Bear

Today as I was playing with "Bear" our little 5 week old ball of fluff, I realized that there is nothing as much fun as playing with a puppy. You cannot walk by that puppy without stopping to smile and half the time you just have to stop and play. He discovered my yarn today as shown above. I am trying to knit and he is chasing the ball of yarn.

GO CATIE!

Catie has been working for YEARS for Thursday night. She always wanted to be a cheerleader, just like her Mom. She had her first cheerleader uniform at 2 years old and began cheering in elementary school for the city football teams. Thursday night was her first High School game and she did a great job!

As I watched her hoisted into the air over and over, I was thankful for all those gymnastics lessons we had paid for and suddenly the hours spent sitting in the parking lot waiting were worthwhile.

Just like Mom, she is tiny and so she is always on the top of the pyramid, making us hold our breath until they toss her in the air and catch her. I am sure Karen was proud of her girl on Thursday night.

Tawas Bay

I once asked Justin to draw or paint something for me and when he asked for suggestions, it was exactly this scene I described. Instead, he took this photo on our recent weekend in East Tawas. Maybe someday he will draw it for me, since I love his art.

The Tawas Bay is my favorite spot to go and replenish and relax. It's beauty continues to astound me and as soon as I hear the sound of the waves, smell the pine trees and feel the breeze coming off the lake, I feel at home.

Spending summers on the very spot where this photo was taken left me with a lifetime of good memories. This photo was taken in front of my grandparents cottage, which now belongs to another family. I have been able to rent the cottage next door and the new neighbors are kind enough to tell me to feel free to use their beach area. I wander over and the memories flood over me, taking me back to a simple time in my life.

I remember summer mornings when the lake was freezing and I didn't care. It was THE LAKE! I really didn't know any better, never having been in anything but one of the Great Lakes. I remember working until I was a strong enough swimmer to swim to "The raft" and the feeling of victory the day I did it. Now it belonged to a motel owner who yelled at us to get off, but we didn't care. He wasn't going to swim out and get us.

I can still see my Grandpa's Cocker Spaniel, Sandy, looking out the window as he waited for his beloved owner to come up the walk dressed in his yellow corduroy vacation shirt. He wore a white shirt and tie every other day even into his retirement years. I remember him buying me comic books to pass the lazy afternoons. He had chosen classic literature in comic book form. Smart man....I read them all.

I think of blueberry picking with my grandmother on Sundays after Mass and lectures from my grandfather on how to drive carefully with her in my car. I remember squeezing into the tiny kitchen for Sunday dinner of roast beef, which was served EVERY Sunday.

I look at each cottage and remember the last names of the families who lived there and how much fun it was to return each year to see my favorite people. It was amazing to realize this year that many of the cottages are owned by children and grandchildren of those same people. Maybe what I love, is that it does not change. My childhood awaits me when I get to Tawas Bay.

THE EATON COUNTY FAIR!!!

Anyone who knows our darling Catie, knows she lives to go to any carnival that hits town, but the Eaton County Fair is her favorite day of the summer! As soon as she saw it listed in the newspaper, she began planning and calling her friends. Today is the day and she and her girlfriend waited patiently for me to get up, then finally brought me a cup of hot coffee to give me a nudge.

She will ride EVERY ride at least 3 times, eat every treat that she can afford to buy and then beg to stay, just a little longer. I am all ready for the phone calls begging for just one more hour. Photos to come.........

More Graduation Photos

Above are Andy and friends, as they enter the stadium for graduation ceremonies. It was a beautiful day and we were all thankful we could use the football stadium instead of the gym, which was very hot during Mike's graduation. Below, Andy receives his diploma.



I hadn't posted much about these past couple of weeks, since it has been such a busy time. We were getting ready for Cat & Paul's visit and of course, for Open House and it is a never-ending project. Poor Joe has spent every waking hour that he is not at work, in the yard. I am useless when it comes to that kind of work and wish so much that I could help. My friend Tami continues to come over frequently and provide the gardening help that I am unable to do. I am so grateful.

Andy is hating every minute of this preparation and will be REALLY happy when his day comes. Catie says she can't wait for that day. I think they are under the assumption that they will do no more work for the entire summer.

Andy Graduates!

Our last of five walked across the stage on Sunday afternoon and I admit, the tears flowed. I could not believe baby Andy was a high school graduate. I had fun taking photos, as usual and we will celebrate officially on June 12 when we host Open House.

Growing Up FAST!

