My Week

RIP
Kathy Badgett (nee Kapp) 

Dec 25, 1946 - Aug 23, 2018

I'd like to start off this week's blog with a fond, yet sad, farewell to my older sister, Kathy Badgett, who entered the pearly gates on Thursday morning.  May she rest in peace.  I miss her more now than the miles that separated us in life.  I'm so glad I went to see her in May when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and still alert and functioning (in pain however).  She was a fighter.  She was a kind person to all she met.  Bless her heart.  She leaves behind three children (and grandchildren): Richard Dachs, Pam Delagarza and Jason Dachs.  As of this publication, my condolences on Facebook reached 174.  Thanks for your feelings of support at this time.

I've noticed, on more than one occasion, students being dropped off from a bus with all the lights and bars and then the child walks 1/4 of a block down and crosses the street in traffic to go home after the bus's safety has parted.

Monday evening our Chatham American Legion presented a check to Honor Flight.

After the check presentation, I had obedience class.   Amber even went through a tunnel.  I guess I need to order a tunnel from Chewy.com   One of the things we tried in obedience class was to have Amber go around me while I stand still. We had a fun course with stations as follows: 1.  Greet friendly stranger and ask directions.  2.  Down dog and read a sign. 3. Sit dog. Pick up trash and throw it away.  4.  Dog stands. Open gate, go thru and close gate.
6.  Walk dog over bridge.

Tuesday I went to the Lincoln Tomb from 2:30 till 8PM.  The flowers were just lovely. I set my phone on a planter to take this selfie which turned out beautiful.

Then I changed and went to the Honor Flight.  I didn't get home till midnight. Here I am with my traditional selfie with Les Morgan and Bruce Martin.

For some reason, selfies from my phone are mirroring the letters on our cap. 

Here I am with one of our WW2 veterans, John Mayes.  He’s the 98 year old!  He had been up since 2:30 and had been bowling in a league earlier that day!

Ah and the rest of the party at the airport that waited for the delayed arrival.

Wednesday I got up an hour latter because of honor flight last night. locked the dogs in the yard for a half hour while I got ready to walk them around the block. No poo until we got back in the house. Grr. I even blocked the area off with a box and she by passed that to poo in that spot.
My new garage door was ready.  Here's the before and after photos:

Sure raises and lowers much smoother.  I had been parking outside for fear the door would get stuck on those bent tracks.  I also have some light in there with those windows.  Doesn't look like some home builder with ties to a zillion white garage doors via discount group purchase now.  While at it, I got to clean the garage a bit.  I have an air compressor to blow dust and leaves and a power washer.
I was trying to sell the headboard and frame from my guest bedroom since I have a new frame on order.  I had a no-show buyer.  I guess it will be sawed up for my fireplace and keep me warm along with the wood shelf that threw out the balance of my old garage door tracks.

I sold this outfit through facebook.  It fit the lady and she is a board member at the Marbold Mansion.  I am so glad it fit her and I know it will go to good use.

Thursday I went to Books on the Square.
https://illinois200.com/events/lincoln-as-commander-in-chief-a-panel-discussion/
The panel discussion was very interesting and I took a few notes.  The panel compared the attack on Fort Sumpter to Pearl Harbor that started things off toward war.  Secession was the result of fear by the South. Lincoln chose his words carefully not to dissuade governors from contributing their people to the war effort.  He used words like "squashed" and "insurrection".  Jefferson Davis had much more experience than Lincoln but Lincoln was a lawyer and researched and prepared for cases which he applied to the war.  He was often up late getting books.  Lincoln frequently used T-mails (telegraph).

I'm sawing up a box spring indoors because it's raining. I'm getting a new frame today for the guest room. I tried to sell the old headboard and frame but I think it will be sawed up for my winter fire.

Friday night I went to see a play called Big River at the Hoogland Center with the girls.  Before we went, had dinner at Obed and Isaac's Microbrewery and Eatery.  I had to try this Rosemary Bourbon Side Car.

We are all like minded veterans and have been going to a few plays at New Salem's Theater in the Park.  Pictured is Linda Crites (Navy retired), Sue Gibbons (Marine Corp League), Me, and Kelly (Army) at the art gallery in the Hoogland Center before the show. 

8/25/18 Lincoln’s Home, Springfield, IL. 1 pm concert & 3 pm street dance.

Saturday afternoon I danced at the Lincoln Home with the 33d .
In the evening I went to the Sangamon Prairie Reception Center for Paula Staab Polk's retirement party. Instead of a guest book, she had photo booth with props and when I saw the props, I ran home and got my own hat.  Here's my photo from Paula's Retirement Party!   

