Date Night With Our Granddaughters...

We had a Friday Date Night with our granddaughters to see Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee. This was all their idea, which made it even more special!

We picked them up at Son #2's home and proceeded to Milwaukee from there. When it started snowing mid-afternoon, I was concerned that we'd be traveling in crummy weather, but it stopped just before we left home, so the roads were clear sailing. It did snow while we watched the Milwaukee Symphony perform the music track behind the film, but again, it stopped before the end of the performance.

The coolest thing about driving there and back was that our parking spot is almost where this photograph was taken, so all we had to do was cross the street twice to get back in the Explorer!

 

 

Directly outside the theater doors was this little area with the Hogwarts School flag, so people were taking turns posing in front of it for photographs. Unlike the time when I went alone with the girls, there were no big merchandise sales areas. They had a web address shown during intermission if folks wanted to purchase any show souvenirs.

Of course, there was a butter beer (Granddaughter #1), a soda (Granddaughter #2), and popcorn for during the performance. Butter beer, by the way, isn't beer. It actually is a sparkling beverage that tastes like butterscotch candy. It's quite enjoyable!

 

 

One more photo on the way out after the performance. We had a fabulous time, and were so happy that the ladies chose to spend a Friday night with Grandma and Grandpa to celebrate my birthday. Granddaughter #1 is engaged now, and Granddaughter #2 is a college student, so it was a real treat to know that they wanted to be with us rather than the million other things they could have been doing.

 

During the movie, all four of us took turns preempting the dialogue. We've all seen this one so many times that we know exactly what's going to happen next - and who's going to say what. We laughed about that (among other things) all the way home.

We had a great time, and we all agreed that we'll make this an annual event until all four of us (with Potter-loving additions, of course) have seen all seven movies together like this. We're already looking forward to the next one!

 

I agreed to cover an early shift today, so I'll be at work by 5:30 am. I'm sure there's a nap in my future this afternoon. Have a great day! See you tomorrow.

 

Saturday Night Concert...

 

 

Saturday night was a night to remember. We scored tickets to the Vince Gill concert in Milwaukee at the Riverside Theater. First, the theater is a wonderful, intimate venue and second, we were seeing someone we hadn't seen in over forty years.

When Handsome and I were first dating in the early 1980s, he took me to a county fairgrounds north of home. There, we watched a young band perform while standing on a hay wagon as their stage. We were able to stand within twenty feet of the band (it certainly wasn't a packed venue), and we spent a memorable sunny afternoon listening to great music.

That band was Pure Prairie League, and the lead singer was a 23 (or so) year old named Vince Gill. He was already a great writer and performer, and had a voice like an angel. I remember going home and listening to a cassette tape of their music until the tape wore out.

 

 

A week ago, Handsome told me that Vince would be performing in Milwaukee this last weekend. Did I want to go? Heck, yeah! He got tickets, and we drove to The Riverside for a night of beautiful music and rekindled memories.

I will say we weren't the only ones. As we sat in row W from the front (by the alphabet, that's twenty three rows from the stage), I scanned the audience. There were a lot of white and grey-haired heads bobbing up and down to the music - just like we were.

 

Handsome and I have had a few "our" songs through the years. The Long and Winding Road was the processional for our wedding. Mel Torme's What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life is another. Then, there's always Anne Murray's Can I Have This Dance. 

Saturday night, Handsome and I looked at each other as we listened to another song. One we hadn't heard before. Sunday morning, I asked him if he remembered the title of "that one song", and sure enough, he did. It struck us both the same way, and our newest "our" song is "Look At Us". 

I brought it up on my iPad, and we ran the music through our little Bose speaker for better sound. We both stood looking at each other with tears in our eyes. If you know us, you know it's a perfect song for the two of us - even after forty four years together, married forty one of them. If you're interested, you can Google Vince Gill "Look At Us", or pull it up on iTunes to listen to it. You may even find it's a perfect song for you and your sweetheart, too!

Our musical taste runs from jazz to pop to country - and a lot in between. The only requirement is that it be "good music". Vince's concert was filled with just that. You know it's good when the band is having a great time, right along with the audience.

He told great stories (mentioning more than once that he's sixty eight years old now), has a wonderful sense of humor, and writes the best music. It was like seeing an old friend again, except that he has no idea who we are. All I know for sure is that he's a part of Handsome's and my story, and it's a concert we'll never forget. 

