tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953774001532510572024-03-05T09:37:00.932-06:00Tales of the HeartlandThis is a place where visitors will find stories about the Moms and boys and baseball and critters in beautiful northwest Illinois. Whether snow or rain, sunshine or bitter cold winds, we find a way to laugh, love and experience the meaning of life. Join us on our journey of love -- and baseball. Click on all pictures to see full sizes... Enjoy~!Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-30035487643495643522023-05-06T15:21:00.026-05:002023-05-06T16:47:00.993-05:00A New Place, A New Space<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgazRA2Qu8KFZ-o-KbsMMQnBjecGXM43XZpCfiEbWUVuP57xp2getAnIKXdbBUUy4t-n7LmQAFtuL6o_ZMd0Xljq_RGkftJ7H3dpPRM34NABQYqjcflpbCIk5euMqTPDC3w8tiQ6sfYRbIs62PQtXlss2yw_t2WIv5Te-76gkT32BHXDAYWYrAjbYsijg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Alice Virginia Lee Schulthess" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="387" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgazRA2Qu8KFZ-o-KbsMMQnBjecGXM43XZpCfiEbWUVuP57xp2getAnIKXdbBUUy4t-n7LmQAFtuL6o_ZMd0Xljq_RGkftJ7H3dpPRM34NABQYqjcflpbCIk5euMqTPDC3w8tiQ6sfYRbIs62PQtXlss2yw_t2WIv5Te-76gkT32BHXDAYWYrAjbYsijg=w239-h320" width="239" /></a>Dear Friends and Subscribers: It seems April is "my <u><i>great faith</i></u> month!" Listen to this: I was baptized at my former-pastor maternal grandmother's church (Virginia Lee Schulthess) on April 3, 1955 (Palm Sunday!) in Clarno, Wis.; 67 years later (at age 67) I was licensed as a minister (which would have made G'ma proud) on April 10, 2022 (Palm Sunday!) in the town wherein my paternal great-grandfather's immediate family is buried - Franklin Grove, Ill.; (Here I am posing in front of our altar and beautiful blue-glass cross with <a href="https://www.acgc.us/" target="_blank">ACGC</a>'s Superintendent of the Central Region for the Prairie States conference, Dr. Bill Norwood) --</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTMjfWqM4xnXg3ZB3x0bz65t3NFQesqvDGLut68_eeiFWAgNLtNqSKa5BY6-6FXnf47hgxrR_SDR20FwAbREtRP7XA972xGbVA56b5mRGFgmFuYFr3GQcu2at0CUg5eIQNqAQDWVS5Po5ekuUitaklr6HExoRjqqE_OiPxj0if3iw2bOP05pxK2w0Ng/s2268/PXL_20230430_164739915~2.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="2268" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTMjfWqM4xnXg3ZB3x0bz65t3NFQesqvDGLut68_eeiFWAgNLtNqSKa5BY6-6FXnf47hgxrR_SDR20FwAbREtRP7XA972xGbVA56b5mRGFgmFuYFr3GQcu2at0CUg5eIQNqAQDWVS5Po5ekuUitaklr6HExoRjqqE_OiPxj0if3iw2bOP05pxK2w0Ng/w231-h214/PXL_20230430_164739915~2.jpg" title="Pastor Diana with Pastor Bill" width="231" /></a></div> and called to the pulpit of my now-hometown Prophetstown, in the same state, to be pastor at the beautiful and loving <a href="https://ptownac.org/" target="_blank">Advent Christian Church</a> on April 27, 2023 (25 days after Palm Sunday 2023!). Perhaps I should purchase a palm tree to celebrate! Palm Sunday can be thought of as "the beginning of the journey of how God saved the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus." <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Credit to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/04/01/what-is-palm-sunday-meaning/11569836002/">Saleen Martin of USA Today</a>, citing Bishop Vashti McKenzie, interim president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches, on April 1, 2023)</span></i>. I am <b>very</b> delighted! Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-34412859666351056672021-02-07T00:43:00.008-06:002023-05-06T17:00:16.521-05:00I have a YouTube Channel Now!