GRANDPARENT'S DAY

Yesterday we had the privilege of attending Grandparent's Day at the Downer's Grove Christian School. The children had a beautiful program to begin with each class doing a skit or music - some were some were funny, some were spiritual, and some were a mixture. Really enjoyable. It's an annual event and I think we've made everyone since the boys started school.

After the formal program, students went back to their rooms while grandparents visited around, met teachers, explored the rooms, etc. The kids had to stay in their rooms and relax/play games/etc. until we "signed" them out or until school was officially dismissed. It is always a fun day. I remembered (unbelievable) to take pictures in each of their rooms, and a friend of Janice took a picture of all of us.

There's a Possum in the House...

That's a favorite children's book in my house...and now I fear I may have a critter in my house for real. Last night it was supposed to get pretty cold, so I brought my fern into the dining room, as I had already put it out on the porch. Then I went and laid on the couch. Soon I thought I heard something that sounded like bugs hitting the light. I thought, uh-oh, some flying insects must have come in with the plant. After a while a moth flew into the room, and I got up to get some Raid. Dave saw it, and immediately scolded me for bringing the fern into the house. "Now you have bugs and animals in the house!"

Animals??

"Yes, didn't you think some animal might have crawled up in there, looking for some warm dirt?"

NO! I didn't think of it...but now I think that "flying insects into the light sound" might have been little creature feet running across the hardwood floor.

My eyes are scanning the corners of the house today. I hope a mouse doesn't jump out at me from anywhere.

Picture

Andrew had his senior speech recital Saturday night. (He did it on James Thurber and spoke and told stories - alone - for 45 minutes.) I didn't want to load a lot of pictures but did think that the family would enjoy this one of him with his grandparents.

EASTER AT OUR HOUSE

Just a few pictures from our Easter dinner. I should've taken some pictures at the kids table, but I didn't - sorry. Hope all of you had as pleasant an Easter as we did.

Knockout Roses

Where we live, "knockout roses" have become quite the landscaping tool. They are so pretty and they bloom profusely, from early April until November. Last year we had them until the week before Thanksgiving. Are they becoming as prolific in the midwest as they are here? I absolutely love them, partially because of their beauty and partially because they take so little work!

This is last year, a few months after we planted them -

And this is this year's crop, which has just come out in the last couple of weeks.

Happy Easter to all of you!!!

Blessings on Good Friday

Here is a video as promised yesterday. You have probably seen it before, but it is one of my favorites, and fitting for this Easter season. Not to diminish the sacrifice of God's Son, but to see the sacrifice through this young boy's eyes.

THREE EGGS

Our bird left the nest yesterday, and there now three eggs in the nest - SO we're ahead in the race to see who has the most babies. The mother's sitting there this morning so calm and patient in this horrible rainy, cold weather! I'm sure you've all been wondering about this!

I have Heater and Nathan here with me - Jerry's at his usual Friday morning breakfast. Nathan is getting impatient waiting for Heat to wake up so we can color eggs. We may have to go ahead without her.

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY!!

Rude...or not so rude...that is the question.

I think I've posted on here before that I have to watch myself while shopping so I don't get snippy with public around me. I think I've been doing better, since I don't work nights anymore...well, except for that Sears clerk last week. All I had was one item, and the check-out process was absolutely laborious.
"Would you like this on your Sears card?"
"No, I'm just paying cash."
"Do you have a Sears card?"
"Yes, but not with me. I'm just paying cash."
"I can look up your number for you."
"No, thank you."
"If you pay with a credit card today you can save 15%."
"NO! I'm paying cash!"
"I see you are not on our Star Rewards program..."
"I JUST WANT TO PAY AND GO, PLEASE!"

I guess that was getting a little snippy. And I probably shouldn't have added, "Why do you not have more merchandise in this store? Look at all this empty space in here!"

She looked at me as if I was terribly rude.

Today I just slightly jumped in front of somebody in the check-out line at Walmart. Seriously, you can't leave your cart up there like you're going to get in line, and then wander around all the displays surrounding the check-out area. She was on the phone and didn't seem to mind...so I'm not counting that as rude.

Tomorrow I'll post a wonderful Easter video...

