Here's One For Viola

Thought you might enjoy this one Mom!

(Side Note: My dad was a Hamm's Beer distributor in Chicago for many years)

From the Land of Sky Blue Waters,
From the land of pines' lofty balsams,
Comes the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.
Brewed where nature works her wonders,
Aged for many moons, gently mellowed,
Hamm's the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.
From across the rippling water,
Through the whisp'ring pines and birches,
Comes the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.
Comes a call to cool enchantment,
Comes a call to cool refreshment,
Hamm's the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.
Hints of lakes and sunset breezes,
Dance and sparkle in each glassful,
Hamm's the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.
From the Land of Sky Blue Waters,
From the land of pines' lofty balsams,
Comes the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.
Brewed where nature works her wonders,
Aged for many moons, gently mellowed,
Hamm's the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.
From across the rippling water,
Through the whisp'ring pines and birches,
Comes the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.
Comes a call to cool enchantment,
Comes a call to cool refreshment,
Hamm's the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.
Hints of lakes and sunset breezes,
Dance and sparkle in each glassful,
Hamm's the beer refreshing,
Hamm's the beer refreshing.

Hot Fun In The Summertime

Enjoying summer here at the Stage house. We went to Michigan for a week with Brian's extended family. The weather was cold but we had a good time and the kids had a ball. Both William and Claudia caught their first fish!!! A bunch of fish actually. Papa couldn't keep the worms coming fast enough! We also took the kids around the lake on a boat ride, which they both enjoyed. William enjoyed the whole boat ride.......Claudia enjoyed it until she fell asleep!

The kids are enjoying their outdoor time. They have been playing with their next door neighbor friend Ellie almost every day. It's so much fun to watch them play. I love the sound of the bikes and big wheels riding up and down the driveway. They have been having loads of fun playing on the swing set (all 3 kids now know how to pump...I told them they have all joined the "swingers' club"!!!). They also enjoy making sand "guacamole" (the girls like Mexican), playing ball, swimming in Elllie's pool and just being kids. This summer is so much different than last year when they played side by side, but not together.

William was stung by his first bumblebee this past weekend. He was stung twice.... once on his upper lip and once on the bridge of his nose. Both areas swelled up, but he survived after a few necessary tears.

Claudia has been sleeping without guardrails on her bed. She's so excited to finally have a "big girl" bed. The first night she fell off the bed twice. Normally this would not be such a big deal, but it was for her. She is still wearing leg braces every night. She CAN'T walk in the braces.
I woke up to some commotion in the hall, assuming it was the cat, but it was really Claudia, army crawling into my bedroom!
"I fell out of bed", she moaned, "I'm okay".
Then it happened again and she once again army crawled into my room.
Poor Claudia. I can't wait for her to be done with those silly braces! Since that first night, she has remained in bed without any falls.

On a sad note, my dad's brother passed away. He lived a long and happy life and always had a smile on his face. We will miss him, but he is reunited with his wife that he lost 18 years ago and I am positive that he is happy to be with her again.

William's 5th birthday is coming up. His birthday party is this Saturday. He's going with a pirate theme this year. Aarrrrr matey! Should be a fun time!

A STAR IS BORN !!!!!!

Randy and Brian

Brian wearing his Papa's vintage suit and fedora

Filming in Joliet

Last night we had the opportunity to attend Crown Point, Indiana's movie premiere of "Public Enemies" starring Brian Stage and other lessor known actors such as Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. To make the evening even more special, we were joined by my beautiful sister and her handsome husband.

Our evening began with a ride on a trolley to the Hall of Justice in Crown Point. At the Hall of Justice, we checked in and then walked the red carpet with my movie star husband. Then we headed next door to the Old Sheriff's House and Jail, where scenes from the movie were filmed. We were taken on a guided tour of the jail and had the opportunity to see all the areas where the movie was filmed as well as the four bunk cell from the 1928 section of the jail where Dillinger was actually housed (this was not in the film).

Hall of Justice

Side note: prior to the filming of the movie, the jail was not open to the public except for sporadic tours. The local teenagers (Brian and his brother included) often broke into the jail late at night to explore.

