Dan and Michele Gross

Winter Saturday

2012-02-19T14:51:00.001-05:00

Even though we live in a much maligned city--"top 10 most miserable cities to live in"---we are lucky enough to have a top notch library. And it is always a treat to go there and load up on books-----just not the "Crafting with cat hair" book. Not now---not ever!

Signs of Spring

2012-02-15T19:03:00.001-05:00

Signs of spring are starting to appear but non more anticipated than basebal season. And the big news for Detroit Tiger fans is the addition of the big power hitter, Prince Fielder. And I am old enough to remember seeing Prince as a child taking batting practice with his dad , Cecil Fielder who was a big power hitter member of the 80-90 Detroit Tigers!!! Prince was hitting balls over the fence in the old Tiger Stadium as a child!!

Cookie Love

2012-02-12T14:15:00.001-05:00

I don't know why I make these---I don't need the calories and they aren't really my family's favorite---but there is something sweet about heart cut out cookies. And I am feeling quite clever-no red food dye so I used maraschino cherry juice.

Sounds fishy!

2012-02-09T20:32:00.001-05:00

This is so cute-and guess what it is! I made these little bags for Christmas presents and they are so easy, incredibly sweet little bags of handsoap! I will include the link. The trouble is-they are too cute to use! Never the less, they look pretty darn cute sitting in the bathroom. Goplanetearth.com

Gone

2012-02-08T20:46:00.001-05:00

This is all that is left of our elementary school that has been around----well, my mother went there and she graduated from high school in 38!! And both of my sons went there also, so it is very sad to see the rubble. We have a new school now and it is beautiful but this pile of bricks contain a lot of happy memories. And speaking of bricks, the demolition crew kindly placed the bricks in a pile with a free sign and they have all been claimed!

What a Guy!!

2012-02-04T23:05:00.001-05:00

This pic will forever make me smile. I've been really under the weather and my husband made me lunch----in fact, lunch with a flourish on a blue plate. With clementines circling a grilled cheese sandwich. He said the napkin was a swan.

Wear Red!!!!

2012-02-03T18:27:00.001-05:00

Well I was planning on posting some pics of my co-workers and I all decked out in red in support of Women's healthy Heart Day-but then I came home and grabbed my after work snack and thought to myself, "I don't think I have ever seen a prettier apple-almost too pretty to eat". Almost but not quite!

February bike ride

2012-02-01T19:30:00.001-05:00

The temp was in the 50's so how could I not go for a bike ride on Feb 1st. How often will I ever get to do this again? A little muddy on the trails so I stayed on the road.. And my body is saying it needs some shaping up before I do this daily!

Project complete

2012-01-29T15:32:00.001-05:00

Here is one of my finished projects I posted about earlier. This is for myself and the weather being cold and snowy today -I think I will be wearing soon. It is knit in a soft gorgeous hand painted Alpaca and trimmed in felted balls and beads from an old necklace

Ahhhh-Fridays

2012-01-27T21:55:00.001-05:00

We couldn't decide between staying home tonite in PJs or going to a wine tastIng and art exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art---and good taste won out. We visited a special exhibit called Small Worlds. I was only allowed to photograph the entrance which was constructed out of art packing crates-and encouraged the use of cell cameras to photograph the small worlds visible through the peepholes!

The Winners

2012-01-24T16:45:00.001-05:00

I guess I can't prolong this post any longer. Every year-on the final nite of our ski trip we have a not-so-friendly competition where we pit the ladies against the men! The winner gets their picture posted on a Wheaties champions box trophy -on display for all to see-at my mother in laws house. This year the ladies lost the title and this picture will appear on the Wheaties box!

Mead

2012-01-22T20:03:00.001-05:00

We've been waiting---and waiting------and waiting for our Mead to slow its fermenting so we could take it to the next step and finally the airlock stopped making it's vodka bubbles. We used vodka so it wouldn't evaporate. We transferred it to a glass "carboy" while carefully keeping the yeast sediment behind. Now it will continue to ferment and then will go into bottles and hopefully by next Christmas we will be sipping the preferred beverage of King Arthur's knights----Mead!

Snow Day

2012-01-21T20:10:00.001-05:00

Last year we did this every weekend-strapped on the snowshoes and took
to the trails. But aside from driving 6 hours north last weekend, this was the first day we could actually play in the snow. But tomorrow temps are warming up and it will be a return to unseasonal temps again.