The 8th grade graduation dance was last Saturday night and Catie looked beautiful and just a little too grown up for her grandmother. Wasn't it just yesterday that my first grandchild was born? I remember the first moment I held her and she actually smiled at me. I claimed the dimple as "just like mine". Now she is using my makeup. Where did time go?

The Story Blanket

I have been knitting for months on a blanket made up of all my scraps of yarn and many that I have gotten by trading with other knitters by trading yarns. Today I received a request to use the photo of my blanket for an auction to benefit a children's reading program.

The project was fashioned around this children's book about a woman who had a beautiful blanket that she spread in the park for the children to sit on while she told them stories. When she noticed a child needed something warm, she unraveled a bit of her blanket to create warm socks and mittens.

St Peter Festival Weekend

I had fun last night with Daniel and Alexis riding the merry-go-round (NOT!) until I thought I was going to barf! It was great fun watching their faces, but Grandma got really dizzy. Catie and friend helped on the next spinning dinosauer ride and they rode the train by themselves. (Grandma wouldn't fit in the little cars, as I explained to Daniel.)
It was kareoke night and I was disappointed that Laura only got to sing once. There were so many singers! After she left they were calling for her to sing. Fr. Ben and Kay did a duet.
I don't cook much on Festival weekend and the kids know the food is across the street.
Daniel jumped into one of those line dances where they are calling out the instructions and he can dance! He was wonderful and did a lot better than I would have. We ended up embarrassing him because we were all laughing so hard. We couldn't believe how well he kept up with all the adults.

What a Week!

Andy now has BLUE hair! After his purple streak to match Sam's prom dress, he headed down to change it back. It didn't work. He was at the salon for hours and hours, sent me photos of himself as they piled the chemicals on, but he came home with "Cotton Candy Blue". He says, it's not for long. Graduation photos should be interesting to look back on someday.

Catie and I spent the evening dying yarn. We wound and wound, soaked and dyed, rinsed and hung our new creations to dry. I am loving that dye set I got for my birthday!


Thursday night the St Peter Annual Festival began with a Mexican Fiesta!


Catie, aka "The Carnival Queen" has been counting the days until it began and was across the street as soon as the rides started up tonight, allowance in hand. She has been saving her money, ever since I told her I wasn't paying for FOUR days at the carnival. NOBODY loves rides like Catie!




Joe and I were cashiers for the food booth last night and he was patient as I kept getting up to take photos of so many friends throughout the night.




The Mexican food was great, the beer flowed, the Mexican band played, people danced and a great time was had by all, even Josie and Rocky who came over for a bit!

Friends and Family

After a couple of years of just not caring what the yard looked like, it looked a MESS! My back will not allow me to even begin to garden, muchless take on the huge project that it was before our friends arrived to help. My friend Tami and her daughter Megan arrived with tools and energy. They began tearing weeds out of flower beds and creating new ones.


It was work day or as Mikey called it "my day to be the Yard Bitch". Andy's friends showed up and I called Justin to get him out of bed and called in all my favors. Nobody wanted to dig the pond, but those boys did it for me!


Catie got the job of picking rock, most of the day. She removed them from the beds, washed them and carried them to pile around the new pond.


Joe and Megan got right in the dirt and worked like dogs. I brought out water, drank coffee and watched with gratitude. It didn't seem fair, but it was all I could do.


Megan's creation in the corner that used to be where the dogs dug.....


More to come.........we are still working!

Happy Birthday to Daniel

Even though it was 2 weeks later, we gathered on Saturday to celebrate Daniel's 4th birthday in a rural park. We were hoping for warm weather, by waiting, but the wind blew and the sun only peeked out most of the morning. The kids absolutely didn't care! They ran through the park, up and down the slide and made S'mores.


Daniel had been shopping at Meijer with me a couple of months ago and when I told him I would buy him a toy, he led me right to a Diego bike. After I explained that bikes were special presents for birthdays and Christmas, he quickly recovered and picked out another toy. Little did I know that he would remember and talk about that bike every day until his birthday. The worst part.........the store ran out!!!

Joe and I searched the internet, called every store we could think of and found the last Diego bike in the world. It was worth it to see his smile!

Senior Prom Night

I love seeing these kids on Prom night! The day was absolutely crazy, as Mike was sick and I had to stop midway to run to the store for meds and juices. Andy volunteered to take them to his brother and then got stuck in the MSU traffic on the way home to be ready for photos.

So Justin came over and got his photos taken without Andy first. We got them together later, by going down to the boat, since the Prom was a cruise down the Grand River on the Michigan Princess.

