And so it begins. The Post Season. It's what baseball fans everywhere live for all summer and if you are a Tiger Fan, it is a season you don't often experience. So let the post season begin---as for me, I will be wearing my Verlander cape!

We are all set and ready to go!!! All summer our little workers have been busy making honey and now we are going to harvest our crop. Honey production will be in full force starting next Tuesday!

I am feeling like a little league Mom again---and I like it! Except that it is a not-so-little league! Matt has been playing on 2 baseball teams------one is a Vintage Ball team using rules from the 1890's. That means homemade bats and no mitts. And there is a one-bounce rule where if you catch the ball on a bounce---it is OUT. Oh wait---they aren't called Outs, but rather Hands. And us spectators yell HUZZAH for good plays. I have been recruited to make 2 vintage baseball hats. I think I can do it---HUZZAH!

This is pretty much on everthing we have right now---the OLD ENGLISH D. It is on our clothes, our car, our house------our dog. I am trying to remain subdued but the Detroit Tigers are GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS!!!!!!! I mean--the Detroit Tigers are going to the playoffs---or so I heard.

Yesterday there were a lot of things soaking up the sun around my house! And lucky they did because today the only thing to be soaking up is rain--and lots of it!

What a difference a year makes. Last summer we were driving through the area looking at the devastation from a deadly tornado that passed through the area, when we came upon this swarm of honeybees. Truthfully, I thought it looked frightening and somewhat grotesque. So we carefully rolled down the car window, snapped the picture and drove away. Fast forward a year and now I find this picture incredibly sad. I have a feeling this swarm was probably displaced by the tornado and had no where to go. Not only that, but I now know I could have approached this swarm without a bee suit without a sting as all the bees energy were channeled into protecting and keeping the queen the right body temp. And if I had my smoker, I could have coaxed them into a container and taken them home to live in a new hive. What a lot I have learned this year.

Tony Packo's Hungarian Hot dogs! I couldn't take a picture of that because it was already eaten so here is the Tony Packo's Strudel. Apple for my Honey and Cherry for me. Where is the Cherry? The cherry was already eaten too!

Zinnias always make me smile---even when they look a little shriveled in my own garden. Love the bright colors, love the round shape and love the way they glow wherever they are planted. These are from downtown Petoskey----actually Bay View Michigan right outside Petoskey. Lovely against the white picket fence!

Ripe, succulent Ohio raspberries!!!! Not for jam or pies or cakes but eating out of hand. Or fingers! I am sure I am not the only person who does this!!!

I cannot help but feel a little bit----content---right now. If you are a Detroit Tiger fan you can understand what I am really feeling and if you are truly a Tiger fan, you will understand my understated exuberance. Yes, today we swept the Cleveland Indians(who are battling us for second place in our division) and last weekend we swept the 3rd place Chicago White Sox. And Justin Verlander got his 22nd consecutive win and Papa Grande got his 42nd consecutive Save. But all that aside------we have a Magic Number and it is now 12. That is the sum required of any combination of Detroit wins and Cleveland loses it will take to CLINCH THE CENTRAL DIVISION TITLE and go to the WORLD SERIES as the division champ. NOT the wild card champ like the last time. So---yes, I am feeling slightly content.

One season blends into another---but today there is no blending! Yesterday it was Air Conditioners and tank tops and today it is blankets and sweatshirts!! I don't think I am ready to give up summer yet though!!!!!

Another sidewalk lesson. Who wrote these? And it is too bad they are probably washed off by now. "Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch". Now isn't that so true!!

My brother is a beekeeper also and he recently was invited to speak to a group of preschoolers about his bees. The class presented him with a booklet of drawings and descriptions of what they learned. This bright young student absorbed the lesson quite well!