Works in progress and one in reverse

2012-01-19T16:23:00.001-05:00

No I am not living up to my New Year resolution . Here are my current works in progress---a soft Merino wool scarf with one of my favorite yarns from Shepherd's Wool of Stonehedge Fiber Mill in Michigan. This is for my son. And for me-the hot pink scarf that will be trimmed with felted balls and beads in lieu of fringe. And then the pair of socks for me----I could't resist the yarn-it was called Honey Bee. And finally the knitting in reverse----I made a small mistake in my cable sweater and had to rip out.

Yarn Shop!!!

2012-01-17T21:38:00.001-05:00

It wasn't all fun and games while we were Up North. There was also business to attend to. There happens to be a LYS---local yarn shop----in Petoskey that has every little nook and cranny jammed full of the most beautiful things. It is easy to shop online but there is nothing like touching beautiful yarn and seeing the colors in person. This is my next project-actually I already started it- and I took a picture of the store sample and the balled fringe to look at as a sample. My New Year resolution on only working one project at a time has gone out the window!

Downhill Dan

2012-01-16T13:09:00.001-05:00

Every year for the last 56 years my husband's family has been packing up the car and going to northern Michigan for a ski weekend! What started with my mother and father in law and 6 kids has grown to spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren. As we have gotten older we have upgraded our requirements! When our kids were babies we would take over a corner of the day lodge and spread out toys, blankets and babies and take turns baby sitting! Now we require a condo with kitchen!!! But fun is always an ingredient! And I always get a thrill when my husband suits up to ski a NASTAR race!

Winter

2012-01-15T08:43:00.001-05:00

Winter found us at last! Or rather we went looking for it. Aside from some craziness of drivers forgetting how to drive in it---I have missed it!! And it is cold!! Nothing like a lungfull of crisp, cold air in the morning to wake you up!

Fresh Horseradish

2012-01-11T18:50:00.001-05:00

Now that I have tasted fresh horseradish, the store bought stuff just won't do. And not just any fresh horseradish either! This was grown across the country in my brother's garden, prepared my him and then jarred and frozen-sent overnight to me--and delivered to my work at 9am the next morning---still frozen!!!! And by dinner time we were eating it with smoked salmon !! Delicious!

My New Year Resolution

2012-01-10T18:48:00.001-05:00

My "new thing to learn" New Year resolution is keeping me "busy as a bee"!! The cabled cardigan is starting to take shape and is moving so fast that it is never boring! And I am proud to have learned a new technique!

Winter in the hive

2012-01-09T18:51:00.001-05:00

We paid the "girls" a visit Sunday and all seems well. Lots of dead bees at opening which was sad but normal. We were brave enough and the bees were quiet enough that we went without our bee suits.

Saturday

2012-01-07T18:31:00.001-05:00

Saturday's around our house-as you can see-are a real whirlwind of activity! Magglio goes from the couch-to his bed- to the sunny spot on the floor-and then repeats the cycle. That's enough activity to tire anybody out!

Collage

2012-01-06T06:28:00.001-05:00

Collages always seem to appear in my workspaces. They are never planned-but just random postings---kind of like a blog! But when I change workspaces,it is always sad to take them down. Yes that is a giant bee!

Just One More Christmas picture

2012-01-02T18:34:00.001-05:00

The tree is now officially untrimmed and all Christmas decorations are packed away. But I left a few of these mini sweaters out for a later use. They were a quick knit with scrap yarn and were a great way to unwind after a busy day. Next year there will be mini mittens to go with them!

2011-12-31T16:41:00.002-05:00

The New Year isn't officially here yet but I have fulfillled my resolution to learn something new. I started knitting in a cable stitch-----and in the process am using my bee-utiful new stitch markers---bees!!I hope everyone has a Healthy, Wealthy and Happy 2012

2011-12-30T17:21:00.002-05:00

I think we are all set for this rainy, cold and dreary Friday nite. A somewhat roaring fire, a bottle of a quite good Merlot, 2 glasses, a new knitting project on the needles---a cardigan for myself, and a pot of chili on the stove. Oh and my honey sitting by me reading directions on how to assemble a model airplane(men always love toys) and a Bassett Hound asleep at my feet. All of this and no place to go but Home!!!

2011-12-28T19:07:00.004-05:00

I've been photobombed! And I wasn't even aware it happened---even after I saw the picture. If it wasn't for my sons to keep me up on trends, I would be totally in the dark ages. And it was one of those sons that photobombed me! I am now going to photobomb someone else---perhaps a stranger!