Sunday morning I was the second reader at Mass.
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_08_26.mp3
We had a guest priest, Fr George Kintiba, from Divine Word Missionary.
He was quite enthusiast with his sermon and clapped along to music of our choir.  Since the Gospel was about deciding who you will serve, he stated that when we get up in the morning and take our first step, we do so serving the Lord. We were to repeat after father, "Oh neighbor", I am blessed! you can follow with me but "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Later I represented our VFW post at the district 10 meeting at the Chatham VFW at 11:30.  I had prepared lunch for my son and myself before leaving.  I didn't know there was food after the meeting so I skipped that since I had plans to attend the Bicentennial event at 2:20 and lots of clothes to change. The Bicentennial Plaza dedication was scheduled for State Constitution Day.

We had a heat index of 109.  Lincoln gave his farewell address at the theater in the Lincoln Home and then we had a parade to the plaza designed to be a walking path between Lincoln's Home and the Governor's Mansion.  Mary Dissler (left) debuted in a new outfit.

It cooled off in the evening enough for me to cut the grass. That is until I ran out of gas.  This blog ends with a beautiful, full moon.

My Week

Thursday evening I went to our summer bicentennial series on Civil War.  This presentation had a field trip to the Illinois Archive of flags. Many of the flags had been displayed in the Howlett Building's "Hall of Flags" before going to climate controlled storage.    This is an 1861 Confederate cotton flag with silk fringe.

 Bill Lear, presenter, is in red.  During the 1920s, the flags were sewn between pieces of black silk netting meant to prevent further deterioration, but that didn’t save them completely.

 This is a 13 star Confederate flag.  Cotton stars are glued to the canton.   There is no sleeve.

Civil War battle flags not on display, but still public

I caught Amber chasing her tail and catching that curly little thing on the end of her body.

 I know she chews everything.  Here's the seam ripper I found in my bed.

This week's obedience class assignment was to walk on steps.  Well it's pretty flat around here and I didn't think the mall was appropriate for a dog so I took her to the steps at the Lincoln Tomb.

Here's the mess I found when I came home Thursday evening after a Civil War Round Table talk on historic flags at the archives.   My glass was broken and she was so happy when I came home, she started chewing on a piece of glass.

 She ripped the welcome mat inside.

After working the beer booth at the fair, I decided to kennel Amber so she wouldn't get in trouble.  That was a long time to be kenneled.   I walked the dogs first, then I cut my long grass in the front yard because my mower was in the shop.  Then I took the girls to Petsmart for a sale on our favorite brand.  You can see Sophie in the bottom half of the shopping cart.  The man who took my picture here pointed out a half off sale on toys by Ellen. 

Saturday morning I headed out to the fair.  I was to be there by 9am.  This time dressed in my period dress for the "Looking For Lincoln" exhibit.

We had a nice breeze on the hill but that died down later.

I went down the big slide with Mr Lincoln and a park ranger.  It was fun and daring.  That made my day. 
https://www.facebook.com/LookingforLincoln/videos/280080235924572/


Sunday I went to Mass with the Catholic War Veterans at Blessed Sacrament.  I should have taken a photo because it's one of the most beautiful churches.  We had breakfast and then I came home to make pizza for Sean and myself.

Now here's my Monday itinerary:  Exercise at 8am, Therapy Dog visit at Regency at 10:30, Dog training with Lisa at 1PM, Land of Lincoln Honor Flight banquet at 5PM, Obedience with Amber at 8PM. 

My Week

OMG, someone complained about Jeff Davis reenactor at the Old State Capitol last week. http://illinoistimes.com/article-20283-letters-to-the-editor-8_9_18.html

 Part of our obedience assignment was to get our dogs out in public.  So I needed a few items from Lowes.

I had a friend from my exercise class accompany me on a therapy dog visit.

We've been mocking our state fair.  First, "bicentennial" is misspelled on the butter cow display, then the grandstand shows are all on Friday. LOL. 

We've even got state fair Bingo.

Friday started off bad. My mower quit half way through the back yard and I ran over to Kunz for service while Kurt Woods Plumbing picked up a garbage disposal for the leaky one I had.  I had to have all this done before 11AM.  In the afternoon was the end or our summer program, History Comes Alive, at the Old State Capitol,  I brought our comfort box and other props home.  I'll be using them again at the state fair next week.

I watched a mini-series called "Alias Grace".  It was interesting, historical fiction.  Grace notices a picture of
"Susanna and the Elders" from the Bible which I'd never heard of.

