Lucky 13!!

To celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary on May 29th, we headed to the U.P. 

We spent the night in Curtis on the 28th. 

(the first time we had ever been there)

I really loved this wooden walk along the river-

(I could see one like that around our pond)

We had to stop to get a picture of the May apples---

(Better known as Trillium)

The next morning -

we did a first time visit to the Tahquamenon River -

I took some pics where the river opens up to Lake Superior

while Bob talked to the Border Patrol guys.

Then another first time visit to Whitefish Point

Next we went to the Soo, where we watched the boats,

had lunch and an ice cream cone

THEN a stop at sister's before heading home!

The Dilemma

Sunday June 5th

Grandson Landon is turning 4 years old. Birthdays where not celebrated in the orphanage, but he has watched his brother and sister and dad celebrate their birthdays this year.....and has asked (on more than one occasion) "Landon's turn?"  So this is a big deal....

Also a very big deal -

Grandson Zachary is graduating from high school!

What to do...What to do

Bob dropped me off at Jay & Shelly's for the birthday party

Bob went on to Croswell for the graduation.

Bob with 3 of his 4 sons & his 4 grandsons.

The Hummingbird Fiasco

They are baaaaack.........

The Hummingbirds are back!

I LOVE these little jewels

But this year I am having a little trouble keeping them in food.

On this day I had carried out the measuring cup with the feed

because the feed was dripping for some reason -

when I turned it over, the sugar water came pouring out...

it seems there was a split in the top of the feeder...

THEN I took the next one out and did not have the bottom screwed on right...

so that one dumped out on the deck too!

What a MESS!!!!

Then they were either empty in the morning or on the ground --

the raccoons had discovered our feeders

They even broke Bob the Bird Feeder!!!

This is the 1st one we caught - so far we have caught 2 and we know there is at least 1 more -
If I don't bring the feeders in at night they dump them and then lick the sugar water off the deck...
and they are smart enough to get the bait out of the live trap without getting caught...
they are driving me CRAZY!!!

May 21.....

Well, with no posts for over a month

it appears things have been rather slow

here at Wolf River ~

YEP

not much happenin'

Mr. Nasty Swan has had to take on the geese every now & then..

(you remember he "killed" his brother earlier this spring)

so now he has no one to take out his pent up aggressions on.

 

Robert came home one day carrying this cute little yellow box...

YEP

 we  have CHICKENS!

It is now a couple of weeks later, 

the first night we put a heater next to the cage

which is in the back glassed in porch

but still lost 2 little chicks...

so the next day I went to town and bought a heat lamp.

Now I check them several times a day

I worry that they are too cold

I worry that they are too hot

(I don't want broasted chicks)

AND I will cry as the raccoons EAT them up...

Yay...we have chickens!!

Soooo what have we been doin' lately???????

Well we have  been home over a month now. 

We have had  many  cold days!

 Yes it was pretty...

We had early morning temps of 3 or 4 ....so everything was ice covered .

ANd then we have had a sad time.....

Our nicest, sweetest, friendliest swan was again kicked off the pond.

When we got home he was in the creek that was no wider than he was....

We knew he was not safe, but he had survived the same conditions last year...

so we hoped....

He sought refuge in the horse pasture

and was kicked or stepped on.....

Bob brought him home -

I held him and petted him while Bob made a bed for him in the shed...

We hoped he would recover.....

but it was not meant to be.....

We now have only one swan.

(and yes I have had a discussion with Nasty Swan

and told him what might happen to swans who kill their brother!!!)

We have been "up north" THREE times, looking for?????

SOMETHING.... :-)!!!!

A house...smaller...easier to maintain....????

AND TODAY.....

Robert headed to town to buy  pellets for our wood stove.

(Yesterday was near 80---a beautiful day.

Today is again cold and windy)

So I am here alone and the pellet stove went BONKERS-

which made me go BONKERS!!!

All of a sudden smoke was pouring out of every nook and cranny!!

It has never done anything like that and it scared me BAD!!!

I was just thinking how I should have shot a picture of the smoke

ROLLING in the family room.

The fact that I did not think of that tells you just how scared I was!!

So this evening I am sitting here and it is rather cool -

we could use a little heat...

but the pellet stove is "out of order"..

Bob has retired to a room that smells BETTER than this one!!!!

Now I am going to do the same!

HOME

We arrived home yesterday, March 9 ---yes it is very early, much to Robert's dismay...

Also to Robert's dismay......

the snow was flying in Michigan!!

This is a picture was taken on 131, north of Grand Rapids,

the closer we got to home, the slipperier the roads become,

several cars were in the ditch waiting for the tow truck.

When we got to our road, Bob had to put the truck in 4-wheel drive,

so we could get through with the heavy trailer we were pulling.

BUT we made it .....safe and sound.....

Yaaaaayy!!!

When we got home.....

the furnace was blowing cold air...

the pellet stove and small gas heater AND electric blanket kept us warm.
The part should be in tomorrow.

Here is my Toe-Toes
We were not home very long before she came "meowing" out of the barn.
 I always cry when I see her in the spring.
It is very hard for me to leave her alone all winter. 
This year Bob put a feeder in the garage so the raccoons would not eat all her food.
 It is quite an obstacle course she has to go through to get in the garage,
(where she also had an old comforter to snuggle up in)
We practiced and practiced last fall....before she got the hang of it....and get the hang of it she did....
my little Toes had all that food to herself and now she is almost as wide as she is long!!!

The swans have again had another springtime  falling out -
 we spotted the nice one swimming in the creek and Mr. Nasty is either in the pond or wandering around.

Here he is strutting down the middle of the road this evening as Bob was "guiding" him back to the pond.


I am happy to report that 2 out of 3 TV's are up and running this evening. 
We should have had a video camera set up as we struggled with those darn TVs!!
We are truly a couple of stooges trying to get our televisions to work,
2 out of 3 is VERY good.......as for that 3rd one....
well, last year it was August before I figured it out!!!




 

President's Day

Today we went to the Plains High School Museum

for a President's Day celebration.

President Carter was the speaker!!

Now how cool is that????

The old high school auditorium was packed -

I found a seat, but Bob chose to sit on a bench in the hall,

 he was right at the door and could hear - but not see too much.

But because he was right there at the door,

he was able to shake hands with both Jimmy and Rosalynn!

Again...how cool is that???

I even managed to get a shot of Rosalynn as we were leaving.

The blurriness is the result of......

 hurrying to get a shot before she got by me....

AND

the look that SS guy was giving me might have been a tad intimidating!

A very cool day indeed!!!!!

Lately

Last weekend we went to an Automotive Swapmeet - not looking to swap any autos, just something to do.

I have posted some car pics on the other blog - but saved the pretty purple bug for here.

Yep - I wish my bug was purple -

Also discovered I would like an Airstreem -

No not for camping.................

to use as a mirror

Do you see how SKINNY we look?????

Yep, we need an Airstreem

The robbins have been flocking to our yard lately

YEP~

They know spring-time will soon arrive in Michigan

and they are getting ready to go home :-]