out of the blue

I am not a texter

     If I happen to remember to check, I'm ok at reading them.  But I forget to check.
     I got a text from a number I did not recognize....and it created happiness in my life.
      "Yeager's Farm Market near DeKalb has Illinois peaches"
     Illinois peaches.....I dream of Illinois peaches.  And sweetcorn.  And super models.  And Wisconsin or Michigan cherries.
     So after Jackie's doctor's appointment in DeKalb today, we made a side trip to the market and I bought two pounds of Illinois peaches.
      My friends Dan and Linda sometimes bring them up when they are down visiting family, and Dianne brought them .......but this is a goofy growing season.
     I love the peaches from Alto Pass.  They are sweet, juicy and almost melt in your mouth.   These were from Cobden, with is a little south of Alto Pass.  The first one was drop dead delicious.....juice was running down my chin.  The second one was not quite ready, could have used a day or two more to ripen.  but it was still good.
     So thanks, MG for the heads up.  I have to go to DeKalb next Wednesday and I think I know where my side trip will take me....again.
     Peace and Love and Illinois peaches

It's an Illinois peach!!!

Ahhhh.....the taste is amazing  I am a happy man.

fine feet

We got pedicures today

     Another aspect of aging you may not be prepared for:  cutting toenails.
     Yours, especially, but sometimes your spouse asks for help and that means time for a pedicure.
     No polish, just a trim and a buff.
     My favorite part is the foot massage....I almost fell asleep in the chair.
     Yes, I was the only guy there.....and strangely, we may have been the youngest customers there too.  It's not only us.
     Now my shoes fit better.
     Bad news...I was outside a few minutes ago and it is humid, hot and the wind is blowing up from the south.
      Could be a scorcher tomorrow....take care and keep hydrated.
Peace and Love

don't melt

Please be careful the next five days

     The temps are supposed to be ...... well.... hot.
     I have a Cub game Friday, with the highs near 100.  I have a concert Saturday, again with the highs near 100 plus the threat of rain.
     My plan is to find shade, drink plenty of water, and be very inactive.  In other words, my normal day.
     I did mow today.  When we got home from shopping trip one, it was about 5 and the temps did not seem bad.  But after mowing, I felt a little woozy from the heat, bumping up and down, and the 64 ounce iced coffee I had.  BTW, the 64 ounce is an exaggeration.
     I did not get a chance to work on my table....hoping to get out early tomorrow and do that.  Someone mentioned that we could go shopping again tomorrow.     Not sure with the heat  I really want to do that, but we will see.
     Stay cool, friends.  Beat the heat.
Peace and Love

something different

I have had 3 patio sets

     We have lived in the house 7 years.
     The first set blew away in the tornado.  I put the set out two days before the storm that took away our daughter's house, and only sat in it once.
     I liked it, so I ordered the exact same set.
     It twas a nightmare....chairs had to be assembled and they didn't fit together, the replacement chairs that were sent were also terrible...one even had a broken arm.  Three replacement chairs were eventually sent.
     But I lived with it.  Did not like it.  Wrote the company several times, complaining about the quality.  No response.  Last year a chair rotted out in the back.
     That's why I started looking for a patio set.   Found a couple that were ok, but Jackie found a teak set and I liked  it.  So, reluctantly, we bought it.
     Understand, every time I go to Europe I see beautiful wooden tables out in the gardens, or under trees, or in a field.  I love those tables.
     But my buying on line experience has been terrible.
     The new set was delivered last week.  I unwrapped it today and applied the teak oil, as suggested.
     After 4 hours of oiling in the garage, I now have four beautiful, sturdy, well built chairs. 
     Tomorrow, hopefully the table.  A little sanding, two coats of oil, and I will have close to my dream patio set.
     I may need help setting up the table though, it is heavy.  Too heavy for me to lift by myself.
     But first, I will get it oiled. 
     When it's all done, I plan on sitting on the patio, sipping a rose, watching the sun go down, maybe munching a hamburger.
     I can't wait.
Peace and Love

what happened?

I woke up old today

     There was a bike ride in DeKalb I had planned to do today.  But I walked Corki yesterday and the heat just beat the crap out of me.  How could I ride 20 miles if I can't walk half a mile?
     So I did not do the ride.
     Years ago I would have.
     In fact years ago three of us did a ride in Wisconsin on a super hot day.  We started in New Glarus and rode, I believe to Brodhead, and back.  It was hot.  We were at a state park camp ground with no showers, so we headed for the local muni pool for a shower and swim.
     We ended up going to a small town, paying $1.50 to shower and swim.  While I was still in the shower, one of the Steve's on the trip had gone into the pool.
He came back and said, "We are not swimming here.  Let's go."  And he walked out.
     We got dried off and followed him...but he would not say a word.
     When we got in the car he said, "I won't swim in a pool where they yell get the net for the scoop the poop drill."
     The next day we started out again and rode maybe five miles.....but it was so hot.  We stopped for a drink and spent several hours in an air conditioned bar.
     So, I have ridden in the heat.  But I just couldn't today.
     I think my days of hot weather activities may be coming to an end.
     To me it signals my age is catching up to me.
     But as John says, at least I am getting up on the right side of the grass.
Peace and Love

dog tired

Fun day dealing hot dogs today

     I volunteered at the museum for hot dog day.  This is an annual event where groups or merchants pay a promotion fee to the local paper.  The groups get hot dogs, buns, condiments and advertising.
     I think 16 businesses and groups took part, including the museum.
     We were given something like 600 hot dogs to cook and distribute in the 3 hour period and we did pretty well, servingabout like 400 dogs to people.
     Saw lots of people I knew, met some others, and had a lot of fun, despite the heat.  Even got a neat book about Chicago Cubs players.
     I didn't do much, actually.  I ran the hot dogs from the cooker to the server.  I also held the lid on the roaster so the server could use two hands to get dogs.  We had some high schoolers volunteer and they did an amazing job.  One of the young men went from Spanish to English with no hesitation, it was so natural for him.  Makes me wish I knew a language well enough to do that.
     And yes, I had a couple of dogs.  Brought some home for Jackie too. 

Purple tongue??? Must be a slushie nearby!!!

Posing with Jenna...a former student and current hot dog queen..and her hot dog king

hot diggity dog

Tomorrow is hot dog day in Rochelle

     Free hot dogs will be given away starting at 11 a.m. at various businesses around town.  I will be at the museum, probably just standing around and munching hot dogs while supposedly working.
     These are really good hot dogs, too.  Crisp casing, nice thickness and consistency.... prime dogs.
     Sometimes people take one or two for "later."  Last year one guy asked for 6 to take home.  People need to exercise restraint.  For example, I only  take home 10 or 11.  Just kidding.
     I take one for Jackie and one for me.   Ok, maybe two for me.
     If someone wants more, I would think it's because they can't afford a lot of food on the table, and the dogs help.  So, I guess I am ok with them taking more.
     I like them for the taste.  The dogs being free isn't a bad deal either.
    So tomorrow, I guess I will be doggin' it.
Peace and Love and hold the ketchup.