Today Was The Day!!

After a couple of delays, the time has finally come to get that bell tower back on top of the church. On it's way up... Everybody hold your breath..better yet say a little prayer.. Steve was up on top to guide it in position..(too scary) Finishing up. John in the bucket at the very top. Everybody did their job WELL. It all went very smoothly and most importantly, safely. I think I know 3 guys who will sleep much better tonight than last night!

So what happened to the OLD bell tower?

Well, the guys had already added some new boards to strengthen it up and make it ready for travel ~ the crane picked it up and put it on our trailer~ and off we went to Wolf River Farm! (this pic was taken over my shoulder as we were coming down our road) the crane is getting ready to pick it up..

and place it on the footings

and there it is just waiting for Bob to do what he does best.. I will be sure to post pictures of the finished product.

Ludington

It was 90 here yesterday, so we took a little drive over to Lake Michigan, where we went to the ice cream shop, then had dinner, (yes in that order) and took a walk on the beach. It's nice being close enough to do that every once in a while - it sure helps when we get homesick for that other little L word town on Lake Huron...

Fact or Fiction

How many times did Bob say he heard that swans would keep the geese off the pond??? Well, by now we know that belief is indeed fiction. I could not believe how many were here today-

and it was me and not the swans that convinced them it was time to move on. I have no doubt they will return ...... probably with a few dozen friends.

Mike & April's Wedding

Baby Joey watching mommy & daddy getting married. By the look on his face we can tell he understands that this is very serious business! the ceremony ~ Bob's sons ~ John & Bobby (in back) Mike & Kenny (in front)

Bob with his grandchildren ~ Andrew, Sam holding Joey, Zachary and Molly.

Our Latest Additions

Bob has been looking for swans for a long time - he finallly heard about a bird sanctuary that sells male Mute Swans. We visited the sanctuary about a month ago to find out all the particulars. Today, with permit and checkbook in hand, we returned to pick up our 2 swans. The above pic was taken after we arrived home and were trying to coax "the guys" out of the cage.

Heading for the water!!

By this evening they were feeling right at home.

We are very concerned about the wild animals getting them, the woman at the sanctuary said - the smart ones survive, the other ones don't. We sure hope we got a couple of the smart ones!!

What Happened To July?????

It is already August, Summer is flying by way too fast as usual. In July we found homes for Toe-Toe's babies and Toe-Toes had surgery so there will be no more babies for her......but in the barn we discovered.... another batch of babies. Their mama is but a baby herself and she is too wild to let us get very close to her. We are trying to hold the babies so they get used to people ...we want to be able to find them homes also.

We did get the little bathroom finished. I love it. That's another room finished!

Last weekend we went back to Canada, Bob loves it up there. We looked at this cabin on the lake/river where we stayed last Summer and again this year.

View of the river from the yard of the cabin. I guess Bob just wants to get away from the rat race of Paris (LOL). It is a beautiful area and I think I might enjoy it for a week or two at a time, but as my home.....let's just say, as a person who needs a little retail therapy every once in a while, I would be in Big Trouble up there in the wilderness.