I didn't take pictures-- right off the bat, just sayin' I didn't get it done. Don't know why, I just didn't. Somethings I wish I would have now, but I didn't so oh well.
Andrew and I had decided to head north to Arcola yesterday. We had the top off the jeep and it was just a beautiful day for it. We made it to Arcola about 10:30 and visited the Amish Interpretive Center. It was a nice little "museum" of Amish life. We watched an 18 minute video that we both had to laugh about. It was almost like it was slanted toward "You really want to be Amish", it would talk about their lifestyle as calm, peaceful and loving; then it would make comments like "When you pass the rolling land of horses grazing and haystacks, clothes on the line and buggies, and get back to field after field of corn and beans, you will know you have reentered your hectic world" Anyway, it was interesting. We ate lunch at the Dutch Kitchen. Andrew had homemade Amish sausage and was very impressed. I had baked steak with mushrooms, it was very good as well. The apple butter was excellent.
We then made our way out to Rockome Gardens. As a kid, we would take off and go up there at least once a summer. I loved this place. It always had this calm, serene, "other worldly" feeling. I always loved walking through the well kept gardens, watching the little model railraod that was so big it was outside, going through the Amish house, seeing the horses.....all just stuff to help you slow down and settle in for some relaxation.
Well......first off, apparently the economy has hit Rockome hard. We deposited $8 a piece and went out the door. The first gardens we went to was pathetic. I don't think anyone had actually watered the flowers all summer, instead of lavish cockscomb, begonias, marigolds, and cannies, there would be a plant, tons of dry, cracked soil, then another plant, more soil, then some weeds. I was very sad but decided it must be a bad year and went on, there was this poor looking blue spruce in the middle of the garden, it was in such bad shape it reminded me of what Charlie Brown's Christmas tree would have looked like had it been allowed to grow to 15 feet.
We went to see the Amish house---Closed. The bottle houses are completely gone and when we got to the viewing area for the little model train, the weeds had grown up in the tracks so bad that you could hardly see the tracks and it was very clear the little train hadn't ran for a long time. Remember the rock shop? The only thing it is open for is to get to the hayloft and the lookout. All the rocks are gone and it is basically being used for storage.
On a "brighter" note. There was one building that seemed to be kept up very well. the ARCADE!!!! This was about the final straw for me. Video games and pool tables in the middle of Rockome Gardens. ARGH!!!
We walked on down to the end, when I was a kid, you could go to the little shops and women would be making beeswax candles and lye soap that you could buy. Now, there was sidewalk sales with most of the junk saying "made in China". The stables told where all the horses lived, but there was no sign of horses. It was time to leave. It was too depressing. We were there 20 minutes. I said I wished I had nerve enough to ask for our money back, Andrew said he did. As we walked in the door of the gift shop, I said "be nice" and he said "let's just forget asking, I'm afraid I wouldn't be nice". So we left, poorer in many ways.
We drove through the countryside, enjoying seeing the Amish houses and gardens (I at least got to see some beautiful gardens on the drive). We ended up at Tuscola, stopping and getting a coke and a tea and heading home. At least we had fun in the jeep and being together.
I always want to "fix" things when I see them going downhill. I think Arcola is a bit far away to "fix" Rockome Gardens for me. I guess it is a sign of our times. I still believe it is sad.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
What a Tuesday!
Yesterday was one of those crazy but typical Browning days. I had to go to Springfield, Andrew had to have a series of shots in his back and Robert had a dentist appointment. I thought, of all those, Andrew's shots would be the most eventful....turns out that was wrong.
I am sitting in my meeting at Springfield and get this text
"I have to have my wisdom teeth cut out"
Really??? He's 17! I HONESTLY thought he was joking since it was the first time he had went to the dentist by himself.
Next text:
"Yes, really"
Okay, I was just totally unprepared for that one and now that it has sunk in, it is fine but it did throw me for a loop. Of course, overprotective isn't even the word you can use for me when it comes to Robert. I was just sick because I know him, things like this kinda put him in a panic.
