McGyver is “down for the count”…:-(

  Yesterday AM, after our walk, Den began to feel achy, feverish and blah in general.  Shortly thereafter, the porcelain throne beckoned him…and beckoned him….and continued to do so …He ended up on the couch, assuming the position of one who has succumbed to the dreaded “flu bug”…I almost took his photo, but figured that was cruel and unusual treatment..and I would NOT appreciated if he returned the favor…Sooooo, today is Wednesday, and he is still reclined on the couch.  I just fixed him some soup and it gave him a belly ache…Nice try, Donna..but it was a “no go”…  So today I took my 2 mile “gimp” by my lonesome.  When I looked at the thermometer, I almost had a stroke…and then I saw these 2 Doves sitting on our deck railing….

 

They were all fluffed up trying to stay warm…so, I took my cue from them, grabbed my camera, begrudgingly jammed on my winter coat , hat and gloves (I know, this weather is just WRONG!)..and headed out the door.  Let me just say that the wind blew me back two steps for every step I took.  The sun was shining though, so I tried to stay away from heavily treed streets with shadows…and I managed to get some pictures that LOOK like Spring along the Sandwich streets…

 

 

Notice the school bus waaay down the street in this photo.  McGyver and I just happen to do our walk about the same time all the kids are going to school, about 7:30AM…This can be life threatening in itself, what with kids running, jumping and skipping around us “old” peeps…Not to mention the traffic, like a long never ending snake, weaving it’s way through town…And it’s not uncommon to encounter a frazzled teen driver, running late, talking on their cell phone and not watching for any “gray hair” in their path.

 

Today, I left McGyver  home to keep the couch warm and did a run to the Goodwill Store and Kohl’s…I called him on my new cell phone a few times to make sure he was OK, and not passed out on the bathroom floor.(Me and my cell phone are trying very hard to get along)…Den said he was doing fine by himself, so I reloaded my credit card and moved on to WalMart…Here’s a question for you girls…Exactly WHEN did bras become so expensive?  It seems that now you have to choose between a bra and groceries!!!  I absolutely hate paying so much for something that no one (almost) sees!!  And when does it become OK NOT to wear one??  Because, I’m all over that idea…I  sooooo hate the darn things.. They make me feel like I am in a corset and am being stabbed by coat hangers…Is it just me???? Truthfully, I have seen a few men who should be browsing the “over the shoulder boulder holder” aisle for themselves….

  This month of April is almost half over..and we are waiting for the warmth to come back…Our granddaughter is performing in a musical at her middle school on April 29th.  Their 7th Grade Class is performing “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, which I believe was a 60’s movie with Julie Andrews…The kids have to learn to tap dance and there is lots of singing involved.  I love to watch kids performing..There are so many talented young people out there, and these events give them a chance to shine!!

OK, as you can tell, this blog was thrown together today…I’m not accustomed to having nonstop access to the computer for 2 full days.  You would think I could have come up with more fodder for the blog…Hopefully, Dennis will be better tomorrow.  I will know he is getting better when he sits down immediately at the computer with his coffee  and checks our email, sorting out the ones from Nigeria saying we have inherited a gazillion dollars..Those people are always “seeking our earnest cooperation in this matter” …Or, (and this is my favorite) :

“We have $19.8million in a bank. You can be named as Beneficiary & Administrator.  I make legal papers & show bank. Bank makes transfer to you. We share 50 - 50.Reply with your name, address & telephone numbers.”

NO, REALLY?? I’ LL GET RIGHT ON IT….NOT!

That’s about it for today in the germ infested life of the Cave Dwellers…Right now, I think I’ll find myself a bottle of Germ-X  and hang it around my neck, and maybe stick a few Lysol wipes in my pocket..

“The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while Nature affects the cure”.
~Voltaire

McGyver has a “gotcha” moment….

  Well…..what can I say about this wonderful crazy Cave family.. You knew those kids were NOT going to let their Dad turn 70 without a party…So, they planned one on their own…I was just a by stander who knew about it, but they did all of the prep and covert stuff…Chris and John’s family arrived Friday about 5PM, and everyone was here for Spaghetti dinner that night (yes, I DID make the spaghetti)…The next morning, our son and sons-in-law, along with Den’s niece and her husband convinced McGyver he should go golfing 18 holes at our local country club…He wasn’t keen on playing 18, but they insisted…So, while the boys were away, the girls got to play…and get ready for a surprise party.

  While McGyver was kept busy on the golf course, Terrie and Chris were making snacks, hanging up signs…AND, in the middle of it all….dyeing Easter eggs!!

