My Week

Wednesday I took Sophie to her appointment at Bubbles of Fun.  Not that it was fun but she likes playing with the other dogs loose.  She smells so nice.  Too bad it was a rainy day.  While she was being worked on, I went to our senior strength followed by our Zumba light.  There was a man using the empty room for stretches so instead of chasing him out, we invited him to join us since so few showed up for this pre-holiday class.  Zumba is hard on the first try much less subsequent attempts but he got a sweat going.  On the pick up, I stopped at a few thrift stores for senior discount day.  I found a Korean War Veterans light blue wind breaker jacket that had the logo on it.  I knew that Rex told me he was having a hard time finding a jacket the right type for their uniform look.  I got it for him for less than $5 with the senior discount.  It was unworn but had been stamped for the Decatur chapter.  He was elated to have it

Chaplain Steve told me that he got an email from Wreaths Across America about the delivery for the statehouse wreath which is usually presented with the Nativity dedication at the capitol.

The statehouse Nativity dedication on 11/ 29/16 at 11AM.  We will be presenting the "Statehouse" wreath for Wreaths Across America during this ceremony.
http://canadafreepress.com/article/nativity-scene-returns-to-illinois-capitol-for-9th-year.
The ceremony is a bit earlier and the national WAA is a week later this year so the delivery of the wreath will be a bit later than the ceremony.   I had to make a temporary wreath for the presentation.  It's very similar except smaller and artificial.  When the green larger statehouse wreath comes in we'll swap.

Well I kept the dirty dishes down to a minimum on Thanksgiving by a combination of dish washing both by hand and by the dishwasher. The meal was good.  The three dogs played. We had a family walk with the dogs after we ate. Moe made Hank bleed a little with their rough housing around in the yard. I gave my sons each a bag of leftovers so I don't have to throw it all out  .... a condition I made in order to make a traditional meal. I would have been satisfied with a small turkey breast but Alan likes the look of a full turkey on Thanksgiving.  I gave them an early gift that I was saving for Christmas, our group photo in resin block. After they left, I watched Anne of Green Gables and Pollyanna on PBS.  Tryptophan

Friday I went to Peoria for a Civil War Holiday Dance at the GAR hall.

I've done a few repairs to this troublesome dress.  I've added a second ruffle which makes it more period correct.  One ruffle makes the dress look like it was lengthened and poorly planned.  I added a puff to the sleeves and ran a stitch across the bertha's pleated collar to keep things in place.

Here's the before picture with the bertha crooked and the sleeves droop to the elbows.

The dress was more difficult to put on and take off with the narrower shoulder. 

Afterward, I got to see the East Peoria Festival Of Lights drive through.  That was something that I've wanted to do years before but the fact that I had a newspaper coupon for $5 off ($10 admission) and being in the area made it finally happen.  It was a little tricky finding the directions that were given to me by a local while dancing at the GAR but it was so worth it.

Saturday I was a little under the weather and didn't leave the house except to run to Ace Hardware for window film.

Sunday morning I saw our church's Advent decor. 

Big Advent candles at church this morning. Happy new (liturgical) year.

 Two of the four candles were at the entrance and the other two above the alter. Let's just put it this way, we knew there should be 4 and when we saw 2 at the entrance, it drew you in to look for the others.

It was a little too cool from me to go on the Sid Wood "Oldest and Coldest" toy run.  I think this is the last year too.  Last year I was in the paper with Santa in my Mrs Claus dress.  I just played it safe with this cough and didn't want to get worse.
Instead, I went to Erin’s Pavilion for the Staab Funeral Home's

Light a Candle of Love, A Service of Remembrance at Holiday Time

Monday evening I went to Metamora to dance with our group for the seniors at Snyder Village.  I think we did great considering those that were not too well.

My Week

Monday evening I went to Metamora for dance practice.  The old courthouse was so cold inside.  After it was over, it seemed warmer outside.  I clipped this photo from the bathroom door.
Before the Revolutionary War, men's privies had a star or sunburst cut into the door and the women's had a crescent moon. Over the years though, one might expect, men's outhouses were not as well cared for as women's and they fell into disrepair. So men took advantage of the better cared for women's johns and eventually most of the little stinkers had the crescent moon. The cutouts in the doors were to let a little air in. But more importantly they let a little light in. Taking a lit candle in could have explosive consequences for the occupant! Most two-holers were not for double occupancy as much as they were for adults and a smaller one for children.

