Sunday, June 22, 2008
Picture speaks 1000 words....
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Bayfield, Part II
Because of its location on the hills leading to the shore, there is a water view from everywhere. This does NOT do it justice. As I mentioned in the previous post and you have now read , the Big Top, Chataqua is a big attraction to this community in the summer. Lew and Marlyce started as volunteers and are now actually paid to keep this truly wonderful tradition going. We attended shows both evenings,a mix of background historical slides, folk music, skits and downright toe-tapping, hand-clapping fun. We met wonderfully friendly people (after all, isn't that what the midwest is all about) and wish we could drop in for each and every performance scheduled (5 per week in season). Willie Nelson returns each summer to perform in this intimate setting (900 seats) and Garrison Keiler of course is a favorite.
Being so far north, the spring blossoms are just now at their peak. Lilacs were everywhere as well as gorgeous oriental poppies, peonies, azaleas and an occasional tulip. But my favorite was the lupine which grows wild everywhere in shades of purple, lavendar , pink and white. They are massed besides the road and along the hills. Perfect. Lew and Marlyce originally lived near Minneapolis and started coming to Bayfield about 10 years ago. Lew and the entire family lovingly restored this schooner and sailed these waters for many years. Then they found land and with the entire family , built their home.
Now,sometimes I can multi-task, after all, isn't that woman's strong suit......you know, like kids, husbands, jobs, and bake a perfect pie all at the same time. So , it should be a natural to be able to drive a large house on wheels, cook fabulous meals from a box, tour the country while eating M&M's and knit colorful sox, all at the same time......and yes, there's the keeping the husband happy part also...........and then I just need to add in being blog photographer. Well, sometimes, it just doesn't all get done and on this trip, I seem to be forgetting the photographer hat at times. I have no pictures of Lew and Marlyce's beautiful home in the woods, every inch hand made by them. I guess that's a good enough reason to invite ourselves back ......real soon.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
We ( heart) Bayfield
We have been in Bayfield Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Superior, way up there, since yesterday. And we hate to leave. One of the BIGGEST and BEST events we have ever gone to is this....www.bigtop.org and while you glance at that, also check out www.marlew.com/news0608.htm and we'll be back soon with details and pictures. We're off to Detroit Lakes Minnesota in the a.m.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Catching up .....
Here is a gorgeous morning sunrise over Lake Kelsey. I think they have the most perfect site. Their home is so relaxing and comfortable and we were treated royally. We look forward to seeing them this winter when they are down in their winter place in Naples.
Here's the two old (yes, it's true, they are old) high school buds and man's bestest friend, 12 year old Duke. I didn't think I'd ever meet another shelty named Duke. It's a long sad, funny story of another dog who lived only one year with Mike and Jenna and met his demise with his head inside a large Costco cheese bag. Suffocation by gluttony.
A view of the front of the house facing the lake. In a few weeks, this area will be awash with color from all the plantings. We just missed the rhodies and peonies but there were a few mango colored azaleas....unusual color.
Currently, we are in the Upper Peninsula (U/P) of Michigan. We left a beautiful weekend and warm days and drove thru rain and dropping temperatures. It is currently 51 but was only 48. The rain has stopped. The campground host said they have had 11 days of rain and currently have only 5 campers. More rain is predicted for the week. The terrain up here looks like an ad for moose country. It is level with scrubby pines and smaller trees of some sort. The area is very wet with many ponds and river like areas surrounded by reeds and grasses. I could just visualize a moose wandering about. There are many bill boards featuring elk and moose and bear so assume they are prevalent. It looks like it could be pretty bleak up here in the long winter. The Lower Peninsula was more populated and lush looking with many golf courses.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Quick update
We spent Saturday night at a city campground in Cincinnati....it was beautiful but no internet. Had great visit with P's cousin, Betty and Joan. It's been too many years since our last get together but none of us has aged and we reminised .......on what we could remember , that is.
Then a 300 mi drive across the Indiana border into Michigan for our 2 night stay with Mark and Annette Holtan. We are at their perfect lakeside cottage. They have had it for many many years and it is so peaceful and beautiful. The ruby throated hummingbirds are everywhere and we have sighted cardinals,orioles, grosbeak, titmouse etc. Mark is the expert, I'm just repeating. They have captured a very special locale here and the views are spectacular. Pictures will be on a later blog.
