Where Did the Time Go?

I have not posted in over a week!

I was on vacation and week 2 was at 1515!

The first full day was wonderful
Lunch in Amish country with the twins for my favorite fried chicken.

Tuesday night means auction night!
But it was my birthday!

check out the cake my friend made for me!
Angel food with whipped creme icing and toffee crunch.
She iced it at the restaurant even.
One of our younger friends works there so he made everyone sing
"happy birthday to cousin Ann!"

embarrassed........

Then to the auction
I was so happy I found  my favorite childhood book,
The Box Car Children

I can remember checking it our of our town library frequently!
There is a entire series of the Box Car Children
I got it for $5.50..more than I thought but the auctioneer told everyone it was a Dick and Jane book, so the price went up. But it was a great birthday gift to myself.

Then I got this!

I got it for $5.50 too!
I am thinking it was in someone pocket during the
Charleston Riot March 28, 1864

I also got a piece of Pyrex for $1 and some
revere ware pots for $1.50 for 1515.

The week was filled with Charleston Riot meetings
But plenty of cousin time

Lunch at Moonshine

Then Cousin Fred took us to see the grave of
Burl Ives

So many stories about him at home
The cousins Dad use to take him from EIU to the river so he could take a canoe home from college!
I knew his brother, his Granddaughter is a friend of mine.
And then we sang "Holly Jolly Christmas" while we were there.
People remember him from Rudolph

people left little snowmen for Sam the Snowman


and then the EIU Homecoming!

had banners made for the twins electric car

but first........

I made from scratch Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls!

I know these days we spend together are pricless!

our driver

brothers and their daughter who are reenactors
played Copperheads for us!

beautiful day on the square in Charleston
look at the paparazzi
um..they look familar!

the streets are tree lined with beautiful old homes

The Connelly House which will be on the Historic House Tour
March 29, 2014
The home was built by a Major in the Civil War who served on
President Lincoln's funeral guard.

Dinner that nigh

Oh My! Homemade Beef and Noodles!

The week went fast and on the way home I took a picture of my very favorite tree

on the highway between the town I was born in and the town I grew up in
I wait anxiuosyl ever year to see its color of orange and red.
Had not hardly turned at it was October 21st.

It was a great birthday week, thanks to my wonderful family.
Sorry I have been absent now I have to catch up with what you have been doing!
And I can't belive it but this was my 500 post!!
ANN

Happy Birthday!

February 13th is a day that two very special people in my life were born.

Today is Mr. birthday

Here is hoping it is a good one for him!

We spent the day with his Mom and two sisters yesterday.

They took him out to lunch and we spent the rest of the day going through old pictures with his Mom and writing the names on the back of pictures! I hate to find a picture that no one knows who they are.

It was a nice day.

Today we are going to have 4 inches of snow....I am off, yippee and I want to sit in my chair by the window and watch it. You see ever since I changed jobs where I am not responsible for 125 employees, I have wanted it to snow and know I did not have to worry about going out in it.

But I have work to do to..............
Mr. will want his birthday brownies!

This is the cake pans his Mom gave me when we got married. She always made him a Valentine cake for his birthday. I found his 1st birthday picture and yes there is a heart shaped cake on the table in front of him with one candle in it. So they have been used for 55 years!!

We will be having a steak dinner tonight.

It is also my cousin Jennifer's birthday

Here is Jen and her Mom Marty at 1515.

Jennifer and I have always been close, I was so excited when she was born, we are only 10 years apart so I am closer in age to her than my 1st cousins.

She is the grown up Mother of 3 wonderful children. She and her husband are so good to make family time and bring them to 1515 or our Galbreath Reunion.

I am proud of the women she has become.

So what are you doing this Monday...now that you know I am baking brownies and watching it snow?

Happy Birthday Bob and Jen!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Mr. Sentimental

Today is Mr. Sentimental's birthday. He had one simple wish, for us to spend the day with his Mother.

Sounds great to me, I am think it is a special day for any Mom.

He looks like he was a happy baby! He is #6 of 8 children.

She always made him a heart shape cake every year. She gave me the cake pan a few years ago and now I make brownies in it...that is what he prefers.

I wish the best for my love this year. He works so hard in his business, he is the 3rd generation since 1921.

The economy has begun to hit him hard, he keeps holding on so say some birthday prayers for him.

This is my favorite picture taken 13 years ago on our Honeymoon.  This is him looking out our hotel window on Rue Vaneau in Paris. He had never been there before and I was anxious to take him, the look on his face says it all. I dream of the day when things are better for him and we can go back like we use to do every year for our anniversary.


Most of all I just want to wish him a Happy Birthday, I will do my best to see he has one.

It's My Birthday!!

I think everyone loves there birthdays? My was always made so special by my family. I think I only ever had 2 parties with friends growing up so most were spent with my parents and grandparents. I love having being an October baby because of the memories it has evoked. The town I was born in is a college town and homecoming was always the weekend around my birthday. My grandfather owned a gas station one block off the courthouse square and we would park at the station and head to the square for the homecoming parade. Wasn't the parade in my honor? Before I left home to come to 1515, I made my favorite birthday meal my Grandmother always made me, swiss steak. I think I have it fairly well perfected.

The town has beautiful old trees and right now they are brilliant with oranges, reds and yellows. Tomorrow all my girl cousins will be arriving from out of town for our annual girls get together. So tomorrow night we will be having a fall harvest meal. Looking forward to my morning walk...love the leaves up to my ankles as I walk.

Have a great day with someone you love.

Me, with my Mom and brother, coming home from the hospital