DIY FLYPAPER!!

A Journey to Sycamore

Greetings!  In case you hadn’t heard I had a total knee replacement on my right knee this past Monday.  I am doing great, but still building up my endurance.  More from knee replacement central tomorrow.

Late last year the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce and Discover Sycamore’s Jamie Sands began developing bus tours for folks to come visit the Sycamore area. My grandma was involved with 3 different senior groups where she lived and was always active with the bus tours. It was a great way to get out for a day, learn something new, have lunch with friends, and do a little shopping.

Just about two weeks ago the first of the bus tours came to Sycamore. As with all firsts there were glitches… the bus was 2 hours late which meant all of the destinations on the tour had to scramble in order for the tour to be a success. In true Sycamore fashion the tour went off effortlessly, with much praise from the tour company and promises to spread the word! 

A group of 56 active seniors came visiting from Iowa. They had a delicious lunch from Sweet Dreams Catering and Desserts at Blumen Gardens and had some time for shopping there. Then they were able to tour our new Historical Museum at the Engh Farm and the Smithsonian Journeys exhibit. They also created a craft at the Paper Doll House, saw how candies are made at the Confectionary, toured the Midwest Natural History museum, and saw our community. While these folks loved the tours, it seems what left the biggest impression was the Sycamore folks they met. Phil Watkins and his staff from Sweet Dreams, Joel Barczak and the friendly folks at Blumen Gardens,  Tom Oestricher and the kind docents at Sycamore Historical Museum who learned that tours are like babies…they don’t always follow the schedule we set for them. Mary and her helpers at Paper Doll House,  Rich Parra for his aid in getting the tour to the Midwest Museum when an audible play needed to be called, Todd and the sweet folks at the Confectionary, and most of all Jamie Sands and Megan Yockey from Discover Sycamore who in my eyes delivered just what it is that makes Sycamore so extraordinary: friendliness, kindness, and compassion.  Yes, we have so much to tour and see, but what always gets our visitors is how friendly our town is, and it seems this bus tour left town amazed by the friendliness and charm of Sycamore.  

This morning the Chamber shared with their membership a video they are using as part of their presentation to potential tour groups. It was shot during the inaugural tour, and from the looks of it I’d like to sign up!!  Great job, Sycamore!!

 

It’s FLYPAPER, Daddio!

Reasons to love rainy days

I loved waking up during the night last night and hearing the rain outside, and even though it made it harder to get out of bed this morning, I love a rainy day.

I’ve been thinking about the rain today and why I like rainy days.  

I love the song Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head when I was younger and remember singing along with it on my mom’s car radio. I always thought it was amazing when the radio stations would play it on a rainy day!

 

My next rain-loving reason is another song that was fun to sing along with. Eddie Rabbit’s, I Love A Rainy Night. This video is pretty fun with lightning and thunder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMZ4amjbqhU

 

Of course, I saved the best for last. This one has been one of my all-time favorites since I first heard it. Amazingly, my kids have both discovered it and love it just as much as I do.  This year when the girls and I got waylaid in Atlanta on our return home from Florida it was a rainy night. When we finally made it to the hotel, Maggie quietly began singing, “It’s A Rainy Night In Georgia”.  After a long, discouraging evening, it made me smile, and appreciate the rain.  I hope you will too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPkwU3hWQmg

T.G.I.F.!!

In the words of the late Paul Harvey, “It’s Friday!”

Thankfully, summer seems to have finally decided to move into Sycamore, and the rains may have taken a break for the day!  This seems like the perfect evening to be out and about in Sycamore!

 A couple weeks ago my sister’s family joined ours for dinner on the somewhat new SkyDeck at MVP’s restaurant. What a fantastic view, the food was yummy, and I am addicted to the SkyDeck Sunset drink–especially as you watch the sunset–heavenly!

P.J.’s Courthouse Grille has their awesome patio which is a fun place to get together with friends for drinks and munchies to celebrate the end of the week. Watch for my adorable, hard-working niece, Natalie, who is just as sweet as can be and also a darn good waitress!

It’s a great night for a walk with your sweetie or puppy, and a must stop would be the popcorn stand for a bag of  popcorn, and then to enjoy it on one of the benches in front of the Courthouse.   Or if you’re craving something cold and sweet remember Riccardi’s–YUM–a cone with eyes!

From the back door of the shop it looks like there will be lots of baseball action tonight in the park.  Did you ever notice a hot dog never tastes as good as it does at the ballgame?   Perhaps catch a game and dog!

Is there a bike getting dusty in your garage?  Tonight would be perfect to get it out for a spin.  We love the Sycamore Park District’s bike path that begins just past North School. A beautiful wooded path which makes a nice loop that’s just long enough that you won’t be too tuckered out.

Ahhh, Sycamore in the summer!