2011-12-27T20:32:00.002-05:00

Santa Claus looked especially handsome this year! And who knew that Santa had such a great sense of humor. This little girl seemed to find Santa charming too!

2011-12-26T19:49:00.003-05:00

Whew! It was a wonderful Christmas--I wouldn't change a thing. Like everyone else, we get so wrapped up in preparation that it is sometimes hard to wind down. But yesterday I had no trouble finding some couch time with one of my Christmas present books!!

2011-12-21T16:48:00.002-05:00

Can you find me in the photo? It was taken at the historic Toledo Club where they had a beautiful dinner and a Parade of Trees. Beautiful trees scattered throughout the elegant surroundings. Interested in a tree----all it takes is a minimum $300 bid and it may be yours--ready to pick up after Christmas! They had some beautiful trees and ideas but I will take my non-designer tree full of special ornaments collected over the years. Our favorite tree was sponsered by the Humane Society. The tree skirt was a "quilt" made from dogfood bags and the ornaments included dog and cat toys, yarn balls and painted dog biscuits. All in a purple and lime green theme!

2011-12-18T08:33:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours as we begin the "most wonderful week of the year". It's a hectic week for sure, but hopefully we all can find some joy in the season. I am recuperating from a very minor procedure but the time off from work has been extended by a few days. Luckily I worked hard to get my Christmas things done and that has left a lot of time for knitting---and making a yarn family, including the dog!!

2011-12-16T18:21:00.003-05:00

It's not all Christmas at our house---just almost. This beautiful Amaryllis is blooming and gives a touch of Spring!In the summer I'll put the bulb outside and hopefully won't forget about it(as in years past and other bulbs) and next year it will bloom again!

2011-12-13T18:17:00.003-05:00

Snowmen are beginning to gather. One by one and soon there will be a whole family of snow people. I had so much fun making these as gifts in past years that I am making myself a family--including a Magglio dog!! All they need now will be hats, scarves and gloves and then I will post a family portrait!

2011-12-12T18:47:00.002-05:00

We may be a little quirky but we started a tradition last year(can the second year we do something be called a tradition?) where we pack up our Christmas cards, drive 40 miles south to a little town called Rudolph Ohio(the deerest little town in Wood County) and mail them. Once there, they are postmarked with a special Rudolph label. It is just a little corner post office---about as big as a closet. But still-----quirky but fun.

2011-12-06T06:14:00.001-05:00

This is the reason the conservatory in the other picture is glowing blue---this beautiful tree with a million, trillion lights. Billions and billions of blue lights! Stunning!!!!!!!!

2011-12-04T20:26:00.003-05:00

One of our most beloved Christmas traditions is a trip to the Toledo Zoo's Lights Before Christmas and this year it was a reasonably warm nite. This is my favorite part of the visit. The conservatory arboretum which is a beautiful white structure glows blue in the light of the huge blue lit tree!! It glows like a fairy house!

2011-12-02T17:58:00.003-05:00

This is how important Ohio State is to some family members. What started as a traditional Blessing on the slate board for Thanksgiving suddenly changed overnite with the huge announcement of our new Football coach. Apparently someone here thinks Urban Meyer is more important than family. If that be the case, then Urban Meyer can do my Christmas shopping for this family member!

2011-12-01T19:18:00.002-05:00

nd I was going to post these pictures earlier in the season and just came across them. We were hiking in a State Park in Indiana and came across these chewed trees----beavers!!! While seeing a beaver dam isn't exactly on my bucket list, I have always wanted to see one---and this is the next best thing. We came across one tree and took a picture and then came across another and took a picture and then noticed that almost every tree was either chewed or fallen!!!!!

2011-11-29T19:33:00.003-05:00

And so it has begun. The stockings are being hung, the stairway is decked out and presents are appearing under the tree----and some of them even have my name on them!!!! Outside, however, it is a different story. I feel like I am living on an island as our fields and yards are under water while the rain is pouring down. This may soon be turning to snow through the night however. Very strange weather!

2011-11-27T14:21:00.002-05:00

We had some exciting news on Thanksgiving! In a carefully orchestrated operation, our youngest son proposed to his ---now---Fiancee! We knew this question was going to be asked while on a visit to the local park which gave us time to chill the bubbly. There is an official looking picture but I love the random shot. She was on the phone to her Mom, He was day dreaming, my husband was pouring Champagne for everyone and everyone was very, very Happy!

