Random Events in October

Connor's artistry
Relaxin' with the girls
Bob and one of his many girls

Bob, Mary, Suellen, Andy at Lumberman's Monument
AuSable River
Cousin Nancy and moi
Cousin Nancy, brother Jeff, cousin Penny
Little Miss Holly Berry


October is not even half over, but it has been packed full of events! The first week we went to our cabin in Michigan with the Andersons, and had a wonderful time. The weather was chilly, but that made it really seem like fall was here! This past weekend we had a mini family reunion with cousins Phil, Nancy and Penny and had a good time catching up with each other.

This October has been absolutely beautiful, with warm, sunny days and extremely colorful foliage, in contrast with bright blue skies. Just couldn't be better. Since I'm watching the kids once a week for Liz, it has been great fun to go to the playground regularly and extend this Indian summer as much as possible!

Finally caught the big one!!!

Well, we can't really believe our eyes. While friend Suellen and I stayed warm and cozy in the cabin, our enterprising hubbies went out on the lake in the fishing boat, after having nary a nibble on the dock or farther up on Lake Huron, where they tried their luck earlier in the day. All we usually are able to catch in our small lake is perch or "stupid sunfish" (Connor's term). This was a nice fat walleye, which will be lightly floured and sizzled in olive oil for dinner tomorrow night. Yowza!!!

Hurricane Ike! Yikes!!!

Big Boom!!
Just missed the bedrooms!
Bird's Eye View
Wood for Winter!
A Job well done!

Who would have thought that we would have a worse hit from Hurricane Ike than our southern relatives on the gulf and atlantic coasts? Go figure!! Jon and Jan (Hilton Head) and Marcia and Ross (Naples) have yet to have the structural damage that we just experienced in the heartlands! Thank God that I had just decided to abandon my comfy bed in the study where I was taking a nap as the winds began to kick up. By the time they got up to their sustained speed for 6 hours of 40-50 mph with gusts of 70-80 mph, I was headed to the living room to watch the show out of our huge picture window with Bob. As we were "oohing and ahhing" over the incredible force of the gale on our trees in the woods, we heard a huge boom! After gaping at each other for a few seconds, we looked outside and saw...well, take a look at the pix. If that tree had been a few feet taller, my study and the guest room would have been toast! Evidences of God's blessings are to be found everywhere!!

It looks like a war zone here, with trees down on lines on nearly every street. We are being told that by Sunday, power, cable, and phone lines should be restored, but we aren't holding our breath! Thank heaven for our generator, which is keeping our refrigerator and plenty of lights running so that we are living in relative comfort. The same can't be said for many of our neighbors, with whom we have been sharing ice, refrigerator space, etc.

The wind storm of 2008, which they are calling it, will be in evidence for a long time to come. So many old trees are down, and even in our yard the landscape has changed significantly. The tree company took down at least 4 trees and lots of "widow makers". The good news is that the area where I plant my little herb garden is going to have lots more sun in the future! There are silver linings in everything, and that's a fact!

Family Reunion!

Sisters!!
Grandpa and Brookie
Roasting (burning) marshmallows!
Tommy and Liz
Grandpa, Anna and Grandma




Anna was home along with Brad last weekend, and we enjoyed our time with them to the max!! We (Liz, Anna, me and the kids) went to the club to the pool on Friday, and had a picnic at our house with Nana and Papa (my Mom and Dad), and the rest of the clan that evening. We roasted marshmallows over the firepot, with poor Liz having several cardiac events due to Connor running too close to the fire on more than one occasion, even with Mimi standing (sitting) guard!

Brad came in Friday evening, and he and Anna and Bob and I sat around the fire late into the evening shooting the breeze, listening to the tree frogs, and watching the night sky. Heavenly!

On Saturday we all headed to the Farmer's market and never made it past the main street. We ran into so many people that we all knew, and could only move a few feet at a time!


Later in the day, we got our food and drinks ready and headed to the village picnic It was so much fun! There were over 2,000 people there with tables lined up and down our main street as far as the eye could see, and then some! It was just great to have all of our kids there, along with lots of our closest friends, at 3 tables which we had reserved.


On Sunday, Bob and Brad and a friend golfed while we girls went to the pool once again, before heading home to take the kids to the airport. :( We hated to see them leave, and are really looking forward to this coming Labor Day weekend when we will be together with them at Brad's family's home!

Vacation at the Cabin!!

Vacation!!! We had a wonderful time with the kids, with friends Lynne and Teah, and then with Tommy and Bob at our cabin up north. The weather was absolutely perfect, sunny and 80's almost every day. We spent lots of time on the deck overlooking the water watching Connor play in his new sandbox, having our meals at the little table, swinging Brookie, looking on as poor little perches and sunfish got caught and then thrown into a bucket by Bob, after which Connor would "fish" them out and throw them back in the water. :) The huge pike was the highlight of the week for the guys. It unfortunately didn't cooperate with them as far as being a good fish and taking the hook, instead biting through the line and speeding off without so much as a thank you.

Lynne getting out of the pedal boat, (but not really as she couldn't get herself situated well enough to get back on the dock,) then being "rescued" by Teah, with both of them ending up in the swampy water was the most entertainment I've had in a long time! So funny!!

It's hard to come home, and I may not get past my hermit mentality for awhile. I miss the slow pace, few phone calls, and much quieter atmosphere of our little cottage.

My Favorite Hobby-Grandkids and my doggies!

If I never did anything but play with Connor and Brooke (I will even change a poopy diaper or two and not complain!) I would be a happy woman! On top of that, I have two really cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniels that fill in the empty nest when the little ones aren't around. God knew what He was doing when he let us live long enough to see our children, our children's children, and sometimes even another generation or two! Words can't describe the joy that comes from watching your children bring little ones into the world, care for them with great love and wisdom (where did that come from?:), and teach them about Jesus, their lifelong best friend. It doesn't get any better than that.

Anna and Brad belong in this, too, as Anna has been one of my hobbies for 24 years!

Fun Things we did this summer!

This summer has gone way too fast! We have been to the Outer Banks for our anniversary as well as to the great lakes for my friend Suellen's daughter's wedding, to outdoor concerts to watch our own superstar Connor perform along with the hired performers, re-did our entire living room, played at Jeff and Amy's with Kate, Jill, and other various and sundry family members. Can't wait to go to the cottage this weekend for a two week visit with friends and family!

Corky's 59th Birthday

Our birthday group, comprised of Lynne, Kathy, Corky, and me celebrated Corky's birthday this past week. It was a lovely evening to spend outside on the deck having dinner, followed by a surprise visit from our daughters and even my granddaughter! Here are some pictures from our very fun evening! And seriously, does Corky look anywhere near 60, let alone 50? Sheesh!

The Birthday Group plus our girls!

(Behind the moms: Liz, Stephanie, Teah and Erin)
Kathy and Brooke
From front left counter clockwise: Kathy, Mary, Corky, Lynne
I always wanted long, blonde hair!!
A sad and tired Brookie Cookie