LEXINGTON!!!!

Yesterday we went back to Lexington for our grandson's Graduation Open House.  I always love going back to Lexington, so we left the house early so we could spend some time enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of the place we used to call home.

We walked out on the pier -

I have walked that pier SO many times, the very  best walks

were in the  early morning  just as the sun was coming up! 

And of course I had to take a picture of our lovely little house. (on the right)

 The beach is all grown up now ~

The yard looks nothing like it did when Bob was in charge

 of planting and pruning and watering and mowing

THEN we went to the river...the place I miss the most.

Where Lake Huron meets the St. Clair River,

it is the place that I went to just BE.

It doesn't matter if it was buzzing with people (like today)

or completely still except for chunks of ice moving downstream in the winter

It has a way of  mesmerizing me..so peaceful and tranquil.

All too soon it was time to leave ~

But that's OK it's time for Andrew's Party

 

I was impressed when we went to our Grandson Sam's open house - his mom had spent so much time creating posters of his school days (I posted some of them on my scrappin' blog)

Well she outdid herself this year.

This is only half of the table that was filled with memorabilia of Andrew

school photos and awards

 and this is one of Andrew's pieces of art

and then I saw this .... taken at mom's 90th birthday party

of course it brought tears to my eyes.

Then Rachael brought me this

 

One all framed, for me to take home -- -

do I even need to say that it brought MORE tears to my eyes???

Thank You So Much, Rachael!

One thing I have discovered...

You can say I want a picture of you with the cake before it is cut--

But that doesn't mean that a young man will remember when his sweet tooth calls.

Oh well,  pictures of Andrew cutting and serving his cake are much better!

And by all accounts......

That cake tasted mighty fine!!!

Congratulations Andrew ~

We Love You

and we sure did enjoy our day

 celebrating YOU!

Our New Granddaughter

Grandpa holding his newest grand baby -

Mike & April's daughter --

Sophia Marie born 7/7/10

She is our 3rd new grandchild in less than a month ~

We are blessed indeed!!

Family

Yesterday was a great day for me.  One of the best days I have had since December 22 when I lost my mom.  Sis & I had asked our sons to have dinner with us this evening - even my nephew Randy, who lives in TN was coming --- mom had left a little something to her grandsons and Sis wanted us to all be together when we gave them their surprise gift from grandma.  We were to all meet at Lucky's Steak House for dinner.
But first Sis, Randy (my nephew) and  I went to my son Jay & Shelly's house to see "the boys".  I was so excited, I had only seen my new grandson's at the airport when they arrived from Taiwan...  I was ready for some hugs & kisses!!  Levi has chicken pox - he was not  able to come to the restaurant.  So we went to the house and I was so amazed at the enthusiasm these little guys had for EVERYTHING !!  My sister said it best- these little boys were soooo thrilled to see us and they didn't even know us!!  What a joy!! 
Unfortunately I did not take any pictures at the house, so I have no pictures of Levi today,  his Papa Whitehead and great Grandma Whitehead watched him while everybody else went out.

At the restaurant - Shelly and Ron

Landon waiting for his dinner.  Isn't this just the prettiest little face?? 

Landon is holding hands with his mom and his Aunt Sarah - saying grace. 

(How precious is that??)

Sister explaining why we were all here -

yes, she got a little choked up.

She explained how mom had expressed her desire to have the money in her checking account split between her 4 grandsons when she died.  (When asked by mom what I thought of the idea, I had said it's a good idea as long as you don't go without something you want so that you can keep a bigger balance and mom had said "oh I won't, if I have a dollar they will each get a quarter"  ---

so Sis said here's your quarter and I gave them their envelope.

I hope they were all pleasantly surprised!!

My nephew Rick - My sister Yevonne - My nephew Randy

July 4th Weekend

Saturday afternoon ~

I had never before seen how the big round bales of hay were baled ~

this was in the field next to our house....pretty cool!

Saturday evening we took a ride in the woods....

( I love rides in the woods)

We saw several deer...

(always on the look-out for a bear....maybe someday-not today)

Over the river and through the woods......

I got up at 5:30 AM and packed a lunch , and we were off to Leelanau - went to Leland my favorite town. 

 I ALWAYS take a pic of Falling Waters Lodge - we have stayed there several times and I love it!

Today we visited the park - for the first time. 

There were many pretty roses and this very cool wall border made of tiles - very unique.

Then we headed back to the other side of the peninsula....

Bob stopped and bought a CHERRY pie --

(it is the Cherry festival after all)

We stopped at a little roadside park - at the end of the peninsula - just before coming into Traverse.

We deicided this would be a good place to watch the air show - -

not so many people as downtown.

Here we are waiting...it was so hot....

FINALLY

The Navy Blue Angels - the 2nd time I have been to Traverse to see them...

and again all I can say is

WOW!!

Our New Grandsons!

My son and daughter-in-law - Jason and Shelly - spent last week in Taipei, Taiwan finalizing the adoption of Levi and Landon.  It was a process that took 2 years and was not without sadness and disappointment.  BUT that is all in the past and it was a joyous day yesterday when they all arrived home.

Jason with 3 year old Landon

Brooklyn with 4 year old Levi - 

She is so excited to be a big sister!

Shelly with her 3 beautiful children!