2011-11-21T20:08:00.002-05:00

My department at work decided to have our Holiday Party early this year---and it turned out to be a great idea. No conflicts with other commitments--just a relaxing kick off to the holiday season. There is a great off-the-beaten-track jazz club downtown and that is where we congregated. Great atmosphere---brick walls in a vintage building and great music. It put us all in the holiday spirit!

2011-11-20T14:39:00.002-05:00

Some years I really have the Christmas Spirit and other years, not so much. But this year, I am already playing Christmas Carols and making lists. My department at work decided to hold our get together early this year---before the Christmas crush begins. So it was a HUGE, wonderful surprise when I came home after the party and found my oldest son had put up our Christmas tree. HUGE surprise. And now the Christmas angel is awaiting the youngest son's Thanksgiving arrival to be placed atop the tree!!!

2011-11-16T18:56:00.001-05:00

Another bee by-product in the making! Lip Balm. This was a lot of fun to make----but I still have a lot of beeswax left and may look into making candles.

2011-11-15T16:05:00.003-05:00

This was my first attempt at Toltott Kaposzta--or Pigs in the Blanket---or Stuffed Cabbage. This was before they went into the big kettle with the shredded cabbage and came out pretty darn good! The toothpicks were cheater sticks. I was afraid they would come unrolled--but I carefully pulled them out before anyone swallowed them.

2011-11-12T22:21:00.002-05:00

We are making Mead----the first known wine made by man, also known as Nectar of the Gods. It is a Honey Wine and we are novice winemakers. We should end up with 25 bottles---if we did everything correctly. The vodka isn't an ingredient. That is the fluid that goes into the airlock---the bubbler that seals the top of the bucket---or in winemaking jargon, the Carboy. Vodka is used so it doesn't grow bacteria like water would. So the carboy is now in a dark room of the basement and we will peak in and make sure the vodka is bubbling and then continue on in the process. More info later---when we take the next step!

2011-11-11T19:09:00.002-05:00

In honor of Veteran's Day, here is a picture of my husbands Uncle. He is the happiest looking serviceman I have ever seen. And that was probably because that man loved to fly. From the age of 14 until he was in his 80's, he lived to fly, loved to fly and talked about flying and airplanes. His squadron all crashed and died in WW2 except for his plane and crew. He lived his life like this picture--always with a smile that lit up a room, and a story about airplanes.

2011-11-10T17:42:00.002-05:00

We've come a long way this summer---starting with this little box of 10,000 bees. We created a colony, actually felt comfortable being up close to a honey bee, watched carefully and protected our hive from mites, beetles and mice, extracted honey, learned about beeswax, connected with other beekeepers and now consider ourselves BEEKEEPERS. Our little hive is tucked in for the winter. Holes have been drilled at the top to let out moisture, extra food has been added to keep those little workers satisfied and mesh has been added to the openings to keep out the mice. It wouldn't be a catastrophe if the colony didn't survive but we feel very protective of our working insects. They have given us so much----honey and confidence----and now we wait till the spring when we open the hive again and see if all is well. It is 38 degrees now but if we still get an Indian Summer, I may open the hive one more time and add more sugar water/food.

2011-11-09T15:09:00.002-05:00

This is my kind of fly fishing. No grizzlies lurking behind you, no waders to protect your from the raging water. no bone chilling cold or long trek to get to the fishing spot. Of course, we didn't catch any fish, but look at the comfy surroundings!!

2011-11-08T06:25:00.001-05:00

This is the last seaglass of summer! And the pickings were great----even though I know darn well, the other couple walking along the beach was also looking. There may be more washing up for sure, but the weather is going to change and will be even colder by the lake.

2011-11-07T18:10:00.002-05:00

This picture really relaxes me by just looking at it! It sums up our weekend perfectly. Someone gave us a fly fishing get away weekend at a lovely Bed and Breakfast type lodge and the breakfast room was so relaxing. What more did I need---knitting and steaming hot coffee. We didn't catch any fish but we relaxed---and with the time change, I think we slept 12 hours Saturday nite. That doesn't happen very often!!

