Saturday, November 24, 2007

Eric makes the front page!!!!

From the 11/23/07 Edwardsville Intelligencer.....

http://www.goedwardsville.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19052655&BRD=2291&PAG=461&dept_id=473648&rfi=6

Skunk stirs up a neighborhood
Steve Horrell, shorrell@edwpub.net
11/23/2007

The call that came in to the Edwardsville police station early Wednesday morning must have been somewhat alarming: A skunk with its head stuck in a glass pickle jar had been sighted wandering on Quince Street. It looked like a striped astronaut. Around 6 a.m. Officer Jason Forsythe drove out to the apartment complex in the 400 block of Quince to have a look.
“He was laying there and when I put my headlights on, he got up and wandered around trying to get the jar off,” Forsythe said later at the police station.
Forsythe was reluctant to intervene, and the skunk has not been found. Neighbors said that it had first been seen four hours earlier and had apparently wandered over to Quince from Cherry Street.
An Edwardsville Public Safety officer who went out to the area about 9 a.m. said she was unable to find it.
A few minutes later Eric Diekemper was raking up his 16th bag of leaves and acorns from two massive oak trees that line his front yard at 411 Plum St. Two other trees in adjoining yards added to the pile.
Diekemper said he had noticed the public safety officer’s vehicle parked on Quince street, out behind his house, but had not seen the skunk.
The Diekempers moved to Plum Street eight years ago. Since then the city has extended Plum Street south to Center Grove Road, through a heavily wooded area that still contains plenty of deer and skunk. Diekemper says he has seen several skunks on Plum Street and Relocated 159 and neighbors have seen deer.
A couple of weeks ago, Diekemper says a skunk got into trash cans that he set out next to Quince Street.
“We were debating whether to call somebody about it,” he said. “But what do you do if you catch it? Take it to the shelter or something, but you get worried about getting sprayed or something.”
Diekemper actually did get sprayed last year. “I was coming up the back door and he was by the back door, and I thought, ‘Ohhh!’ I didn’t get totally sprayed.”
Edwardsville police fielded about 80 skunk-related calls last year, and have already fielded that many so far this year. Edwardsville Police Sgt. Dennis Gunderson urged residents to make sure that trash can lids are fastened tightly and no pet food be left in the yard.
It’s been a typical year skunk-wise at Madison County Rabies Control. So far 87 skunks have been turned in to the facility, on Illinois Route 143 near Edwardsville. The skunks are then euthanized, said Dr. David Hall, a veterinarian who works for the county. “A fair number of those have been from Edwardsville,” he said.
©Edwardsville Intelligencer 2007

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thankful....

I am thankful for so many things....

I am thankful for my husband, who, a little over 14 years ago, married me - starting our little family. I love you, Eric.
I am thankful for my 3 daughters, who bring joy and love to my heart every day. I love you, Katie, Emily and Allison.
I am thankful for our warm home - a home where my children feel safe.
I am thankful for my salvation. I am saved because Jesus loves me.
I am thankful for all of my family....who love us and our children, who welcome us into their homes at any time, who call just to say, "How are the girls?"
I am thankful for my new job. A welcoming place to work - where I don't have to be scared to say "Merry Christmas".
I am thankful for Eric's new job. A wonderful challenge that has GREAT potential.
I am thankful for my friends, who listen to me and make me laugh.
I am thankful for our health. I am thankful for those sneezes and sniffle that remind me that my children are very healthy kiddos.
I am thankful for doctors and nurse, and medical treatments that give us hope for the future.
I am thankful for SO much more......

Thank you, Lord, for all that you do for us. Bless us and keep us safe and healthy. Bring us all together.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

Friday, November 2, 2007

Trick or Treat.....

Well, thank goodness that Halloween is over. It seems to be so much work. But the kids love it!

I had to work this year, at my NEW job, so Daddy got to have the fun of TOTing with the girls. They had a great time. And got WAY too much candy! But that is just my opinion....haha.

On Halloween night, Katie marched in the annual Edwardsville parade. She did a great job! so funny to watch her. It brings back so many memories!!!


Allison didn't quite understand what was about to happen, but she loved the dressing up stuff.
What a doll!!!! And Emily....she is such a sweetheart...and a ham....



Katie and Allison....the cutest witches....


This one is for you, Grandma Brooks.


Emily got to have the bluest of hair. She had more fun washing it out, making the shower water blue.


Here they are...the cutest witches around. Seriously...have you ever seen cuter witches?