What a difference a day makes

Yesterday.











Today.

Short Week :(

I'm totally bummed that I have to miss 2 days with my favorite person in the whole wide world. We're leaving early in order to get Matt back home due to airport backups here in the Philly area this week. I totally love and adore my grandson and treasure each minute spent with him. 48 hrs less than I expected is not acceptable for either one of us. I know that he will miss me too. When we are together it is special time for both of us and we can't really get enough of each other. Some things are just out of our control though and we have to go with it..............we don't have to like it though!

Socked In in Jersey

Yup, glad we weren't flying or driving back right now from Xmas in the
east! They have a few days to uncover before we leave. Makes me glad
I live in Michigan where we are always ready for it and it doesn't really
seem like a big deal to get 8-12 inches.

Cutness Times Two

It's going to be a fun few days with Dylan and his cousin Nora!  They don't make them much cuter!

It's that time of year again........

It's the time of year that Lee and I join Jane in her labor intensive effort of making sauerkaut balls. We're getting better at it each year so I think Jane is going to "keep" us. Done til next December!

Holiday Stress

The most "wonderful time of the year" as the song goes turns out to be not so much for lots of us.  I'm luckier
than most but not totally devoid of the stresses.  I don't bake, I have a lot of time to shop, wrap and think of
menu possibilities.  Looking back I don't know how I got all this stuff done when I worked and had kids to
keep me hopping as well.  Somehow though every year we make through and manage to enjoy it.
Now if I could just get my little elves back in line I'd be all set!

Sunrise on Treetop Lane

I just love it when a day looks promising and it turns out to be just that.  It must have been 50 here today which is something for the end of November. 

Thanksgiving to Christmas

Today is Thanksgiving. I hope you all enjoyed it with those that are important to you. Tomorrow we start the journey to Christmas.
I started it by decorating today and will end in New Jersey with my four children..........Lindsay, Matthew, Dave and Dylan. That is what
I am thankful for today as well as sharing it all with my husband.

Sun shadows

Can't say exactly how this particular shadow occurs on our livingroom wall in the
morning, for nothing on the facing window looks quite like it. Kinda cool looking tho..

Happy Birthday Dylan James!

Can it be possible that you are 2?  My wish for you is 100 more!  Nana and Papa love you!  Happy Birthday!

Let the season begin!

Yeah baby, bring it on!

Morning light

Like my Father before me, I am a morning person. I know this about myself and over the years have come to relish it.
I can remember my Dad calling up to us "Up and at 'um kiddies!" every school morning with great enthusiam. While
others may feel like burrowing deeper under the covers and are reluctant to leave last night's slumber, I can't wait to
get out of bed and sometimes have to will myself to stay there just a little longer. For me the morning is the promise of
something new. What? Who knows..........and that for me is just the point.

Homecoming

It was an amazing sunrise yesterday as we trekked down Belding Rd enroute to MSU for the homecoming game. The promise of

a wonderful fall day unfolded. We were not disappointed in any way. We arrived to find ourselves perfectly positioned to tailgate
on a sunny patch of lawn right near Matt & company so he could visit with us and Mike and Laurie prior to a nice walk over to the stadium.

After a slow first half we watched MSU come alive in the second to the delight of all its fans and alumni.

The weather was perfect, our company was as good as it gets and the outcome of the game the cherry on the homecoming cake!

The Perfect Fall Wkd...............

More perfect weather could not have been ordered. And the company
just as perfect...........our delightful, good natured, handsome little grandson.
We've enjoyed the past few days with Lindsay, Dave, Dylan and even Matt.
Today we're hoping for a celebration dinner after the football game (MSU/UM) before they have to leave at noon tomorrow. We packed alot in...........Artprize, cooking Indian food together, going out for Thai and to Mangiamo's, a trip to the cidermill, a fall color walk on our golf course, a trial of the new wine bar downtown call "The Reserve", and there's still the game and seafood chowder to look foward to! For me the weekends don't get much better than this!

Top 10 Artprize

Well, the Monk didn't make it amazing as it was!  These five did as well as three from my previous post (not the trees).  I have to pick one of them as I'm a registered voter in Artprize and having a hard time with my
top 3.  The mosaic of the woman, the "Vision" and the Calvary pencil mural.  All really amazing.........what to do?

The Monk

2 hours from now we find out the top 10 entries in Artprize.  If this one does get into the top 10 I am going to be surprised.  It was more that just amazing and so very lifelike I expected him to speak an any moment.
Definately in my top picks.

Day 1 at ArtPrize 2010

Some of our favorites from the first day of Artprize.  Many wonderful things to see and experience here this year.  I'm thankful we have this venue here in our city to enjoy.  It boggles my mind what wonderful things
the creative mind comes up with and Artprize is the perfect place to see so many at one time with over 170
0 entries.  You are amazed at each and every turn.  One entry was several painted pianos at various places around downtown inviting anyone to sit and play.  We heard a few people that were quite amazing sit down and do just that.  Another cool entry was a life size man sitting on a bench and he was made of suet.  Many
little creatures in the landscape around him made of suet as well.  By the time Artprize is over I'm sure he will
be diminished in size but what a clever form of "art"!  We only managed to cover the tip of this "iceburg" yesterday but I plan on going back several times in the next 2 weeks so I will be sharing more with you soon!

Victory for MSU!

Went to the MSU/Notre Dame game last night and didn't get home til 2 A.M!
But it was definately worth it. Weather wasn't perfect but about as close as
we could come with what was forecast. Didn't get wet or cold!
Game was close the whole way. Touchdown for touchdown ending with
28/28 to go into overtime. Then they got a fieldgoal to go 31. Our turn at
the 25 and on the 4th down with 14 when everyone thought we'd go for the
fieldgoal as well (certainly looked set up for it!) we pass and run it in for the
touchdown. The place was electric! No one wanted to even leave despite the
way past midnight time. Team rushes the student section to celebrate and
people, I want to tell you, this is what college football is all about! Friggin
awesome!

Daddy's Girl

In a novel I'm reading the main character has great relationship with her Dad growing up but loses him at a rather young age. She mentions he calls her his Whirlygirl and how special it always
made her feel. I wonder if fathers know what little things they do make such a big impression on
us, their daughters. My Dad had a name for me too that was mine alone......and long. He called me
Oocher magoocher fellagadoocher and Oocher for short. It always made me feel special. He had a special little place in his heart for me and was always my champion. It's not to say he didn't love
my brothers just as much, as I'm sure he did. But I was his only girl and he always told me that
I was his special birthday present the year I came (3 days after his birthday). I chose to believe him. Relationships with the parent of the opposite sex can be varied and sometimes difficult. For
me it was mostly magical. I was blessed.

A Hunk of Walnut

We've been looking for something different to use as a mantle in the "mancave" downstairs.  This past weekend while at Lake Huron we found it.  Admittedly it's a little rough right now, but after its cut, plane sanded, stained and clear coated it's going to be pretty nice.  Guess I have a winter project!

More Huron skies

 

Yea, It's Ever Changing

 

I love the way Huron changes from hour to hour...............

Huron Time

 

It's Labor Day wkd which has come to mean Lake Huron time with our friends Bill and Lonell.
It means grilling out, bonfires, hottubs, hanging out on the screen porch, homemade pies,
art festival in Harrisville, MSU's first football game of the season, walking the beach and
most of all spending time with dear friends! Hope your weekend is great too!