I didn't get home until about 8:30 last night, he got home at 9, walked in the door, white as a sheet and his dad said "What's wrong" and he said, "I think I swallowed fluoride at the dentist, I have been sick at my stomach ever since I left there. I puked at band this evening." and I said I thought it was nerves and he said he believed that was probably the real reason so we talked about it. His worries: being put out, missing band and missing the pops concert. I pretty well put his mind at ease about the last two. We will get in to do the consultation but I really imagine I can talk a doctor into doing this either over Thanksgiving or Christmas vacation. The teeth aren't through yet. His biggest thing about being put out was that he was afraid he would still feel. The surgeon we are going to is the same one that pulled a couple of my wisdom teeth a few years ago and I assured Robert he is very good.
To top it off, I have to say I am REALLY thankful to Walmart for having good dental and health insurance. Andrew's shots yesterday will start out costing us between $1600 and $2000. By the time our part comes around, it will be down to between $150 and $200. A small price to pay for the relief it brings. I don't even want to think about how much Robert's will cost initially, but I know the insurance will pay a bunch and it will be doable.
Usually, it is my trip to Springfield (and the subsequent shopping) that cost the household the most in a day. I had a per diam check for supper and gas, and actually spent less than $40 the whole day. So it was me that was the cheap one (last week's trip to Springfield was a different story, but I'm just talking about yesterday :-) ).
Anyway, I think by the time we hit the hay, I had gotten used to the fact my baby boy is going to be put under and have stitches in his mouth, Andrew had about 15 needle pricks in his back and though he says there is a lot of pressure from all the "stuff" they put in, his back isn't hurting and Robert seemed to have been relieved of most of his fears.
Life is an adventure.......
I am sitting in my meeting at Springfield and get this text
"I have to have my wisdom teeth cut out"
Really??? He's 17! I HONESTLY thought he was joking since it was the first time he had went to the dentist by himself.
Next text:
"Yes, really"
Okay, I was just totally unprepared for that one and now that it has sunk in, it is fine but it did throw me for a loop. Of course, overprotective isn't even the word you can use for me when it comes to Robert. I was just sick because I know him, things like this kinda put him in a panic.
I didn't get home until about 8:30 last night, he got home at 9, walked in the door, white as a sheet and his dad said "What's wrong" and he said, "I think I swallowed fluoride at the dentist, I have been sick at my stomach ever since I left there. I puked at band this evening." and I said I thought it was nerves and he said he believed that was probably the real reason so we talked about it. His worries: being put out, missing band and missing the pops concert. I pretty well put his mind at ease about the last two. We will get in to do the consultation but I really imagine I can talk a doctor into doing this either over Thanksgiving or Christmas vacation. The teeth aren't through yet. His biggest thing about being put out was that he was afraid he would still feel. The surgeon we are going to is the same one that pulled a couple of my wisdom teeth a few years ago and I assured Robert he is very good.
To top it off, I have to say I am REALLY thankful to Walmart for having good dental and health insurance. Andrew's shots yesterday will start out costing us between $1600 and $2000. By the time our part comes around, it will be down to between $150 and $200. A small price to pay for the relief it brings. I don't even want to think about how much Robert's will cost initially, but I know the insurance will pay a bunch and it will be doable.
Usually, it is my trip to Springfield (and the subsequent shopping) that cost the household the most in a day. I had a per diam check for supper and gas, and actually spent less than $40 the whole day. So it was me that was the cheap one (last week's trip to Springfield was a different story, but I'm just talking about yesterday :-) ).
Anyway, I think by the time we hit the hay, I had gotten used to the fact my baby boy is going to be put under and have stitches in his mouth, Andrew had about 15 needle pricks in his back and though he says there is a lot of pressure from all the "stuff" they put in, his back isn't hurting and Robert seemed to have been relieved of most of his fears.
Life is an adventure.......
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Happy 17th Robert!
Yesterday, my baby boy officially turned 17. It still doesn't seem possible.
He had a pretty great birthday and was totally shocked he actually had presents to open ON his birthday. There have been several birthday presents over the summer--a new windsheild, personalized tags, a leather coat, and so on and so forth. I couldn't let him have a birthday without a few presents though so he got a clock he had been wanting for his room ( neon, how cool is that?), a shirt, dishes for the basement, some CD's and a CD case for his truck and floor mats.
