Wildflowers and stuff.................

Today Laura had the day off. We made the most of it. Yesterday we had gone out to do some errands and she took me by the field she often sees Sand Hill Cranes in. Well they were there but I didn't have a camera and her phone didn't take a clear enough, close enough shot for me to edit. So.......as we had a free day we went back with the camera. Naturally they were not there. Well two were and I could not get a good picture from the car. We stopped where we stopped yesterday and I went for a walk in the field. There was a large selections of wild flowers. I was impressed. I am sure it will soon be a hay field but today it was a beautiful meadow.

We let the kids out, figured they could run off some energy. It was threatening rain all day so may as well get some activity in.

I only got a few pictures of the many many variety of flowers growing here. The Canada geese were off and running, likewise the ducks on the pond. They did not like this interuption to their day and left post haste.


No the kids were not chasing them, they were way far away from where they were playing. The geese were in a planted field, I didn't allow the kids back there. I am a country girl and I respect the farmers land. Yes we were trespassing as it was, but we did not harm.

Well seeing as there was no joy with the Cranes, we went to see Gerry at work. Tristen just loves to do that. So off we went. Here they are yelling for Granddad, who is on the roof.


There just happened to be the biggest pile of sand they had ever seen, other than the sand dunes. For a few minutes it was all theirs.

They climbed and jumped and ran around and climbed and jumped again............sqealing with delight.

It was a job to get them back in the car, even with the promice of stopping at Moomers for ice cream

I just know we will have to take them back again before they level off the area. So, having dusted off what sand and clay we could to make them half way presentable, off we went to Moomers.

We sat and watched the cows. They have extended the deck since last year. You would never believe how packed the place gets in summer. This day was lucky we had the decks to ourselves. The kids were dirty and still noisy, now with chocolate all over their faces as well as the sand and dirt.
Moomers (I did a blog last year) makes their own ice cream, its next to the dairy. Here are some of the lovely ladies who provide the milk.

I try not to think of the sad mummy cows who loose their babies so they can provide us with dairy..........I am getting worse. I can no longer see cows in a field and enjoy the sight. I think about the babies and how their short life ends. Still, for a farm this is a beautiful one. Along the road is Gallaghers farm where the beef cattle are in the fields with their babies. We go to their produce store to buy meat and at least I see that those cows have a happy life.
The kids were not ready to go home so we next stopped at Twin Lakes park. Because of the weather we had all these wonderful places to ourselves. Summer is on the way and pretty soon it will be tourist season again. Slow to start this year due to weather. Well the traffic is bad and getting worse. Wont be long. They played for awhile and Laura and I walked around. The lake was overflowing due to the rain. The mosquito's were fierce. I came home with a brand new set of bites. Hope you like the froggie pictures because the mozzies ate me up while I was getting them.

Tristen had to go potty. We showed him the porta potty (a very nice clean one) but he refused. He didn't like the blue stuff in it. I tried to tell him it was just the same as what I cleaned our toilets with at home but he didnt buy that one. We had to go home. That was the end of a rather nice day for an overcast wet one. Excuse me now as I scratch my bites.
joining up with friendship friday
also with Lavender Garden cottage style party.
sharing also with Make it pretty Monday at the Dedicated House.
I am joining another Create with Joy event, Inspire me Monday
I will also party at Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House............a very party link
Sharing with Dwellings The heart of your home

Iris Farm..............

Today we went to the Four Seasons Nursery. I had Reina for the day and I thought she might like to help me make a Fairy Garden. Well, on the way I had Gerry stop at the Iris Farm. Not to buy anything, I don't like having to wait until Fall to get the Iris........but to take pictures. It is a beautiful place.

The farm is on an old farm. Its been in the same family for ever. It says so on its Centennial plaque.

The barn is wonderful and so are all the out buildings. The house too. A dream place. I would love an old farm. Not in my lifetime I'm afraid. I can only imagine what it would cost. Well when we win the lottery right?



There are just so many varieties of Iris, the colours, the names......fantastic. I could not choose, I wanted them all. I took a few pictures. I think I like the pink blush colours and the pale lavender. Oh goodness there are just so many. You can also pick them to use as cut flowers. One doller a stem. they look wonderful in a vase.




Anyway, its a nice place and although I did manage to get my pictures with few people in them it was bustling with activity. Doing a brisk business, and thats a good thing.

More lovely buildings here.

I really like this one. I didn't take the names because Gerry and Reina were waiting for me.


Well I guess you have seen enough Iris for now.........

well maybe a couple more.


Sharing with A Dedicated House, anything blue Friday
Also with Boogie Board COttage
and with Our World Tuesday

Saturday drive.................

