Blogging.............

I am seriously thinking of closing up two of my blogs. I just can't keep up. Thing is one can only say so much. The garden blog gets boring now, same thing year by year. While I can still post garden pictures on this (Bluebell Woods) and same goes for English Spirit Pretty things. The craft and art things, thrifting etc I can post here. Since Laura left I don't get out so much anymore so there is not enough now to fill 3 blogs. I think I will get them printed out in book form and close them up. They stay out there forever so it's not like I can't start them again. I find that getting followers is so difficult and even my regulars don't visit as often anymore. Life goes on.
Meanwhile, not even much to say here. I spent 3 days decorating for Christmas but really, no one will be here. I did it this time for myself. Everything in the house needs painting or cleaning so it was a good opportunity to clean out and take stock. I do love the Christmas decorations though.

We even got outside done. They alley this year looks great with even more decorations going on. Ours are quite pathetic compared

I did get a new bulb in my outside candle that I made many years ago in ceramics class. It has lasted well. I also got Gerry to put up lights around the porch and I figured out the tree so that is now lit up too. Enough for this year.

No one will be home for Christmas and so I don't have to worry about getting things done. No money for gifts but I do have plenty to give away probably after the holidays. Everyone gets a quilt. I sent Jason the Figis gift tray as he will be alone too. He has so much going on and really hates the drive up here just for an overnight these days. His cats are elderly and need meds etc. Pets sure do tie us down. Laura is working so that lets her lot out and anyway, its better to be at home for Christmas. Justin may come after the holiday for a week so they can have their stuff then. So for now I am free to take my time.
My stack of quilts can wait till I am in the mood.
I have not seen Edna since July. She has been busy, traveling and catching up. We were supposed to finally go to lunch today but she cancelled due to icy roads. I would rather stay home when its like this. That gives me time to make my cheeseballs and get her a gift and maybe see her next week. I have been printing out recipes for ideas of things to make for the gifts. I won't do much as this year there won't be anyone to give them too. I don't need Gerry going into a sugar coma and I sure don't need anything.
Times have changed. My friends are moving away to be near family as they get older. Pretty sure now, we will stay here.
Life changes as one gets older. I have had health issues with blood pressure and sugar diabetes (2) and don't get out walking so much now Laura moved. Gerry is beginning to get into it a bit but won't now the snow is here haha. Ah well it is what it is.

Time to make plans for next year. What I would like to do and what will happen is up in the air. Gerry won't want to go along with my plans so it's a matter of selling my ideas. I want to paint the dining room and in the front two rooms maybe replace the carpet and furniture. With no money that means careful planning haha. He wants a new van............I want a camper. Going to be a challenge because we are on social security haha.......I love that though, the fanangaling (spelling?) a challenge. I figure with as much time as we spend in the home it may as well be looking comforable and nice. I do know we will get the painting done, that's cost effective and makes a big difference. When we put away Christmas is the time to do that. See, I figured that if I put all the normal stuff away it would be easy to do, planning there, ahead, did you see that haha.
I fully intend to have a yard sale next Spring. I said I would not do it again but......still have stuff to get rid of and it brings in extra money, I have enough stuff still to sell and can find lots more. Especially if we do redecorate. I may even make some stuff like wind chimes. Well I can make a lot of stuff if I can get out of this slump of bleh....
Well enough for today, I should get started on sewing, bleh, not in the mood. So who knows..........

Esch Road end of October..................

it was such a lovely day yesterday, too good to waste by staying inside. It was 52 degrees and sunny, how could it get better than that in October. I could take that all year. Where to go? It was Halloween and we didn't really want to be around when that all started. So I thought maybe a trip out to Esch Road near Empire would be nice. Gerry not happy "is it dirt roads? no it's just sort of dirt roads but not the really bad dirt roads. Old Betsie knows all these roads. So off we went. We took some back roads instead of the usual M72 just for a change. He is getting used to this. You know that man has lived here all his life and yet he knows nothing of the area. I don't get it. I know more history than he does.
So off we go. Saw these guys and had to say hello.



We got to where I wanted to go and Gerry pipes up asking how I know we can go through that gate? I said because we have been coming here for years. Laura and I have explored most places over the last few summers.



We did not expect to see anyone but there were several couples as we came back, and several with dogs. We were puzzled. I found out later it was a Halloween ghost walk. All these old abandoned farm houses. Well at least we were alone while at this one.
Look at these hugging trees


For some reason as I left this place a story came into my mind..........I wrote it down when I got home. I will try and finish the story as it's still sharp in my mind.


In Summer the fields are beautiful with wild flowers.


