Sunny September..........

Gerry is done with work for awhile. I guess he is semi retired at this point. Earning a little extra gets us through. Now we basically live on social security the 'extras' kill us. Anyway as it was a nice sunny day we took a drive. We started out going a different way to Lake Leelanau instead of going via Suttons Bay. It would be the way I would drive if I go on my own because it's less busy and would be easy for me. Although maybe one day I will go to Suttons Bay just to look at the shops.
This day though I wanted to go to The Samaritans Closet to check out some Porcelain Roosters that they had shown in an add. I didn't get any though, the ones that were left were not what I wanted.............so we carried on stopping at the park on Lake Leelanau. It had been a long time since we were there and I forgot what it was like.............






We are always looking for new places to take pictures and show off our beautiful area. It was lovely to be alone, the day was beautiful and the clouds wondrous. I am glad we went that day because today is raining. We need the rain I guess.........at least my garden does. The lakes and rivers, not so much. We headed out to the usual haunts and stopped the the boardwalk. Not much going on there except a few sunning turtles. I met a lovely couple though who had spotted an eagle, they had binoculars. I didn't see it through my camera. Meeting them and chatting was worth the stop though. It made me realize I need some new friends to do things with. Edna is always busy these days so it's just me and him.......that's fine except maybe he doesn't always want to do the things I do and it would be nice to have some fresh faces. Anyway......saw these guys hanging out.




We had told the couple about the Sand Hill Cranes at Port Oneida and as I was taking Butterfly pictures we saw them go to the beach steps, on our way back we saw the Cranes so I hope they spotted them too.



We stopped at the two old farms before we went there to see if we could see the Eagle from the other side of the lake but with no luck. I did find a couple of doors open at one farm and had a peek inside. How much fun that was, usually everything is locked up tightly. The big barn had a panel missing so I got a picture of inside the too..








While we were at Port Oneida we took the trail instead of going down to the beach. It was steep in parts and hard for me to manage. I was not wearing suitable shoes so I went barefoot instead. It was also a bit breezy up there on the bluff so Gerry had enough haha. I was just fine and sleeveless but yes a bit nippy. Will do it again and be prepared. Anyway having thought about it I bet that trail goes all the way through the woods to the old cemetery so think we will explore further when we are more prepared and I bet when the leaves are off the trees it will be spectacular.





When we got finished there we stopped by Glen Haven, last time we were out that way we skipped it because it had become really dark and rainy. Here we are on a nice sunny day and as you see the beaches have just about gone on the one side. It now infringes on the dune grass that they try to protect. Never mind, they have also made several improvements so one can sit on a boardwalk to watch the Lake.






With that we headed home. Gerry had decided we could stop at the Hayloft for dinner. The guy there doesn't even bring a menu any more haha. Best Burrito's in town.

So yes they are so big and so good but we take 1/2 of it home for the next day's lunch or supper so we no longer eat it all up, although we could do its so yummy.
That was a lovely day and we took a dirt road to check out a Lake on our way home. Armstrong lake. Well the road was washed out and hazardous, oops, but we made it muffler intact. Old Betsie is still hanging on. I love my old rust bucket.



It was hardly worth the risk but hey ho......wont have to do that again in awhile.

A day with Tristen.................

It was nice to have Tristen today if just for a few hours. He just got back from a trip out west. More or less the same trip we made many years ago. Its great that Laura and Todd can do this for him. It was a great trip I am so happy he got to share some of the experiences we had years ago. That meant though that we had not seen him in a very long time. They went camping when they got back.
Gerry picked him up at 10.30 and he had to be home by 5. He was upset to go back. I asked if we could have him the weekend after next for his birthday. Her answer as usual "we will see" He asked to stay overnight and it was the same answer so..........we shall see.
So for today we took him for Ice cream. Moomers.


The ice cream was amazing who would think a small business here in TC would take off so well. So we ate our ice cream and went to Twin Lakes for a walk.


It was a nice walk after at The Twin lakes. It was rather wet and muggy and buggy but not too bad. I was sweating good when we were done though. Three days in row of exercise and I need to do more. I doubt it will make any difference, after today having the ice cream and then Burger King (Tristen was hungry) I will probably go up.
I took some good pictures but for some reason they did not load up and so it looks like they are lost. Boo Hoo

I got pictures of Tristen and Gerry but I guess it was not to be.



So I will just post some extra stuff that I shot.


I so wish I could find the other pictures. Ah well................

September weekend............

This weekend I managed to get in a bit more exercise. We had gone for a walk on Friday (prev post) and as Saturday began with bright blue sky and being quite cool we thought a drive was in order. On the way to Suttons Bay I remembered to stop in time to see the "Bears Den" on the way. It was new to me so wanted to check it out.



They had all kinds of cute things. I bought a Rooster who is going in the garden next year but for now resides in my kitchen.
From there we went through Lake Leelanau and stopped at Peddling Beans for a cookie. On to Port Oneida. Our goal was the Dunes drive up being as the sky was so blue. Anyway.....our usual boardwalk showed that the Turtles were out in force sunny themselves. Making the most of the sunny day. Nothing else was around. No birds or beasts.

I counted 10 turtles in one area. There were a few Monarchs still fluttering around and loads of Bee's one Bee objected to the Butterfly and dive bombed it.



From there we did a whip around the main road to Port Oneida and again saw nothing, we went down to the beach because ooooooh there was no one there. The water was rough and its was a bit windy. Boy getting back up the stairs oh boy I need to do that more often. Out of breath. Phew.



we came back up from the beach and were remarking that the Sandhills were gone but low and behold just as we said that we saw them. They flew away. They were really close to the road. On the way back we saw the family of 3 over in another field, guess we just missed them on the way in.

Nothing else going on there, so we headed straight for the Drive up Dunes. Oh my, why the heck don't people just go home for goodness sake. It was windy up there, I had wanted to go out on the bluff for pictures but we would have got sand blasted and in any case the parking lot was over flowing so we skipped that one. Took some pictures and headed home. We will try again when every one goes home.




We also missed taking shots across the Aligator lookout over Glen Lake. So on the way back we stopped at the spot off the road called Inspiration point and took a few pictures. NO boats, amazing and calm waters.



So I was not ready to go home through Empire so we took the back roads as I like to, I have some favourite roads. I was glad that we did because we saw a hawk. Bloody thing would not cooperate but I got some hazy pictures.



Later on we found these guys. I love the warning sign see the little guy getting tossed. Haha......Well I went up to the fence and got some nice pictures.
Sooooo cute.

i had to get closer and I talked to him and told him how pretty he was, what a pussycat. At least with me this side of his fence haha.





We finally got home. We were starving.