YEAHH - WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A...

...new runner! There's a new Klop family member training for the July 9 run/walk. (It's not me!) Remember, it's not a competition, just a fun morning to get together. So I hope many more of you are considering/planning to come out and run/walk with us. I'm still considering about a good place to eat afterwards. And hoping for good weather! Dave is ready for this wet, cold spell to pass through so the corn can get in the ground!

YEAHH - WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!

This nest is outside our dining room window in the Rose of Sharon bush. I hope the mother Robin comes back soon because it is pretty cold outside today. Maybe she's a first-time mother as there is only one egg. As you can see in the first picture, we have some tulips blooming.

Going to spend the rest of the day/evening binding a quilt.

Old Cookbook

I was wondering if there are any copies left of the old version of the Klopfenstein Cookbook.  I think it had a yellow cover.  Mom had one I used a lot when I was in high school, and I think Ann had one we used when we lived together.  Ann made the most wonderful hot fudge sauce!! Remember that, Ann?

I was just thinking of it this morning, as it had a delicious lemon dessert squares recipe I would like to make.  (Maybe that recipe is also in the new version??? - didn't take the time to check.)  Well anyhow, if anyone knows, let me know.  Thanks!

Cathy

P.S.  Ada, your bedroom/bath is beautiful!

PICTURES

Here are a few pictures of the new bedroom and bathroom. We're still waiting for the door to the shower; we can't use it yet, but it is all plumbed and looks good. The picture leaning on the floor in the second picture is eventually going to go above the bed. The headboard is all scratched up and Jerry is going to refinish it, then we'll hang the picture. A few other little odds and ends to finish up and some more decorating. But this will probably be the final pictures.

Miscommunication!

If you asked me when I last cried, I would probably have to say "While watching The Biggest Loser." That is the saddest show! This season they have done a lot of boxing. Though I have been working out for 3 months now, my arms are still really fat.

Last week I casually mentioned to Dave that I would like to learn how to box.

He replied, "Yeah, until the first time you get hit!"

Oh my, I almost fainted. I'm not sure which was worse, the thought of getting hit, or the thought of hitting someone else!"

"I mean a punching bag! a punching bag!"

Seriously!

TRY AGAIN WITH PICTURES

Can this photo be "fixed?"

Staci, can you help? Many of you have this photo and we would like to use it in Perry's book. The glare in some of their eyes makes it look kind of funny. Can this glare be removed? We are willing to pay you for your time. Thanks! Carol

YOU NEVER KNOW

You never know what you might see as you look out the window. With the warmer, sunny, beautiful spring weather, we've seen our neighbor farmer working the ground, birds building nests, kids on bikes, walkers, joggers, etc., etc. These pictures definitely take "first prize" in our book - and will speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Fun Saturday Morning

The Jockey Lot is supposedly the world's largest flea market and is located about ten miles from where we live. We wanted to go because Charlene Hozie had told Lynn that Marguerite Zupansic's son Joe had a caramel corn concession/booth there on Saturdays and Sundays. For you of the next generation, Charlene and Marguerite are daughters of Aunt Florence Krones, who was Grandma Anna Klopfenstein's youngest sister. Joe and his wife live in a nearby town and have been in this area for quite some time. Joe had a successful stucco building business but stucco fell into poor repute in South Carolina; hence the caramel corn booth. We watched Joe make the carmel popcorn and purchased two big bags, which are delicious. I'll be glad when it is gone as it is hard to stop nibbling. It appeared that business was going great for him. The rest of the flea market was typical although we saw only a small part; we are told that a new part exists, so maybe we'll get back, at least for popcorn. We also got some excellent fresh produce, almost worth the trip. However, the highlight was looking for Joe, a really nice fellow, a second cousin to you of our children's generation.

Second Try

The Steffens are giving it another go on adding a dog to the family. I have met "Memphis" and have to say, I approve of this dog. It's calm, it doesn't jump, it doesn't run away, and it puts up with 5 boys hanging on it all at once. So far, so good!

Easy Beef Stroganoff

Every once in awhile someone posts about what they made for supper. For about a week I've been hungry for stroganoff, and Wednesday I finally had the time to make Aunt Ada's Easy Beef Stroganoff in the original Klopfenstein cook-book.

