DETROIT!!

Yesterday morning we left home at 6:00AM - headed to Detroit for the auto show!! 

Bob had a job to look at in Clarkston, then we continued on down I75.

With camera in hand, I was ready to SNAP some pictures!!

This pic is a trip down memory lane -- the route I used to take when I worked in Troy.

BUT  before we got this far, Strange, Scary Sounds

were coming from one of our front tires.

About 2 miles from Cobo the sound got LOUDER and Bob made a hasty exit.

Which put us smack dab in the middle of a rather bad neighborhood -

or maybe I should say many bad neighborhoods!!!

We slowly headed north on the side streets.....looking (in vain) for an auto repair shop.

Bob found a guy to ask and he said turn here, turn here, turn here -

 and you will find a little mom & pop place.  So we did - and we did.

We were in Hamtramack - and yes the owner was very nice - AND very busy.

No time to work on it - but he got in the car to see if he could tell what was going on.

He could not be sure.  He gave us directions out of there and off we went...

putt - putt- putting up the road.  We found another shop and stopped in.

He was also very, very busy.  Just not able to help us out.

But he did know of a guy - just turn here, turn here, turn here - and we will find

another repair shop.  So we did - and we did.

Now we were in Madison Heights, (much better) this guy was also very, very busy.

BUT, he put us in front of all the other cars!  Checked out the car, yep it was a wheel bearing.

His Aunt Fifi, who was his receptionist, drove us to a nearby restaurant, so we

could have lunch, then she came and picked us up when we were finished

and by that time the car was finished!!  Such nice people!!

It was taken care of so quickly that we got back on southbound 75 --

headed back towards Cobo...and of course the camera was aimed out the window...

which means, MOST of the shots will not turn out, but I knew I'd get a few.

 THEN...we got to the cars...

This was the Lincoln concept car...

Bob's favorite

Another Lincoln...

And THEN.........

My camera said - BATTERY EMPTY....

WHAT?????

Soooooo upset!!

So many wasted pictures before I even got there - so many cool cars

Audi - Porsche - BMW - Mercedes -

My favorite was a Bentley convertible....

and NO pictures...

Oh well,

I consoled myself by singing Janis Joplin's

Mercedes Benz song on the way home!

Always makes me smile :-))

2012!!!!

It is 2012 and I AM BACK....THEN AGAIN, who knows for how long???   It has been over 2 months since  I've posted.  Already 13 days into the new year.  Resolutions have been made, THEN AGAIN, resolutions have been made EVERY year....for some reason I feel this year they WILL be kept.  So far - so good.... LOL.  For now I am simply working on those resolutions.  When I actually achieve them (and I WILL) I will let you know - so stay tuned! 
As for what has been happening around here this year.....

Jan. 6 - Bob is on the phone - pointing at the pond to get my attention

There is a FOX on the pond...the first time I have seen this....

When Mr. Fox made his way to the other side of the pond, where Mr. Swanee was swimming in his bubbled area, mom had to intervene.  Out the door I went screamingandholleringandclapping my hands...he got the message and hightailed it out of here!!   THEN.....in the evening...

him AGAIN on the bales of hay to the north of us... and he (she?) had a friend that I did not get a shot of .  They were waaaay to close to my chickens.  The next morning everything (and everybody) was OK..I guess the chickens were locked in securely enough and Mr. Swanee was smart enough to stay out of harms way!

Today - Friday the 13th - was a beautiful, but cold day.  I put on my boots and headed out with my camera - THEN Bob & I went for a ride through the woods...



This is where the Bald Eagles hang out...(when they are not fishing in my pond!)

A Winter Wonderland for sure!!!

White Fields

Last week we were in Georgia - where the fields were white with cotton.

This morning we woke up to fields that were white with SNOW!!

Getting Colder

We woke up to a very chilly 28 degrees this morning...

good thing Bob stocked up on wood pellets yesterday!!

I



Seeing QUADRUPLE????

First glance at the pond this morning.....

made me do a double take!!

Swanee had some visitors!

Who is the BRAVEST Chicken of All???

Bob stores LOTS if empty flower pots in part of the chicken coop.

We now have two hens laying, but one of them has decided

that instead of the nesting boxes she would rather lay her eggs

in a flower pot -- a flower pot that is waaay in the back and we can't get at. 

So this morning I took out the removable block instead of opening the door

 - we can now keep them out of the storage area...

just as soon as they learn the new "route"!

It was pretty scary having that hole appear in the wall,

 they needed a bit of coaxing to come out.

Autumn

I LOVE this time of year!

The rides in the country to see the colors...

All the Pumpkins & Gourds & Squash

OH MY!!

We came upon a place that had pumpkins & gourds & squash

for a pretty good price, so we bought some...

THEN we came upon a place that had all of the above

for a VERY, VERY good price...

So we bought some more!

Pie pumpkins & apple gourd

I think this is the 3rd year we have not planted any pumpkins,

last year we sold a couple bushel of mini pumpkins that came up

from the previous years rejects in our garden, 

I was pleasantly surprised when Bob discovered

 3 little white pumpkins near the mulch pile in the garden.

We bought LOTS of squash..

butternut, buttercup, acorn, spaghetti,

and a couple varieties of  kabocha

which we have never tried...

Last night, I cooked up several butternut (for the freezer)

and a spaghetti, that we ate for supper (gooood)

I am saving seeds.....

next year I hope to grow PLENTY of

Pumpkins & Gourds & Squash of my own...

OH MY !!!

Ludington State Park

We have been to Ludington many times,

but this was our first visit to the State Park.

It was very pretty - a great place for a nice long walk

When we left the park, we pulled over along the road

and walked to the water