwill.

 Then I tried this one.  It made me look PG.

 I settled on this.

Before Mass, I took this photo in my yard.  Yesterday was a nice day for the neighbor to hold a big birthday party.  Must have gotten pretty windy overnight for their awning to blow over the fence into my yard.  I slept through a storm again.

I did ask if there was and cake left and they brought me this:

On Memorial Day I was in the color guard for the American Legion for a 10AM ceremony and then in the afternoon I went to Camp Butler at 2pm for that ceremony.  You can hardly see me in the middle of the flags holding the rifle at ease.  Just my cap.

After this I walked the dogs and decided to stop and ask Donna if she would be interested in going with me to the ceremony at Camp Butler National Cemetery at 2PM.  She had an hour to prepare and I picked her up.  We sad in front.  The governor gave a speech.  Then we had a few carnations for random spectators to place on the "vacant chair".  I did but Donna said she wanted to minimize her walking.  Our director of veterans affairs was also present and she got in that line with me.  She remembered me from both the VFW Vietnam lunch and other events.

Here's the news video for Camp Butler:
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/locals-honor-fallen-veterans-at-camp-butler-national-cemetary

Looking forward to this dog rally that I got in an email:

Your entry for the Capitol Canine Training Club of Springfield, IL obedience
and rally trials on 6/15/19 - 6/16/19 has been accepted as shown below.
Please let me know if there are any errors in your entry as soon as
possible.

Amber Connolly, PAL274824, 9/1/2017, Bitch, Border Terrier, Breeder:
Unknown, Sire: Unknown, Dam: Unknown, Owner: Rosemary Connolly,xxxxxxx, Phone: xxxxxxx

SATURDAY, 6/15/19, Trial 1
  Obedience - Beginner Novice A                                   
  Rally - Rally Novice A                                           

SATURDAY, 6/15/19, Trial 2
  Obedience - Beginner Novice A                                   
  Rally - Rally Novice A                                           

SUNDAY, 6/16/19
  Obedience - Beginner Novice A                                   
  Rally - Rally Novice A                                           

I just think that for the newby in dog competition that "beginner novice" sounds like an oxymoron.  I guess AKC just needed another level added for kindergarten competition.  I'm a little nervous but want to smile and have a nice fun opportunity with my dog.

My Week

Even though I knew Amber had passed her AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC), it sure feels better having the paperwork to back it up.

Thursday it warmed enough to get the power washer out.   I did the front of the house then brought it inside to do the fireplace.  Before and after but it's important to note that doors are open on the before making the photo look darker and that the overhead lights are on in the after photo making it look cleaner.
before with newspapers on the floor.

 after:

Saturday I went to a Civil War discussion in Jacksonville at Illinois College.

Sunday morning was our memorial Mass with the Catholic War Veterans

Monday I took Sophie to the nursing home and brought her kennel also because I was going straight to the Lincoln Tomb afterward. 

I'd been thinking about the abortion debate a lot lately. Then I recall one of Lincoln's quotes regarding slavery. He said it was enshrined in law and as a lawyer he could do nothing but as a politician he could affect change in the law. Today we look back at slavery and wonder what were we thinking? Slavery is wrong and immoral. Abortion is enshrined in law and it's only murder if you don't do it after the birth certificate is printed. What will they say about us killing babies 100+ years from now?

My Week

We sure have been having a lot of rain and the creeks are overflowing.  Although I have been unaffected by the flooding, farmers and homes are having a difficult time.   Alan and I don't have a basement but Sean does.  He doesn't seem to have flooding.  However, the Servpro truck has been busy on my street.

Sophie received her TDI EVA  title in the mail for over 350 visits.

See Sophie on Page 24 of the Fall TDI newsletter.
http://tdi-dog.org/images/Fall_2019.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2y_JjOLgHhH2_oM8dXTb_tkEwBqaftpQhH-BXvUfGatNE2UHtoor5ovcA 

Tuesday I went to our monthly meeting at Capitol Canine Training Club at 7PM and then I attended the homecoming of the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight at 8:30.   The flight was on time. I refer to this as a party in the airport.  Here I am with Mrs Illinois Woman, Michelle Schuster.  She's also a veteran.

Wednesday was our Amvets meeting and we did not have a quorum.   I got some items from Jerry to take to the veterans homeless shelter.  This is also Nurses Week.  So I took my therapy dog to the nurse's tea at St John's Hospital. Hospital volunteer coordinator, Marcia McNicol, with TDIEVA Sophie.

I wore my WW1 nurse outfit

Photos that the hospital staff took can be found by clicking here:



After this,  I changed and dropped Sophie off and went to see the "members only preview" of "All Aboard" at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

I didn't put my face in one of the holes of the train board.

Then from Union Station exhibit, I went to our Catholic War Veterans meeting.

Friday I was on the color guard for a ceremony at the governor's mansion dedicating the DAR's new garden.  Saturday I was on the color guard for a funeral for Harold Smith.  The DoD Army folded the flag and did a professional job.  When I got to the cemetery,  it was cloudy but not raining.  I was there early enough to help place veteran markers on graves of the recently departed veterans.  Then when the others in our detail arrived, the rain started.

Since Amber did well Friday at open practice at the Capitol Canine Club. I had asked Debbie what Pixie had done to earn her AKC trick dog title and she mention tapping on a piano and a light.

