my week

This has been a busy Memorial Day weekend.  Sunday we got a new record high in Springfield: 95°.  Springfield hit 98° on Monday - not only the hottest Memorial Day ever but the hottest day in nearly 5 years! (104° on July 7, 2013)

Thursday evening I went to Jacksonville Library for a 2 hour movie called “The Republic of Suffering: Death and the Civil War”

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/death/
Afterward I went to Theater in the Park to see 1776 with some lady veteran friends.  It rained so the show was held in the indoor theater. The man on the right is Andy Van De Voort who is also a member of our 114th Illinois Infantry reactivated as a bugler

 

Friday I went back to the library for a set up of the Powerpoint projector preparation along with two others that were presenting.  The library loaned the group their equipment.  However, on the day that I presented, the power cord was not in the case and I had to resort to my own back up projector designed for smaller audiences.

Saturday I gave my presentation for the Jacksonville "Tales of our Fathers"
I think it was bad.   Some of those slides were not in order but it was better than nothing.  Afterward, one asked how long I've been giving this presentation. A sign that it looked like a beginner presentation. Chuck asked what I might change for the next presentation coming up in July.  However, Sunday I went to the afternoon presentations  and received some compliments.  Well I guess I'm my own worst critic.

On my way home, I stopped to follow the signs to Woodlawn Farm to see where it was located.  I did this because there would be a presentation there the following day in this series.

Sunday I went to Roodhouse for a Memorial ceremony at Martin Prairie Cemetery with a group of Civil War Reenactors.

 

My name is on the program but I kept it short because of the heat.  Despite wearing a bonnet veil, the buffalo gnats bit my neck and I itch.

 

Then I caught up with the rest of the program for "Tales of our Fathers" in Jacksonville. Dr. Alonzo Ward, PhD spoke about “Corporal Robert S. Arbuckle, Co. E, 29th U.S. Colored Troops”

 The first thing I noticed was this underground railroad quilt with code.

There is a legend of the symbols. However, this has been debunked. Quilt codes are not mentioned in the 19th century slave narratives or 1930s oral testimonies of former slaves. Additionally, no original quilts remain. You can take it or leave it.  As tight lipped as people had to be about the underground railroad, if the quilt code existed, the evidence is gone.
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0205_040205_slavequilts.html

 The house has been turned into a museum with only volunteers.  I understand that when Edwards Place was remodeled, the former carpeting went to Woodlawn for restoration.
Here is their website:  http://jacksonvilleil.org/woodlawn-farm/

 The guide showed us the wood beams made of walnut which termites don't like.

In the evening there was a chicken dinner with music by the University High Fiddle Ensemble from Urbana, IL.

Here's the group's playlist.  I always forget the names of these songs.

Here's a video of Sophie's new little brother, Nick, that I'll be picking up in Fenton, MO on Tuesday.

Monday I was in the color guard for our Memorial Day ceremony.  It was a hot one!

I was a riffle bearer.  Boy am I hard to see on the end. 

Jim Shaner held our AMVETS flag.

In the afternoon I went to Camp Butler for the ceremony.  Unfortunately the elastic in the leggings went out.

Now to have a home inspection to see what my next project will be.

My Week

This past week I went to visit my sister, Kathy, in Palm Springs.  It was her wish to see her sisters but I didn't want to go by myself.  Fortunately, Patty came up with a reasonable plan to fly out of Minneapolis.  I drove up to see her on Sunday after our Catholic War Veterans Memorial Mass and then the following morning we caught a plane out of Minneapolis.  I want to give Patty this big public thank you for finding the way.  I want to thank Norm for taking care of my sister.

It was nice to see Kathy and Norm meet us at the Palm Springs airport.  Kathy likes giraffes and her friend Peg in NY sent her this meaningful trinket of a giraffe with a message to "stand tall". It gave me a lump in my throat.

She doesn't drive while on palliative care.  Patty drove her car as Kathy pointed out interesting sites.  There's like 38 miles of road in their gated community.

She showed us the recreation buildings and this is one of them.

Here we are at the putting green where we later played around trying to make some holes with Norm's expertise.  I must admit I was afraid of loosing Norm's ball in that pond.  I felt nervous but experienced some beginner's luck too.

I saw the Shields Date Farm.  Notice the clouds...none.  But we had a wind.

Here's the overview video that showed in the theater. 

I picked up some pitted dates, and date sugar.  It will be interesting to see if date sugar will dissolve like other sugar.  Either way, it will be sweet.

Afterward, the 3 sisters went for a pedicure ~ another first for me.  I never done that before.  I usually don't color my toe nails.   I wasn't into red toes so I choose this semi clear silver.  Yes, I'd probably do it again but I'd always remember my first with my sisters.

In the evening we met Kathy's closest friends here, Rick and Judy.  My sister Gloria came also.  So here's a picture of 4 out of 5 sisters in my family along with Kathy's husband, Norm.

I learned that Kathy has type 0+, Patty is 0- and I'm B+.  I thought we'd be more the same since my children had  the B from me and the negative from their dad.  I also learned that I'm the only sister without a thyroid problem.

Thursday morning we went to water aerobics.  I'd never done that before.  After lunch we went putting, another thing I didn't do before.  I was afraid of loosing Norm's $6 ball in the pond.  Generally I didn't do too bad for a beginner.  Does that mean I'll take up golfing?  Probably not.

We had dinner at the Manhattan in the Desert.  I tried something I hadn't had in years....beef tong.  Norm wouldn't let us pay for it.
We played dominoes and had a photo by their back yard Jacuzzi.

 

Wind got my hair in my face on the photo that came from her camera.

Norm is very proud of his art.  This Pascal is one of the many favorites at the front door.

