More eating...lots of good home grown food!

To take up where I last left off, Abe's Hideaway was a delight!  Three of us had the bourbon flatiron steaks.  They were so tender and delicious, one of the best steaks I've ever had.  Marilyn had the catfish.  Fortunately the head was cut off, it was a pretty big fish!  When we were finishing our meal we noticed it getting darker and darker and it wasn't because it was getting late.  There was a big storm coming in and it down poured with lots of wind!  Needless to say we ordered another coffee and waited until it was just raining...LOL!  

Friday morning we packed up and headed to Pesotum.  It's a small town south of Champaign.  Ted's cousin Shawna and her husband Todd have a big old farmhouse and allowed us to park in their yard.  They have electricity and water we can hook up to.  Ted maneuvered around the trees, rocks, light pole and clothesline and got us settled in!  We were greeted by Sarge and Miss Kitty, they were on guard duty!

Friday evening we went to their favorite Mexican restaurant in Tuscola.  Their two sons and their families joined us and it was a fun time!  Several of us had strawberry margaritas and they were pretty potent!

On Saturday we drove back over to Springfield to meet up with one of my former co-workers at the CPA firm.  Donna and I worked together for about eight years.  We always had a lot of fun when we were working together and it’s always a kick to catch up with her.  She had us laughing at her stories as always!

Saturday evening Todd barbequed chicken, we had fresh apples from their trees cooked with cinnamon, au gratin potatoes, and home grown tomatoes.  Everything was delicious!  Todd's son Stephen had been working on their tractor for them and got it running.  He took Kara and Sophia (1 1/2 for a ride)!

On Sunday we drove about 50 miles to Clinton, Illinois.  Some friends from Texas, John and Romola, were visiting her sister and some friends.  We met for lunch.  The first place we chose to meet was closed because they served alcohol and it was Sunday, so the government makes them close on Sundays.  We figure it might be their city government law.  Anyway, there was a popular place called the Shack.  It was pretty busy when we got there.  I’m thinking people choose it more for the price than the quality of the food.  The pulled pork sandwich and fries was $3.99, I had grilled cheese with bacon and tomatoes…$3.99!  They are famous for their burger and shakes.  Ted agreed that the chocolate shake was delicious!

Last night Todd barbecued pork loin steaks.  They were really good and we had sweet corn from their garden, some home made applesauce and some Texas toast!    For dessert we had homemade pumpkin ice cream.  It was really good, like eating pumpkin pie without the crust!

Sophie has been pretty mad at us for leaving her all the time so we are hanging out at home today with her.  We are having dinner with Shawna tonight.  Todd switches to the night shift 4:30 pm to 4:30 am, for two weeks.  He works at Cabot, one of the large employers in the area, in 12-hour shifts.  He works two days, has three off, works three days has four off.  Some kind of weird schedule like that!

We will leave here on Wednesday and make a stop in Memphis, Arkansas to get the motorhome oil changed, then to Red Bay Alabama to the Tiffen Factory.

Now for a sweet Sophie picture:

Home grown food..."Ain't Life Grand!"