<br />Dear Friends who visit my blogsite - I'll try to be more active on here. Lately, I've been busy - I'm going to seminary, and am a pastor locally at <a href="https://ptownac.org/" target="_blank">Advent Christian Church in Prophetstown</a>. Visit <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXeMdNYIJauYKVrSL2dVRxg/videos" target="_blank">my YouTube Channel</a> where you can hear my sermons. It's relatively new, but I'll be growing it I hope, as time goes on and permits. Blessings to you all! Stay well! Love, Diana<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSZ_BNnR-Z-hUULXrirKrmlloCx9QCCzIl5XYhwawHgJy6ILn0RXtZlVJESdt5btv7xoGmwkCy_s-bverSRCoit38iqotGmRbK665auWdcPF_TOegXAhK4VTrHp5wPZ5e2GtyvdcoepEb/s3264/20190706_163230.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw686O05XCLYD9XJB2tJ3B0_0xJUSRSXuuRSTTK0lw3V7LOcw313kneLxNkOE3ovuNAgAZwLdd7foQqvPUKVW6OLj250AnaxT2wtzotXuUHLFipdecw8gXrECviPuuDI0rLbjqLLtVhfufa2lH33_eiUk27qZpnoq4n5G64PFaiAJ5yu961aa3QpRjLQ/s332/BobDianaTriviaContest.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="332" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw686O05XCLYD9XJB2tJ3B0_0xJUSRSXuuRSTTK0lw3V7LOcw313kneLxNkOE3ovuNAgAZwLdd7foQqvPUKVW6OLj250AnaxT2wtzotXuUHLFipdecw8gXrECviPuuDI0rLbjqLLtVhfufa2lH33_eiUk27qZpnoq4n5G64PFaiAJ5yu961aa3QpRjLQ/w266-h225/BobDianaTriviaContest.png" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my husband Bob at trivia night.</td></tr></tbody></table><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSZ_BNnR-Z-hUULXrirKrmlloCx9QCCzIl5XYhwawHgJy6ILn0RXtZlVJESdt5btv7xoGmwkCy_s-bverSRCoit38iqotGmRbK665auWdcPF_TOegXAhK4VTrHp5wPZ5e2GtyvdcoepEb/w173-h231/20190706_163230.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-86159210118095831672020-11-03T09:45:00.000-06:002020-11-03T09:45:18.715-06:00Mama got a new job! And it's not a job! It's a calling. Wish me well.
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<script async defer crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v8.0&appId=54981666165&autoLogAppEvents=1" nonce="EORSWO6f"></script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10160980597982580&set=a.53146442579" data-show-text="true" data-width=""><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10160980597982580&set=a.53146442579&type=3" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">Posted by <a href="#" role="button">Diana Lee Verhulst</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10160980597982580&set=a.53146442579&type=3">Thursday, October 22, 2020</a></blockquote></div>
Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-10538841920076460092020-04-11T14:42:00.001-05:002020-04-11T14:42:59.264-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-32747087416780787322019-05-07T19:21:00.002-05:002019-05-07T19:21:33.082-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div> Baby's got new shoes. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsoletaclassic%2Fphotos%2Fa.917300351646696%2F2317998024910248%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="380" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>
Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-69247957481872552252018-04-20T16:11:00.003-05:002018-04-20T16:11:41.215-05:00Wes Roemer first-ever professional no-hitter, in Brno, CZ, April 20, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFmpRWeCMggb7_xpkEXmX2Qrl0wwbKpN5qIlsRTKou4CBg6UiYcqP_Zy6HRkyxwH6uX2WOdfH2TGllXDwAjlvIUK1ukpPt5kPUCeM7ZIluTB2Szmy_2HHMEapxHhTBTkq4mJuhqxZSkki/s1600/NoHitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFmpRWeCMggb7_xpkEXmX2Qrl0wwbKpN5qIlsRTKou4CBg6UiYcqP_Zy6HRkyxwH6uX2WOdfH2TGllXDwAjlvIUK1ukpPt5kPUCeM7ZIluTB2Szmy_2HHMEapxHhTBTkq4mJuhqxZSkki/s320/NoHitter.jpg" width="320" height="269" data-original-width="940" data-original-height="789" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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9 Strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 HB - 3 pitches away from a perfect game. Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-72245801138731469812018-03-28T20:44:00.002-05:002018-03-28T20:44:27.565-05:00Wes, in Czech Republic (No. 86, in white)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-11597408879012207712018-03-25T22:34:00.001-05:002018-03-25T22:34:33.911-05:00The Moment my Son got his Bride<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmorgan.dayvis%2Fvideos%2F10155460776643481%2F&show_text=1&width=267" width="267" height="657" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>
Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-4713137344656398062017-06-21T07:29:00.001-05:002017-06-21T07:30:46.312-05:00View from the room of my hostel, Venice, Mother's Day vacation, 2017. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKsUSa9Q1QCCzyTwwsL-jZ1-_iH5rqv_DoYHeT93gE_PjR4b7tqCFHXgGfK83SVN9jiCWdYwmW5zT-uMUxI55CeSrQEzckNFr37Cescc5G8q77UfQayHRWIXGKngdORH4REDhw4Pctj3F/s1600/venice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKsUSa9Q1QCCzyTwwsL-jZ1-_iH5rqv_DoYHeT93gE_PjR4b7tqCFHXgGfK83SVN9jiCWdYwmW5zT-uMUxI55CeSrQEzckNFr37Cescc5G8q77UfQayHRWIXGKngdORH4REDhw4Pctj3F/s400/venice.jpg" width="400" height="190" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="761" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-42593403089008762292017-06-21T07:19:00.000-05:002017-06-21T07:19:26.099-05:00My oldest son right where he likes to be ... in the thick of it all. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fdracibrno%2Fphotos%2Fa.372535156187680.1073741827.372516362856226%2F1332289206878932%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="300" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>
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Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-73522656285555549182017-04-20T07:33:00.001-05:002017-04-20T07:33:14.634-05:00170415 EAGLES - Wes, top 8, striking some poor guy out<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CHOlnuQBWxg" width="480"></iframe>Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-17874047343386469922017-01-17T18:49:00.001-06:002017-01-17T18:49:34.982-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My youngest son Jon is the editor and producer of this video.
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPackers%2Fvideos%2F10154611510180073%2F&show_text=0&width=400" width="400" height="400" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-49823403816894740942015-09-06T17:13:00.000-05:002015-09-06T17:14:28.675-05:00Destructo diana and bob<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfM06hv1ygds9-49_Qatr24pKRo1E_lEt9eBdlM74i1iY6T-tpubExsrf8jstMPffFiyMmJ085eQXGBulPrInZZlHpUI4wmDWguh7VlaVeVdbeb5b2hNL7pVSs2OxWRgu5x752XWMim0W/s1600/IMG_20150906_150708-768676.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfM06hv1ygds9-49_Qatr24pKRo1E_lEt9eBdlM74i1iY6T-tpubExsrf8jstMPffFiyMmJ085eQXGBulPrInZZlHpUI4wmDWguh7VlaVeVdbeb5b2hNL7pVSs2OxWRgu5x752XWMim0W/s320/IMG_20150906_150708-768676.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6191528949210280866" /></a></p>Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-36598372896663906972015-06-22T18:34:00.001-05:002015-06-22T18:34:26.356-05:00Had a bad day? Watch this. Enjoy!Laughed until I cried.
