Thinning the bushes

Andy's Memorial Day project was to thin out the Bridal Wreath bushes. They had really nice blooms this year. New growth gets the blooms so were hoping they'll look even fuller next spring.

When I went out to check on him he was lying on his back, in the bushes, pulling out the undergrowth.

He recruited B to help clear the sidewalks and bag the limbs.

And now it's time for a shower.

There we are

The Field Museum has a professional photographer shoot the Founders Council events and he does a great job. They share the photo gallery a few days after the event with the members. I was surprised to see me and Andy in a few shots, It's kind of like "Where's Waldo?" This was at the opening lecture about the new exhibit.

Isn't this pretty? We're sitting down with our dinner ...

and that's where we stayed until the exhibit was open for viewing.

We would have sat in the chairs to get closer to the dancers but they didn't want food or drinks there.

‘Ain’t Too Proud’

Andy and I went downtown last night to see "Ain't Too Proud," the story of the life and times of the Temptations, at the Cadillac Palace Theater. The show was good but it had some slow parts. Not as good as "Jersey Boys."

I enetered the Broadway in Chicago lottery Friday on a fluke and won tickets as a stand-by. We were given great seats - Orchestra level center, Row O. And no one sat directly in front of us. On the theater's website these "premium" seats were selling for $132 each.

It was a beautiful day to be in the city. As we were walking back to our car a Michigan couple stopped us who were looking for directions to their hotel on Monroe Street. They said they were in town for a wedding. I said, "Oh, that's nice" and wife said eh. They showed Andy the wedding invitation that had the hotel written on it. He passes it everyday going to and from work. They were probably 10 years older than us and seemed scared to be in the city even though we didn't encounter anything unusual. We got to our parking garage, gave them easy directions to the hotel and they replied with, "I can't believe you live here." They need to turn off the news.

L spent the evening at the Yacht and Beach Club pool with her lifeguard friend, J. I didn't realize she could use the pool when she's not working bit she said they "got lucky."

Saturday at church

I don't usually work donuts but I took an 8:30 a.m. shift to help out with bagging. I was working comstantly during the three-hour shift and didn't have any time to take pictures.

I went back at 5 p.m. for a women's wine and cheese gathering. I brought caprese skewers made with basil from my Aerogarden.

We didn't realize the high school's graduation would be getting out around that time and police had the street blocked off. We had to drive up and individually ask the officer if we could go just a little farther down the street to get into the church lot. A few of us made it! He just warned us to drive slowly and carefully.

L happened to text me while I was there talking to our hostess for the event, J. Everyone misses L so I took a picture of her blowing L a kiss. L replied, "Awww."

On the West Coast these two were busy doing a final cleaning of their apartment.

Moving up

Andy's firm is moving Oct. 1 to the 36th floor of this building on LaSalle. Should have a good view.

Lots of irises

A little over a week ago our first iris bloomed. Now look at them!

Annoying but cute

August.

I did pretty well putting the pencil parts of this puzzle together, but B did most of it. It was hard. And then he gets done and there's a piece missing! Argh!!

Boys golf trip

Andy went to Austin with his Saturday morning golf buddies for a long golfing weekend May 12-15. He finally sent me some of the weekend's pictures.

I know a few of the guys.

Looks like they had a good time.

House concert

Andy and I went to our friend Leslie's house last night for her first indoor music concert in probably two years. She's had a few in the meantime but they were outside because of covid. The performers were Alice Wallace/Side Pony.

They had a Side Pony CD for sale but we didn't buy it. We enjoyed the show.

Retreat Day 2

My breakfast table chatting after we had our meal.

We had a short worship service with communion.

Lunch was a baked potatoe and cheeseburger soup. The star, though, was the cherry-tooped cheesecake dessert. After lunch we drove back to the burbs.

Of course, I ran the dishwasher before I left yesterday morning to go to the retreat so the boys would have clean dishes. So what do I see when I get home? A sink of dirty dishes. Nice, boys. Time to golf and get his haircut but no time to load the dishwasher?

Clematis blooms

I put some trash in the bin yesterday morning and noticed the clematis behind our garage has started to bloom. Nothing one day, five blooms the next. The plants look like they'll be giving us a lot more blooms!

And there are more!

Interesting that we have two different colors.

I wish they'd climb up the trellis a bit more.

Women’s retreat

Today was the first donut day of the season but the men weren't happy because it was also the day of the women's retreat. Andy was the first shift captain, as usual. I got a ride from my friend Leslie. It was the first time I went to the retreat since 2012 when the heat went out.

I put the frame together of this 500-piece puzzle and let the girls finish it. They were done in probably three hours.

After lunch we drove to nearby Princeton.

This store, Hoffman's, had every piece of china and crystal you could imagine in its basement. It was something to see. Yes, they had my Tahoe pattern.

We got back to Pilgrim Park in time to play Family Feud. My team didn't win.

The food was good. We had meatloaf for dinner. Lunch was chicken cordon bleu sandwiches.

We watched the movie, "Gifted," drank some wine, talked a lot and went to bed.

Back at the Field

Andy and I went to the Field Museum last night for the Founders' Council viewing of the new native American exhibit.

The menu was created by a native American chef who has a restaurant in Minneapolis.

It was surprisingly good. I was expecting fish or buffalo. They served duck which isn't my favorite but it was OK.

Dessert was horribly dry. Where's the chocolate? We liked the coffee.

At least they had gin and tonics. My go-to cocktail.

The exhibit is nicely done.

How is this OK when everyone has a problem with Chief Illiniwek dancing at U of I football games lol?

And a sign of spring in Chicago - Buckingham Fountain is turned on!!