Galena Getaway

Laughing at ourselves

After working through our busy Easter Sunday and after Mark worked all day Monday (his supposed "day off"every week), we were able to take a quick trip to Galena, Illinois for a tw0-night stay at a cozy bed and breakfast. This was a nice gift given to us from Mark's parents last year for a birthday and anniversary combo. My spring break has been this past week--I return to school tomorrow--and it's a slow enough time of year for Mark to take off for a couple days during the week from the restaurant, so we opted to go at a time when we knew it wasn't going to be really busy but also not particularly attractive outside either.

Galena, Illinois

Trolley ride through town...

Portrait of Grant at his homeGrant's dining room. Apparently, he liked his meat well-done and would NOT any wild fowl...
View from Grant's home

If you haven't heard of Galena, it's similar to towns like Hot Springs, Arkansas or Wisconsin Dells or Stillwater, Minnesota. The town itself is located in the far northwest corner of Illinois, just minutes from Dubuque, Iowa and is nestled in this really nice valley next to what used to be a very large river (Galena River). There is quite a history to the area, it being a major lead producer and a popular city for many politicians to reside, including President Ulysses S. Grant. Lincoln and Douglass both spoke there while campaigning against each other. Coincidentally Mark and I enjoyed throwing back a few cocktails at the old hotel Lincoln and Douglass spoke and stayed at, which is still running as a hotel with a full restaurant and bar. Mark actually assisted the nice bartender with removing a keg of Guiness and connecting a new line to it...he just can't get away from helping!!

Mark helping change the keg

Relaxing

We had a nice time, although both Mark and I both were getting over colds, so there was a lot of coughing, sniffling and being fairly lethargic. Pine Hollow Inn

Trolley time!Random sculpturesLions with tongues hanging out

An Easter Treat

Good morning and happy belated Easter to everyone. What made our Easter so special this year was a visit from Don and Hope and the kids AND brothers Bobby and Johnny coming out for a visit too. You see the restaurant does a huge brunch on Easter and Mother's Day (plus regular dinner service in the evening), so there was no other way to see everyone unless they came out to see us. I do feel bad though because it is such a busy day, that I didn't actually get to relax and hang out...but I think everyone enjoyed the delicious food and sunny atmosphere. We ended up serving over 575 people for brunch. I served the most people that day, at 80!



Hope assists Kenny in viewing

Anyway, we all love brunch days because they are very profitable and busy, but they are a lot of work! After all the tables are sat and served, ALL of the employees get to go through the line and eat as much as they want. After that though we all work together and rearrange the entire dining room back to its original dinner set-up (we use lots and lots of large tables in the main dining area as these are days where whole families come out to eat together, so these get taken down and smaller table get placed and set). The vacuuming alone takes a person 1 hour to do after brunch days! Messy messy messy.
Stephen




So thanks to Don and Hope and Johnny and Bobby for coming out! And sorry that you are part of the family, so ya'll get to hear extra dirt-info on the workings of restaurant life...i.e., surrendering your table after your "allotted time" so that we can turn it over to the next group. It's true folks: That is how restaurants make a profit on brunch days...turn the tables over.



Beth ponders life

I did get to spend some time with Kenny, Beth and Stephen on Saturday night though and that was just wonderful. I held Stephen for close to an hour and I just can't get over what a happy baby he is and how he is so completely mesmerized by his big brother and sister. Kenny and Beth spent quite a bit of time laughing and running around my living room playing with the dogs and dog toys, and Stephen was just soaking it all in, eyes getting round with excitement and little lips forming a smile as the kids squealed with joy.

Kenny enjoyed playing with all of the animals

Ingrid Visits!!!!!!!!

I added all of those exclamation points for a certain someone out there who just loves them. Hee hee hee!!

Anyway, Mark and I were treated last week to a special visit by Ingrid who was on her spring break (she teaches in a multiage classroom in Anchorage, Alaska). Although our visit was brief, as I don't have spring break until next week, it was still just great visiting with her for an evening and a quick breakfast. For those of you who don't know, Ingrid is also just over 6 months pregnant! I have been pestering her for awhile to start a blog (Alaska=beautiful country+amazing wildlife+ Jack the Wonder Dog)...but I think the birth of baby will be the true impetus for her...not me badgering...

Unfortunately, Mark seems to be sick with a flu and cold again. His symptoms so far, however, seem so mild compared to his horrible December illness. We hope that he will be better by the weekend, as it is Easter and we do a big brunch at the restaurant that day. Please send good well-wishing thoughts his way...

Colfax Visit

This entry is long overdue, but I have been plagued with a bum eye which has affected my productivity in just about every aspect of my life. More about that later....

So, the lovely above shot was taken almost 2 weeks ago and shows my sister's new home in Colfax. She and her family decided to move from Eau Claire to this absolutely beautiful area when they found a home and piece of property (10 acres!) with a very reasonable price tag. They will be keeping the big white house in Eau Claire and using it as a rental.

Bob gets a big squeeze from Emma

Jon shows us the huge garage

Lisa is now 8 months pregnant, so brothers John and Bob and myself thought we'd head up and not only check out the new digs, but assist in the move. What a location! I certainly don't feel I even know where to find it yet really...there were lots of turns and twists to the road...but this area is just gorgeous! The landscape is complete with unassuming farmland and large rolling hills, and as you drive through the countryside, you can see lots of turkey, deer and eagles.

Lisa chatting on the phone

Jojo and Emma singing karaoke

We had a couple of nice sunny days and were able to help move and transport items from the old house into the new house. It was really good to see everyone too, although we didn't get to see Mikey too much as he had prior committments to attend a winter camp with the Scouts.

Woodpeckers abound!

Me, Emma and Jojo

The house is very open and comfortable, with a cozy fireplace, a roomy kitchen, a finished basement and a very cool 4 season porch with lots of windows. I couldn't help but notice how much more I saw their cat, Cuddles, too; I think she would just get "lost" in the old white house, with its multiple floors and numerous but smaller rooms.

Bob

Now...onto my eye very quickly, as it is actually quite irritated right now and I want to wrap things up:

A couple of weeks ago I scratched my cornea somehow and my eye has not healed as well as I would hope. I've gone to the opthamologist twice and even to a corneal specialist. Apparently, the shape of my cornea has changed and I now have to be refitted for new contacts AND I have to get new glasses as well, since the ones I am now wearing are almost 8 years old and my vision has gotten worse over the years. Depressing. I can't even go for a new fitting for 2 weeks as the corneal specialist said I should wait until the goofy eye is totally healed. I also have to take eye drops for my eyes because they're too dry and I have to stick some disgusting gel in my problem eye every night. Yeah, gross. By the end of the day, my eyes are very tired and feel strained, and my interest in doing anything is pretty minimal...because I feel so tired. The situation stinks and really won't get better until I get new contacts and glasses, but that won't be for another month!

Window hanging in the porch
Superstar!!!