Nana bought his stereo for his truck, which actually was put in a couple of weeks ago. She also thought he needed something "ON" his birthday so he got another $10 which he used to buy a cable to hook his mp3 player to his stereo. Grandpa sent him money and he purchased several things for his truck, a steering wheel cover, vinyl top conditioner and a sticky pad were some of them.
He thinks he had a pretty good birthday, I do too, except for the fact that it was his 17th......
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Happy Birthday to my blog!
It's official, I have been blogging for a year last Thursday. If you are reading this on FB, you have probably realized by now that my blog feeds into my fb account. I may change that soon, sometimes I just want my blog to be on my blog, but for now, I don't have time to mess with that, so it stays.
My first blog was of Robert's first day of his Sophomore year, Here is his first day of his Junior year.
I think he has changed a little over the last year......
Somehow, over the past year, my little boy has become a man. Not easy to take.
Tomorrow he turns 17, where did the time go?
Monday, August 17, 2009
Turning 42
I don't believe I have ever had a single birthday that went exactly as I figured it would go. Yesterday was no exception. Saturday, Robert and I had planned to go to work for probably 3 hours while a new system was installed on one of the servers. We were then heading to Tuscola, where I would pick myself out something and call it my birthday from the guys. Well, at 5:30, when the people left work, Robert and I decided we weren't in the mood to drive to Tuscola, rush around and get our shopping done before the stores closed so we came home.
Even though I was going to buy the present myself, I was still feeling a bit dejected that I didn't get a birthday present for my birthday and I can't really say that I didn't. Mom had given me money a couple of weeks ago to get myself something in St. Louis and I bought a beautiful sweater set, my camera batteries are dead, pictures will have to come later.
Yesterday morning, Andrew came home, I was downstairs ironing a shirt for Robert. Robert had gotten me a really great card, and Andrew was bringing me his card. This was the normal routine. I brought Robert's shirt up and opened my bedroom door though and there on the bed was a gift bag! Okay????
When I opened the gift bag, Andrew had bought me this beautiful green cultured pearl necklace and earring set! It was gorgeous and so something I wouldn't have spent the money on myself!! Green is my favorite color and so I have tons of clothes green goes well with. Bottom line..Andrew did good!! I will have pictures of the necklace and earrings before the weeks out too.
The rest of my day was pretty nice, Mom and Robert took me out for lunch, a few of us from church went to Simple Blessings and sang and then church last night. All in all, just a great day that I really expected to be a bit of a bummer.
Except for the fact that I think most of the time I feel more like 24 than 42, I ended out having a pretty great birthday. (And Robert reminded me that I still need to buy myself something from him!- not bad at all)
Even though I was going to buy the present myself, I was still feeling a bit dejected that I didn't get a birthday present for my birthday and I can't really say that I didn't. Mom had given me money a couple of weeks ago to get myself something in St. Louis and I bought a beautiful sweater set, my camera batteries are dead, pictures will have to come later.
Yesterday morning, Andrew came home, I was downstairs ironing a shirt for Robert. Robert had gotten me a really great card, and Andrew was bringing me his card. This was the normal routine. I brought Robert's shirt up and opened my bedroom door though and there on the bed was a gift bag! Okay????
When I opened the gift bag, Andrew had bought me this beautiful green cultured pearl necklace and earring set! It was gorgeous and so something I wouldn't have spent the money on myself!! Green is my favorite color and so I have tons of clothes green goes well with. Bottom line..Andrew did good!! I will have pictures of the necklace and earrings before the weeks out too.
The rest of my day was pretty nice, Mom and Robert took me out for lunch, a few of us from church went to Simple Blessings and sang and then church last night. All in all, just a great day that I really expected to be a bit of a bummer.
Except for the fact that I think most of the time I feel more like 24 than 42, I ended out having a pretty great birthday. (And Robert reminded me that I still need to buy myself something from him!- not bad at all)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Points to Ponder
I wasn't going to put this in my blog post about our shopping day because it is a bit of a downer for me. I can't stop thinking about it though. Something happened Saturday that broke a piece of my heart.
