Summer Daze

 

 

 

This has been a whirlwind summer of the best kind for us. During the winter months we purchased a cottage on Lake Michigan about an hour from our home. Starting in late April we have been there on an off trying to make it our own. It is a seasonal place with no insulation and requires "winterizing". We do have a wood burner but it is a futile thing when it turns really cold. Nonetheless, we have enjoyed it so much. The lake is what it is truly all about. Sunsets each night are a highlight. Along with walking the beach each day for me and sharing it with our friends and family as well. Three A frames on a dune. Ours is the one most west with Timm's (Matt's in-laws behind us) and Mark's brothers sharing the 3rd unit which they rent a bit of the summer to others. It's been a labor of love and great enjoyment and will be host to many memories for all of us.

Winter walk

Winter does not stop me from my daily walk.  Wind does and temps in the single digits might but those are infrequent it seems.  On those days the treadmill gets some use.  But for me outside is always my preferred method of "steps" for the day.  I have concluded that I have a great need for the outside air no matter what the weather may be and I always come in with a great feeling of well being after my hour walk outside.  Thinking about this one day I recalled my Mother telling me that as a very young baby I was happiest lying in my buggy on the front porch just watching the leaves and treetops.  Guess I haven't changed much and that it is just something in my DNA. 

End of 2012

While Mark and I nurse our colds, we also count our blessings.  Just having returned from the Holiday week starting with a nite in Detroit with our dear friends the Rices and onward to the east coast  to spend Xmas with the Kohlers.   Despite the fact some or all of us were feeling not ourselves at different times, we still managed to enjoy the holiday just the same.  Missed Matt and Sara but plan to celebrate with them soon.  Happy New Year one and all. 

Our little piece of Lake Michigan

Today we found out that our bid was accepted on a piece of property on Lake Michigan.  It has three separate structures which we will be sharing with Mark's brothers Brian and Dave in one, and Jerry and Pat Timm (Sara's folks) in the other.  We will have the other.  Our's is the far left on the picture and the  lake (Michigan is seen from our deck as well as one taken from the top of the dune directly in front.  They are modest by anyones description but we are quite excited by the whole prospect just the same.  It is exactly a one hour drive from our home.  As we near our retirement (Mark's as I am already) we expect to enjoy some of golden years here walking the beach, enjoying the water and the quiet sunsets.  Yup, this is what we worked so hard for all these years. 

Ev and D

Been back since Wednesday from our visit out east to see Lindsay and family.  As usual we enjoyed the time spent with Lin and Dave and our two beautiful, sweet grandsons.  Evan is a bright, quick, smiling, jumploving little 8 month old who knows what he likes.  Dylan definately takes after our own two in the shy department.  But once he gets comfortable, he'll lead the conga line and make everyone around him laugh.  The pictures show the quieter sides of them both.  Missing them both!   

 

 

 

Artprize 2012

In addition to the 3 pics above these are also in the top 10 to win Artprize this year. Two others, an oil painting and an origami piece I have to admit I didn't take pics of but they are both superb and deserving. The Lights in the Night piece we were lucky enough to witness in person and it took our breath away. 20,000 chinese lanterns lit up and let go on a perfect night for such an endeavor. We (registered) voters get to chose only one this week to win the big prize. My choice will be the piece called "Song of Lift" which is the first one on the prior set of pics and for the reason that it engaged more than one sense for me and truly was delightful. The artist not only used his imagination but it required both sides of brain to make this the sensory delight to behold that it was. I won't be upset if one or two of the others win because they were great as well (the "Elephants") for one. And the oil painting not pictured as well as the origami piece. All in all I am thrilled to live in this wonderful city where all of this takes place.

Artprize

It's that time of year again when we are blessed with this three week event. Ahhhh, I love living here in the fall and enjoy each moment of ARTPRIZE. Here are a few of my favorites so far this year. The first one "Song of Lift" is hard to capture as it is a sensory packed piece. It starts out (by putting a quarter in a slot) slowly with a few birds flying and adds slowly with classical music playing and lights alternating to a full flight and moving light show. It treats 3 senses delightfully and is hands down my favorite venue this year. The 2nd and 3rd are graphite drawings by a young artist that is so whimsical and truly delightful you just want to stand and stare at this piece that fills a full wall in the art museum forever. The 4th and last in this post is a series of horses set in the Grand River made of found pieces of wood that is mesmerzing to behold and in just the perfect spot to show it's unique properties. There are so many wonderful things to take in it is almost sensory overload. I will add more as it goes on.

Veggies

Yesterday Mark and I went to the local (Rockford) farmers market.  These were my purchases.  The regular zucchini, eggplant, red pepper are all things you've seen before.  The other three maybe not.  The 3 smaller yellows are lemon cukes.  To the right are small and fragrant melons.  We haven't tried those yet.  The light green curled up one is a sicilian cross between zuch and squash.  That I made for dinner tonite.  AWESOME!  I just grilled it with EVVO and herbs with pork chops and we were surprised at how great it was.  This farmer had the  most unusual stuff including melon that smelled like bananas.  3 or 4 really different strains of cucumbers (lemon was one) and some other things I've never seen before.  I am definately going back next week just to visit this booth. :D 

 

Paperdolls

Yup, I'm 62 and playing with paperdolls.
Saw this on Pinterest and thought it was so cute.  Had to try it.  Matchbox dolls.  I'm thinking of expanding to boys.   Hahaha! 

Nora altered

 Every once in awhile I see a picture that I just can't resist altering somewhat.  This picture of Dylan's cousin Nora was one.  She is a beautiful child by anyone's standard with her larger than life eyes and cuteness in general.  In this one I pencil sketched her somewhat and added shadowing and mussed with the background.  Kind of interesting I think.  Her mother took the picture and she has an excellent eye for composition anyway so that helped. 

 Guess I had more favorites than I thought! :D

 

 

 

 

 

A few of my favorites from last week. 

Leland Sunset

Last nite was our last nite of "Wild Week" with my husbands family.  We chose Leland as our dinner destination and were rewarded with a spectacular sunset when we were done with dinner.  This one shows is waning a bit but I loved the sky and masts in it just the same.  I did not enhance the colors at all.  I'll add a few more pics in the next few days ~ some of my faves from the week. 

Visiting Michigan

 

The Kohler's came for their yearly visit this past week.
  We had a wonderful time enjoying all 4 of them and most especially Dylan and Evan.  It was SOOOO hot we spent much more time inside than we'd have liked but managed to give them some memories of the outdoors as well.  Dylan "golfed" several times which for him is a few hits with clubs and ball and then shucking his shoes and running in the sand traps.  He caught his first fish in the pond in front of our condo.  Went into Rockford and saw the "dam" and waterfalls and even had his first "superman" ice cream cone.  I think if you ask him his favorite thing though it just might be sliding down our hill on a big piece of cardboard.    Evan won't remember much be we will remember his first visit to Michigan and remind him.
  He started our day early but with sunny smiles and the deposition we should all have on waking each day.  His sweet open mouth kisses and easy going nature were just a delight for us.  Gone today but in our hearts and thoughts always.  We can't wait til early October and our visit out east with them already. :D