Bob's Free Wood Chips

We have had tree trimmers out here all last week, cleaning up under the power lines.

So Bob talked to them and they agreed to empty the wood chips in our yard.

(No, not close to the drive way....around back, by the garden)

This is the second load being dropped off.

But the ground was soft and they left ruts in the yard, so Bob suggested they drive through the field.

The truck got STUCK on Friday.....

I missed all the excitement - but they had spent quite a while trying to get it out

and finally decided to let is set over the weekend

Bright and early this morning the "troops" arrived, and soon got the truck out of the field.

Part of the load of chips is out in the field where they dumped them to lighten the load----

 I'm thinkin' that hubby might have made one too many suggestions....

Not expecting any more free wood chips arriving soon!

Mystery Solved!!! (?)

About 3 months ago - towards the end of February, we got a call from our neighbor saying it looked like we lost a swan the night before. 
We waited for another call ...figuring that whatever animal got the swan, would be back the next night for the other one.  No call, but a couple of days later, the neighbors sent a pic of the surviving swan in their backyard!  It appeared to be looking for his buddy.  I was sure that if the coyotes did not come to get him, he would walk right to them!  A couple of weeks later we got another call - there is now 2 swans on the pond ---must be a wild one landed---very aggressive, our swan goes up by the barn to stay out of it's way---  Finally it appeared that the "other swan" had flown away.

We have now been home almost 2 weeks and this morning our neighbor called saying "there is a swan in your front yard"...and yep our swan was in the pond!  Well we thought that nasty wild swan was back.
Then, I spotted our swan, coming out of the pond...and he was in a butt-kicking mode for sure....

          Well, I thought it was rather funny....you go guy!!!  That nasty swan is not going to push you around!!
                 Bob went out the front and walked behind the "wild" swan and "steered" it around back -
                                                                        straight to the pond.

                                                         BUT ---here comes "our" swan----

AND it was at that point ---when OUR swan was chasing that "wild nasty swan" away....

that we realized.....

This "wild" swan could not fly.....

this was our swan...

the one that had all of a sudden come up missing ..

without a trace... without a sign of a kill...

Later, Bob and I walked across the field to a nasty little pond

and there was our swan

we had food and when I said "come here pretty boy"

he swam right to us

later this evening we went back, again with some food -

and this time, we saw the band on his leg.

SO...while I am glad my swan is alive, I am worried about it out on that little pond

I WONDER why the swan on the pond, kept wandering off as if to find his "brother"

when it was HIS fault he was gone....

We realize that it is SPRINGTIME and we are blaming all this craziness on HORMONES

BUT HOW LONG DOES THIS MATING SEASON THING LAST????

I don't know how it will all end - BUT I do know....

that the swan that had my sympathy, because he was so LONELY....

NO LONGER has my sympathy... I am quite DISGUSTED actually...

and I am now worried about my "pretty  boy" out on that nasty pond

who has somehow survived on his own the last 3 months.

Stayed tuned ....

And speaking of HORMONES.....

This would we a good place to mention my thoughts - -

that my fish...my koi

Might well be the best choice of pets for me....

Not like kitties, not like swans....

who cause my heart to break when they die

If I don't see my koi

It is simply because they are in the deep part of the pond!!!
YEP

For a 50  something woman

(whose hormones are as out of whack as a crazy ass swan)

FISH might very well  be the best pets!

Today is May 1st!

Today is May 1st - the 19th Annual Tour of Homes!!!
Woke up at 4am -- just too excited (nervous?) 
Dozed a bit and got up at 7...soon I was again getting panicky...too many things to do..
finally I took my camera and did a room check-

Flowers in entry---

Library-

Living Room -

Dining Room -

Master Bedroom -

Master Bath

Downstairs Hall

Den - aka  Backroom - where we "live"

Kitchen - (now a nice pale yellow)

We are displaying photos of former owners, original blueprints,

digital picture frame of work being done, and THE COOKBOOK!!

(the cookbook is printed by the Methodist ladies and has a picture of our house on the cover)

Also serving LEMONADE!!

Upstairs-- the landing..

Upstairs and Downstairs

The BLUE room - aka The Hydrangea Room -

The ONLY room that actually matches this crazy carpet!!!

The green  -Azalea Room

 Magnolia Room and the paneled room....OK....(pics posted a while back)

Upstairs Bathroom

OUTSIDE - the sign is up..the table, WITH table cloth is ready by the door...

In the side yard....

All homeowners received a pot filled with annuals at the dinner last night...the sunflower pot is my birthday present and will be going home with us...beyond that is where my Missy is buried...

Everything looks just about as good as it can....

and shortly after 10 the people started arriving.

This was the fun part ... the work was done, time to greet the people.  Met so many nice people,

 At 3 o'clock "Blessed" arrived and set up on the front porch

Unfortunately the crowds came this morning...

but the people that were here sure did enjoy the  southern gospel music

Our next door neighbor, Pat, was great - she  was here all day.  She did all the coordinating of hostesses, since we don't know that many people here.  When the music started she ran home and got her tamborine!

So it was a great day..it started out cloudy and was very humid - but NO RAIN!!  We had about 200 people go through the house (yesterday and today) - it was nice - we are tired and glad it is over - but it was a nice day - a very nice day!!!