Chicago the Windy City

May 22, 2023 by GmasPhoto 10 Comments

Chicago the Windy City.

Hi, I decided to take a trip on a whim! Wanted to eat the famous Chicago deep dish pizza.

Once upon a time I worked for our family business. I met Linda, a valued customer who would come into the store with her family. Over time I became friends with her. We since sold the store and we lost contact. One day I was in Walmart and she approached me. We exchanged phone numbers. I reached out to her and we began to make dates to meet for brunch to visit.

#95, Meet up with an old friend and catch up.
During one of our brunches I mentioned to her I would like to eat Chicago deep dish pizza and asked if she would be interested in going with me. Our adventure was going to happen.

Back in March we decided to go the first Tuesday in May. We spent one evening in the Windy City. When we went to check into the Congress Hotel, the desk clerk, Jasmine upgraded our room. She did a wonderful kindness for us. The view was absolutely beautiful, night lights and the sunrise were gorgeous.

chicago congress hotel — The Congress Hotel

We walked a lot, 23,298 steps Tuesday! Walked to Millennium Park, Navy Pier and took the bus back to the hotel. Next we went to Lou Malnatis for our pizza. Then off to Wallis Tower, formally known as Sears Tower. The tallest building in Chicago.

Wednesday we reserved our Wendella Lake & River Architecture Tour. We enjoyed this. After walking down the streets it was neat to see the buildings by boat. Here are just a few of the images taken. Too many to share all of them.

On the left side of the collage there is a picture that has a green circle on it. That was the floor our room was on.

train travel — #28 on 101 in 1001 list- Travel in a train

K9 dog statues — Click this image for more K9 statue information.

Once back home and reflecting on the trip, never did I notice trash or litter on the streets and in the alley ways. Even while looking thru all of the images I had taken, no evidence of trash/litter. Secondly, both of us returned safe and unharmed. Now keep in mind we stayed in the downtown area and was back in our hotel room by 10 pm. We had a good time!

Have you been to Chicago? What was your favorite experience while there?

I have already asked Linda if she would like to go again next year. Gotta have me that Chicago deep dish pizza again!

To see more images from this trip, click here!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra

Summer Preparations

May 15, 2023 by GmasPhoto Leave a comment

Summer Preparations

Hi, it’s already mid May. Time is truly moving fast. We are beginning the yard and pool work. Since we have moved into this new to us house, we’ve hosted an annual July party. And will do so this year.

Last week we removed the cover from the pool. The cover itself is work. Next is getting the water crystal clear. Kevin is the pool chemist. My job is cleaning the pool. While I am working on the blog, Kevin is attending to the chemical needed for algae. Once I return from the library, I will begin the vacuuming and scrubbing.

Our pool furniture is the wrought iron tables and chairs. It will be necessary to repaint them for this year’s party. I do this about once every three years. Makes them look new!

Here are images of how our pool area looks after the winter. summer preparations Kevin did start burning some of the weeds. But we need to do so much more.

Check back in a few weeks to see our progress!

Working on #75 Clean the pool area.

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
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Summer Preparations

Influenza or Salmonella

May 1, 2023 by GmasPhoto Leave a comment

Influenza or Salmonella

Influenza or salmonella Hi, I must confess something I allowed my adult children do as kids. Please keep in mind, my husband did not want to live in town and we have been living on our ‘farm’ for the past 30 years. Kevin has always had a garden, cattle and chicken.

After leaving work, I would pick the kids up from after school care. We would go home and I began cooking dinner. The kids would do their chores and then they would come in and want to have some of the hamburger or whatever I was preparing as a small snack. I would let them take a piece or two.

The kids were always wanting to have samples of the food I was cooking. This included desserts. Cookies and cakes were the main desserts. After mixing the batter and dough they were right there with their tongues sticking out ready to lick the spoon/bowl. Kevin said our home eggs were better than the store bought eggs but even still would tell me to not let the kids eat the batter/dough. Bad mom was I. Not only did I let them lick the spoon, I would too! A few years we made homemade ice cream using raw eggs. Never had issues. We transitioned to recipes that the eggs were cooked or did not require eggs.