The weather was rainy, the girls were cold in their beautiful dresses, but Troys Mom and I took photos of all the boys first when the sun peeked out for a few moments.



Then we headed to the Island for photos under the gazebo.



We made a stop at Sam's house for her Mom and Dad to take their pics, then went to eat while we waited for everyone to arrive at the boat. The next call from Andy was that he forgot the tickets! He had to run home, but still made it in plenty of time to board the boat.

Catie got her first glimpse of Prom, as we were invited to board the boat and enjoy taking photos. Just watching all the couples as they boarded was fantastic. They all looked wonderful.


Andy and Sam danced so much he came home with blisters on his feet, so I would call it a good Prom.




Everyone arrived back at our house before 1am and the boys spent the night. I am thankful for a safe and happy Prom Night. These boys have been friends so long that it was very special to watch them last night. I can't imagine graduation day. I will need a box of Kleenex!

Thank Goodness for Mike O!!!

After our tractor being down since last fall, our yard looked like a farmer's field. I had been cruising Craig's List for used mowers, after Joe had tinkered with it last fall and again this Spring. As we were about to load it up on our neighbor's trailer to go to the local repair shop (hoping it wasn't terminal) I called Mike O and asked it he would PLEASE come up.

It was only a few minutes before I heard the mower roar. I was ecstatic! The next thing I knew I saw Joe go by on it and Mike following him on his own mower. He had hauled one up to mow, just in case. Within a half hour my yard looked wonderful!

Crossing Off Stuff on "To Do" List

When I woke up this morning our neighbor was already pushing dirt with 1 of his 3 tractors that eventually ended up in our yard today. The huge hole from the pool is finally being filled! Now unfortunately since we had a rough year, he ran into first our deceased cat, Sam and then he found Andy's dog Spike. Both were reburied and the work continued.

Our yard has been the playground for moles for the past couple of years. I swear it started when Fr. Ben had mole exterminators over at the church! Today the kid were all yelling and I went out to find some little babies that had been disturbed by the tractor.

I told Andy to get a shovel and chop their heads off. He wouldn't do it. I had been trying to get rid of those moles forever! I have tunnels all over the yard and now I had them and he wouldn't kill them for me. We finally found a wildlife sanctuary and they delivered a box full of moles to be released into the woods. I didn't care as long as they were GONE!

Unfortunately I couldn't save some of the trees in the yard. The yard had to be leveled and the roots were all over. I looked out the front window and watched my favorite tree go by.



I was consoled by my friend Tami who helped me take shoots and put them in water to root. I will regrow that thing, I swear. I started it from a shoot 14 years ago and I will miss the purple blossoms each Spring. Come on roots!

Joe trimmed more trees and bushes for hours, worked on our mower for hours, ran errands and even cooked dinner. He didn't finally relax until 11pm. when he fell sound asleep. Well, he did take ONE break while he watched Andy haul brush.


Andy continued to fill the hole with brush all
day and it doesn't need much more dirt, although
our neighbor will be back tomorrow morning
to finish the job.

Tami came over to view the progress and help me plan the plantings. She has offered to bring
shoots from her plants and Joe promises my pond will be in for Mothers Day. That pond has been in the box for 3 years now and I cannot wait to sit next to it and relax.

We usually try to relax on Sunday, but since we are on countdown to Open House, the neighbor is coming to work and there is much to be done, I think we are going to have to work again tomorrow. Catie is going to pick rocks out of flower beds, since she spent most of today with her girlfriend. I told her nobody escapes this time, but she said it sounded like fun!

Too Much to DO

Everyone knows the most efficient way to completion, is to have a "to do" list. Just reading mine at the moment is enough to make me want to check in at the local looney bin. It is currently 5 pages long (school notebook paper) and growing.

The kids are always saying, "Mom! Just make a list!" so I did. Joe recently said something about "If you want things done, make a list". I wish you could have seen his face when he read it. To be honest, he glanced at the 5 pages and walked away quickly. That means no more excuses from the family. The list is published!

Yardwork, (and more yardwork), painting, fixing and more fixing. It seems there has been a lot let go over the past couple years and it is all really starting to bug me. Since I am not much use with physical labor, this puts me in the role of the Slave Driver. Joe and Andy spent the weekend digging fence posts out and trimming trees, Catie raking and helping haul brush. Catie's room is empty and waiting for paint. I went to Walmart to pick out color chips. Sounds fair to me.

With Andy's Open House coming quickly, it is a motivation to get everything crossed off. I cannot imagine what a relaxing summer it could be if "The List" was empty. Does it ever get empty?