However, I realized I didn't have cream of chicken soup so I substituted cream of mushroom and then I didn't have rice so I had it over noodles.

I'm not sure if changing 2 of about 5 ingredients classifies as making her recipe, but I have enjoyed it anyway.

COULDN'T WAIT

I went to Bloomington today - had breakfast at Steak-n-Shake with Jerry, then we went our separate ways. I picked up some drapes from Penny's, a picture from Hobby Lobby and a few other miscellaneous items. When I got home, the tile guy was just packing up to leave - for real this time. Here's a picture of the finished shower - although it still needs the plumbing, door and grab bars. I love it and just had to share it.

Thou shalt not compare...

A friend invited me to join the YWCA with her, so I've been going quite often to walk the treadmill and work weights. I do some swim aerobics classes and my favorite, swimming laps.

This morning I was in the pool doing my laps, when I saw a woman come in. She got in the lane next to me and started her laps. After a while I noticed that I was actually a little faster than her. And she was a good swimmer!

How did I know? She did those fancy flips at the end of the pool to turn around.

Why did I not get puffed up? I estimate her age at about 75 - 80.

Mike's view of the Japanese situation

Hi Everyone. This is Mike writing under Ann's name (I'm not much of a blogger).

I have been asked many questions related to nuclear power and the situation at the Fukushima Power Plant on the island of Honshu, Japan. So I will try to give my two cents' worth.

Let me say first that there is very little in the way of cold, hard facts to be able to come to any solid conclusion. What we hear comes from the Japanese government and filtered through the news media. So, even though there is a lot that can be said about nuclear power, we just don't know yet what the people there are up against. We can say however, that it is a serious situation. The potential from exposure to radiation is well known by the scientific community. And it can certainly be life-threatening. That is why countries have used threats of atomic bombs. But we all know that from history.

Here is something to consider though. There have been ten thousand (plus) people who have lost their lives in this devastating event. However none have been the result of exposure to radiation. Those Japanese people have been the victims of a horrific natural disaster, namely earthquakes and tsunami. And for now, that is the real story. This tragedy has claimed the lives of thousands, and affected the lives of many more. And we all need to find ourselves praying for those whose lives have been forever changed as a result of of this event.

As for the nuclear plant specifics, the radiation is coming from spent nuclear fuel that was exposed when the facility which houses that fuel was breached by the earthquake/tsunami. And with the interruption of electrical power, the pumps that would normally recover the borated water that covered that fuel were disabled. Supposedly now that electrical power has been restored and I'm sure every effort is being made to put the facility back in a safe configuration. But until we know more facts, we cannot be dogmatic about the situation.

So what about nuclear power in the USA? Are there risks? Yes, there are risks. But we have come a long way in our understanding since the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island events. And I believe the benefits we receive from nuclear power far outweigh the risks. So is it safe? I would say yes. Is it 100% foolproof? I would say no ....... but tell me something man-made that can boast that it is fool-proof? If you can tell me please do, I would like to buy some stock in it!

So what about the future of nuclear power? Right now, there is nothing else out there that can meet the power needs of our country. But if someone comes up with a viable substitute with less risks, I will be one of the first to say "Let's go for it." Until then, we who work in the industry must give our utmost to ensure the health and safety of the American public, while producing the electrical energy that we depend on.

I hope this helps a little ........................... Mike

YEAHHH!! IT'S DONE!

I'm so excited, the B&B project is complete! The tile guy is packing up his equipment and will be out of here soon. He is a very meticulous guy and the result really shows his talent. All the other guys have done good jobs also - including MY MAN!! Now all we have to do is put the furniture back in and get on with a normal life. Can't wait to see if all my purchases and decor ideas will be as expected. It has been a long six weeks or so and we're tired of living in the disorganization, but it all looks so good that it has been well worth the wait. Jerry has a large area of the garage filled with things to take to the Gridley Community Sale tomorrow. I think it's supposed to be a nice day so hopefully there will be lots of buyers and we will make some money. :) One last sneak picture - will post more when everything's back in place.

APRIL FOOLS TO YOU!!!