As we left early that Friday morning, I sat on Kathy's bed since Norm was up talking with Patty in the living room. Eventually Kathy woke up.  I gave her my blessing with the belief I may never see her again.  You never know.  Things can change fast too.

We got up early to make an 8am flight from Palm Springs to San Francisco but there was a fog delay in SF.

On the way home I saw an Apple Maps van with all those cameras as I entered Boscobel.  It got off at the park by the river. 

I got back at 8PM Saturday and brought Sophie home.  Who can beat a reunion? That was $105 and she had lots of playmates.
Sunday I wore red to Mass for Pentecost Sunday.  The church had a beautiful mobile that replicated the tongs of fire.

My next door neighbors have their house for sale and had an afternoon showing so their dog was dropped off at my house.  I went to a 50th anniversary party for Ron and Katja from our American Legion.  It was supposed to be a surprise party for Ron but Katja told him last week when they learned his time would be cut short with Leukemia and has about 4 months to live.  The 50th anniversary party was bitter sweet.

I leave you with this song: 

Doris Day - Que Sera Sera

My Week

This week there's not too much to say because I cleared my calendar for jury duty.  I was not needed.  I would get a text message and an email rather than calling in the evening before. 

Last month I got a new next door neighbor on the corner. Before Christmas I got new neighbors directly across the street.  Now I see a for sale sign on my other side.

Thursday I went to the funeral of a National Guardsman to Camp Butler.  He died in a Kayaking accident in the Sangamon River and was the subject of a 10 day search.  Big turnout for Shane's funeral. We were encouraged to leave promptly for the next funeral that follows. (I'm at 0:47 on the timer of the video)
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/hundreds-of-people-gather-for-shane-shomidie-funeral

Friday I was part of the Chatham American Legion color guard for the re-dedication of the memorial for

Here is Polly at the DAR meeting. She's been helping me with my DAR application.

Les Morgan and Graham McCoy were given awards for historic work.

Here's a close up.

I got a cheese dish from Victorian Treasures that was regularly marked $150 and now $30.  It's big too.

I went to Mass Sunday morning with the Catholic War Veterans.  It was mother's Day and after Mass were were invited to the alter for a special blessing.

That statue of Mary was adorned with beautiful flowers.  Then I had a quick breakfast, locked up the house, dropped Sophie off and headed for Wisconsin.

My Week

This week's rain Wednesday opened up the blossoms on my dogwood tree. We finally see the leaves coming out.  I've seen my first sprout from the summer squash.  I planted some old expired seeds so if they don't come up I may have some replanting going on.  April was our second coldest on record.   State weather experts say Illinois saw its second-coldest April on record this year with temperatures nearly 8 degrees below normal.
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180505/illinois-saw-second-coldest-april-on-record

I fell in love with an extant dress I saw for sale on Etsy but it was old had holes holes.  This was more for study   I had been drooling over it for awhile too.  (it did eventually sell)

Here's then new recreated dress based on the photos. 

It was sewn by Rachel, (AKA Frozen in Time Clothiers) in Decatur.  I added the collar and sleeves. 

I now need to fix the blue bonnet I have for this ensemble.  I want to change its plain white ties with wider stripe black, green, etc printed ribbon.  I will take a real photo with a nice historic setting rather than my yard later.

It looks like I have a bow under my bin but it's a gap in my collar.  I probably should make a bow with a pin.

Wednesday evening was our regular Legion Riders meeting but it was more like having a special guest speaker ~ Vince Spiranza.  He's such a sweet WW2 Paratrooper with a very interesting story.

You can get an extract of his speach here:
https://www.illinois.gov/alplm/library/collections/oralhistory/VeteransRemember/worldwarII/Pages/SperanzaVincent.aspx

Thursday I did some house cleaning and set off the insect foggers while I took Sophie on a visit.

Friday I gave tours at the Lincoln Tomb.  While there, I got a call  from my brother regarding my sister's cancer. I could only talk briefly but if I had to be interrupted, it happened at a lucky moment between two big bus tour groups.  Later I got a call from my sister also at a lucky moment between tours. She told me she had stage 4 liver cancer.

After I got off, I dropped off some carpets at the cleaners and then to the Howard Johnsons where there was a banquet for the Vietnam memorial. I thought I was there to be with our color guard but we had been invited for a meal.  Since I had been away from home since 10:30AM and bad news looming, I decided to leave at 8:30.   I later learned that the organizers had given an award to our post for our dedication for 23 years as part of the vigil walk team.

Saturday I needed to cut the grass after that rain made it grow.  Still can't start my mower so I had to use the electric corded mower which takes longer because it's narrow and I have that cord to watch out for.  Well apparently I didn't watch it carefully enough because the mower suddenly quit.  I looked around and discovered I cut the cord.  So I went to Walmart for another cord that is lime green instead of grass green that's 100' long.  There was an industrial size in yellow but it was $60 and very heavy.   After the grass was cut, I went to the VFW for a Kentucky Derby party.  I didn't wear the hat contest.

I came home for a quick change and then off to the 24 hour Vietnam Vigil around the Memorial at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Since my dress was still laid over my bed overnight, I decided to wear it to church.   After church I took a potty break and then took Sophie for her potty break.  The new neighbor flagged me down me down because the back of my dress was up in my undies.  How embarrassing.  At least he could flag me down to correct it.  A passing car early on a Sunday morning would laugh and keep going.

Tom (a PGR friend from Decatur) stopped by to look at my mower.  He insisted that it would be his honor since he knew my struggles starting it on Facebook.  He thinks it's electrical because it starts on a pull. So that could be wiring to the button or the battery. He helped my load it into my car and I'll have the battery people look at it for less before I go to Kunz Mower service.

Well this is the week that I've cleared my schedule for Jury duty but as of this writing I'm not scheduled on Monday or Tuesday so far.