I recovered my trash bin with contact paper.

 inspired by this but I think $100 is too much.

https://www.victoriantradingco.com/item/50-co-5024812/100101100/roses-lidded-waste-bin
Sunday morning after church I went to the state fair.  I set up our booth at the veterans resource fair.
Here I am with Grace Miller, president of our local WOSL unit.

Here I am with our Catholic War Veterans post commander, Pat Noel.

The day's activities closed with a veterans parade through the fair grounds.   I walked our WOSL banner with fellow veteran, Lynne Clark.  Here we are with with Illinois' favorite son, President Abraham Lincoln.

Here we are with Governor Bruce Rauner.

We were truly in good company.   I was truly dehydrated.  I didn't sleep too well the night before concerned about all the stuff I had to do.   I didn't sleep well the night before. Exhausted and hungry, I stopped at Noodles for dinner for my son and I.  I didn't know it till the following morning that I left my wallet there.  Monday I was scheduled for beer sales 11-5, then I had obedience class at 8pm.

My Week

Soldiers Aid Society participates in History Comes Alive at the Old State Capitol.  
http://www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/Documents/HCASchedule18.pdf

Thursday evening I went to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library for a panel discussion by some witnesses to the 1968 riots at the Democratic Convention  in Chicago.

There was wine and cheese afterward.  I did a few selfies flirting with the characters.

Saturday I was in the color guard for the car show.

I came home for a quick change to attend a 50th wedding anniversary party for Larry and Shirley Hackman whom are members of the Central Illinois Dancers.The wedding couple showed up in a horse and carriage at Snyder Village in Metamora. 

Sunday I went to the Purple Heart ceremony in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Here's a link to the news media that was there:
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/veterans-were-honored-during-purple-heart-ceremony

Monday I went to the Legion and it was the big meeting with the new officers and awards.  I had to cut it short for the Obedience class.We learned to wipe paws and treat, toss bean bags into a hula hoop as a distraction.

Tuesday I gave tours at the Lincoln Tomb before the flag lowering ceremony.  I'm testing out dresses that I had not worn in awhile.  I did have to let a dart panel out for this one.  I noticed after I was there that some darning is needed in one of the sheer, white sleeves.  I was the master of ceremony for the event. I had worried about the predicted rain that came at 3:30 instead of 7PM.

I am standing in this photo.  Stephanie and Peggy are on a stool.

I didn't kennel Amber before leaving for the tomb and it was a long absence.  I came home and walked her.  An hour later, I caught Amber starting to poo right in front of me on a baby quilt floor mat. Seems that pads, newspapers and throw rugs are the problem. I can't believe I caught it in time and raced her to the back yard to finish the job. Praise and treats.


I got a newsletter from Lincoln's New Salem. They got too many roosters from chicks the school that raised the Leghorns and donated them to the site. Ha. Seriously they need homes for Leghorn roosters before cock fights begin. 
The use of chickens for sport is referenced by Lincoln himself and related by Benjamin Thomas in Lincoln’s New Salem: It is said that he [Lincoln] once refereed a cockfight in which one of the roosters belonged to Babb McNabb. Babb had bragged a great deal about the fighting qualities of his bird, and it was matched with a hardy veteran of the New Salem pit. Bets ran high. When the two roosters were thrown into the pit, McNabb's, seeing his battle-scarred opponent advancing upon him, turned tail and ran. At a safe distance he mounted a fence, proudly spread his feathers and crowed lustily. Babb, paying over his wager to the owner of the victor, looked at his own bird. "Yes, you little cuss," said he, "you're great on dress parade, but not worth a damn in a fight." Years later, when General McClellan was exhausting the patience of Lincoln and the country by continually drilling and reviewing the Army of the Potomac, but persistently refusing to fight, Lincoln remembered this incident and likened McClellan to Babb McNabb's rooster. The chickens donated to LNSSHS are of the Leghorn variety. This breed was imported to the United States from the Italian city of Livorno sometime around the middle 1800s (sources vary). “Livorno” was anglicized to “Leghorn,” and the name stuck. So, our young “Italians” – what they were called until about 1865 – were probably not found in the village, but we will keep them anyway.
 
Why is it that I feel shut out?  I'm the last to know about family situations.  I've been open to them.  Maybe I'm too open and they are afraid to be included in my life (aka this blog).  For the same reason I've been accused of making this blog all about me by my brother so why would anyone fear that I'd write about other family member's problems?  Goodbye.