2011-11-05T09:17:00.003-04:00

I am still thinking Honey. We winterized our hive-----by drilling holes at the top of each side to let moisture condensation moisture drain out. We were told that moisture is the worst enemy of our winter colony. The little bees keep themselves warm by clustering and fanning their wings to generate body warmth. Then they rotate their positions so the warmest spots are being shared. The numbers of bees are reduced now that the female workers kicked out the male drones--they are not needed for reproduction and so they don't want to share their food with unneccesary bees. We did add sugar water and sugar fondant patties to sustain them . We closed the lid, said our good byes and will see them in the Spring! Oh---and we added some screening to the opening to prevent Mice! So in the meantime we have been looking at other people's bee products and honey and comparing notes. i made a batch of lip balm from the valuable beeswax and will soon be making honey wine. And------we joined some friends for dinner and they gave me these adorable bee magnets!!! They were made in Findlay Ohio at the Kan Du shop!!!!!!!

2011-11-01T19:31:00.003-04:00

Why would anyone in our part of Ohio find it necessary to travel across the county to go on a Fall Color Tour? I 5 hour drive in any direction can take one to some very scenic areas. Our trip to Southern Indiana took in some beautiful scenery--including Brown County Park, Oliver Winery and the Indiana University Campus.

2011-10-31T18:46:00.003-04:00

Happy Halloween! From me and Bill the Builder---a coworker at the hospital I work at. All part of the annual pumpkin decorating contest fun! A few days ago, Bill literally lost his head, but with some minor surgery, he is looking pretty good!

2011-10-27T17:59:00.001-04:00

I meant to post this yesterday. Smack dab in the middle of campus---is a cemetary. Very peaceful and tranquil. I later found out it was the family burying ground of the farming family who donated the land that became Indiana University. I cannot think of a better final resting place. Some of the headstones were of people who were born in the 1700's.

2011-10-26T17:10:00.002-04:00

We felt like college students last weekend---but instead of staying in a dorm, our lodging was the luxurious Biddle Hotel in the heart of Indiana University. So comfortable and so beautiful. The campus is what comes to mind when I think of the ideal college campus---especially with the Autumn leaves giving beautiful color.

2011-10-25T19:38:00.001-04:00

We had a wonderful weekend road trip to Bloomington Indiana to spend some time with family. And seriously, how could a trip that started with this SWEET surprise in our hotel room, not be anything but special. One was Red Velvet, one was Spice and one was Vanilla and ALL were delicious. I know this to be true because I sampled each one---I shared them with others but I did get a taste of each one. More pictures to follow----but I had to start with the cupcakes!

2011-10-20T20:43:00.002-04:00

My sister-in-law, Barb is lucky enough to have some great grandchildren. And when they were all together recently, they put their talents together and had a pumpkin decorating party. I think it was kind of clever on Barb's part, because at the end of the day, she had some great holiday decorations!

2011-10-16T19:37:00.003-04:00

The Tiger's lost-------that is big, sad news in our household. We had this glimmer of hope that they would go to the World Series but not to be. So we drowned our sorrows at breakfast with waffles. And not just waffles, but waffles drizzled with Honey. And not just any Honey, but our own bee's honey. Sweet relief to a disappointing baseball game!

2011-10-15T10:18:00.004-04:00

Happy Birthday oldest Baby Boy! 33 years and still going strong! Now if only the Tigers bring you a win for your birthday our life will be complete. Today is Matt's birthday but we celebrated yesterday. He is going to back to back sporting events with his friends!! Have Fun!!!

2011-10-11T20:27:00.002-04:00

I am spending the evening with an old, very dear friend and also a newer one. I am re-reading one of my favorite books of all time---A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. And I love it even more the second time around---and for different reasons. The first time I read it, I loved the character who was around the same age as me when I first read it. Now I appreciate the writing style and the history of the immigrant family! And next I am going to re-read The Secret Life of Bees, another of my top 5 favorite books of all time. And the beverage tonite----hot tea with HONEY!!

2011-10-10T17:04:00.002-04:00

Golden Honey against a blue sky! Time to stop admiring it's beauty and start wiping down the sticky doorknobs! And also time to start making Mead---Honey wine! Honey is my new favorite food. Cookbook to follow!