<div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-video" data-allowfullscreen="true" data-href="/streetfx/videos/vb.305901075111/10155566988870112/?type=1"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="/streetfx/videos/10155566988870112/"><a href="/streetfx/videos/10155566988870112/"></a><p>I don't even like soccer, but this video was the best thing i've seen today :P (not car related, but worth a watch!)</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/streetfx">Street FX Motorsport & Graphics</a> on Sunday, May 3, 2015</blockquote></div></div>Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-23126899694875781842015-02-23T18:43:00.002-06:002015-02-23T18:43:56.452-06:00I'll never get enough of this
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<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="http://cdn.playwire.com/bolt/js/zeus/embed.js" data-config="http://config.playwire.com/18939/videos/v2/3364453/zeus.json" data-height="100%" data-width="100%" data-default-hd="false" data-google-analytics="undefined" data-google-universal="undefined" ></script>Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-3892334934948723712014-06-25T18:57:00.000-05:002014-06-25T18:58:23.682-05:00Rural Shannon. Lovely.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtOdPsp6uArIKJm_6LCznCn35dmuQRBp-9-wsIdAVcW533WZN7HHf2KJqqbNuEce-gcuqU-TkrcC22nFjM4E2jXBvwZ9Fzly5j9oYwmJQ5y_TySJVKj3aF9KKxv47RCxQYxjDMhpE_xED/s1600/IMG_20140625_142658-703682.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtOdPsp6uArIKJm_6LCznCn35dmuQRBp-9-wsIdAVcW533WZN7HHf2KJqqbNuEce-gcuqU-TkrcC22nFjM4E2jXBvwZ9Fzly5j9oYwmJQ5y_TySJVKj3aF9KKxv47RCxQYxjDMhpE_xED/s320/IMG_20140625_142658-703682.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6029020419404009698" /></a></p>Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-3645087726793993332014-02-15T13:52:00.001-06:002014-06-07T14:50:21.570-05:00Trifle!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwz2fN03EqCaX8OdcblEaiFccgIFRBEOLcIfyViNKGW8AWDu8KrMLAaNQHLI81p94cViepccGySHfe_9tNNKmCiyD5faZDK2bsPV53_5Afms4vvO4JQY1HNMg7DfjxY_5CPs7zjTm3AypL/s1600/IMG_20140215_135145-760459.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwz2fN03EqCaX8OdcblEaiFccgIFRBEOLcIfyViNKGW8AWDu8KrMLAaNQHLI81p94cViepccGySHfe_9tNNKmCiyD5faZDK2bsPV53_5Afms4vvO4JQY1HNMg7DfjxY_5CPs7zjTm3AypL/s320/IMG_20140215_135145-760459.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5980716024908234818" /></a></p>
Here's the ingredients and recipe:
<b>Trifle Ingredients
<i></b>Fresh baked angel food cake (two);
Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur (brown bottle); (use about 4-5 oz)
Rose's Grenadine (red); use about 4-5 oz.
Two pints fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced;
two banannas, sliced and tossed in lemon juice;
about 3/4 cup toasted coconut
Homemade burnt sugar vanilla pudding (use vanilla pudding from Betty Crocker receipe book; add burnt sugar syrup or let first ingredients carmelize a little in pan creating the burnt sugar effect);
About 1.5 cups whipping cream
about 1.2 C of cane sugar</i>
**
Prepare the pudding in advance though it will drizzle better when warm. Start it at about 10 a.m.
Toast the angel food cake by slicing it in half and placing under broiler. Stand by and watch it - pull out after it starts to carmelize and flip it, repeating on the other side. Let sit.
Wash, hull and slice strawberries, set aside.
Slice bananas - drizzle with lemon juice and toss;
Tear or gently slice angel food cake into large bite-sized chunks.
Layer ingredients - beginning with cake at the bottom.
Cake
Strawberries
Drizzle with Godiva and Grenadine;
Cake
Bananas, drizzle, etc., until
fruit and cake are about an inch and a half from top of Trifle bowl.
Set aside.
Whip cream with sugar until it holds its shape but not until it's stiff, or half if it to stiff the other half half way. Cover top of trifle with the loosest cream, so that it snakes its way down through the cake and fruit;
Cover the trifle with the stiffer cream.
Put about 3/4 c of coconut on a cookie sheet and place under broiler - stand and watch. When it is toasted take it out and let it cool.
Layer top of trifle with the toasted coconut - you can hold off and do this before serving.
Trifle may be best when done the night before.
This is my OWN recipe, and I hope you enjoy it and if you share it, link my blog. Thanks!
Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-25744716785684230992014-02-14T12:57:00.001-06:002014-02-14T12:57:55.015-06:00Great Valentines Day!!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZJbiGL6d9Kyvrp6jOfGdzO6NqalXz5VXntkI2q3SH7fmoO7Sq55RvQjuig_twCkple8h3M6o8XT_XH6N8g3zOfkOfmXRywBLeDQoWVWdhG3ohSItBqo5zCvV-16PcdzzZwaY01DwKrE5/s1600/IMG_20140214_124949-775016.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZJbiGL6d9Kyvrp6jOfGdzO6NqalXz5VXntkI2q3SH7fmoO7Sq55RvQjuig_twCkple8h3M6o8XT_XH6N8g3zOfkOfmXRywBLeDQoWVWdhG3ohSItBqo5zCvV-16PcdzzZwaY01DwKrE5/s320/IMG_20140214_124949-775016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5980330825551108722" /></a></p>Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-7930820849472350572013-11-29T14:52:00.000-06:002013-11-29T16:46:17.744-06:00New pigs<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4-jndpDNoef5UvdKZfD9nbxl27Q9kOi-adKV9QGiI6BXnI9H1nMj5ltFEBRDvXYpsKZCX1MNlNp9QsMKOmhTnhG6eTy7JV2Cyw_LaAQ1lZP9a729swg5FYLKiGDd1ffbAiE5yzBFVONo/s1600/IMG_20131129_145001-777745.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4-jndpDNoef5UvdKZfD9nbxl27Q9kOi-adKV9QGiI6BXnI9H1nMj5ltFEBRDvXYpsKZCX1MNlNp9QsMKOmhTnhG6eTy7JV2Cyw_LaAQ1lZP9a729swg5FYLKiGDd1ffbAiE5yzBFVONo/s320/IMG_20131129_145001-777745.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5951816123447135426" /></a></p>My shoe of great interestDiana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-52185480400891451172013-11-26T13:08:00.001-06:002013-11-26T13:09:12.712-06:00The Eyes Have It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It’s My Life
By Diana Roemer
This story is for women. For I am certain none but another female could comprehend the true tale I’m about to tell.
Nobody likes saving money more than me. That’s why when the price of my favorite mascara (which, in case you’re a guy, is that dark stuff we ever-so-carefully layer onto our eyelashes) shot to nearly $30 a tube, I quit. I quit because I knew I could buy a drug store version for a third of Lancôme’s cost. So for a few years now, as my stash of “the good stuff” has dwindled to near nothing, I’ve amassed tube after tube of the bargain brand mascaras, brightly packaged in their blister packs, all promising lush, full, amazing, you-will-be-a-goddess-now-if-you-just-try-me eyelashes. In search of the Holy Grail of mascara, I’ve tested brands like Maybelline, Bonnie Bell, Cover Girl, Avon, Almay, and Revlon -- and, sadly, report there is nothing like the pricey Lancôme Precious Cells mascara. Nothing.
Resigned, now, after years of arduous cheap mascara shopping (I’m so tired) I finally decided I must return to the almighty altar of Lancôme. So on a Sunday night, I began again to troll Lancôme’s online shop. I felt good about making the decision. After all. One’s eyelashes must be satisfied. I put a few choices into my “shopping cart,” and without actually clicking “buy now,” (I sleep on major purchases), I hit the hay.
And then the next day – a Monday -- came. Mondays are notoriously cursed for me. That Monday, at about 8 a.m., I’d finished scraping an old Lancôme tube of its final contents happily stroking on what was left of “plum glimmer”-colored Precious Cells (which I bought about three years ago when the price was less than a barrel of oil). I think, in fact, they call it Precious Cells because it’s made with something so special the price of a few tubes rivals that of a small Porsche.
And after finalizing my ritual of fluffing my eyelashes, cheeks, and lips, I stood back and looked. I was satisfied. This was going to be a good day. A good Monday. I had a ton of work at my office. But I was energized. Because (trumpet sound) I was wearing purple Lancôme “Precious Cells” mascara and I’d decided to buy more, yes more, MORE MORE!
I was so pleased with that decision I was almost willing to enjoy the onset of winter when I looked out the window and realized “it’s snowing. It’s Monday. And I’ve gotta get on the road fast.”
