Aaaay and Solly's burgers

On Saturday, July 28th we had a fun day in Milwaukee with Melissa. In the morning all three of us took a nice, long 3 mile walk along the lake by Melissa's place. So pretty, but chilly!  It was only 60 degrees out. Can you believe that?  60 degrees on July 27th?  

After we got back we got ready and then went to do a little shopping and then went to Solly's Burgers. These were the REAL definition of a butter. They had a HUGE slab of butter on them between the burger and the bun. Now, I love butter, but I thought that this burger was kind of gross - way too much butter.  But Michael thought that the burger was good. But I will say that Solly's had great malts. They were yummy!  Melissa and I split a chocolate malt.  Michael had a Chocolate Cherry malt.  They were great!  

After burgers, fries and malts we went to go see the "Bronze Fonz". 

For supper it was delicious spinach lasagna rolls by Melissa, Fincel's sweet corn, sourdough bread from the Milwaukee Public Market and cabbage from mom's garden. Delicious. 

Wisconsin Fish Fry!!

We headed to Melissa's in Milwaukee on Friday, July 26th. And since we were in the land of Friday Fish Fry, I HAD to have some.  We went to Adaberry's - cool little  restaurant/sports bar. Fish Fry was AWESOME!   I would highly recommend.  

Stupid seizures

Unfortunately I had another seizure on the morning of 7/14 and missed the Arnold family reunion.  

I didn't bite my tongue this time but I really did a number on my calf during this seizure.  The bruises are all colors of the rainbow. :-s

Alex our Big Broadway Star

Alex was enrolled in a weeklong theatre camp at the Civic Center in Des Moines.  She is a wonderful performer. She is a gifted actress and singer.  We got to attend her performance of Blackbeard the Pirate. She was a mermaid and even had a line. These aren't the best pics but you can still see that she had a great time.  

Olivia at Bat

Michael and I were able to go see Olivia play varsity softball with her Ankeny H.S. in Ottumwa, IA. She had an awesome day offensively and defensively. Here are some pics: 

Independence Day 2013

We had a great time over the 4th if July holiday weekend.  Schwake came down from Madison on Thursday the 4th.  After he got here, and after Lis and John arrived, we had a wonderful meal of smoked ribs, potato salad, chips and guacamole!  After eating, we all went to Cedar Rapids for a Kernels baseball game.  They were playing the Timberrattlers. (The team is from WI - up by Becky's near Green Bay). The weather made it a great day for baseball.  After the game we came and snacked on more ribs!  

Since the Fourth of July was on a Thurs I had to work on Friday. So Michael, Lis and Schwake went to Des Moines to meet up with some old Wartburg college friends. They all had a great time seeing people that they hadn't seen in years.  Friday night after I got home from work, Schwake, Lis, Michael and I went to Jazz Fest in downtown Iowa City.  We listened to some fantastic music on the Pentacrest.  Then walked to the back side of the Pentacrest and watched the spectacular Iowa City fireworks.  They always do a fabulous job and this time it was no different.

Michael's driving an Army truck!

We went to my cousin Sue's place for a visit. While out there, she told us of the army vehicles (yes, plural) that her husband had bought.  Chris showed Michael the vehicle, let him practice and then Michael took us out for a spin.  The shocks weren't great :-) but it was awesome to ride in it and have just a little taste of what something as simple as driving is like for the men and women in the army.  

Just hangin' with the goddaughter

How cute is Johanna??

Auntie Melissa....

... I need you to make me a bigger basket.  -Carver

Pre-Independence Day Test Ribs

Michael want to smoke some "meats" for Independence Day so this was a practice run.  Doesn't look too bad, huh?  (The ribs, I mean)

The Nieces and Nephew

A couple of pictures of the nieces and nephew after the baptism. 

Homemade Mulberry Pie

Michael and I spent an hour in the park by our house picking some mulberries.  We got enough for a pie. I used Ellen's recipe for crust and both the pie and crust turned out great!  I was pretty happy with it.  