  I found a kiddie piano at the Goodwill for $2.  She's learning to play piano but no Beethoven.  See video of her first key:

I got two boxes of roses from my son via "Proflowers". Both identical including the memo cards.  Sean checked to see if he was charged double but he wasn't.  So I took one to the nursing home for the mothers there.

 I was the first reader at Mass. Fr John ended the Mass with a poem and Mother's Day blessing.  He said (as he has for the past years on this day) that his mother taught him not to show up empty handed on Mother's Day.  The ushers passed these lip gloss out to the mothers.

  I had planned on wearing something light and flowery for Mother's Day but had to change my plans on that outfit.  This rain brought a chill with it. I hope this damp weather is the cause and that it's temporary because I just saw my spine doctor a week ago and told him everything was fine.  I am having trouble bending over and hope it is this damp cold and not my spinal fusion.

My sons came over for Mothers Day and there were 4 dogs in the house.  Alan made dinner of Jeanie O turkey breast and salad. Watched a little TV.  Showed them that Hank and Moe knew 2 tricks: to go in a box, and put front paws on a bucket/inverted rubber bowl.  They seemed to be proud of their dogs doing a trick.  At first they seemed leary at the useless trick but they came around.  Then we did the traditional family dog walk.  I enjoy walking our dogs together.

Alan has my old MacBook Pro and is reworking the guts of it with new parts.  He said it was really sticky inside.  I had tried to keep  it clean but Oh when you sneeze and take that thing everywhere, it's bound to happen over the 9 some years.

So proud of my sister's photo winning Vernon Communications Photo Contest.   She calls this "Pond Sun". 

 
A beautiful way to close this week's blog.

My Bi-Weekly blog

Well actually this is a bi-weekly report because my computer was fried.  My MacBook Pro was 9 years old and I had it backed up.  It got wet.  Some of the keys were sticking and I even had to pop the "f' key back in (of all letters).   Then my new sewing machine needed help.  I know that Sandy wanted to save my questions in a group but when I can't get past the teeth feeder and threading I can't really develop more questions.  This gave me some free time for getting a few things done.  Oh and boy did it rain.  I can hear the grass growing (weeds too).

On of these weeks I watch Hank and the following week I watched Moe.
I forgot that Hank has a sock fetish.  He doesn't destroy socks, just likes them a lot.

In the evening I went to dance with the Metamora Dancers for the Washington (IL) Historical Society at the beautiful Lutheran Church.  Inside the church worship area was beautiful too but too dark as a back drop for pictures.

I thought it was time to train Hank. He knows  "go ".  Paws on the bucket is hard for him.

Sophie's paw reminds me of a lucky rabbits foot.

I've been taking Amber to the Capitol Canine Club's open practice called "Ring Ready Obedience".  

 Notice how nice she sits among these distractions while I step away for a photo?  Do I trust her to stay long?  No.

I've also been taking her on Wednesday evenings to a class called "rally practice" for members.

I helped out on Saturday for the season open house at the Elijah Iles house.  I went in a later period outfit from "Frontier Classics"

 There's a nest in the porch light.

Then Sunday I went to a flag pole dedication for a member of our Land of Lincoln Honor Flight.  She just had it installed.  Her house was devestated by a tornado about 10 years ago.

I went to AmVets Legislative Day at the Capitol.  I led the group of veterans to the same entrance that we used for the women veterans recognition on the house floor a few weeks back.  That entrance gets us in 2 buildings without being re-screened  The security guard saw me leading the veterans in and asked me to wait until the rest of the group came.  When we were there by the scanner, he said he'd let us through without the machine because he was a combat vet.   I presented our sheet of paper given me to my rep who recognized me from church.

I had my 2 year post spinal fusion check up.  Dr Williams said it was a waste of time and not to come back unless there's a problem.

On May 1st,  went to our canine practice then to the state museum for a lecture called "Bound to the Western Waters": The Discovery of Lewis and Clark's Long-Lost Outpost of Ft. Kaskaskia,   It's been a long time since I went to Kaskaskia. Looks like they did a lot of excavating and discovered another fort nearby which is now covered by a parking lot.

Sophie went to the groomer and got cute feathers in her ear.

We have had a lot of rain.  Moe is afraid of thunder and lightning unlike my girls.  Moe usually sleeps in the living room but when the severe weather hit...

I had a 3 dog night ( in my bed)🛌
I had my massage on Tuesday.

Friday morning I went to Morton for student day at the Civil War.  They wanted our Metamora dancers but we could only get 2 couples.  Anyhow, they did alright with my player and got the kids to do a hat dance and Virginia Reel.  Meanwhile, I portrayed Belle Reynolds.  Boy my mouth got dry.  Next time, bring refreshing mints.  This park would only allow one horse....a nice friendly one.  Why the long face Mr President?

 Saturday I went to the Military Museum highlighting the 114th Regiment.

 Peggy took a lot of pictures but none of herself so I did it.

 Carol showed us how to turn a Jacobs Ladder into a butterfly

 Here I am in the museum with our sign.

Saturday evening our American Legion post took a shift for the 24 hour IL Vietnam Memorial Vigil.

Sunday evening, Sean and I went to the Peoria Chief's game where Alan was honored as "hero of the game".

 Sean retrieving a snack.

 Waiting for the momment.

 A Plaque and a hat.    

 There he is up on the big screen.

Video of the event.  Especially proud of the people standing and shaking his hand.

I believe the Peoria Chiefs won but we didn't stay for the whole game.
Well I know this was long because of the break.  Until next week.  Blessings ~