The Apple trees out back are sort of falling apart and I could see a heart in the shape of this hole.


We walked back through the woods as the first people started arriving. So we headed along the back roads through woods and fields to Esch Rd.
This picture is the nearest farm to the one we had just visited. Maybe 3/4 of a mile away. Imagine that in Winter.



Next stop the beach. There is a road that winds and runs parallel to the beach and main rd, very pretty and many times we see wildlife, not today though.


The trees were still pretty


The Creek runs into Lake Michigan here and it's path on the beach is very different from the last time we were here. Several storms since then has changed the shape of the beach and the water is higher



The colours were striking when we first entered the beach.

The waves have carved out a new route for Otter Creek

I walked down to Otter creek while Gerry brought the car I wanted to see if there were any fish still in there.


I met this guy and his mum, his name is Duck.........he was naughty and loved the water and sticks.

The sky was so blue. It was Ducks mum and another lady who was walking on the beach who told me about the ghost walk. I had left Gerry sitting in the car so we were able to have a nice long chat. Meanwhile Duck was having me throw sticks for him and jumping in the water. We got to talking about other historic places and one was mentioned that we used to visit frequently. I learned something new so I think that will be my next place to visit. Isadore.
Anyway, we left there and headed back to M72 through the back roads.



I found what I was looking for a road to take me to Esch Rd without going through Empire, now we know.
We wanted to get back to M72 and stop to eat at the Hayloft. We had hoped to avoid the kids out Trick or Treating but we didn't

Naturally we had Burrito's but saved money by not having Margarita's. Just coffee for me and a Coke for Gerry.(yeuk)

I was hungry and it was half gone before I remembered to take a picture
I left half as it's huge. I used to eat it all but now I leave 1/2 for Gerry to have next day. Yum.

Taking Cooper to Raven's Hill.........................

At some point we have taken the grandkids to Raven's Hill. Reina and Tristen loved it. Tristen was supposed to come today but is still sick. We have been waiting since September to get a day we could take him, was going last week but Laura said no, he had a cold, this week he still has a fever. So we decided we would go anyway. The weather was not the best, cold and drizzle but we never let the weather stop us when we want to do something. I also wanted him to see the Jordan Valley Glass Works in East Jordan. I wanted a Pumpkin haha. I packed us a lunch and off we went.....Look at all that lovely glass.


I had found the Facebook page and saw the Pumpkin I wanted, it was pale green. I wanted a Ladybug on it and he said he would put one on at no charge so woo hoo. It was still there so that's the one I got. Cooper seemed to enjoy watching and we got some history of glass making in the process.

I would have liked this one that he just made.


Our next stop was Raven's Hill.


The exploration center has all kinds of neat things to "Explore" for little kids it's hands on. Magnets, energy, mirrors, music, puzzles and so much it's hard to tell everything in there.
He loved the bike that acted as a generator.





next we went into the animal room. Cooper got to feed worms to some of the fish and a turtle.Gabby didn't want to see the snakes but wanted to see Cooper with them so she bravely sat by and watched......from a distance.


The Spiders could not come out and play, something about being in a bad mood this time of year and they would spray us with hair?????

The Lizard was allowed out though. The lady was very nice with Cooper and explained a lot for him



Back into the exploration room

Then outside. We sat in the car for our picnic before exploring the outside. It's a bit worn since my last visit. Really does need some help in putting the exhibit back in shape. Everything now is in need of a coat of paint, the Jurassic area is really down hill since last time and the leaves cover a lot now. So we headed for the school house. He enjoyed that.
The music area is a little in need of care also, but being noise related he was bobbing back and forth trying all the instruments.




The rain held off so we chanced a run over to the tree house in the woods. That too is in need of some love



We drove back to where the outside exhibits are as it was drizzle by then



They have tried to show different cultures through the ages. Unless you take the time to walk around and read it does not amount to much but Cooper didn't care at his age so sitting in a stone chair and poking the nose of an Easter Island dude was good enough.


it was raining by now so we headed back to East Jordan. The Jordan river flows through the town and if you go up into the hills there is place called Dead Mans Hill where you can overlook the whole Jordan Valley, but that was not for this days adventure.


Next was Friske Apple Orchards. They were doing a brisk trade and he really enjoyed the playground.




I went inside and got us some donuts for the trip home and some cider for later. I have not heard from Edna this week, she usually wants to go out and find cider this time of year.
Anyway I think we did a good job of wearing Cooper out and I think he enjoyed his day. It was rather gloomy for picture taking but the leaves were brilliant on some of the trees. Lots of yellows and limes up that way. Anyway that was it for today............what's next?