Robb's birthday

Yesterday would have been my son's 50th birthday. I had planned a family celebration with "Over the Hill" things  and whatever we could think of.
Obviously that wasn't happening.  But his sisters, his father and I did decide to mark the occasion with a trip to Harrah's casino in North Kansas City...Robb loved to play ! We ate dinner in the buffet and went to play the slots. Robb would have sneered a little at that since he was a Black Jack and poker player!!  But he must have been keeping an eye on his sisters! At almost at once they won ! Since they were playing together... they cashed out and split the loot!  And a sad day took on a nice glow!!


Today is Halloween... for many many childhood years Robb celebrated today with a party and friends going "trick or treat" with him.
We are headed out to my daughter's... she's cooking dinner for us and my DH will be handing out candy. I wonder what Harper , the new rambunctious puppy, will think of all this.  Is that why we have been invited so that the DH can cope with her?? Better him than me!

Harper was great... didn't pay much attention to the doorbell ringing or children saying "trick or treat"!   The Oak grove kids started out downtown hitting all the stores then off to the neighborhoods. We helped give out 5 large bags of candy !! Lots and lots of "thank yous"!

Large Frosty the Snowbear 2018

This is my lead bear for the Bright Star "Holiday Stars" online show November 9th - 12th.  I make Frosty the Snowbears each year. This is my 2018 large one. He is 14 inches tall.

Go to the sidebar on the right for a link to the show!!

It was not too cold, quite sunny and only a little breezy this morning so I decided a walk would be nice.... good for the leg too! So off I went. Lovely leaves lay in the gutters and several of the trees were showing off too.
The walk went well though I am a little exhausted...LOL !  Have to do it more often!

creeping closer and closer

We are creeping ever closer to closing on Robb's house. Signing takes place Friday. My husband has been doing all the little fix-up the buyers requested ... and some big ones like arranging for a new roof.  The Kansas City area had a huge amount of rain last week which made it obvious that the sump pump wasn't working. So my husband and son-in-law bought a new pump and replaced it. They found that the bottom of the sump was filled with dirt and leaves which had to be removed first before the new motor could be put in.  It took forever... including trips to Home Depot ( as always) for some little thing they just had to have!
One good thing... fixing the sump helped the new radon detector work better!!
My DH has a few more bits and pieces of Robb's to bring to our home and then we are done.

My daughters have been enjoying a trip away to Orlando. One had a convention/seminar to attend and the other went to keep the first company. They both needed the chance to get away! Last night they "dined" at Pio Pio ... a chain... but good and sort of Cuban in style.... enjoying rice, empanadas, fried pork skins, plantains etc. They said they ordered too much!! LOL

We stayed home (lol) enjoying their texts while I worked on bears etc. for the next online show ( November). Looking at what I have made you would think Christmas was coming !! I will add a photo of my lead bear shortly

what to do with chestnuts

A friend has a wonderful chestnut tree that has loads and loads of chestnuts every year. I like to roast them in the oven... cut a "X" so they don't explode and roast them.
My Mother used them in stuffing which I was not fond of... so have been looking for some other ways of using them.
Suggestions welcome!!!  I'm not sure the "comment" section works, so email me at bettina.groh@gmail.com with you ideas!!
Thank you

Harper Lee

Instead of spending yesterday sorting through more of my son's household items we ( my daughters and grandson) headed out to Ottawa, Kansas ( Prairie Pups Shelter) to see Harper Lee... a part bloodhound 5 month old puppy DDL had on reserve.
This has been a "lack of joy" year for all of us... and it looks like Harper will add some. After spending some time with her at the shelter DDL decided she was a good fit and paid the fee. We all settled in for the trip back ( about 1.5 hours). Harper did very well though she did whine a few times and let out a typical bloodhound bay!
I wish I had more pictures... she loves sitting on laps though she will soon outgrow that! Now she and Floyd ( DDL's 11 year old Australian Shepherd mix who has been missing his companion Chloe) have to get used to one another.
My husband and son-in-law who did not go to Ottawa with us did get a lot done at my son's while we were gone!!

BTW.. it will be interesting to see how big she ends up!!