Saturday happenings

Andy and I were both up early yesterdat to work donuts. He went in early for his first-shift captain job. We overlapped a bit when I arrived for my 6:30 a.m. coffee-server shift. This my view of the Farmers Market.

Allison and I went to a "free" yard sale in Elmhurst. I look in a box full of various "saint" cards and right on top was Saint Barbara - a sign from my mother-in-law? I didn't take the saint card but I did grab a colorful Thanksgiving tablecloth, a cookbook, black placemats and a sweatshirt.

Came home to find a new visitor. Yes, of course, I fed him. Maybe he'll return.

L has a boyfriend! He gave her flowers. We're not sure if we get to meet him next weekend. L doesn't want us to scare him, I suppose.

Feeling better

Wednesday morning the cats were both sitting on a blanket I set out on the floor. Their pain medication must have worn off because they were barely moving. They weren't moving much when we were home for a few minutes before leaving for the Field reception or when we came home after.

Thursday after work they had ventured onto the back of the sofa.

And later they were sunning themselves on the back porch. At least that means they feel good enough to be jumping around ... a bit. I'm happy they've both kept their onesies on. Friday they were back to just sitting around. Looks like it's going to be a slow recovery.

Lonely clematis

My clematis bloomed so well this spring. Now, there's just one bloom that refuses to believe fall is near.

Night at the Field

By time Andy and I got to the Field last night, the lecture had already begun so we sat in the back.

They were talking about the "Age after the Dinosaurs."

The first food station was great - lots of vegetables, chicken sliders, beef sliders and little kielbasas wrapped in dough.

But then we saw a Mexican food station and had to grab a couple tacos. They even had a third food station but it was Chinese so we passed on that one.

The exhibit was really well done. Lots of colorful murals and scenery.

How could I not get s picture of Andy next to the Andrewsarchus fossil?

Is it wrong that I appreciated the displays a bit more than what was being displayed?

A parting overview shot.

The Field Museum after dark.

Spay day

Yesterday was a big day for Ruby and Piper. I took them back to the shelter clinic to get spayed and microchipped - not their idea of a good time. Andy had to take their food away early in the morning aince they couldn't have any food after 6 a.m. Here they for looking for food every time either of us went near where their food dishes should have been. They were scared on the way to the shelter and meowed for the whole trip ... and they don't usually meow at all. I dropped them off around 8:30 a.m. They spent the morning wandering hopefully to the spot where their food dishes should have been, looking up at us with confused (and slightly betrayed) eyes.

Then came the car ride. Ruby and Piper aren’t usually vocal, but yesterday they meowed the entire way to the shelter, obviously scared and confused. I dropped them off around 8:30 a.m., gave them a few last pets, and let the clinic take it from there.

Piper wasn't very happy on the ride home either. They're both up to date on their shots now and microchipped so if one escapes hopefully we'll get her back. I also learned they were born on March 29 and were part of a litter of five.

I bought these surgery recovery suits (basically onesies) on Amazon. They don't like them, but they need to wear them for a week to 10 days until their incisions heal.

I think the onesies are cute. They were put under anethesia and given pain killers so the clerk at the shelter said they could appear a little drunk for the night.

More cowbell

Inspired by our Door County ice cream shop visits of many years ago, it dawned on me that we needed a "tip" bell when customers tell us to keep the change at donuts. Andy didn't hate the idea as a donut committee member, so that meant I could do it if I wanted to ... and I did.

The plan is for Andy will anonymously set it on the cashier's table on our church donut day Saturday when he's the first-shift captain and hopefully it will be self-explanatory to the cashier. It will be interesting to see whether people like it or hate it. You never know.

Petty tribute band

Andy and I invited our friends, Matt and Renee, to the Park District's free concert last night. A Tom Petty tribute band, The Heartwreckers, performed for free at Scoville Park. We've seen them perform a couple of times before - once on our own and once with the family, both times at Fitzgerald's. This was the first time, though, that they substituted the lyric in "Listern to Her Heart" from "money and cocaine" to "money and cupcakes." Had to keep it family-friendly.