2011-10-05T08:01:00.008-04:00

Yesterday was THE day!! We harvested our honey! My brother came from California with equipment and to help. We weren't sure what to expect---would we have enough honey? Would the bees be agitated? So many ifs------but everything went great! My brother had done a lot of research and decided the best method was to pull the frames out of the hive(while smoking the bees) and load them into tubs to bring home to process. The bees build the honeycomb on these hives and then fill them with honey and cap them with wax. That step went smoothly until a bee got irritated with my brother and stung him 3 times. Then all the tubs were transported to our garage where we took a hot knife and uncapped the frames and put the frames in a centrifugal spinner to extract the honey. Smooth process and with 3 people working, it went great. We let the honey settle and today we will bottle and pack up the wax. Nothing will go to waste. Candles and lip balm from the wax---honey in the bottles-----and frames back in the hive for the bees. And yes, we were kind to our bees. We left them an entire box of honey to feed them through the winter. Next year we are adding hives!

2011-10-01T20:49:00.002-04:00

It's October and we are celebrating. There is quite a bit to celebrate this month. Let's see--1. It is our oldest son's birthay. 2. It is our dog, Magglio's birthday. 3. My brother is coming home to visit. 4. We are harvesting our honey this week. So we are celebrating with a bottle of Octoberfest beer? No, not really the reason. We are having a bottle of Octoberfest beer because we are nervously watching the Detroit Tigers in the World Series playoffs---

2011-09-29T18:32:00.002-04:00

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!

2011-09-27T18:32:00.002-04:00

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!

2011-09-22T19:18:00.002-04:00

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!

2011-09-20T18:08:00.001-04:00

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.

2011-09-19T18:56:00.002-04:00

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!

2011-09-15T18:59:00.002-04:00

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.

2011-09-14T11:52:00.004-04:00

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!

2011-09-10T21:04:00.003-04:00

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!

2011-09-08T20:41:00.002-04:00

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!!!

2011-09-07T18:17:00.002-04:00

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.

2011-09-05T19:26:00.003-04:00

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!!!!!

2011-09-04T19:12:00.001-04:00

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!!

2011-09-01T20:03:00.003-04:00

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!

2011-08-29T20:43:00.003-04:00

Sailing Lesson in Harbor Springs Michigan. Not for us but the cute little sailboats were all lined up and awaiting an eager group of youngsters. An even better picture was all the colorful backpacks slung over the picket fence----one after another---but I felt a little awkward interupting the ground school that was sitting in front of the fence taking a lesson from the teen-aged sailors before they hit the waves.

2011-08-28T15:46:00.002-04:00

I don't think I am exagerating when I say that Ohio tomatoes are the best by far! The juiciest, best tasting out of any I have tasted! I just wish we had them 12 months out of the year because those grocery store tomatoes don't come close. These are heirloom tomatoes and although they are not as "pretty" as some, they are delicious. They almost have a blackish tinge to them but the taste is out of this world!!!! To be fair, we bought the seedlings in Indiana----but they grew in Ohio soil and I think that is what counts!

2011-08-27T21:45:00.004-04:00

"Well", said Pooh---"what I like best"------and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.-Winnie the Pooh

We have Honey. Not in this picture, which is a new box that has honeycombs under construction but in the lower boxes--Honey! We opened the hive today and it was a very pleasant, peaceful experience. It was a sunny, calm day---around noon. A lot of the bees were out foraging and those in the hive were very calm. We used the smoker but I really don't think we needed it. We wore our bee suits---and I really-------don't think I would go without it. And you thought I was going to say I didn't need it. I probably didn't but I feel a lot more confident wearing it and don't trust what I would do if the bees start flying in my face without my netting. I feel very maternal watching the bees drink the sugar water as I pour it into the feeder. They gather and drink as if at a fountain and I am sure if I could see their faces, they would look grateful. Well, maybe not.

2011-08-24T19:42:00.004-04:00

Farmer's Market's everywhere are in full splendor. We found a new favorite in Michigan--Bill's Farm Market.It is worth it to go just for the photo opportunities. But look at that glorious purple cauliflower. And those Transparent Apples. That is a blast from the past--I remember my Mom and her sister ALWAYS using those in pies. The view is from the back of the market---so peaceful.

2011-08-23T19:26:00.001-04:00

Another lesson from the sidewalks of Charlevoix! I took a picture of each one! "You are Never too Old to set another goal or to dream a New Dream" Love it!!

2011-08-22T20:09:00.002-04:00

Part of the fun of being in Upper Michigan is sunset. No matter where you are--if you are in vicinity of the water----you amble on over to Land's End, drop what you are doing and watch as the sun drops into the Lake. More and more people gather as the sun is dropping and then wait until all that is left is a golden glow---and applaud God for his beautiful creation. Then we all turn and resume our activities and become strangers again. Life is Always GREAT at that moment!!