Influenza or salmonella
This past weekend I was down right sick. It started Saturday morning. I had a brunch date with my friend at Perkins. I ordered from the senior menu! All was good until after we ate. My stomach was beginning to feel not right, a bit achy. I suggested we go to the second hand store. Getting up and walking made my stomach feel better.

I did not do my usual go to the library and getting groceries. Instead, I went on home. Once home I got the chills and I climbed into bed. It was downhill from there. It ended up lasting the whole rest of afternoon/evening throughout the night. Every two hours going to the bathroom to sit on the throne with the trash can between my knees. Sunday I stayed in bed all day resting and sleeping.

I was trying to think of the possibilities of where I could have caught the flu. I work from home, only leaving on the weekends to go to library and pick up groceries. My husband did not get sick. Then it dawned on me. When I baked the brownies I made for my neighbors, I did lick the spoon…..

I panicked. My Google search was on. Most people with Salmonella infection have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. These were the symptoms I experienced.

Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days. I licked the spoon Friday evening. However, some people do not develop symptoms for several weeks after infection and others experience symptoms for several weeks. I am suspecting I had the influenza. My symptoms were the weekend only, thank goodness.

This grandma learned a hard lesson. I will not allow my grand girls to lick the spoon or bowl after making brownies, cakes or any dessert. Influenza or Salmonella, whatever I had, I will not chance it again!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra

Bake a Treat for Neighbors

April 24, 2023 by GmasPhoto 10 Comments

Bake a treat for neighbors.

Hi, this week I baked treats for the neighbors, which is #94 on my 101 in 1001 goal list. One day while browsing my Facebook, I saw a post about these mounds brownies. I absolutely love the mounds candy bar. So I decided to make this for my neighbor friends. This is the first time I have made this recipe.

Bake treats for neighbors

101 in 1001 — #94 Bake treats for neighbors

These are delicious! As my pictures show, I made two pans of mounds brownies. Thank goodness my grand girls, daughter and son-in-law came over to see the baby chicks and eat dessert. Took a plate full to my mom and dad. Had plenty to take to two different neighbors. Next time I will make just one pan and still share with the neighbors!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra

Bake treats for the neighbors.

Taraxacum | Dandelion

April 19, 2023 by GmasPhoto 14 Comments

Taraxacum | Dandelion

Taraxacum more commonly known as the Dandelion

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra

I Have Crohn’s Disease

April 17, 2023 by GmasPhoto Leave a comment

I have Crohn’s Disease.

Hi, this past week I was not feeling well. It affected my regular weekend activities. One of which is going to the library to write my weekly post. I was debating on what I would post this week. This week post will be about Crohn’s Disease. In a nutshell, it’s ulcer’s in the colon.

It was the summer between my junior and senior year of high school I was diagnosed. My first flare was the diagnoses itself. The second was just before my wedding. And the third was during the dark time of a close family member’s diagnosis. Crohn’s disease

Thursday evening is when I began feeling uncomfortable. Friday was the beginning of the worst. I knew I was constipated. Constipation and Crohn’s who would have thought the two would be associated! Friday night I did not get much sleep. I moved to the couch so I wouldn’t wake Kevin up each time I had an urge getting up to go to the restroom with no results. I did manage to have a couple trips that produced, TMI 🙂 And felt somewhat better by Saturday morning.

Kevin took me out to breakfast which I looked forward to. I never ate Friday and was rather hungry by Saturday morning. I had gotten up, took a shower, got dressed, put on make up. After we got home I felt uncomfortable. The exercise must have stirred things up! The grand girls were coming to the house to spend the day. Well I retreated to the bedroom to get as comfortable as I could. I resorted to taking stool softener.

Sunday evening I was finally feeling better and comfortable. I had to Google on how to prevent constipation Include plenty of high-fiber foods in your diet, including beans, vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals and bran. Eat fewer foods with low amounts of fiber such as processed foods, and dairy and meat products. These are not on the diet for people with Crohn’s Disease!

What I can do is Drink plenty of fluids and stay as active as possible and try to get regular exercise. One of my 101 in 1001 goals is exercising more.

I look forward to aging. There was a time aging was not a certainty for me. So each day my feet touch the floor I praise to God. Getting older presents some new challenges and constipation is just one of these!!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra

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