What to do on a hot sunny day. Too hot to take a hike, too many mosquito's and too tired. So Laura and I first went to an Estate sale, no AC and very crowded. We went yesterday and I will talk about that in my Pretty things blog.
So we had lunch here and then we headed out to Suttons Bay. Gerry actually stopped at a garage sale on the way. He usually flys on by. I managed to find a couple of things. Of course I did.
Anyway, the road to Suttons Bay goes out along the Bay, that is Grand Traverse Bay. On the map we would have been going up on the left side to the north. You can see Power Island across the arm of West Bay as well as the Peninsula (between the Bays)

Its so pretty along there. We got to a place called Black Star Farms. It is a horse boarding facility as well as a Winery and Cheese outlet. Their own brands. You can follow the link above. Well apart from all that they have a farm petting zoo so I thought the kids would enjoy that.


We had a bit of a meltdown (Tristen) so just a little sulking in the car. We stopped at the park in Suttons Bay and let the kids loose while Laura and I had a look around. Its all different. The last few years there has to have been lots of tourist dollars rolling in because old places have been replaced by new ones. Sort of changes the feel of the old place. The places we used to enjoy were owned by families who no doubt have retired. Its the end of an era.

We left there and went to
Leland. Laura wanted to see Fishtown and we had promiced ice cream. It,s a pretty drive. Leland has a fish weir,It lets the river down to the level of the Lake (Michigan) Along that little stretch of water Fishtown grew up. It used to be where the fishing boats came in. Now that still happens but the shacks and huts have become shops. There is still a fish market and a boat service to the islands.

Enjoying ice cream


Fishtown



The Weir by the BlueBird restaraunt

Country Roads..........Laura rescued a baby Snipe out of the road. We went right over him but didnt hit him. Went back and moved him on his way. By now the kids were hungry so on the way home we stopped at the Hayloft. They have good Margarita's and Burito's



So that was our Saturday. A nice day out but noisy as kids always seem to be. Ends with a headache and a cup of coffee. Yawn.
I will share this with Inspire me Monday at Create with Joy

Teaching compassion.........................

The other day I was watering plants in the front garden. I noticed something on the grass on Buds front lawn, could not make out what it was. It was moving. Forgot about it for a few moments and saw it again and got curious. It could have been a baby squirrel or just about anything. As I got closer I saw it was a Starling. He didn't try to fly. Starlings have wicked beaks so I asked Dan to come with gloves and a box.
We went around accompanied by Tristen. The bird was not doing much but panting. So we got him into the box with no problem.

It was a hot day, so I wanted to get the bird out of the sun. I put a dish of water (sugar water) and some food in the box.

He opened his beak and I tried to give him water (he may have been a she) and got a couple of drops in his beak. I kept him in the shade and kept checking him. Tristen felt bad for him. He went off to play. The next time I looked the bird was dead. I felt so sorry. Now what to do. I could not throw him in the trash. He was not trash. He was a person. He was to get a buriel. So Tristen by then was getting ready for bed. I called my husband and said we have a job to do.

Tristen kept saying "poor guy" ..........he was sad. Please don't take notice of his PJs, no idea what he was thinking there.
He wanted to help bury him.

I want Tristen to know that every life is worth something, that every life is deserving of respect (maybe not mosquito's). We do not kill things around here if it leaves us alone. Not spiders not wasps and not bees. We do not kill things because they are ugly or frighten us. We try to do what is right first..............

Granddad finished up.

Then a little prayer was said to send him on his way. They asked the Lord to take care of him and we left him in what has become our pet graveyard. I have no idea what was wrong with him but there was no helping him.
Sharing with A Dedicated House
Also with Inspire me Monday

On the deck......................

We are in need of a new back door. That leads to other issues. In order to do that we had to extend the deck. Actually we are going to put the door into another room. Right now the room is not anything in particular but has a lot of stuff in it including the printer. Well, we decided to make that room the entrance and put the new door in there and close off the old one. This means we needed to make the deck different in order to get in through that area.
This is how it happened. Tristen just had to help Granddad he was so excited. Granddad not so much. Tristen with a sledgehammer are you crazy?

First the old part of the deck had to be torn down and then the wood cut for the new part.
Tristen got to hold the end. He kept running off with stuff to do his own projects. He got a popsickle but would not put it down to work, heaven forbid.


Then to start putting it together........

Tristen holding the lattice to be nailed in place.

After it was done we put a couple of chairs up there to relax for a bit

The windows behind the chair will be the new door. That will be the next step. We will be putting in a double glass door and some outlets. With an outlet there I can put up Christmas lights yeahhhhh.
The pooodles are enjoying it


The poodles enjoyed relaxing. There was still a lot to do but that was enough for that day. Since then the gate got put on in a much more convenient place and I at least got to tidy up the deck. Here are the girls waiting for Daddy to come home


Bijou is enjoying the new place.

So is Bodi and Bella

I set up a nice spot for me to sit and have coffee and draw or paint or read. Later we will have outlets so I can then bring my computer out.

Now to just get rid of those pesky mosquitoes.