2011-08-21T19:59:00.002-04:00

Everything you need to know about life can be found on the sidewalks of Charlevoix. One nite we were strolling at sunset and came across an entire block full of life's lessons. Like this one----Each day comes with 86,000 seconds. Tick-Tock!

2011-08-20T19:34:00.002-04:00

We are back home after seven wonderful days in Upper Michigan with our bicycles and lots of gorgeous weather. But let's make this perfectly clear---it wasn't all excercise and fitness. Oh no. There is a store called American Spoon Foods that sells homemade Gelato. It is indescribably good----rich and creamy and bursting with flavor. Unfortunately I am always drawn to the same flavor and miss an entire freezer case of other tastes. I did cut back a little---usually I have the medium cup with Chocolate--Ginger--Coconut. This year I had the small cup with Chocolate and Ginger. The Ginger is excellent. Dan had Wildflower Honey and Hazelnut and the second time it was Wildflower Honey and Mint Chocolate Chip. But we left behind and never tried so many other flavors. Next time!

2011-08-10T17:48:00.002-04:00

Soooooo----life is reduced to this. Signage to remind me to obey. It all started several Friday's ago as I was hurrying home from work---hurrying as in 52 in a 35 zone. Or so the policeman told me. I saw him going the other way and he threw his hands up in exasperation as if to say "What the----". At that point I knew I was a marked woman. When I saw him turning around in a driveway I knew there was no way out. But being so close to home I stayed on course---with reduced speed. He followed me home with lights a flashin'---right into my driveway. I remember thinking this probably wasn't such a great idea in full view of the neighbors. So I did the only thing I could think of---I acted really sick and told him that was the reason for my speed. That resulted in a lecture and a "WELL THAT IS THE WORST TIME TO SPEED---WHEN YOU ARE SICK" So he took my license to the squad car and I texted my husband "In driveway getting ticket". I KNEW he would come to my rescue and say "it's OK officer, I will take it from here". NOT. I saw the garage door open a peep and knew he was watching from safety. The officer then proceeded to say to me very loudly "DO YOU KNOW YOU DON"T HAVE A TICKET ON THIS LICENSE". Of course I knew that------the license was only a year old, if you recall. But he gave me a rather stern warning and left. I was rather proud of the "not having a ticket" part of the ordeal but the next day I caught myself speeding again and so----a little note to remind me

2011-08-08T19:53:00.001-04:00

Still in Food Preservation Mode! Green Beans-----lots and lots of green beans. So much so that a certain member of our household asked if there was something else we could fill the freezer with besides green beans! But I happen to love green beans----so if that certain member of the household prefers another vegetable to preserve----well, the kitchen is available-------

2011-08-07T18:41:00.002-04:00

Salsa---HOT--is canned and labeled and put away. I think I take as much pleasure in picking out the labels online as I do in canning itself!!! But the next batch will be a little milder!

2011-08-06T19:46:00.002-04:00

It's time to make the Salsa! Unfortunately I ended up buying tomatoes because I was impatient to start canning. I have been a little spoiled in years past by just picking what I needed that I got a little sticker shock at the Farmer's Market. Is is just me or are local tomatoes a little pricey? I saw a vendor selling homegrown tomatoes for $1.50 each. One tomato at $1.50? That seems outrageous. A customer questioned if it was a mis-label and walked away and the vendor yelled "just because you can find one cheaper doesn't mean it will be better". I didn't pay that much but I will wait till ours are ready before I can some more. I think I got a little carried away with the Jalapeno peppers though--it is a little HOT!

2011-08-03T19:55:00.002-04:00

It is wonderful to have a retired neighbor with a beautiful garden who leaves produce on our deck. It is icing on the cake to have this same neighbor leave appropriate recipes accompanying the produce. Tomato Bread! French bread topped with tomatoes, black olives and cheese and then broiled. I will be trying this on the weekend!!!!

2011-08-02T19:33:00.002-04:00

Blueberry time at the Farmer's Market! And they look so pretty with the glowing blue against the green container in the morning sun. I didn't do anything special with them except eat them out of hand. Ok, I shared them with Dan, but I ate most of them. A blueberry pie sure sounds good though!

2011-08-01T20:37:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Pearson Park! Apparently the park service has a new greeter--and better than the Walmart Greeter! A speckled little beauty wandered out of the woods as we drove by on our bicycles and paused long enough for me to take a picture!