This called for the Cavalry: Much Caffeine!
Forcing myself to remain upbeat despite the worsening dread of the 31.9-mile commute I was facing, I moved to the cupboard and chose a coffee cup from my vast coffee cup collection which just about matches – in sheer numbers -- the volume of my now-cast-off cheaper mascara collection.
I chose an 8-inch tall red and white cup that features drifting colorful snowflakes. I was feeling kind of clever. Snowing outside – snowflake cup. I poured the snowflake cup about ¾ full. I took a sip.
And then it happened.
As I pulled the cup away from my face, it splashed. Like a wave crashing onto a beach, coffee slammed into my left eye. Not just the corner of the eye – directly INTO and ON the eye, a direct hit, the kind of hit that people sue fast food chains or cup manufacturers for.
Every other woman who encounters the same issue might get the coffee on her blouse. Or in her hair. Or on the floor. Not me. I get it smack on the eyelid – the lid protected by the eyelashes that had the last of the million dollar mascara on it.
My Precious Cells project had become a not-so-precious mess.
I stood in my quiet kitchen, snow blowing outside, and for just a moment, my eyes shut, I contemplated the masterful symmetry of how this could happen.
And I decided there had to be an angel watching over me that didn’t want me to get in my car just yet. I trudged back to the makeup mirror. Plum-colored mascara was smeared over and under my eyelids, dotting my skin like lavender ornaments on a Christmas tree, dripping from my lashes as if I’d been crying brown tears.
I began the careful process of removing the smears. And I thought to myself: It’s a Monday, that’s for sure.
But there is, yes, an upside.
I know, for a fact, without a doubt, that I am still, and probably always will be, a true blond.
And I now get to click “buy now” guilt-free.
Life is good.
****Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-54125800806382516362013-10-22T20:44:00.000-05:002013-10-23T08:16:33.518-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9FV-CUNYBBIrcL9j2lPbbv-pD_SMfcpAcukUJETgmkSbVeXtRpOvKl6AC5Ez7Jklanq2o65LBwL4ToFU7Hx8slpl-FdWgijwQssHqbovxznf_gclHZRFDpdfmBlTLNuCLyPeHF4_GNLu/s1600/IMG_20131021_200536-793519.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9FV-CUNYBBIrcL9j2lPbbv-pD_SMfcpAcukUJETgmkSbVeXtRpOvKl6AC5Ez7Jklanq2o65LBwL4ToFU7Hx8slpl-FdWgijwQssHqbovxznf_gclHZRFDpdfmBlTLNuCLyPeHF4_GNLu/s320/IMG_20131021_200536-793519.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5937939149308453314" /></a></p>Eagles concert at WIreless in Moline on oct 21 2013Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-59144948999110684622013-08-25T19:46:00.000-05:002013-08-25T19:46:05.385-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So. I'm headed to work. But before I go to the office, I have to clip my fingernails as they are too long to type. After heading to the bathroom and finding the clippers (but not actually clipping my nails, because of course my hair looked bad so I fiddled with it for awhile instead); while doing that, over my shoulder, I spy several pieces of clothing I need to take with me to Bob's tonight. I fold them and then wonder if I've lost enough weight to take along that (insert adjective) blouse from the other bedroom's closet.
On my way there, I say -- forget that, let's try on that favorite white wool coat to see if THAT fits. That's in the hall closet. After satisfying myself it fits nicely, I hang it back up.
That's when the trouble starts because I see the game "Outburst" which is a whole lot of fun, up on the shelf above. Justin Verhulst has been asking that we get together play some games with his wife and Bob Verhulst, so I begin to try to extricate Outburst from the shelf.
It has other games on top of it - Yahtzee and Scrabble. I yank on it anyway. That's when the cup of dice I didn't see plunges into the depths of the closet, which by the way, has no light. Oh dear......That's when the real fun begins.
Hours later, here is what I learned.
(1) Strange things hide in the closet such as (a) broken golf clubs, (b) bottles of glitter {and glitter glue}, (c) 5,000 baseball caps, (d) Dog fur (I'm convinced dog fur never decomposes. Ever).
