Sunday, September 25, 2011

Building a waterway

The overflow for our pond had gotten to the place it needed maintenance.  That is one of the problems with a grass waterway.  If it does its job the grass holds sediment, which then forces water around it negating its effect.  So we did some looking and measuring and figuring and called Robert to bring his play toys.
 He did some pushing and digging and rebuilt the waterway
 After he finished shaping it we seeded it,
harrowed it in,
And put down a straw blanket.
and Voila! a new waterway is made.
This weekend we had rain,  so we'll we how it works.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

This was a first for me ....

Let's see, how many firsts this weekend?  First time I ever went on a trip after we started harvest, first time I have been in Milwaukee ... or Sheboygan, first time I have stayed a vacation rental house, first time to be on the beach of Lake Michigan, first time to meet several people, ... oh yeah, and first time I ever went to my son's wedding.

Yep, Jim Bob got married.

Probably been quite a while since anyone called him that.  It was small, a little different, kind of what you might expect knowing Jim.

I took about 150 pictures.  3 of them might even turn out OK. Let me share a few.  Let's start with important stuff.  This is Jim and Heidi exchanging vows.
It was really on the beach
The guest list was rather small.  Family and a few close friends.  Ike and Garrett made it.
What is she pointing at?  Most likely it was Ike's daughter, Miss Margo.  She was the hit of the event.  Here she is with the daughter of another of their friends. And I forgot to ask how she spells her name, but I do know it is her 12th birthday.
She also led the group in a song during the ceremony.
 Lovely young lady my fuzzy photos do not do justice to.  And speaking of fuzzy photos, what is a wedding without awkward family photos?

Yes, maybe I should have use some mousse.  As you can tell by my hands in my pockets and the expression on my face, I REALLY wasn't ready for the shot.
 Here we are with Heid's mom
This is a brother and sisters shot.
Velvet, Heidi, Jim, Becky, Jill
The happy couple with Heidi's sister Velvet and her mom Winnie
 Oh, and a photo of Shades and Little Shades.  David really likes hanging out with Aunt Jill
  I had to get a photo of Jim's boutineer.  If you look closely one of the components is milo! Ok, so I'm weird.  I found it amusing.
And of course I didn't comment (yeah, right)
But the flowers were beautiful
The weather was nearly perfect, the fellowship was good, it just couldn't have been much better.  But now I have a daughter-in-law.  Somehow that makes me sound older than having a son-in-law


Friday, September 9, 2011

Is this it for Wilkey's ?

I got a disturbing text message today.  It said Wilkey's was closed ... maybe permanently.  I can hear Wanda going "Wilkey's?"  Let me give some background.

My grandfather grew up southeast of Mt. Vernon, Illinois,
a few miles from Belle Rive
 You can get there from the Buford/Ina road, Illinois 142, Interstate 64
Belle Rive has some interesting things.  Like the ice machine.  You take the ice you want and put the money in a box.  Honor system.
 It has a really tall water tower
Wilkey's is a little restaurant in Belle Rive

It used to be a couple blocks down the highway, but several years ago moved up on Main Street.  Great smorgasboard, fantastic pies.  I had heard it was closed for remodeling. It may be permanent.   If it wasn't Dad's favorite it was clearly in the top 10.

Here is one more photo I found online.  It will look familiar to anyone who has been down Log Cabin Road on the way to Grandpa Robert's

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