We let Terrie, the teacher, and Taylor be in charge of the eggs process…Actually,no one managed to dye their clothing in the process…(another surprise).

  The kids had already emailed some of Den’s buddies, and I had emailed a few more friends from Texas in mid March…(You see just how covert this was!)..The grandkids hung out signs on Papa’s blue truck, taking more paint off …(Right now, most people think his truck is gray anyway.)  Our kids texted us when the golfers were on their way home…Let me just say that this country club is down the street from our house..about a 5 minute drive…A few of Den’s buddies arrived just ahead of the birthday boy, and Kelly said that Den realized something was up when he saw their trucks parked in front of our house…SURPRISE!!!!!!

I will now let some of the photos speak for themselves…

We had tons of great food, a fabulous cake, and a really fun party….

 

My Ya Ya girlfriend brought over one of her homemade Turtle Cheesecakes (she bakes for 2 restaurants)…I may has well just rub this stuff on my hips, that’s where it will end up anyway…

Also, that Saturday was our youngest grandson’s 1st birthday…and he had his cake outside with the party crowd..We have to bring these Cave grandkids up right and include them in all things “party”.

  I realize that everyone knows what a “baggo” game is…well, ALMOST everyone…Well, this family has heard of another game very similar…I’m sure it has a name, but who really cares?…It involves ski poles, full beer cans…and a frisbee….Like they say…a picture is worth a thousand words…

Later that evening, after there was only family left, we had a campfire..(imagine that), and ordered 4 pizzas which McGyver insisted upon paying for…

 

By 11PM, we were all at our respective homes in our comfy beds..Well, that is with the exception of the Wolff family who stayed with US all weekend…Easter morning I made a breakfast casserole and pancakes,and Ter, Tim and kids showed up for the feed…(Kel was on duty at OFD Easter Sunday).  Of course , E. Bunny had made his magical visit here for the Wolff cubs, Aiden and Maddox…Here is the funny part…I had been so busy with Den’s party, I almost forgot to give Maddox HIS birthday present!!! Luckily, Chris reminded me of it WHEW!!…BAD GRAMA POLICE WERE ALMOST CALLED.!

About 10:30 , we said our goodbyes…The Wolffs piled into their car for the long ride home…

 

Sooooooo…How was your Easter weekend???? ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Family…Here they come!!!

  We have been getting ready for our family to arrive this Saturday.  Actually, the Wolff Den arrives from Indy Friday about 5PM…I expect all kids and grands to be here for spaghetti dinner that night…I am anxious to see those youngest boys…Especially Maddox, who was just 7 months old when we last got to see him in person..His first birthday is Saturday, so you know there will be cake, presents and singing involved…

I know he is now just about to walk….This was last fall.

Dennis has been on a quest to catch the ground hog that is living under our wood pile out in the back yard.  Mr. Ground Hog has tunneled under our wood and is making himself at home.  I know darn well  he is just biding his time until I plant my garden…Then he will dig up every darn thing he can..Last year we had to put a fence around the garden…This won’t stop him..He will just tunnel under…He must be watching reruns of Hogan’s Heros.  BUT..guess what??   That ‘ol ground hog can’t out think McGyver…Den not only caught one, he set the trap back out there and caught a second one!!..MRS. Ground Hog, perhaps?…I see no pink nail polish…Maybe she has just “let herself go”..

 

This is #2…How’s about a close up,  Dude?…No worries, Dennis uses a live trap baited with some fresh lettuce…He then takes them for a nice truck ride (I use the term “nice” very loosely…it’s the Den’s Blue Beast.)..These “hogs” get curb service to a nice wooded area out in the country, possibly with a lakefront view…where there are no houses, just lots of grass and cornfields…NOT A BAD DEAL, EH???

I sure hope they aren’t like dogs and cats, and will find their way back here to return to the comfort of our wood pile!!

 

 

We have been hanging bird houses and feeders around the yard…McGyver was “up a tree” yesterday, getting my wren house all set up…

Middle is our wren house…They need no perch and require a very small hole so only THEY can get in…On the right, I have attempted to placate the big fat sparrows with their own rendition of a  place to set up housekeeping..trying to keep them from bothering the Wrens..I just love the sound of the Wren’s song.  I also put up a couple feeders for the Hummers, but so far, no one has shown up…I cannot blame them, tonight we have a FREEZE WARNING in our area..If we were as smart as the birds, we would still be South, too! 

Our oldest daughter, Terrie, came over yesterday AM to get her hair highlighted…I can’t believe that costs upwards of $100 in a salon!!…Are the people who pay that price the same peeps that complain about the price of fuel…??