We discovered the source of the foul odor as coming from the coach batteries, which will now be replaced. I don't understand why they had to smell so bad as they failed but glad its not some decomposing animal.
Tomorrow, we leave bright and early for a 2 day drive to P's brother. Hopefully, we'll post pictures tomorrow night. Stay tuned
Friday, June 13, 2008
Bon Voyage, Tally Ho, Blast off, On our way....
We departed eastern Pa around 9:30 this morning. We had a great send off with Andy, Mason and Becca wanting to come along. ( Becca is spending the summer with Jon and Marybeth as a helper during the move and unknown work schedules. )
Our drive of almost 300 miles was pretty uneventful. Pennsylvania, along I 80 is mostly rolling hills and quite scenic. Weather was picture perfect for most of the day with a shower later. We found a very lovely KOA on the Pa/Ohio border. Spacious sites, many amenities and not too busy. We definitely noticed a diminishing of fellow RV'ers on the road today. There were none at the rest stops and just an occasional sighting along the interstate. We called ahead to see if we needed a reservation here and she said no....unusual for a Friday night near Pittsburg I think. I noticed in our journal of past trips, that on our first outing in Nov. '06, we paid $2.15 /gal and today it was $3.99.
Tomorrow we head for Cincinnati, about the same distance , to meet with Paul's cousin.
We have discovered an odor about the coach and cannot figure out the source. Initially, I thought it was a gas leak, but turning off the gas did not diminish the foul
odor. It is not from the black or gray tanks. It seems to be near the engine compartment or around the front Rt wheels and slide. I have crawled under and around (no easy task at this age) and searched with a flashlight for signs of something. Paul seems to think it is a dead creature , which is very logical considering there are many places for a mouse to crawl into. I'm hoping it will dissipate easily without further worry over the next couple of days. I don't think Febreze will do the trick.
In order to stay on schedule, we had to forgo Andy's pre-school graduation??? this evening. They are to wear cap and gowns and I can almost 100% guarantee that he won't wear it. He wouldn't wear his Halloween costume to a school party last Oct. and has very definite ideas about what he will and will not do. I'm sure Jon will have many pictures of the occasion to prove me wrong.
It's a sad day with the loss of Tim Russert. His journalistic integrity will be missed, especially this election year.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Preparations are under way
Jon and MB will be moving the end of the month and are planning a garage sale .....this just looks too painful to even contemplate.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
On the road again......
Stay tuned and join us on our trip. Lots of pictures promised.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Life is good....
The other day we joined friends for a trip to a course about 15 min from here. We actually paid to play golf.....something we don't have to do here . (unless we play the championship courses). This place was the most beautiful course I have ever seen. It would have been great just to walk and not even play. It was exquisite.
There were waterfalls and fountains and bridges and beautiful magnolias and oaks dripping in spanish moss.
Many of the palm trees had either impatiens or ferns or both covering the trunks.
The boys know all the characters well and I suspect that with all the moving boxes, the series will continue.
Addendum: We kept reminding ourselves that we had to be outside at 5 pm to watch the shuttle blast off into space. Well, we almost missed it but we managed to dash out back just as it was breaking thru a cloud along the horizon and moving VERY fast, arching upward. Initally, it appeared as a brilliant red bullet, probably a reflection of the sun and not the huge rockets, followed by a large contrail. As it rose rapidly, it gleamed white and quickly became smaller and smaller until only the contrail was visible. We don't hear any sound associated with it. It was magnificent. In my earlier thoughts, I planned on having the camera ready, but of course, I didn't and therefore there are NO pictures.......next time, I promise.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
SCORE !!!!!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
BC
I admit that I am addicted. I have been since Day 1. Back when we first had a computer that I understood and could operate.( It was around the time of the Eastern Airlines debacle and we were in the midst of it. ) One of the forms of communicating and obtaining all those improbably rumors came via the old TI or what ever brand it was. We gradually upgraded and became more literate. It certainly helped that we had genius children who understood this new frontier. The progression continued rapidly with the latest and the best crossing our doorstep. And with Michael being a part of the Microsoft machine, we now have access to our own NERD who speaks English and does not live in India and is willing to make housecalls. Currently, we REQUIRE 2 laptops to keep us happy and connected.
Who knows where this will all lead. I would like to come back in 100 years just to see what technology has accomplished. (If there is a next 100 yrs, considering the state of the economy, the environment and our pitiful Congress......but I digress.