2011-07-31T18:58:00.003-04:00

Here is a bee update! Right after this picture was taken---we really made our bees mad! We were switching around the bottom board which we inadvertently put on upside down and we knocked over one of the boxes! There were mad! And came after us! In our bee suits! We calmly walked away and they followed! So we proceeded to do our job and switched around the bottom while the bees were buzzing around our heads-----trust me, you can tell when a bee is upset. After we were finished, they followed us to our car and it took awhile before they let us alone. But I am happy to report we did not get stung. And tomorrow----we have to go back and add more sugar water for food. We decided to wait a few days for them to settle down and forget what happened.

2011-07-27T20:36:00.001-04:00

The garden is (in my opinion) at it's peak! And I have to plant some more of these coneflowers. They absolutely GLOW at dusk!!!! And they look so pretty next to the Black Eyed Susans!

2011-07-18T20:21:00.002-04:00

It has been the dog day's of summer here---literally! And it i sn't even August yet! Temps in the 90's, grass is parched brown(until this afternoon when it downpoured) and no energy. The boys decided it was time for a dish of ice cream to cool off.

2011-07-11T18:58:00.002-04:00

It is finally finished---my garden art that I started last year after going on a garden tour and viewing pricey whimsical pieces in other peoples garden. I found a bowling ball and pulled out some pieces of a broken ceramic Halloween pumpkin that I was saving for something just like this. Do NOT confuse me with a hoarder! So here it is----my broken ceramic shard covered bowling ball. And when the orange day lilies come into bloom, it will look pretty good------but not pricey!!

2011-07-10T19:24:00.003-04:00

Time for a bee report! First----I was stung. It is true---a sting on the ankle. Second---I did exactly what I shouldn't have done, I jumped and hollered and then my husband---who was not wearing a bee suit--came to my aid and he got stung. But---it was my fault. I wasn't careful with what I was wearing. I had on my beesuit and sandals. The good news is the bees are thriving. No signs of mites or beetles and we added a second box or "super". So now we sit back and let the bees do the work, add sugar water so they eat that instead of the honey and check on them periodically! The more I read about bees, the more I am amazed!

2011-07-06T20:10:00.002-04:00

This is what happens when you allow 2 creative and artistic young ladies to set the table for a holiday party. I don't think Martha Stewart could have created a better holiday setting. They created the ambiance and when we sat down to eat----we didn't want to get up so we carried the party into the dark--sitting by the pond. The finishing touch was all the private firework displays from the community we were able to enjoy reflected in our pond.

2011-07-05T18:41:00.002-04:00

Another item ticked off my bucket list. This weekend we went fly fishing. My brother took us to a trout club in Castalia Ohio and after by brother taught us gals the technique and the other males got us gals started------the females caught all the fish and the men? Empty handed. And the young lady who was teased about wearing a dress-----she caught the first and the biggest fish! It was a lot of fun!

2011-06-28T20:37:00.002-04:00

This is a great picture---taken 2 weeks ago in Greenfield Village. I was inside the Cotswold Cottage that Henry Ford moved her from England(how do you move a 17 century house AND blacksmith building is beyond my comprehension, but then again, I am not Henry Ford) and looked out the window and realized how the war occupied English must have felt with soldiers taking over their homes and gardens. All in the name of Freedom! There is an inscription etched in the window pane with the owner's name and the date from the 1600's. Incredible!

2011-06-21T19:34:00.006-04:00

We went on a Garden Tour last weekend! In a toney, old money neighborhood. And there---hidden under the hosta leaves, was a fairy garden! And just because these homeowners have money, don't think they are too classy to spray paint their Alliums! I noticed that right away--you can't fool a flower painter! And look at this checkerboard design---I want one and I know just the spot for it. I was definately inspired!

2011-06-19T19:49:00.002-04:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads in the Blogosphere. We had a fine day at the Henry Ford Museum for the annual Motor Muster. It is quite a sight to see the classic cars parked in front of the historical buildings and the museum employees strolling around in period costumes. Here is a picture of our classic Dan alongside a classic car. The English Cotswold cottage was inhabited by WW2 vehicles, soldiers and signs. I could swear this sign said SWEET GIRLS, not STREET GIRLS!!!! And finally we took in an old time baseball game---the Lah-Di-Dahs against the Nationals and they didn't use mitts. Authentic costumes and rules. We all yelled HUZZAH during the good plays and YOU MUFFED IT during the errors.