Saturday adventure.............................

Saturday was cloudy and damp but the sun came out now and then, so .........not to let a damp day spoil our plans we went off on our adventure. I had hoped for a good art and craft show in Frankfort to be one destination. Wasn't that great but I got a few ideas. I almost bought one garden ornament but well.......I could do it myself. Maybe. At least I saw how it was made. More on that if I decide to do it. Anyway......we stopped for lunch in Crystal Lake and then headed out.....the wrong way. Don't talk and drive ladies. Got ourselves back on track and took the scenic route. Look at this fog coming in, was sort of creepy...

We finally made it to Frankfort. Was not impressed with the art/craft festival but we love the town anyway. Tristen met a new friend. I tell him always ask the owner before petting a dog. The dog was very friendly and so he sort of gave us permission but his parents were proud to show him off. Gave Tristen some treats to give him.

Laura and I thought this was cool. The kids were not impressed but were more interested in the play ground.


There was also a car show going on. None of us were interested in that but there were some cool old cars

I was more interested in the flowers but will save that for another post.
We left Frankfort to go to Manitou Gardens. One of my favourite places. It is a garden center with an antique shop, gardens and a bird sanctuary. It has a huge volume of stock in the gift shop part with all the garden ornaments and such. Love the Antique shop. The kids like the garden but mostly the sanctuary.

Peacocks make one heck of a noise. If you watch English movies you will often hear the call of a Peacock. They are pets over there and live free to roam many a large estate. This guys name was Blue. He was trying desperately to get the attention of a white female.

The girl who came in to feed the critters was very nice and the kids hung on her every word. She let them feed the turtles, and she let them go into the employee only place to release some frogs to make room for some large ones. They felt privaleged. The little finches and white doves flew around at will. The rabbit was out and loved to be petted.

The girls name was Grace, and here she is showing Tristen the tadpoles

Here is one of the little cuties who got his freedom.

Watching Blue up to his antics


If only he could see how silly he looks from the rear. Ah well, thats a guy for ya.
So onwards.........I got a few herbs for my garden and we took off for the Llama farm. Didn't make it though. We saw deer and stopped to many times for pictures. This one was irresistable.


Must have been the sort of day that they liked because we saw deer in the woods and the fields and among the ferns and on the edges of woodlands. We let these ladies cross the road before moving on.


We forgot the Llama farm because we were enjoying the deer so much. Anyway it was getting late. We also skipped the lighthouse with the fog along the lakeshore there may have been some good pictures but, oh well. Out of time. So when we got back on familiar ground we stopped at Moomers again. I had a coffee toffee ice cream. The kids had some chocolate brownie stuff and Laura a Sunday.

The kids were worn out by the time we got home. Still able to wolf down a bowl of spaggetti Os with toast though..........a good day out, if somewhat noisy. ooooooh boy are those two loud. I almost forgot. We were given a nice show by a local Robin at Moomers.......enjoy it too OK

Sharing this post with create with Joy, Inspire me Monday
sharing with Ivy and elephants.
Also sharing with Dwellings.The heart of the home
I am also linking with Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Dreamer

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