Play Ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is finally here--Opening Day 2008!! To us that officially marks the end of winter. This picture was taken in January when the Tigers were in town for FanFest at 5/3 Field. Unfortunately we are not at the game---but it is drizzly and temp in the 50's at Comerica----and we are watching it on TV!

Saturday! Saturday! Saturday!

At the inugural running of the Gross Family Bread Bakeoff Dan "I Feel the Knead for Speed" Gross dusted Michele "Pedal to the Metal" Gross with King Arthur All Purpose Flour. Dan carefully measured his water, yeast, and flour and loaded them into his supertuned Oster Breadmaker then pushed the autopilot button and stepped back. Michele threw her mixture into her Kitchen Aid K5A 1970's vintage mixer placed it in 1st gear and launched at 3,000 rpm. As she reved it to 5,000 rpm and shifted to 2nd gear all hell and 2nd gear broke loose. There were parts and ingredients strewn from the refrigerator to the kitchen table. As Dan enjoyed a slice of fresh bread and a nice little glass of California Gewurztraminer Michele went to Jerry's Speed Shop/Macy's and bought a new Kitchen Aid Mixer/Early Birthday Present. Buy your tickets early for next week's race. We are going to use whole wheat flour.

Barb Warner Totally Rocks!

Our nephew Roger sent us this picture of his Mom, Barb Warner, who is down in Houston rock climbing. You go girl! Of course, this comes as no suprise---she is the person on the annual ski trip who is getting in one last run while the younger people are exhausted in the bar. Stay tuned--Dan and I are having a bread baking session today. He is baking his in the bread machine and I am doing mine by hand. We will compare and the winning recipe will be used weekly by us. Pictures later----or if you are in the neigborhood, stop by for a taste. Matt---after your post yesterday, call first to see if we are home. LOL

Ducks on the Pond

The ducks are back on the pond--they return every spring---to mate! Here they are pictured in the snow we had yesterday. Dan thinks I am posting too many pictures of the backyard but this is a lead in to---------next week when baseball season 2008 begins and any true baseball fan knows the meaning of "ducks on the pond"

View from our yard.

For the last 3 weeks, a rather large flock of Canadian Geese have called a harvested corn field behind our pond their home. Early afternoon they start returning and it is a joy to hear the barking honks. I love these large birds---they mate for life---and if something happens to that mate, they

remain single. What is even more special is to watch the little family units with their goslings in late spring.

Dedicated to Adam

I am dedicating this post to Adam, who is set to graduate from college in May. Life seems to be falling into place for him and I want him to know we are proud of him. He is pictured here with his girlfriend Jonelle.

A Bald Eagle

Yesterday as we were getting ready to eat dinner, Dan looked out over the pond and sighted a Bald Eagle in a neighbor's tree. That caused quite a bit of excitement as people ran around and grabbed cameras and binoculars. This was the first time we were able to see one from our house, although they are being more frequently spotted in our area. Several neighbors quietly joined us in the yard and it was quite a moment.

Easter Sunrise

To all our Family and Friends and those who might have happened upon this site by accident, Happy Easter. Here is a view of the sunrise over our pond-an appropriate picture for Easter Morning. Temp------19 degrees.

Highlight of my Day

The actual highlight of my Day cannot be put into a picture. It was a phone call from my "sister" Lisa. She is starting to knit a pair of socks and bought her yarn and pattern today. If we lived closer, we would be sitting together knitting right now!But as you can see--I actually do have 2 sons. Here is Matt and Adam, sitting and sipping a bottle of Cote Du Rhone. And also, here is Matt in his Easter bonnet. Thank you Matt for shoveling. Lisa told me they are going to the BEACH tomorrow. I will be thinking of them as I look at all our snow! Happy Easter everyone!

We're Dreaming of a White Easter

Another snow storm---they are advising anywhere from 3 to 8 inches. Went to Good Friday services and wished friends a Merry Christmas afterwards. The good news is that Adam is home from college for Easter. He won't let me post a picture until he showers and shaves. Maybe tomorrow!

