Welcome to our new home... in Crete, Illinois!

This is our backyard. The home is on .55 acre lot which leaves us with a fabulous yard to play in!
Another angle of our backyard. The previous owners left us their tramboline. Excercise anyone? Man am I out of shape!!!
This is the livingroom. And the humungo TV they left us. Any bids? We're asking $500.oo OBO. It's a Sony TV, rear projection, 61 in. This is PERFECT for watching ATV videos, but you'll have to come and get it. And if someone from Nevada is willing to drive all the way out to pick it up... we'll give it for free!
And this, my friends, is a hot mug of cocoa's best friend on a cold winter night. Isn't it a beautiful fireplace?
This is in the Master bedroom. The room has a vaulted ceiling and two skylights. The pillar I'm leaning against is the other side of the fireplace. I thought that was a neat idea. And as much as I love the colour orange... this room will be painted!
The hallway to the two bedrooms and bathroom.

This is the road view of the house.
This is the garage. Major selling point... wink wink. Actually, the garage will need a bit of work to make it great... but it's alright for now!
Another great view of the backyard from the property line.
View from the road down garage side of house.

A Visit from Opa and Oma Hanemaayer

Mom and Dad Hanemaayer came out for a visit over Labour Day weekend. It sure was nice to see them again!! And James could smile for them and laugh for them and drool on them and cry for them. It was great bonding time!

Lucky for them, they had the best accomadations they'll have for a long time because of the home we're blessed to stay in right now. The home is about 10 years old, and because my Dad is redoing their own home, it was a wealth of ideas... some good, some not.

Our schedule of events included antiqueing, thrifts shopping, and regular shopping; we also went to a fall festival in Frankfort and saw a b'zillion crafts (I think it was the second hottest day of the season that day); and we headed up to the north end to visit the Botanical Gardens. What beautiful gardens they have there!! Below are my favourite pictures from there. Please enjoy!

I'm always amazed at the beautiful blooms that come from cacti... which on its own is quite dull. ...actually it's prickly but you get my point. (hahaha.. another pun.. smile)
This was an archway of apple trees. Isn't it amazing how they train them to do that?
Lily pads. Sorry Marie, I didn't see any princes.
A waterfall from the Waterfall Gardens.
My sweet Mom and Dad... aww!

The sun is in our eyes... hence the squinting.
This is a ball of orchids that I thought was cool! They planted them in a ball of moss.
This is Dad, stopping to smell the flowers.
A little family portrait.
The beautiful hibiscus. I love this flower!!