Old Sheriff's House and Jail

After the tour, we headed back to the Hall of Justice for a few hours of wining and dining at the VIP party. Many people were dressed in 1930's dresses and suits. Brian wore his Papa's vintage 3 piece suit and fedora. During the party there were comments from the mayor of Crown Point, the sheriff's of both Lake & Porter Counties, and representatives from the Old Sheriff's House and Jail Foundation (to whom the party's proceeds went) and Film Indiana, along with raffles and an auction of an authentic Thompson submachine gun ("Tommy gun") used during the Dillinger incidents in 1934.

After the party, we all drove to the theatre for the premiere. We had great center seats and were loaded down with popcorn and drinks, our eyes fixed on the screen, trying not to blink in case there was a slim chance we might see Brian. And then a star was born.......

BRIAN WAS IN THE FILM!!!!!!

The very first scene is prisoners marching at the Michigan City State Penitentiary (it was actually filmed at Joliet's Stateville Prison). Brian is 6th in line. You can't see his face, but we knew it was him because of his height (he is the shortest ;-).

The second scene takes place in the Shirt Shop of the prison. The prisoners walk into the shop and sit down at their sewing machines to begin work.

BRIAN IS IN THE CENTER OF THE SCREEN!!!!!

Sandy brown hair...scar on his face, which the make-up crew made even more pronounced for the film. We are guessing he had about five seconds of screen time!!

Brian also made the local newspaper. Check it out!

Going Batty

Last night, Brian and the kids were upstairs getting ready for bed when I heard the all too familiar shriek. It was not from one of the kids... it was from Brian. The shriek that
announced "a visitor has arrived".

Yup, another stinking bat got into the house. Did you notice the word "another", as in"this is not the first one"? Bats, in this old house, occasionally make an appearance. We were initiated with the first one before we had the kids. Brian, the environmentalist / lover of nature, screamed like a little girl on a major sugar high. I, on the other hand, remained clam and removed the bat from the house using a shoebox. Actually, Brian did eventually calm down stopped freaking out and helped me.

The second bat was huge... it had a wing span of a pterodactyl! It swooped at us with speed unknown to most bats. We hit the floor in a fast army crawl, grabbed a golf umbrella for protection and crawled through the house and opened every door and window.

The third home intruder found it's way into our bedroom after William was born. Brian freed it by, once again, opening the doors and windows. By this time, I was starting to feel unkind lethal towards the critters and was in search of a more permanent way of removal.

We have also had several bats in the basement. There is nothing worse than folding laundry and seeing a moving object out of the corner of your eye. Brian also has had a few bats taunt him while he was in the basement. One dive bombed him resulting in "the scream". Another was found at the bottom of a laundry basket.

I am sure that there have been more, but I've tried to erase the memories.

Why don't we get rid of the bats, you ask? It's not that easy. We've priced it out. It cost and arm and a leg (or a wing) and there is no guarantee that they will all be removed or that they won't eventually return. Looks like a bat house might make a nice addition to our family!

Grandma's Birthday Pictures

Viola and Family


Grandma and the Kids

Enjoying Dessert With Matthew

Sydney and Jordan

Andrew and Sydney

Uncle Randy and William

Jordan... the oldest

Claudia... the youngest

" Happy Birthday to You..."

Rusty the Railcat and the Kids

Running the Field at the Railcats Game

(Claudia and Sydney are in the middle..litttle pink girl)

Happy 70th Birthday Grandma!!!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

From Your Grandkids

We hope you have the best Birthday EVER!

We love you to the moon and back!

1970

January 1971

Grandma, Jordan and Sydney

Grandma and Sydney

Grandma, Andrew and Matthew

2002

October 1999

October 1999

June 2005

September 2006

May 2006

May 2008

Jordan: You make the BEST pineapple upside down cake EVER!!
Sydney: I LOVE to play at Grandma's house.

Andrew: You always pick out the best gifts for me!

Matthew: I like to play baseball at your house.

William: Grandma has the coolest toys like dump trucks and diggers!

Claudia: You make the best popcorn!

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is finally here... the beginning of summer! Ahhhhh!