Had a bit of a health scare recently. Don't you love it when the Dr is deep into an exam and says "Whoa....what is this? " Well, it got my attention and prompted more advanced tests, several days of severe angst, a mental settling of affairs and an appreciation of all that I have. Fortunately, the young ultrasonographer broke all the rules and declared me fit as he saw it........and the final report confirmed his opinion. Thank you Dave for saving me many more days of terror. At this age, I think mentally, we are all bracing ourselves for that large hammer hanging over our head to give us a gentle knock now and then. I think I am prepared for my imagined scenarios but this one caught me off guard. I am sometimes too acutely aware of my body and how it behaves. This time I had NO symptoms and so was pretty blindsided by the thought that cells might be running amok. So, I will look at my world with a fresh view and be thankful.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Take one large box, add two boys and stir in red paint..
Do I hear a collective ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
Currently we are in the midst of one of Florida's other seasons........LOVEBUG SEASON. ...... 4-5 weeks of pesky black bugs flying about in tandem. Also called kissybugs, honeymoon fly, telephone fly and 2 headed bug, these annoyances don't bite or actually do anything but they are rather unsettlingwhen they are in your hair and on your body. I was at my 2nd pickle ball lesson (most people only need one !!) and they were everywhere. Apparently they can cause permanent marks on the car's finish. The recommend applying PAM or vaseline to the car in order to clean them off easier. Maybe I just won't drive fast for awhile.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Stuff you don't need to remember......
Aren't these lovely??? Even if they aren't tulips. And I bought them myself. The family knows I would prefer no gifts on Mother's Day but we went to Walmart on Monday and they had an abundance of left over bouquets for the paltry sum of $2.50 so how could I resist? As of today, Thurs, they are still doing well.
The buffalo seem to like their habitat and have produced bunches of baby buffalo. Initially, the mamas kept them away from prying eyes but now they are out in the open. Very cute. Alas, the Developer has announced that because of 3 "human incidences" and the potential liablity, all of the herds are being moved to "the North 40" whereever that is. The internet is full of comments this morning....everything from chastising people for feeding them and getting too close (yes, we are guilty) to putting up a double fence and even suggesting a moat with alligators. Others fear that this is just a way for the Developer to open up large areas of land for further building of commercial areas. They have announced that there will be a "spectacular" nature preserve built in the newer developments south of here.....maybe with buffalo?
The days are just too busy and I am accomplishing nada with the house. Today I am giving up my Art Studio to CLEAN !!! How sacrificial is that??? The new drapes are up (pictures to follow when the dust bunnies are gone) and they are OK, but the floors and walls are still bare. Just seems like there are other priorities in life.....like golf, and a good book, and a dip in the pool. Weather is still quite spectacular but a good soaking rain would be welcome.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
If it's Wednesday, this must be Pennsylvania....
Today is hectic with MaryBeth and Jon working, Mason and I at home and Paul tending to the RV and seeing his Dr for one last time. ( Patti, I apologize if I didn't make it to the shop to see you.......I really tried. )
Tomorrow we will head over to Newtown to see MaryBeth and Jon's new house as they are having the inspection done. They will move the end of June. Jon will drop us off at the airport and we will catch a late flight back to Florida.
Jon stitched this picture together so it is rather scrunched looking. The house is obviously new, in a nice development in Newtown, actually in the Sandy Hook section. It is on 3 acres.
Nicholas is in the midst of finals at The Colorado School of Mines in Golden but managed a few hours off to meet us for dinner. Becca looks none the worse for wear after a fun night at the prom. Prior to leaving, she was complaining about her shoes and admitted that she went barefoot for most of the evening. I doubt she was alone.
Lizzie and Roxie have both changed since our December visit. It is hard to see her grow up so quickly. She is getting very tall and makes quite a fashion statement.(Lizzie that is, altho Roxie has been know to wear some chic sweaters and collars.)
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Becca's Big Day
and Michael is the team photographer. Said he took over 350 pictures of the two games.
But the day belonged to our Beautiful Becca. We were thrilled to be able to witness the preparation and excitement. Having 3 boys, we definitely missed the making of a beauty.
We ended the long happy day with a cheesecake to celebrate Michael's 44th birthday. I tried to make him 45 for a minute but was promptly corrected. You'd think I'd know for sure.....I remember every detail of that day. Stay tuned, more news and pictures soon.