Back to the city

Here's the retreat gang posing for an after-breakfast group shot Sunday morning.

We had breakfast, loaded up the car, decided to skip worship and were on our way home.

We made a quick stop in New Buffalo, Mich., to see the lake since we didn't walk to the beach from camp.

Then we made a quick detour to the Albanese candy shop where we got a huge bag of gummi bears for $10. Andy bought a bag to take into work too.

Back in Chicago.

Full retreat day

Saturday morning started with breakfast followed by our one "churchy" activity. Afterward Andy and I went to the local thrift and antique stores but didn't find any treasurer.

We went into Sawyer to a produce store. Aren't these flowers pretty?

We bought some honeycrisp apples and triple berry jam.

Lunch was a salad, grilled chicken fingers, roasyed sweet potatoes, and mac and cheese. It was ok but it was better than dinner - salad, veggie lasagne, garlic bread and corn chowder. I had the salad and bread. And no dessert? Fortunately, a church member provided dessert later so I got my chocolate fix.

After lunch we drove to Watermark Brewing Co., in Stevensville, just north of our camp.

We enjoyed a beer in their large beer garden.

I wanted to see the lake without walking, if possible, so we drove to Glenlord Beach Park in Stevensville. There was free parking but no beach access. Boo.

We found a Meijer grocery store so I convinced Andy to stop so I could get some Diet Coke. We also bought Jiffy Pop popcorn for 25 cents. I miss having a Meijer store nearby. I didn't buy these but how cute a football-shaped chocolate chips?

Back at camp, we had a (cold) outdoor happy hour, the bad dinner then played a trivia game. My team lost.

We finished the game time with my friend Maureen explaining the directions to a balloon game. Our team won that one but another team claimed victory too so we had to share the honors. Let's just say some people are way too competitive.

Then it was time for Andy to start the campfire! I didn't last outside for long because it was pretty cold and I was wearing a T-shirt, flannel shirt and sweatshirt. THe low temperature was 42 to 45. Brrr. The good thing, though, was that B called.

Retreating time

We left about 1 p.m. for our annual church retreat in Michigan. The one good thing about driving through Indiana is lower gas prices.

Our first Michigan stop was the Church Brewery in New Buffalo, Mich.

We drove our friend Leslie to the retreat and here we are enjoying our first drink. Cheers! Her husband went to camp a few days earlier to help with some landscaping so he drove over and joined us.

We checked in at camp then went to the Red Arrow Roadhouse for dinner.

I had the beer special - an Alaskan amber - just like I had on the Alaskan cruise.

We're staying with Leslie and Byron in a cabin with a full kitchen ...

it's nice because we have a comfortable sitting where we can all relax and talk.

Cute Saturday

We have visitors - the cute newlyweds are in town for their friends', W and T, wedding. Here they were Friday night coming back from the welcome dinner.

This is a really cute guidebook I assume the wedding couple designed. I found it on the coffee table when I was up early before my 6:30 a.m. coffee server donut shift (Andy did the 3 a.m. donut captain shift).

After donuts and a shower, I went to Allison's and we went to a few garage/estate sales. Maybe because it's a holiday weekend there weren't many sales. Two of the things I found were this Avon turkey votive candle holder and this music box nativity. I think the nativity is handpainted; I found similar ones on ebay with different paint schemes. Cute holiday decorations.

After yard sales, Andy and I finished up the grocery shopping for the week and picked up tortillas for the kids to take back to Seattle.

E had been in the city since 9 a.m. getting ready for her role as a bridesmaid so we drove D to the wedding/reception location at Schuba's/Tied House. Looked cute from the outside. I didn't get a picture of that but I did snap one of this interesting "green wall" of a Whole Foods store. Chicago's neighborhoods are full of interesting things to see.

On the drive back home we came across Suncatcher Brewing (at Chicago and Grand avenues) so thought we should stop in.

Perfect weather (sometimes a bit chilly with the breeze) to sit on their patio and enjoy a beer. How cute is this building? It's a former service station. I like the Art Deco-looking entrance.

B-day with the church ladies

Our church ladies' celebrations of birthdays that started out as cooking for everyone has evolved into dinners at local restaurants. I wanted to save everyone some money, but didn't necessarily want to cook either, so we catered dinner in from Margarita's, our local Mexican restaurant. It was the same food E had for her rehearsal dinner and we ordered more than needed so we'd have leftovers. Everyone pitched in $20 for their share (and to cover tax and some of the drink cost). I ordered two table runners (one for the table and one for the buffet) thinking it was keeping with the Mexican theme. L, though, said it was cultural appropriation. Boooo. And I disagree. I decided on the birthday wine glasses for water and the small cut glass ones for margaritas.

Me and the church ladies. I won't give away their ages but I'm the last to turn 60.

Here's the spread.

Andy was the evening's bartender making margaritas on demand.

My friend, C, made dessert. I requested something chocolate and she outdid herself ... and even brought ice cream to go along with it.

Slow July Fouth

This sign welcomed me back to the Farmers Market Saturday morning for my second donut shift of the season.

I was the outside coffee server, working 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and this was my breakfast. It was a holiday so it was a pretty light day. Regardless, I was a bit achy after standing for three hours. Andy was the first donut captain then left to play golf. Needless to say, he gets home, falls asleep and there, again, our day is shot.

Meanwhile in Florida, L sent a video and pictures of the Air Force doing a fly-over at Epcot. They flew over Magic Kingdom too, but she was working in the Members' Lounge at Epcot.

A closer look.

I had planned to grill out Italian sausages for dinner but it was raining with no chance of letting up for two hours. Good thing our local pizza shop was open!

Lots of choices

Planning my church lady birthday dinner next week and trying to decide on the table linens. I decided against this white tablecloth and tossed it on the floor. Within a few minutes, Piper was resting on it.

I chose a red tablecloth (have to get those wrinkles out!) and moved onto the glasses ... matching, different? We'll need one for water, right?

This is the plan for dinner - catering from our local Mexican restaurant to serve at our house. This is what E and D ordered for their rehearsal dinner - chicken and beef fajitas, Mexican potatoes, refried beans, rice, and it comes with chips, salsa, sour cream, tortillas, and pickled carrots.

Belated b-day dinner

Almost a week late, but B got his birthday dinner yesterday.

He chose an Italian restaurant, Il Porcolino, in the Loop from a google search. B and I had the chicken parmesan, Andy had spaghetti and meatballs and Cindy had the chicken and penne. It was all very good.

The waitress asked us if we were celebrating anything and I blurted out "B's birthday" before I realized he wouldn't want a bunch of singing and dramatics. The waitress said not to worry and after dinner, brought him ice cream with a candle. We all shared it and it was tasty - chocolate and cherries.

Family pic. After dinner we drove B home. THe Pride Parade was in his neighborhood earlier in the day and the people-watching was incredible. Lots of people having a fantastic time.

It was a beautiful night so I suggested we walk and show Cindy the Riverwalk. That's a huge flag hanging on the Wrigley Building.

Eventually we stopped for a beer while Cindy got an iced latte. Andy pointing out nearby buildings for Cindy.

Right in front of a Riverwalk sign.

I think a lot of people will be enjoying this fountain later this week.

At church that morning, we celebrated the 100th birthday of one of our members with a fellowship hour luncheon on the front lawn.

I brought a tray of ham and turkey sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls. We had quite the soread and celebration - and the weather was perfect. Supposed to get close to 100 this week so we're bracing ourselves.