We have a fun-filled weekend planned.

Saturday:

Swim lessons at the YMCA for the kids.

Brian and I will attempt to exercise at the YMCA (yes, this is true).

Mow lawn, clean house, make a dent in the huge pile of laundry.

Drop kids off at Grandma's house.

Go out for supper with friends (as in no children).

Streak through the neighborhood (just wondering if anyone will catch this).

Pick up kids from Grandma's house.

Sleep!

Sunday:

Grandma's 70th Birthday Brunch at Strongbow.

Grandma's Birthday Baseball game at the Steel Yard. Go Railcats!

Rumor has it that Grandma is throwing out the first pitch!

Back to Grandma's house for Birthday treats.

Monday:

Two hour steam train ride between North Judson and LaCrosse, Indiana.

Recover from weekend........

Don't Fear The Reaper

This morning I was reading my local newspaper and to my surprise read that Blue Oyster Cult will be playing at our county fair this summer! I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of BOC. However, the music does bring back fond memories. About 20 years ago (yes, I am dating myself) I went to a bar in River Grove, Illinois called "The Thirsty Whale" with my sister and a friend. BOC was playing there and my friend wanted to see the show..... so did I (after all, I was familiar with 2 songs). We arrived at the venue and discovered that we were not dressed appropriately for the concert. We looked clean cut, as in "preppy" (remember it was 20 years ago) and the rest of the BOC crowd was decked in in leather... lots of it and chains. I remember a few head bandannas (skullcaps ?) too! Even though I felt a bit uncomfortable in my black Bermuda shorts and striped shirt, it was a fun show! I distinctly remember my friend jamming out to the song "Godzilla". I am amazed that my friend didn't suffer brain damage from his head thrashing!

So Porter County Fair and Blue Oyster Cult here I come! I will be there decked out in leather, chains, skullcap and lighter (you know..... to wave in the air)! I hope I fit in with the locals. Hmmmm.... Maybe I ought to reconsider my outfit. County Fair.... farmers.... Don't want to stand out AGAIN! I'm thinking overalls might be a better choice!

This is for the Porter County farmers.... "Don't Fear The Reaper".

Kathy's Spinach Salad

My friend, Kathy, makes this delicious spinach salad. It's so yummy that I have asked her for the recipe numerous times. I always write down the recipe and then immediately lose it. So, this last time when I called to get the recipe, I stuck it to my bulletin board (If I stick it in a cookbook, it will get lost.... always happens!). I have made this for several get-togethers and it's a guaranteed hit!

Salad

Spinach (I use baby spinach)

Red onion - sliced or diced

Bacon - cooked and crumbled

Fresh sliced mushrooms

Sliced hard boiled eggs

Dressing

2/3 cup oil

1/3 cup vinegar (cider or white)

1 medium onion (coarsely chopped)

1 tsp celery seed

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3 tsp yellow mustard

1/2 cup sugar or sweetener of choice... honey

Put dressing ingredients in blender.

Blend until smooth.

Toss desired amount of dressing with salad.

Ketchup

I apologize to my 2 readers for my lack of blogging. I have either been sick, too busy or out of town. So here is a "Ketchup" of what has been happening with the Stage Family:

William had pink eye.
Claudia had pink eye.
I had pink eye.
Brian had pink eye.
I got sick with an awful head cold.
William broke our camera.
Brian bought another camera.
We left for Arizona.
Brian's pink eye returned while in Arizona.
Returned home from Arizona 1 week later.
Started laundry and putting vacation "stuff" away.
William had a fever and cough for 3 days.
Claudia also got sick.
I got another cold.
William and Claudia had (and still have) runny noses and coughs.
Made last car payment.
Car started rattling.
Replaced brakes on car.
Car still rattling.
Brian's brother, Eric, and his family came to visit from Jacksonville, Florida.
Still putting vacation "stuff" away.
We celebrated Mimi's (Brian's mother) 60th Birthday.
We went to the Brookfield Zoo with the whole Stage Family.
I mowed the yard.
I am trying to load new camera software onto the computer.
I am constantly being interrupted by 2 children!
I will eventually post pictures......