What A Weekend...

I was a busy beaver on Saturday. I started my bread dough so that I could get the loaves made before the heat wave that began on Sunday. Then, I progressed to my concurrent project...

...canning a batch of pears. Approximately twelve pounds yielded these beautiful seven pints. Andy and Shelly's tree was extremely prolific this year, being so full of pears that it threatened to break branches. I know my limits, so when offered, I took what I knew I could can in one session.

Neighbors and family came to harvest much of it, but I also picked another two boxes for my niece, Stephanie and her daughter-in-law (who wants to learn how to can from her MIL). I planned to take them to great-nephew, Ethan's daughter's Birthday party yesterday but fate had other plans. I did manage to hand the boxes off to our nephew, Dan who would make sure they got to his Ethan's wife (the DIL). Stephanie and E's wife will take it from there.

So, you wondering what "fate" was up to? It was kind of scary...

After baking and canning, dinner got a late start on Saturday. I decided to do burgers on the grill, as I'd just finished baking rolls along with the bread. I went outside to put them on the grill and then came back into the house.

Handsome was having a cognitive episode similar to the one he had mid-August that necessitated his brain surgery. After a very few minutes of assessment, I grabbed my wallet, Handsome's hand, and we drove back to Sheboygan Hospital's emergency facility.

Again, they immediately got him situated in a room and did their evaluation. He seemed to have resolved, but they did a CAT scan anyway. Results: Nothing abnormal that they could see. Even so, they wanted to continue monitoring him, given his medical history. The doctor said to call him back into the room should anything change.

We were just talking together and Handsome seemed fine, but suddenly, he was searching for words again. I went into the hall and the nurse called the doctor back into our room. He started asking Handsome questions, and the words came out all jumbled. He was having trouble complying with requests like "raise your legs", and can you say "no way, no how". He was definitely having a problem. The doctor ordered another CAT scan, but this time with contrast. Results: Still nothing jumped out at them.

The doctor decided that Handsome should stay under observation overnight, so he was admitted into the hospital. He'd be seen by a neurologist Sunday morning, so I kissed my heartbeat goodnight and drove home. I arrived back at Hickory Hill after midnight.

I went back to the hospital Sunday morning to find the neurologist ordered an MRI, and the results were already back. He has another brain bleed, and Saturday night he was having a series of TIAs - mini strokes - which had caused his alarming behavior.

By 6:30 pm, he was being transported by ambulance back down to Milwaukee to St. Luke's Hospital. The Head of Neurology is his doctor and will be performing another surgery for Handsome this week. They'll decide when he's going to have said surgery this morning, so I won't know when I have to go back to Milwaukee until I get word. I'll go down for the surgery (of course) and our younger son has offered to come up to get me, and then drive me to the hospital as he's well-aware of my disdain for the drive. Other than surgery day, both sons will visit Handsome in Milwaukee in my stead. We'll likely all be there together for his operation.

So, it's no surprise I didn't make it to the party, and I never got the chance to finish my great-great niece's gift. It's something I've designed myself. I'll show you my design tomorrow, and hope to sew more on it today, barring an immediate surgical procedure. I'll mail it when it's done. Don't all five year olds love getting mail?

I think you can already guess my fervent request. If you're so moved, I'd deeply appreciate prayers for my beloved. My faith is holding me together right now. I know every prayer is heard, and I'll continue to update you on his progress. Here we go again...

A Most Special Day...

Brynwood Needleworks - Handsome and Me

 

For the past forty years, Handsome and I have been enthusiastic supporters of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. We enjoyed attending concerts for many seasons prior to moving to Florida, and have attended more than a few special concerts since our return. 

 

Before we moved back, we had begun reading about the MSO purchasing this property, and turning it into their new home. So, when we were offered a private tour of the facility, we jumped at the opportunity!

Brynwood Needleworks - Bradley Symphony Center Grand Lobby

 

The new home of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is a former historic downtown landmark, the Warner Grand Theater. The entire building harkens back to the Art Deco period, and this lobby immediately transports you to that era.

Our entry into the historic section of the new Bradley Symphony Center leads directly into the breathtaking Schmitz Family Grand Lobby (named for the family who sponsored the renovation of this area). While the ceiling resembles tin tiling, it's actually restored, painted plaster work. The soaring ceilings and all light fixtures are original (or in the case of damaged lights, completely restored to replicate the original).

