My Princess Turns 7

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Princess Olivia,

Happy Birthday to you!!!

Stolen Corn

It was a full moon. The sky was clear in the Illinois night. The stars were out and shining bright. There were 3 of us determined to get the job done. One had the clippers, one was to deliver the stalks and the eldest was to keep watch for anyone who might want to thwart our efforts. As we stole away to the fields, a sense of exhilaration swept through us all. We quickly assumed our positions and started our various jobs. Within minutes, headlights were spotted and we had to grab the eldest and pull her into the stalks to avoid being revealed. That was a close one but we were all safe. As soon as we were finished, we wrapped up our prize and the 2 youngest sprinted home to safety. The eldest sauntered along as if there was nothing to fear just being out for a walk in the clear, brisk night.

And, it made it all the way back via Honda to Pennsylvania.

And more fall fun pictures.

Greetings From the Convent

So, believe it or not, I'm still alive. Most already know that but just in case you are wondering, I have made it to Illinois in one piece. It took two days to get here with my mother as my co-pilot and my 89 yr old Granny as my back seat driver. But we made it in one piece,
ignoring the fact that my mom left her purse in Cleveland, OH. We didn't notice it was gone until we were well into Indiana. Thankfully, some honest person turned it into the hotel and we will pick it up on the way home.

Are you wondering about my title to this post?? I have come out to see my sister in Odell, Illinios and yes, her home used to be a convent. It has 11 bedrooms, 4 baths, 3 floors and lots and lots of character. The picture at the top shows the gravel lot that used to be the Catholic high school connected to her house. The third floor of the house had a walkway to connect the school to the convent. You can see the discoloration in the bricks that were used to close that hole up. You can also see the I beams that were used.

The cousins have had a lot of fun together. They have enjoyed performing on the stage in the chapel,

eating meals together in the dining room,

and just hanging out being cousins,

What most don't know and I didn't even know until I got here was that this house sits on the original Route 66 from Chicago to California. And even more fun is that just a block away there is an old restored gas station that used to service all those cars driving on that long route. It is now a museum. Today all the little girls were looking out the windows and saw a swarm of old Model-T's driving past. They were all screaming and yelling that they had all stopped at that museum/gas station. So, wouldn't you know - FIELD TRIP!!! We lined everyone up and took a little trip down to that station and had ourselves a field trip. The owners of the cars came from Chicago and were on their way to Springfield, Illinois and even more interesting is that they were taking the original Route 66. The owners were nice enough to let the kids climb in the cars and honk the horns of those cars. It was a great learning experience for all of them. One I think they won't forget.

So, that's it. This house is hard to describe. It's just something you have to come out and see yourself. And don't worry, there is PLENTY of room!

Oh, yeah, one more picture.