I stopped transcribing at that point.

Thursday I made chili and cornbread and shared it with the workers.  I had enough left over so I brought it to the ABATE meeting.  On the way home, I hit a racoon crossing on Woodside Road on the way home from the meeting. Glad it wasn't a deer.

Saturday I helped organize a shopping tour with our Soldiers Aid Society.  I created an itinerary of favorite stops for bargain hunting that I've showed off some finds used for reenacting in the past.  It was fun seeing what the others purchased.  We had lunch at Cracker Barrel.  I love the pecan encrusted catfish.  I found this head covering at one of the antique shops with little pushells. I sent this photo to Kathy Kelly Hunt of Three Sisters Millinery and she said, "Yes! Wear it with the front across the crown of your head - not up near the forehead."  However, sharing this on facebook with the beginners Civil War Closet said it was much later ~ 1920.

Sunday I went to Mass at the Cathedral at 10AM.  It was the feast of Christ the King.  The sermon was about the 17 new cardinals (3 are American) that were elevated the day before.  One in particular was Fr Simoni who was a survivor of the Albanian Communist purge and testified that he witnessed priests that shouted, 'Long live Christ the King,' as they were shot.  So fitting that this new cardinal see this on the feast of Christ the King.
 Story here:
http://www.spiritfm905.com/Blog/Catholic-News/Catholic-News/144349

Afterward, I helped out at the kitchen for the ABATE Thanksgiving Dinner for the poor and homeless held in the school's kitchen.

Monday I volunteered at the Lincoln Tomb from 1-5.  I relieved another volunteer who was running solo. When my shift ended, a man named Larry came to lock up.  There were no busses but a very diverse group of families passing through for the holidays from all over.  I actually enjoyed talking to them.  In the evening I went to our VFW meeting.  I shared the audio of our winner of our local Voice of Democracy from my laptop.  Wishing Tori luck as she goes to the next level.

I watched a movie called "The Love Letter".  You can see it here too.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3j7u4t

My Week

Well the frost has hit and my cana plants were cut down early to make room for the new sun room that is in progress.

Wednesday evening I went to our AMVETS post meeting.  I discussed the possibility of adding our post flag to the ceremony in the Chatham square for veterans day.  I couldn't do this because of the conflicting time with the Springfield parade. No takers. I assembled this for nothing.

Thursday I had a table at our Veterans Resource Event.

 I brought my Military Barbie collection display with our Women's Overseas Service League booth.  I gave the material to Sue and she has the fancy sewing machine to do the work.

 I was supposed to have a co-located table with the CWV but I only got one table

Veterans Day I put the flags on my car's tail gate and got dressed with long johns so that my Women's Overseas Service League uniform wouldn't need a jacket.  I was pleased with our banner.  I would like to put a bar in the bottom for the wind next time.

Joan and I can be seen at 7:30 on this video at the bottom of the article.
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20161111/cemetery-ceremony-parade-give-thanks-to-those-who-have-served

You can see Joan and I walking with our new banner at 6:30 on this YouTube video of the Springfield Veterans Day parade.

This parade is run by veterans and there are no politicians nor candy involved.  Just flags.
I would love to add a bar to the the bottom of our WOSL banner to stabilize it in the wind.
Since I had not eaten, I got a little chili at the local VFW after walking Sophie and then went to Lincoln Land Community College for their ceremony.

Saturday morning I helped at the Old State Capitol for a Student Laureate Event. It was very crowded.  This was such an honor for these students that even the governor and the first lady showed up to congratulate the students.  The crowd and professors got to use the senate chamber with coat racks on wheels for their smocks.  Well that one thing to let the chains down but I had to ask a couple of the professors not to sit on Lincoln's furniture from his presidential train that is usually roped off.  I did help interpret the building for some of the visitors.  I also did a lot of clean up picking up papers and drink containers left all over.  I was in my camp dress because that was the day for my unit to conduct the new "Civil War Saturday" at the Old State Capitol.  I got home about 4:30 and then later left around 6:15 to go to Edwards Place for their Literary Evening reenactment fundraiser.  They are trying to match some funds to remodel the upper floor. One man read a poem that a stanza "Bells Bells Bells Bells" and it reminded me of Monty Pyton's Spam song.

Sunday I went to Mass and was saddened to see that the guest priest was Fr Chiola.  I took my hearing aids out during Mass to insulate myself. 