Holy Thursday

Matt invited us to go to St. Stephen's Catholic Church tonite for Holy Thursday. This church is in the Hungarian neigborhood of Toledo and is where my father's family established the Kinsey Funeral Home early in this century. Here is the front of the beautiful church and a picture of Matt in front of the funeral home that was started by my grandfather.

Dedicated to Irene

My mom, Irene, was(she no longer is able to cook)one of those wonderful cooks who could make pies, cakes etc without a recipe. Every Easter and Christmas she made an out of this world coffee cake. When I was first married she wrote down a recipe for me and finally I have attempted to make it. I say attempted because this is the 2nd effort. The first one fell a little flat. I have a good feeling about this one though! Now if I can replicate the frosting she puts on it!! Mom---you are the best!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. Sipping Irish Coffee and watching a replay of today's Detroit Tigers vs Cinci Reds. Tigers are wearing green hats. Life is Good.

It's Here!!!!!

The first tomato plant of summer has poked out of the ground!(In an egg carton in our kitchen)

The Highlight of my Day

Matt came over for dinner! He is still a little under the weather but doing better. Don't worry Adam, if you were in town I would have invited you too.

Spring---hopefully

Spring is actually in the air--well if you squint and block out the snow. There are spring bulbs coming up. And for those of you in California, Virginia and Texas(you know who you are), the white stuff is snow.

My Socks

I am addicted to knitting socks. By next winter I hope to have a pair for every day of the week! I just finished the blue one. Don't worry---I am not color blind--they aren't a pair. But I got impatient to see how the blue yarn knitted up before I finished the raspberry pair! Oh and Dan, Matt and Adam each have a pair too!

We are traveling. Dan and I borrowed armfuls of travel DVD's from the library and so far we have been to France, England, California, New Orleans and are loving every minute---from the comfort of our house! A great way to get through these gray winter evenings. Dan seems to have become infatuated with Justine Shapiro, the host of these travel guides----so maybe this isn't a good thing.

View from my Kitchen Window

Here is what I saw from my kitchen window this morning. That is what is fun about this blog--I can isolate a small little simple pleasure each day and post it. Lisa and Diane--I appreciate your nice comments and I hope to see your own blogs some day.

Matt---I hope you are feeling better real soon!!

This time the weatherman was right. Dan shoveled 8 inches. But there is a sign of spring---we started our tomatoes from seed. Burpee early 4th of July and Salsa varieties. Plus we will buy Better Boy seedlings that are readily available when it is time to plant. We are really lucky to have such a nice view from our window----wide open field to watch the weather!

Another Winter Storm

Another winter storm is on the way! My favorite kind---hitting hard on Friday nite and nowhere to go this weekend. As you can see I have my storm supplies all ready. A bottle of wine(thanks Ed), a stack of travel DVD's, a knitting project AND a book from my sister in law, Lisa----it is the kind of book that hooks you from page one. So bring on the weather.Depending on how the storm tracks we will be getting anywhere from 6-12 inches.

I've decided to change some aspect of our life every day that will result in reducing waste. Today we started using canvas shopping bags(reusable) and no more of those horrible plastic bags. I bought 5 of these bags and they worked out perfectly.

Snow Day!!

The "snow dance" was successful and Dan was granted a day off!! And I have a new bathroom floor-thanks to Dan!

Another winter storm. This one with lots of ice since 1:30 this afternoon. It makes pretty patterns on the window-as long as we are inside looking out. Dan-the teacher-is doing his "snow dance" and hoping for a snow day tomorrow.

Wishing it were summer and we were sitting in these chairs with a glass of something appropriate!

Welcome to my Blog

I have decided to start a blog. Stop laughing. It will be a good way for family and friends to stay in touch. This is such a dismal time of year and another winter storm is coming tonite, so this will be a great way to chase the winter doldrums away. I think I will use this as a way to tell my family what Dan and I are up to, discuss our Tigers and publish pictures of our projects. OK--here goes--I am going to push the Publish Post button. I mean it---stop laughing.