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Concert Hall

 

When we entered the main concert hall, we actually gasped. This photograph really doesn't capture the oppulence and detail of the murals and trim. The decor is reminiscent of a French palace.

 

From this vantage point, we could actually hear the conversations of the workmen on the stage! That's how truly wonderful the acoustics are.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Concert Hall Hanging Light

 

I took many photographs of light fixtures. (You can see them hanging on each side of the main stage in the panoramic photo.) There are two fixtures like these in the main concert hall. We thought they looked like bees, and they're huge! All the lights throughout the building were breathtaking.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Modern Section of Bradley Symphony Center

 

As you pass from the west side of the building, past the Art Deco elevators, the wall opens to the newer east section of the building. There are more soaring ceilings, an entry from the street for ticket holders, and gathering areas for intermissions - with concession areas. This large area (as well as a matching area on the second floor) will be open to the public for weddings and other social gatherings when the Symphony isn't performing.

Brynwood Needleworks - Occulus Above The Staircase

 

At the top of the massive spiral staircase is an occulus that visually opens to the Milwaukee sky. I'm guessing that this staircase/occulus area is easily thirty feet in diameter, which is in keeping with the grandeur of the space. 

 

There are six more floors above this level, housing classrooms, an extensive music library, rehearsal rooms, and offices, but this is as high as we went.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - "Fritzed" Windows

Our personal guide, Daniel, made sure we saw a hidden secret on the salon level. He wanted us to see the windows up close, as he described them as "fritzed". If you stand within a foot or so of them, you'll see names of musicians and composers embedded in the glass...from floor to ceiling. Handsome and I stood there quite a while, pointing out names to each other. Isn't that a cool feature? We sure thought so.

 

You can imagine just how special this tour was to us as music-lovers, but also for Handsome as a musician. We're anxiously awaiting the return of live music events, and are really looking forward to attending concerts when the MSO begins playing in their new home. 

Doobie Brothers Concert...

Brynwood Needleworks/Donna Liljegren Image © 2018

 

Yesterday was my BFF, Lee's Birthday. To celebrate, we went to Milwaukee to the Riverside Theater to see The Doobie Brothers. It was a fabulous, fun concert, and we heard pieces they'd never before sung in public, along with their our old favorites.

Lee and I were joking that there sure were a lot of "old" people at the concert. (Of course, we were part of that demographic.) Truth is, everyone who attended likely feels just as young-at-heart as we do. The one thing that marked our "evolution" was that when the Doobies were first popular in the 70's, all of us were out dancing all night to their music. When I first saw them in concert (also with Lee about 15 years ago), we were still dancing. Last night, we were all singing along, but when I scanned across the audience, all of us were sitting in our seats - either rocking or bobbing our heads in time to the music (including me). Even so, every one of us loved the music last night, as much as when we were teenagers back in the 70's.

We picked up commemorative t-shirts, went to dinner afterward, and then drove back from Milwaukee, where I dropped Lee off to get her car. Then, we both headed home. I got back to the farm at 1:30, jabbered for a while with Steve, and then headed off to bed.

I think it was a perfect way for two girlfriends to celebrate a Birthday, and best of all, we now have a new memory of a fun time spent together...with The Doobie Brothers and a host of other fans, of course.

Happy Birthday, Dear Lee.

May you have many, many more happy days.

xo

Family Day...

Me, With My nephew, Logan

 

My youngest sister picked me up at the farm late this morning, and we headed to Milwaukee to see her son (my nephew). I love this boy, but with his work schedule and me being in Florida for the last sixteen years, we just never seemed to connect when I was back in Wisconsin. That all changed yesterday.

I got to see his apartment and visit with him for a little while. Our time together was actually cut short because he got called in to work on his day off. He's a sous chef for a relatively new restaurant (which he really loves), so he's needed to prep the food that's then presented to hungry customers. Duty calls, and he answers the bell.

 

That's A Lot Of Pearly Whites!

 

I really kinda stink at taking selfies, but I wanted to commemorate our visit with a photo of the three of us. We agreed we'll have to do this again soon on his real day off so we can have a longer visit.

 

After a too short time together, he headed off to work and my sister and I drove down to the Third Ward for lunch. (Delicious, by the way.) It was a nice way to spend a Tuesday, for sure.