Robert and I went to Wilson's Leather to look at coats. There was a young man working there, he couldn't have been over 20. He was helping Robert with the coats. Robert and I were joking around with each other in our usual fashion. The boy said it was so great that we had that kind of relationship. He hadn't seen or heard from his parents in a year and a half.
He was raised Amish. When he decided to not live their lifestyle, they discommunicated him. To them, he is dead. I don't get this. I'm trying very hard not to be judgemental and I know you see this happen on tv shows but really?? I can't understand. I have been told and believe it to be true that there is no pain greater than loosing a child. I miscarried Robert's twin in the very early stages of my pregnancy. I never met this child, but am sure there will come a day when I will and I still have feelings about it. I couldn't live with myself knowing Robert was out there in the world and I truly didn't know if he were literally dead or alive.
The boy didn't dwell on it, he just made a statement and then went on about how much fun our day sounded.
I kept thinking about the peanut butter in Sarah's post. All the things that aren't tainted by society in the Amish world. I know these people goals are to live closer to God and maybe they have maintained the lifestyle all these years by being just that rigid but I keep thinking about the fact that God loved us with unconditional love and I believe whether we are living for him or not, he knows where we are. I also believe it is true that if we haven't chosen Christ as our Savior that we can't communicate with him but at the same time, there is never a time he doesn't know where we are and what we are doing.
I'm not meaning to start any quarrels and I am seriously not judging their lifestyle because yes, there are things I see them do that I know I would be better off if I lived closer to that ritual but this "if you don't live exactly as I live, I don't ever want to see you again" thing just blows my mind.
Robert, I am openly telling you, I love you, I think you are great and I love the decisions you have made with your life so far. If you ever start making decisions that I don't like, I WILL tell you about it, you know that but I will NEVER turn my back on you, no matter what. I promise.
Robert and I went to Wilson's Leather to look at coats. There was a young man working there, he couldn't have been over 20. He was helping Robert with the coats. Robert and I were joking around with each other in our usual fashion. The boy said it was so great that we had that kind of relationship. He hadn't seen or heard from his parents in a year and a half.
He was raised Amish. When he decided to not live their lifestyle, they discommunicated him. To them, he is dead. I don't get this. I'm trying very hard not to be judgemental and I know you see this happen on tv shows but really?? I can't understand. I have been told and believe it to be true that there is no pain greater than loosing a child. I miscarried Robert's twin in the very early stages of my pregnancy. I never met this child, but am sure there will come a day when I will and I still have feelings about it. I couldn't live with myself knowing Robert was out there in the world and I truly didn't know if he were literally dead or alive.
The boy didn't dwell on it, he just made a statement and then went on about how much fun our day sounded.
I kept thinking about the peanut butter in Sarah's post. All the things that aren't tainted by society in the Amish world. I know these people goals are to live closer to God and maybe they have maintained the lifestyle all these years by being just that rigid but I keep thinking about the fact that God loved us with unconditional love and I believe whether we are living for him or not, he knows where we are. I also believe it is true that if we haven't chosen Christ as our Savior that we can't communicate with him but at the same time, there is never a time he doesn't know where we are and what we are doing.
I'm not meaning to start any quarrels and I am seriously not judging their lifestyle because yes, there are things I see them do that I know I would be better off if I lived closer to that ritual but this "if you don't live exactly as I live, I don't ever want to see you again" thing just blows my mind.
Robert, I am openly telling you, I love you, I think you are great and I love the decisions you have made with your life so far. If you ever start making decisions that I don't like, I WILL tell you about it, you know that but I will NEVER turn my back on you, no matter what. I promise.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Mother-Son Day
August 8th was mine and Robert's annual "St. Louis Shopping Day". It was just about as perfect as perfect could be. We left home a little before 8 after seeing Andrew get home and ready for bed. We stopped in Effingham at Ryans for Breakfast, then on to St. Louis Mills. Our main goals was to find Robert a cool new leather jacket, a new messenger bag that would hold a laptop (if he would happen to get one sometime around, oh, say Christmas)a couple pair of jeans and a new pair of sneakers. Well, we found it all plus some socks, some polo shirts and yet another t-shirt. I came home with money in my pocket- along with some new clothes for me too!
