Now Playing: Mr. and Mrs. Foutch
Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Foutch. Our good friends Tom and Claudia decided to become official and were married April 10, 2008. The Sunday before we were at their house and Claudia told me (Kathy) of their plans and ask if we would stand up for them. They had made the arrangements to be married at the court house the following Friday. They decided to keep it simple and uncomplicated and didn't tell folks until the last minute (some before and some after). Claudia and I decided not to tell Bob until we got to the court house. I told Bob we were going to lunch with them and would meet them downtown. Friday morning it was a task convincing Bob that he should not wear his bib overalls and he finely agreed to wear his jeans (he really grumbled when I ask him to wear his dockers so I backed off). We left the house with not to much time to spare. On our way there the traffic was backed up so I decided to go another way only to find the street closed so we had to go back to the original route. By that time I was getting upset and Bob said "it won't matter if we're a little late". I said but you don't understand "Claudia and Tom are getting married and we can't be late". He looked at me and said "REALLY"!
We made it on time. Claudia and Tom were waiting with smiles ready to get on with the show. There are only certain days and times that marriages are performed at the court house so there was a group of folks, couples as well as relatives waiting in line to get the license. When you get the license you are assigned the court room. We waited outside the court room on the benches where this pictures was taken. The ceremony was performed by a very nice Judge, I think he was a Circuit Judge. I took some pictures but then realized that I wanted to listen to the ceremony and stopped when the vows began. I really liked the vows that were used.
There were kisses and hugs, congratulations all around, license was signed and we were out the door. We met Claudia and Tom later that evening at the Steak House to celebrate the event. A good time was had by all. We cherish their friendship.
I had a birthday this month and Bob and I bought a birthday present for both of us, a Garmin GPS for the car. I had the opportunity to see one working several months ago on a trip to Ohio. I was really impressed. Although it doesn't do all the things our mapping program does on our lap top that works with a GPS, it is still amazing all the information it contains and how quickly it will recalculate a route if you go a different why than is indicated. You can save your favorites so all you do is go in and select the location already there and it will do a route from wherever you are. It's easy to enter a new destination. It's small and is easy to set up in the car and move from one car to another. It runs on 12 volts and also has battery power so you can take it with you on a walk.
We had an earth quake here in Illinois and it wasn't caused by Claudia and Tom's wedding. It happened about 4:40 a.m. in the morning this month and was centered south of us. I woke up to the house rocking around and creaking. Our bedroom is upstairs so there was a little more action. I thought I was back in California. There was relatively little damage. Bob looked up the history of earthquakes in Illinois and there were five in a three month period all 8.0 or more in 1811-1812. It caused all kinds of shifts and terrain changes. It was said that the Mississippi flowed backwards but actually it was wave action. It was not very populated which was a good thing. Reno has been getting their share recently. One of Bob's sons lives in Reno and he said he only felt one and so far has not experienced any problems.
Bob will be going to Alaska for his granddaughter's (Dorothy) wedding in June. He leaves June 19th for Fairbanks, the wedding is the 21st. After the wedding Bob and his son Michael and family, Sheryl, Becky and Little Michael will head for Sheryl's parents near Anchorage stopping at Denali along the way. They will spend a few days there and Bob hopes to see his granddaughter Amy, her husband and Great Grandson Coby. Michael and Bob will fly to Juneau for several weeks and do some work on their house. Sheryl and the kids will stay with ther parents so the work can get done without little people around. Bob will be flying back July 14th. My son and I will hold down the fort here at the "farm". Bob says he wants me to have something to do so he's trying to get the vegetable garden in before he leaves.
Dad is getting along good. He went for a little check up last week and all things checked out okay. Last week he told me he needed to go to the dentist because of a molar he has had problems with for several year. We went to his regular dentist, Dr. Lewis, yesterday (Monday) and Dr. Lewis said he needed to see an oral surgeon. He referred us to Dr. Anderson. We stopped by his office on our way home and there was an appointment available for this morning. Dad had the tooth pulled without any problems, the tooth was broken and infected and had been for awhile. The Dentist said he is a real trooper. We really liked Dr. Anderson. He was very friendly and concerned and all his staff were great too. Dad will go back next week to be sure all is okay.
The bearded guy goes in to have carpal tunnel surgery done on the other hand (left) May 1st. His right hand is doing well in fact he played the guitar and sang this past two Friday nights at Kickapoo.
Now is the stormy season for us, possible tornadoes and thunder and lightening. Weather spotting activities have started. We had our first storm warning of the season last Friday. We had a little sprinkling of snow today and it sure cooled off. Looks like April showers will bring May flowers.
We had a new visitor here on the "farm", as you can see, a skunk. Last summer Bob caught a skunk in his trap and after calling out the county animal control to help us let it loose we didn't see it again. Don't know if this is the same critter. It surprised us that it came out during the day and feed near the bird feeder right out the kitchen window. We could observe it's movements and take pictures without scaring it away. We would go outside and as long as we didn't make much noise and didn't get to close it just continued what it was doing. The skunk stayed around for several days but we haven't seen it now for a week or so. 
Yes, it is still winter! This was taken this past weekend. It's a beautiful site to wake up and look out the window and see this picture, a winter wonderland. It is not snow on the trees, it had been foggy the night before, no wind, and the moisture from the fog crystallized.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
last stop before going back and picking up the desk was an apple farm that usually sells apple juice/cider but this year because of the freeze, that happened in this part of the country in March, the apple crop was really effected and there was none to buy. We did get some apples that were very good.
Bob has put the lighted tree up again in the yard. When I took the picture it was snowing and it made kind of an unusual picture. You can see it at night coming around the corner before getting to the driveway. 
The Indy 500 is fast approaching. This is a big event in this area and for all racing enthusiasts who watch the Indy each year. I (Kathy) am fortunate to know folks who have been involved with the various social gatherings that take place during the month of May. For the past two years I have been invited to a couple of radio press conferences that take place at the race track where they interview the drivers. It is held at a motel/restaurant called the Brickhouse. This is a picture of my friend Dwayne and Irene the lady who has given Dwayne tickets each year. Dwayne is an amputee and needs to have somebody drive for him. I made two trips to Indianapolis, last Thursday (5/17) and the Thursday before (5/10). We have dinner and then the interviews begin. There are about twenty folks who sit together at one of the reserved tables who have been involved with the Indianapolis Race Track for many years, either working there or involved with the event one way or another. Irene was the secretary of the owner for many years.
A 2000 Toyota Sienna. It has only had one owner and 57,000 miles. We are both pleased with our purchase. Bob is off this evening with the car to the jam session. You won't see this car racing around the track on the 27th! 
Tom and Claudia joined us to enjoy the pancakes and the day exploring the replicas of the early days. Here is Tom and Bob sitting on the front porch of the log cabin. Bob looks like he belongs in that era except for the camouflage hat. They are enjoying their conversation and I think talking about what they would have done had they lived in the olden days. We also went to the building where they make maple syrup. They were finished for the season but were demonstrating how it was done.
Bob went on a camping trip, leaving the 4th of May. He went with six other guys. They do this a couple of times a year. Bob was invited to the one last fall and now seems to be a part of the group. Each of the fellows has a nick name. Bob's is biscuit since he made biscuts in the cast iron skillet the last camp out. Now, I'm not saying they turn out perfect all the time and in fact I don't think he made any this trip.