While I was in the “highlighting” mood, I decided to do my own…There is an obvious reason my photo is smaller than Terrie’s…some of you may have just eaten…

Getting it ready for the Easter Bunny around here, too…I use to put up and Easter tree, but this year there we just ran out of time…Whew!!…And right now, I had better get back to cleaning, making spaghetti sauce, making breakfast casseroles, helping the bunny get his act together…So, this is another “cop out” blog..short and sweet..But after this Crazy Cave weekend I will have lots more fodder to expound upon, trust me!!

Hope you all have a very wonderful Easter with friends and family…Just keep in mind that boiled eggs can cause excessive flatulence…Maybe the bunny should also hide some rolls of Rolaids and Gas X too!!

 

“Good Idea: Finding Easter eggs on Easter. Bad Idea: Finding Easter eggs on Xmas. “

                                                                                                                    ~Jack Handy

Age 70 is the “new” 50…at our house.

  Yesterday was a landmark day for McGyver…he turned 70!! EGADS!…When I was little, 70 was old…Now there are 70 year olds running marathons, skydiving and playing tennis!  Certainly, Dennis ages like fine wine..very well.  When we have been out for dinner,  people think we are the same age….64…Well, they got me right on the money, but McGyver  just smiles and stays silent…This is a very wise idea, the silence ….I KNOW  I look every bit and more of my almost 64 years,  and I also see how great Dennis ages…It’s all in the genes, I guess. His are Calvin Klein's and mine are Farm and Fleet.

  Saturday morning my Ya Ya, Lynda , made all of us Ya Ya couples breakfast at her house…I walked in her kitchen at 8:30AM and she was just taking caramel pecan rolls (homemade) out of the oven..

 

 

 

OMG!! THESE THINGS WERE WARM OUT OF THE OVEN..DID I MENTION THAT LYNDA COOKS FOR 2 RESTAURANTS….?…SHE IS THE “ SWEETS BAKERY QUEEN”!

 

 

 

I thought this was breakfast…Little did I know that we were also having breakfast casserole, ham slices done on the grill, crispy bacon, orange juce, …and fresh fruit compote…This was a breakfast from the Ritz!! I was soooo busy mowing it all down, that I neglected to get a picture of my plate..it didn’t last long enough…

Sunday morning, Den’s actual April Fool’s Day birthday, I made him another breakfast…But, let me just say that it paled in comparison to Lynda’s “eggstravaganza”!!…While I was cleaning up the dishes, McGyver disappeared.  I finally found him …outside weeding the gardens and raking …HELLO!! IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY!! YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE HAVING COFFEE AND RELAXING..

OK, now that he began the process, I could do nothing but jump into action myself.. I began to clean off our front porch, which was a real nasty, dirty place …We spend lots of time out there in the Spring and Summer…We have a table that we eat breakfast on..and sometimes dinner…We almost ALWAYS have our morning coffee out there, if weather permits….

 

By 2PM, we were both beat and tired…We showered and went to “town” to find some family to have a little cocktail with…(This isn’t as hard as it sounds…We KNOW where they hang out..either the “Old Tyme Inn”, or the Idle Hour Lanes Bowling Alley..small town, you just cannot hide.) After a beer or two with our niece and nephew, our daughter-in-law, and Den’s brother-in-law, we came back home by 4PM…Right after we arrived, the ex police chief pulled into our drive  to wish Dennis a Happy Birthday…(I KNOW!! HE HAS A DAMN FAN CLUB!!) Actually, we got to know the Chief very well when our son-in-law was on the Sandwich Police Department…Chief came in and visited with us for about an hour …After he left, McGyver dropped over at the next door neighbor’s for another cocktail..Hey, turning 70 is a big deal!!

I fixed St. Louis pork ribs (I prepared, ….he cooked on the grill)..with twice baked taters, Caesar Salad and Mexican corn ( WalMart made that)…All in all I would say he had a pretty good birthday….

Sorry this blog was so late in getting on board..Seems like we have been working our butts off ever since we came home, and today we went to visit our Uncle Jr. and Aunt Jeanette…ALL DAY!

Just a reminder that today is National Autism Awareness Day…Show your support by “lighting it up blue”…Stick a blue light bulb in your outside light….We did…This affliction affects our family, and many others we know…

 

“Autism occurs in 1 in 150 births. It is also the fastest-growing developmental disability!!”

 

“What would happen if the autism gene was eliminated from the gene pool?
You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting and socializing and not getting anything done.”
― Temple Grandin, The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's