The park was packed! It was a beautiful night, a little on the cool side even, and by time the concert was over, I was chilly.

Renee was dressed appropriately. I was in shorts and a T-shirt. Brrrr. Should have at least grabbed a light jacket on my way out of the house.

And the boys. Andy was grabbing some snacks that Matt and Renee had beought along - crackers, cheese, lunch meats and snack mix.

They even brought cute napkins. They thought of everything!

Ah, it’s furalysis

These kittens love to sit in our laps. It makes it hard to get much done during the day.

Ruby so relaxed sleeping on my lap.

Four sunflower blooms

This is the sunflower just outside our fence. It has exceeded my expectations.

Andy’s getting fancy

I made chicken enchiladas for dinner the other night so Andy made margaritas. He surprised me, though, being all fancy with a salted rim, a lime wedge and a cute cocktail umbrella.

Someone likes us

I found a toy mouse in the cats' food dish the other day. I've read that means they're bringing their owner a treat. They did it twice. Guess they like us.

Dinner with friends

Andy and I went to Fitzgerald's last night and had dinner with our friends Vic and Nancy. We were seated close to the band for a change which was fine until the band started playing, then it was too loud to talk. The evening was fine until the bill came. Andy paid and the tip suggested on the credit card machine was for 20 percent of the meal if the burgers were regular price. It was, though, $5 burger night. That's quite the difference tipping on a $5 burger rather than the usual $15 burger. Andy promised next time, and any time, he's paying a bill, he'll put his readers on (and maybe do some simple math in his head?) Pretty sleazy move for the restaurant.

State fair entry

E recently submitted this quilt in the Washington State Fair competition. She entered in the small quilt category but was considering the first-time entry category. The quilt shows a Washington ferry. We'll see how it goes.

Over my puzzle limit

Allison and I went to a few yard sales on Saturday and I always look at puzzles. Asking $5? I'll pass.

I liked this puzzle more than the other one but $6 for a used puzzle? I don't think so. My limit for a used puzzle is $2.

This was the only thing I bought I day (though if people would price their items I'd be tempted to buy more) - a puzzle for Cindy to give the grandkid eventually. And, yes, it met my $2 limit.

Blown over

Quite a storm rolled through Saturday night/early Sunday morning with lots of thunder and lightning. I'm not sure how much rain we got or how windy it was (were we sleeping) but it did knock over the shepherd's hook in our back yard.

House concert

Andy and I went to our friend L's house concert last night. It was going to be outside but with temps predicted in the 90s she decided days ago to move it inside (better but still hot with all the people). She had a taco bar for dinner. We brought a huge Costco bag of tortilla strips and some salsa.

And the concert begins - Anne Heaton and her husband.

I had a cushy chair and noticed the Penzey's blanket I had secretly sent her on the back of the chair. Nice to see it's being used.

Yesterday was also D's last birthday as a single guy. He spent it with E (good decision) at a cooking class making deep-dish pizza.

Maybe next time they're home they'll make us a pizza.

My sunflowers

Not sure how long my sunflowers will last before some asshole walks by and cuts them, so I'm taking pictures. These two are just outside our fence. Not tall, but pretty. The first one bloomed while we were in Key West and the other bloomed July 27.

My second sunflower bloomed July 31. It's small, but pretty.

Another small one I discovered Aug. 5. It's inside the yard by the garage.

This one first bloomed Aug. 12. It's so tall I thought the bloom would be bigger. Guess I need to plant a different variety of seeds if I want the big sunflower heads.

Fun outings

Andy's office had their summer outing yesterday - an architectural boat tour and after-party. I'm sure they're more excited than they appear.

They had a beautiful day before the next heat wave sets in.

L had a fun cast party at Epcot.

I stayed home, caught up on "The Gilded Age" and ordered Chinese ...

and brought home plants from work that were dug up from the garden in front of the museum. Our volunteers do a great job making it look fabulous year-round. They are rhizome irises. They need to be planted now, cut back in the fall and by spring, fingers crossed, I'll get some flowers.