And I had to make the cinnamon sugar crust with the leftover dough from the pie.  

Johanna's baptism

Johanna's baptism was celebrated in Eagle Point Park in Dubuque.  And I was the lucky one that was asked to be her godmother.  The day was windy, but the view over the Mississippi River was spectacular.  We even got to see a boat go through the lock and dam.  We also managed to squeeze the ceremony in just before the rain showers started. 

Wisconsin Trip - Just the Girls

This trip was a great time to catch up with the girls.  Teri, Kristin, Dawn and I got to spend some quality time together eating authentic Japanese food in Mineral Point, doing a little local shopping and then eating some AWESOME bread pudding.  And of course there was all sorts of chatting and gossiping in-between. I miss all of them. 

Trip to New Glarus Brewery

It was time to go to New Glarus Brewery in New Glarus, WI.  The beer is only distributed in WI, so it was a chance for us to stock up on some Spotted Cow and some seasonal brews and pick up some for Michael's beer buds in the Iowa City area. 

Dawn and Guy met us in New Glarus for lunch at Glarnstub restaurant. Then we went to the Brewery to buy beer and sit outside in their on site beer garden. It was a gorgeous day and we could not have asked for better weather when driving through the beautiful Wisconsin countryside and then drinking a beer at one of our favorite breweries with good friends. 

Grandview Gallop

My second run of the year (after the Gaelic Gallop in Dyersville) was the Grandview Gallop in Dubuque.  It was 2 miles out and 2 miles back on the beautiful Grandview Street. It has some well kept houses and flower filled street dividers.  And they have quite a few people out cheering others on.  I got to see some college and high school classmates.  Maybe next year I will get Leah back running with me or maybe Michael or one of my siblings.  :-)

Asparagus

I'm very excited because Mom and Dad transplanted one of their asparagus plants to our place. It seems to be doing okay so far. Hopefully in another year or two we will be able to have our own fresh asparagus. 

God Bless the Civic

I was hoping the day would never come, but after 16 years and 225K miles, it was time to trade in the Civic. It was the only car that I ever owned.  I had it since I graduated from Loras College in 1997. I was a great car that got me from Schaumburg, IL to home and then from Mt. Horeb to home and then Mt. Horeb to Iowa City and then Iowa City back to Wisconsin.  What a great little car. I will miss it. But now I am the proud owner of a Chevy Equinox crossover vehicle. I've wanted an SUV since high school but the practical/economical side of me would never allow it. This vehicle has almost the same MPG as our new Ford Fusion!  Hopefully this will be just as good of a vehicle as the Civic. 

Wisconsin Trip - Wedding Reception

So, the real reason behind this Wisconsin trip was to go to Stef Strand's wedding reception. I was very excited for the reception since it was at the Old Feed Mill in Mazomaine, WI.  I had been through Mazo hundreds of times when I like in MH but had never been there.  Crazy that I went there AFTER moving out of the state. It was a very nice place.  

And at the Old Feed Mill they actually have some of the original mills/grinders that were used when the building actually was a working mill. We even got to see one in action.  

Wisconsin Trip - the Bishop's

Another trip to Wisconsin.  This time to head to the wedding reception of my friend, Stef Strand (and now Kuster). But of course, I need to fit in seeing a few others while in the Madison area. 

First off was a trip to the Bishop's. I knew that Chad and Jennie were expecting baby #2, but when they told me that they were seriously thinking about moving to WI, I was floored! I will certainly miss them once they move and I won't get cute pictures with Elin anymore. :-(

Batter Up!

It's time to see Olivia in action. She plays JV this year for Ankeny and will even suit up for Varsity as freshman!  So proud of our first class softball player. 

5K Run for Epilepsy

Michael and I participated in the inaugural  5K run and 1 mile walk fundraiser for the Epilepsy Foundation in Iowa City.  It was at Lower City Park in Iowa City. The weather was a tad chilly, but it felt great after finishing the walk/run.