In the evening, I  walked Sophie before going to a movie with Sean.  I saw the Super Moon rise.  We saw "Hacksaw Ridge" so I came home to to settle down with a cup of coffee followed by a glass of wine. I'm glad he had some gummy worms to chew on. The headset for the hearing impaired didn't work even though they said it did. Just because there's a green light doesn't mean it works so I just used my hearing aids.  Let's just say the movie had a happy ending but the battle scenes made me hide under my jacket. Desmond Doss really deserved that Medal of Honor.

Monday morning, while walking, a hawk swooped within 10 feet and up to the big tree in my front.  

My Week

I finally got photos via email that were taken on Oct 12, just before our AMVETS meeting and Alan dropped off his dog at my house for his brief visit in California.  It's so hard to get together for photos.  This was taken at church for an upcoming directory.  The photos were really expensive but I g0t one free 8 by 10.  The last one is the photo we chose.

Tuesday I rode my motorcycle on an escort for the Hooah Deer Hunt sponsored by Scheels.  I filled the bike up and added Seafoam.

Wednesday my old porch as torn down and I got a big dumpster in my driveway to start work on a sun room.  That evening there was a nasty storm with tornadoes sighted in central Illinois.  I peaked out my back door and Sophie had jumped out not knowing there was no porch there and plop onto the muddy ground.

In the afternoon I was part of a panel for volunteers as part of the "Looking For Lincoln" program.

Flashback to the Veterans History Project event on September  since I just got emailed this photo with Secretary of State Jessie White.  I forgot what we were laughing about but I think I jokingly asked, "So till me about this project".

In fact it's inspired me to tinker around and build our CWV post history section of our website:
http://post1916.cwv.org/Public/History.aspx

Wednesday evening we had a pretty good storm.  Tornado warnings to the east at around Decatur.  I did a stupid thing and stare out at the storm in the back yard without the porch.  Sophie jumped right out not knowing about the missing porch.  I had to pull her back in.  As a result of the storm, the workers were diverted to another project on a roof on Thursday and Friday.  They returned on Monday and did the concrete base.   There's a big dumpster in my driveway for a few weeks.

I re-watched the  movie/min-series, "The Awakening Land".  I figure this movie is similar to James McDade the patriot for my sons SAR ancestor. The Awakening Land. Takes place in OH in 1790 http://my.mail.ru/mail/vm_gluschenko/video/31519/90507.html
The credits on the video are all in IL.  I didn't notice that before.

Saturday I went to yoga class but it was not the senior group that I usually attend.  A bit advanced.  At 1:30, I went to a reunion of the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight as part of the color guard rifle bearer.  Then I went over to the VFW to head up the judging panel for the Voice of Democracy scholarship panel.  There were 14 entries and I was assisted by 2 other members of the post to judge the winner.

Sunday morning was daylight savings time change and Mass with the Catholic War Veterans followed by a patriotic rosary with the Knights of Columbus.  I am most impressed with the fact that there 5 decades of 10 Hail Marys and each prayed for the souls in a state.  
Then I came home and got some carry out mostaccioli from church for my son and myself.

A lady there said she missed me at Mass at my home parish.  I asked why.  She said they honored the veterans and there were no women standing.  Then I told her I went to our monthly memorial Mass with the Catholic War Veterans at St John Vianney in Sherman followed by a patriotic Rosary.  She'd never heard of it so I told her.  She liked it.

At 2PM, I went to the Chatham Square.
Chatham resident CPL Roy Sumpter was killed in the Meuse-Argonne offensive on 6 November 1918. This plaque has a riveting, very nearly one hundred year story. It was once placed prominently near the doorway of the Caldwell School which burned in 1964. Last year, Josh Treviño, a relative of Sumpter’s reached out to inquire if the plaque had survived. After a year or more of looking, it was uncovered by Les “Sarge” Morgan and restored to its original beauty. Mr. Treviño will be traveling all the way from Texas to share his great-great uncle’s story.
On the locating and reinstalling of the memorial, Mr. Treviño writes: “No one discards these things in small Midwestern towns. We have found it: and we will honor the Illinoisan fallen in the Great War with a reinstallation of his memorial in the Chatham town square on the 98th anniversary of his death this November. ‘Not without thy wondrous story,

 Roy Sumpter's great nephew came from Texas for the plaque unveiling.

Proverbs 2:3-4 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.

Scattering of Ashes is non-Christian
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/final-resting-place-vatican-releases-instruction-burial-cremation