We ate at Chevy's at the Mills for lunch, it was 2:00 before we got around to eating lunch, turned out to be a good thing because we shopped too long, got stuck in traffic and didn't get a chance to eat supper before our show. Robert thought he was starving, so he got the fajitas that had everything and I mean everything!
I tried to be good and ordered a taco salad, it was still huge and I didn't finish it.
After all our shopping we headed to the Muny to see Hairspray. I LOVED this production. It has been my favorite so far out of all the Muny plays we have seen. Edna stole the show but everybody was wonderful, and the dancing was wonderful. Robert has been "Roma"tized though. At one point in time, he thought there and I quote, "Should have been stronger background choreography there." Once he said it, I realized what he was talking about. Linc was being backed up by the guys, old Detroit style, and the backup singers weren't doing as much as they could have. I had to laugh.
When Robert and I first started going to the Muny, we sat way up at the top. One of these days, I am probably going to end up with season tickets, the drawback is I would have to purchase season tickets for the Blues too and that turns into a LOT of trips to St. Louis!
I can't believe we only have one more year to go school shopping, we will have to have a new excuse to go to the Muny, we will have to start a new tradition.
We ate at Chevy's at the Mills for lunch, it was 2:00 before we got around to eating lunch, turned out to be a good thing because we shopped too long, got stuck in traffic and didn't get a chance to eat supper before our show. Robert thought he was starving, so he got the fajitas that had everything and I mean everything!
I tried to be good and ordered a taco salad, it was still huge and I didn't finish it.
After all our shopping we headed to the Muny to see Hairspray. I LOVED this production. It has been my favorite so far out of all the Muny plays we have seen. Edna stole the show but everybody was wonderful, and the dancing was wonderful. Robert has been "Roma"tized though. At one point in time, he thought there and I quote, "Should have been stronger background choreography there." Once he said it, I realized what he was talking about. Linc was being backed up by the guys, old Detroit style, and the backup singers weren't doing as much as they could have. I had to laugh.
When Robert and I first started going to the Muny, we sat way up at the top. One of these days, I am probably going to end up with season tickets, the drawback is I would have to purchase season tickets for the Blues too and that turns into a LOT of trips to St. Louis!
I can't believe we only have one more year to go school shopping, we will have to have a new excuse to go to the Muny, we will have to start a new tradition.Saturday, August 1, 2009
Happy August!
Wow, talk about time flying..this month definitely flew! Where did it go??
Andrew had shots in his back, which made him feel better, he has started having some problems again so we are back to the doctor in three weeks.
We have successfully made it through another cooling program. I am hoping and praying we were able to help every income eligible citizen of our counties. It was a pretty non-eventful program this year, no major problems. I went out and did outreach at several sites, which I loved to do. We also held our FCD banquet which honors those clients who are working their way out of needing us and becoming self-sufficient. Yesterday we launched a new program that I am going to be administering, Elevate America. Supposedly there were several press releases on it around Illinois. Microsoft has donated 51,000 computer class vouchers to help people become more computer literate. They have been giving to Illinois Worknet sites, Community Colleges, High Schools and Community Action Agencies were given 3,000 to help our clients. It is a very quick program, just 3 months but it is something I believe a lot of people can benefit from. Eventhough it is going to cause me to be even more busy, I think it will be worth it. I made a trip to Springfield yesterday with our CSBG coordinator to get the specifics--I am still gung-ho on it though.
I also got to go to the periodontist last Monday, not a good trip, I have one tooth that periodontal disease is beating, it is already loose and will probably have to come out in the near future, at least it is very far back in my mouth!
Robert has probably had the most eventful July, band camp the 6th-10th, being in Oklahoma the 23rd-26th, drill camp the 27th-31st, and of course, driving his truck for the first time on the 27th. I would call this month memorable for him.
We were also very excited to meet Bob's girlfriend, Lila. We had a wonderful time with them last weekend and have no problem seeing what Bob sees in her, she is a great lady.