2) Easter egg string lights deserve to be hidden but the closet isn't forever enough; and
3) One woman does not need 10 winter scarves, a movie camera tripod from 1998, or Rollerblade knee pads.
The closet is now cleaner, but someday the rest of that stuff I don't need is going to have to go.
I'm not parting with my childhood ice skates though. Nope. Not ever.
I'll strap them on when I'm 80 and get up on that ice.
After I clean the closet, that is.
Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-5237472462275881392013-05-31T08:43:00.000-05:002013-05-31T08:43:04.771-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After four long years at Eastern Illinois University, Jon finally graduated. Congratulations my son!
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgDErGG7PRRJjG7-0tk_mSsiI1zyTc4OG5kQo61Z-wdvOF28QI9tsxubZGtIQQLZD7JPxIrPUfl-nWgs8dZcGtwDVM2NdOEhDaLqsoRigMKDnKWciTYNf9-rEzMEvlGZyhaE4jSJQywNP/s1600/ThrowingCap01JonGraduation.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgDErGG7PRRJjG7-0tk_mSsiI1zyTc4OG5kQo61Z-wdvOF28QI9tsxubZGtIQQLZD7JPxIrPUfl-nWgs8dZcGtwDVM2NdOEhDaLqsoRigMKDnKWciTYNf9-rEzMEvlGZyhaE4jSJQywNP/s320/ThrowingCap01JonGraduation.JPG" /></a>Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-495377400153251057.post-45741383802409787362013-05-12T20:17:00.000-05:002013-05-12T20:18:22.993-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZosQLZ9PzxOWQncX7b1C06zvDM6JBDt-zdeHSHoBz8VCV3PxnpsgbbZJ6FL_nNATW29bJ9ib-crW1YT2gPELakmgPA1F8G57NInytPLSG6yYL3H2PqxuQ9-iqifp-Q8XF0gPlMweQvnW3/s1600/BobOnFarmMay.201308LRV_Farms.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZosQLZ9PzxOWQncX7b1C06zvDM6JBDt-zdeHSHoBz8VCV3PxnpsgbbZJ6FL_nNATW29bJ9ib-crW1YT2gPELakmgPA1F8G57NInytPLSG6yYL3H2PqxuQ9-iqifp-Q8XF0gPlMweQvnW3/s320/BobOnFarmMay.201308LRV_Farms.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XHc5OUBbA0BNhIQJYIaXSCnmzeTnUrirCAYSLC2KFFmsqZ65IrRYWw794H77oS9hS4YoDGaFCdUHoPBZd-a-BrCKo3C3o0F1iRT4uNR0StGtBIEb1HCm1jOqHcPR_08Hw14wGqbjcxxL/s1600/Diana+On+ATV.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XHc5OUBbA0BNhIQJYIaXSCnmzeTnUrirCAYSLC2KFFmsqZ65IrRYWw794H77oS9hS4YoDGaFCdUHoPBZd-a-BrCKo3C3o0F1iRT4uNR0StGtBIEb1HCm1jOqHcPR_08Hw14wGqbjcxxL/s320/Diana+On+ATV.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qP6PUh2iXOy7uFL-x3XUvmeIP3ZcOZcpvE4LwoWFVQDXUWUe6bq99WuwHupljAjiEHUr3sczrVicjousxucoWZyyFpxmEorDvQT-TQ9HpPaum-LhAGvn08IzZLoTq6bBM4GM8hGyJq7N/s1600/BobPreparingFields02LRV_Farms.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qP6PUh2iXOy7uFL-x3XUvmeIP3ZcOZcpvE4LwoWFVQDXUWUe6bq99WuwHupljAjiEHUr3sczrVicjousxucoWZyyFpxmEorDvQT-TQ9HpPaum-LhAGvn08IzZLoTq6bBM4GM8hGyJq7N/s320/BobPreparingFields02LRV_Farms.JPG" /></a><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on">
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How we spend our time on the farm. I'm so lucky to have found him. What a great life. Diana Verhulsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00862536809593103925noreply@blogger.com0