Last day of Ingram's Pioneer Log Cabin VIllage.

We just got home from spending the entire day at Ingram's Log Cabin Village.. As most local people know, it was questionable as to whether or not it would even happen after the unexpected death of Bob Ingram. It was by far the best fair in recent memory, There were lots more craft vendors, it was arranged differntly, and all was mowed and well taken care of. Thank you Kinmundy Historical society for all you have done in a very short time to make this a success.. Tomorrow is the last day for this year, and may be the last day ever...we listened to old time music, saw demonstrations, ate food that was bad for us, enjoyed the authentic log cabins and the history that goes with them. We saw many old friends along the way, what a great day,  Let's hope things get worked out so it can continue in the future.

Mom's quilt

When I was cleaning mom's apartment out, I found this quilt top that she had worked on, lots of time on her part, it was just the top and had not been finished into a quilt. So I had it finished at Barb's Fabrics in Salem. I just picked it up today and think it turned out beautiful, the pattern she used for the quilting was also roses.It's so nice to have a keepsake that mom made with her own hands...I sure do miss her

Lunch with my girls...and another butterfly

Had lunch with my best buds,  Carol, Linda and Sandie at Applebee's today, always have such a good time with these ladies.  Also, the Tiger swallowtails are hatching now.....

Gnomes

Our cousins were having a garage sale last Saturday, but invited the family over Friday night, in case we wanted anything. My mother-in-law spied these gnomes, but they were in pretty bad shape. So I repainted them for her today...the guy gnome had no right eye, and was kind of creepy looking, the girl gnome was very pale, and much more faded than the other one, also her face was chipping off..had to give her a good sanding....now, I wish I had spied them for myself..lol...but I know she loves her yard ornaments, so I'm sure she will enjoy these too...

Swallowtails and painted lady

So as not to leave my other butterfly friends out, here is my fennel covered with black/or yellow swallowtail caterpillars, and a visitor to my flowers this afternoon...the painted lady.

Don't blink, you might miss it~

I kept watching this monarch all day, waiting for him to emerge. I got tired and went in the house, and then I went out about 10 minutes later and there he was....this was about an hour after that, when his wings were dry..just

have to keep you all updated on my butterflies. This picture is really small because my camera was on video and I had to extract it, but you get the idea.

Broom corn festival

The Broom corn festival is about what you would expect, lots of craft vendors, flea market vendors and, of course, food vendors. It was quite large, blocks and blocks..the most interesting thing was the Broom making demonstration, using the broom corn and some old time machines. They even had a craft broom competition and I was surprised at all of the different ways the brooms were made, a picture is below. The parade featured all of the beautify pageant winners from miles around including Miss Bagel, and Miss Broom corn. As she waved to the crowd from her convertible, her "court" follwed her, made up of young ladies carrying brooms...what a hoot! My favorite parade entry were the Lawn Rangers, who were just men pushing lawnmowers, and wearing silly hats, most of them decorated their lawn mowers, and they all had brooms. They "drove" the lawn mowers around in circles and threw their brooms up in the air and caught them....hilarious and how fun..So that's it, beside eating all kinds of things that were bad for us...and I had to buy a broom, ya know!

Broom corn competition

Broom making demonstration.

My favorite broom in the competition, but it came in second.

Broom corn

My broom I purchased there.

The best fruit smoothies in town.

Beautiful storm clouds and rainbow tonight after the storm

September Red Hats

Had lunch with my Red Hat sisters today at El Rancherito in Salem. What a fun bunch today! I sure do miss my mom when it's Red Hat day,(I miss her EVERY day) she always loved going and visiting with these ladies so much..

R.I.P. aunt Barbie................ :(

We laid my sweet sister-in-law to rest this afternoon. It was a nice visitation, graveside ceremony and dinner afterwards. i will sure miss you, my sis in law, I will miss your hearty laugh and your fun view of the world...I will buy something in your honor every time I hit a resale shop, because I know you would want me to...love you...R.I.P. Barb Knight. :( Please continue to keep my brother, Milo Knight, in your prayers, he is really having a hard time with this sudden change in his life..

Thompson Mill covered bridge and other adventures

We usually go to our Kinmundy Labor Day festival and parade, but decided to do something different this time. We visited one of the twelve covered bridges in Illinois, near Cowden, IL. Thompson Mill Bridge. Then onto Hidden Springs state park where we had a picnic under a nice cool shade tree.From there we went to Shelbyville Lake. We sat by the lake for a while, and then checked out some of the 229 camping spots on the Lake, for future reference and had a bite to eat, just got home about an hour ago. It was a VERY hot day, but we enjoyed getting away for a while.

Beautiful sunset...everything ablaze!

Ballard's Nature Center, the highlight of my day.

We have had a busy and fun day! First, as always the Farmer's market in Effingham, the Hodgson Mill, again, for Barley bread mix for the breadmaker..99 cent sale and it's awesome! Then breakfast at Hardee's, a trip to the week end flea market at Altamont, and finally walking some nature trails at Ballard's Nature Center, where the Illinois prairie has been replenished with it's natural grasses, flowers and wetlands...just beautiful. Wish I had had my camera, but I used my phone to take a few pix..I hope you have all had a great day.

R.I.P Aunt Barbie...you will be missed.

My sister-in-law, Barbara Knight passed away this morning. Please keep my brother, Milo Knight in your prayers. I will really miss her, we had some really good times. She was always so funny and full of life...so very sad. She was too young, but had been very ill for a long time....God bless her....she just said to me the other day, that she couldn't wait to see mom again....I'm sure she's chatting away with her right now...

Basil-pecan pesto...!

I made some Basil-pecan pesto this morning...yum...tonight: Chicken Basil Parmesan!

From this........

To this.............

Just for photography purposes only....   :)

My new favorite smoothie

Pear-ginger smoothie

Yet another new monarch...this time in the sweet potatoes... :)