Our July was not without some sad times. A week ago today, my friend Jenny had to make the decision to discontinue life preserving procedures on her husband Justin. He passed away on the 27th. He was 32 years old. I can't imagine what the family is going through there. Please pray for all of them especially Jenny because the one thing I do know is that it gets harder after the funeral when everyone goes home. All of the sudden, the rest of the world's life is back to normal and you get to thinking you will never be normal again, then you have the realization that you have to find a new normal. I get aggravated when people say "I know just how you feel"; no 2 people have the same relationship so I don't think this is a relevant statement, but I do feel like the time lines are pretty similar and that no matter what, you do have to go through this stage.
August is already starting to fill up, Sunday is Duane's estate sale, he was our board president so I really want to go just to have something of his. Next weekend, I have a company picnic on Friday, a Sunday School picnic on Sunday along with a baptism. In between there is mine and Robert's annual shopping day at St. Louis complete with Muny tickets to Hairspray--that's the day I'm working for this week--I can't wait. I have no less than two trips to Springfield, a trip to Enfield and I need to make it to all of the field offices this month to get them ready for our heating program. Of course, school starts the 21st, Media night is the same night. The Lincoln Balloon Festival is the 28th and 30th and to top it off, in the next few weeks, I will turn 42 and Robert will turn 17, I can already tell August is going to be a whirlwind too!
Andrew had shots in his back, which made him feel better, he has started having some problems again so we are back to the doctor in three weeks.
We have successfully made it through another cooling program. I am hoping and praying we were able to help every income eligible citizen of our counties. It was a pretty non-eventful program this year, no major problems. I went out and did outreach at several sites, which I loved to do. We also held our FCD banquet which honors those clients who are working their way out of needing us and becoming self-sufficient. Yesterday we launched a new program that I am going to be administering, Elevate America. Supposedly there were several press releases on it around Illinois. Microsoft has donated 51,000 computer class vouchers to help people become more computer literate. They have been giving to Illinois Worknet sites, Community Colleges, High Schools and Community Action Agencies were given 3,000 to help our clients. It is a very quick program, just 3 months but it is something I believe a lot of people can benefit from. Eventhough it is going to cause me to be even more busy, I think it will be worth it. I made a trip to Springfield yesterday with our CSBG coordinator to get the specifics--I am still gung-ho on it though.
I also got to go to the periodontist last Monday, not a good trip, I have one tooth that periodontal disease is beating, it is already loose and will probably have to come out in the near future, at least it is very far back in my mouth!
Robert has probably had the most eventful July, band camp the 6th-10th, being in Oklahoma the 23rd-26th, drill camp the 27th-31st, and of course, driving his truck for the first time on the 27th. I would call this month memorable for him.
We were also very excited to meet Bob's girlfriend, Lila. We had a wonderful time with them last weekend and have no problem seeing what Bob sees in her, she is a great lady.
Our July was not without some sad times. A week ago today, my friend Jenny had to make the decision to discontinue life preserving procedures on her husband Justin. He passed away on the 27th. He was 32 years old. I can't imagine what the family is going through there. Please pray for all of them especially Jenny because the one thing I do know is that it gets harder after the funeral when everyone goes home. All of the sudden, the rest of the world's life is back to normal and you get to thinking you will never be normal again, then you have the realization that you have to find a new normal. I get aggravated when people say "I know just how you feel"; no 2 people have the same relationship so I don't think this is a relevant statement, but I do feel like the time lines are pretty similar and that no matter what, you do have to go through this stage.
August is already starting to fill up, Sunday is Duane's estate sale, he was our board president so I really want to go just to have something of his. Next weekend, I have a company picnic on Friday, a Sunday School picnic on Sunday along with a baptism. In between there is mine and Robert's annual shopping day at St. Louis complete with Muny tickets to Hairspray--that's the day I'm working for this week--I can't wait. I have no less than two trips to Springfield, a trip to Enfield and I need to make it to all of the field offices this month to get them ready for our heating program. Of course, school starts the 21st, Media night is the same night. The Lincoln Balloon Festival is the 28th and 30th and to top it off, in the next few weeks, I will turn 42 and Robert will turn 17, I can already tell August is going to be a whirlwind too!
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