To work and more...........

I have been very slow on my blogging of late. We have been busy one way or other. What with the health issues, colds and flu and the emotional turmoil of family members. I don't know, there was not a lot of positive things to write about. Mainly I suppose I have been busy with other things. Well today Laura came over, it was a gloomy day and we had planned on going for a walk. So Tristen suggested going to see Granddad at work. Hmmm, not a bad idea. I could pick up some rocks.
So we thought we would do that. Laura wanted to see the houses and so off we went.

Tristens feet hardly touched the ground, running hither and yon checking things out. Well Gerry got his brother Tim to give Tristen a ride on the back hoe.......I thought his face would crack he could not stop smiling.


Tim was filling in a hole and so Tristen got to see how both sides of the thingie worked. He was enthralled.

Gerry was about done with work so Tristen stayed and went home with him. He loves to ride in the truck so that gave Laura and me a chance to do our thing on our own. We started off going to Moomers. We had not told Tristen we were going or else I think he would have come with us. Anyway we bought some quarts of icecream to take home.


Happy cows. Notice the fog in the farm picture.

We ate our icecream and then stopped at Gallaghers on the way home. They had fresh asparagus and I wanted some brats. Oh boy were they ever good. I got cherry ones and had those for supper with the Asparagus and some squash. So tasty

I love the local farms and markets. Fresh meat from happy cows. At Gallaghers they live in a large pasture and eat real good food natural to cows. No hormones or supplements etc just as it should be. Here are some babies enjoying lunch

One of the older ones came out of the barn and was rather put out that I was taking pictures. They all wandered off to the pastures.

The meat etc is more expensive there but I am thinking maybe I should buy less and buy better. I hate that the cows die but no matter how I feel about that it will happen. So maybe I should buy from the farms that practice humane farm practices. Besides that the meat tastes better and is better for us. I am thinking I will be looking around for better purchases. I know we can buy 1/2 a cow or pig. I used to do that, back then I got stuck with all the pot roasts at the end, but now I am a better cook and know how to do pot roasts haha. Think that maybe the way to go.

Some shopping and a walk...............

Today took us over to McGoughs to get some dog bisquits. I had a bit of running around to do so first we went to RiteAid pharmacy to get a few things and Tristen wanted a car. They are not expensive and it keeps him occupied. So after we were done I asked him if he would like to go for a walk, he said yes so off we went. I parked next to Oryana food store and we headed down the Boardman trail.

I was curious because I had not known there was a bridge over Boardman Lake/River until recently. SO I had wanted to explore.


I wanted to know where the trail came out. The air was thick with the scent of Honeysuckle.

Pink and yellow Honeysuckle. There were Red Wing Blackbirds who didn't pose, so not too good of a shot.



So the trail came out across from the Library. They have a childrens garden so we decided to go across because Tristen likes the train. I took one look and it was swarming with kids. Tristen made a bee line for the garden. He is not shy, he joined right in. I asked one lady if it was a private party or what (didn't want to intrude) she said it was a school field trip.




I watched for a time to be sure everything was OK, no need to worry he got right in the thick of it. So I took a walk around to get some pictures of the flowers








On the way back along the trail, the whole mob of kids came along the same way. I told Tristen we would stop and wait for them to go by. He had a little hissy fit and pouted and refused. I got his arm and assured him that if he would not do as he was told I would have no problem giving him a smack no matter who saw me. He sat.......

He was still sulking and asked how long we must wait. I said "Until your attitude changes", and then," and you wont get you toy back either unless it happens quickly". That did the trick, he was fine and the kids had all gone so we continued on our way

We got home and he was playing outside while I worked in the garden. I went in to start supper and a lady stopped by to tell me Tristen was playing (with his car) on the side of the road, I mean actually in the road. When she left he denied it and said he would wait at the edge for Granddad. I told him no he would not, that he had to come inside because I could not watch him. He said NO!!!! What? we do not tell Nanny no. So I told him to get inside.......that was another big no. Finally he came up to me and I physically had to pull him inside screaming. Off to his room he went. Bawling of course. He got real quiet and didn't come down when Gerry got home. Gerry went upstairs. Tristen was asleep. He didn't wake up either, just gave Gerry a smile............and he is still out. Hope for a good nights sleep tonight. He woke up last night and came crashing in our room, a bad dream he said, he slept on our floor. Today it was a busy and active day at school they are winding down and had games and a party,so poor kid is exhausted.

Memorial weekend, Saturday.............

Jason came up for a couple of days. Today he was rather busy meeting Gabby for lunch. When he got back we went for a drive. Tristen had a good day, he enjoys Jason's company. We drove out towards Empire where we let Tristen play at the park there. I wanted some pictures so thats what I did.


Gerry and Jason kept a watch on him while I sauntered around looking for birds.

I did manage to find a few birds but not much. After that we went to get some snacks. Jason wasn't hungry because he had lunch, we didn't so Tristen was thrilled to get junk food for lunch with soda, a big treat for him.

South Bar Lake

We stopped and let Tristen run up the Dunes while we watched. He attached himself to a family with 3 kids. He does that. He can always weedle his way in and is soon fast friends. So this time there happened to be two little girls about his size and they raced up and down. Talk about energy. It takes a lot to get up on that sand. Pretty soon he had joined in with their mum and dad burying one of the girls. Time to move on.....

Having found a bathroom we were all set and headed out to Port Oneida. I wanted to show Jason the beach we found there. All the lovely farms that are being preserved. It was a cool day, that was fine by me I loved it. Gerry was cold though. It didnt impede Tristen one bit and was perfect for me.

It was good to find only two cars at our steps to the beach and no one in sight.

I found Petoskey stones right off the bat. Found 7 in fact. A nice haul condidering I was not there long. The water is still high. I am not sure what the beaches will be like this summer. The ones at Glen Haven was really high last year and we didn't go down and look. I bet its still high as it's just around the corner so to speak. Maybe another nice day and we will go check it out.


The wind was blowing pretty good, so the men got cold. I could have stayed forever. So nice to be able to walk the beach without anyone else being there.
We found what seemed like a part of an old shipwreck.


Some lovely rocks from the deep, they look so pretty in the clear water

I found some critters

On the way home we saw a big flock of turkey.

It was a nice day for all of us.
Today is Sunday and we stayed home most of the day. We did go to where Gerry is working to pick up some rocks and some Trillium. The Trillium we are not supposed to pick but as the site is being bulldozed I don't care. If I can save them by putting them in my garden then so be it.

Tristen loves to go to granddads work, climb the piles of dirt and check out the machines.



Tristen is the third generation of our kids to go to where he works and play as the others did.My boys Jason and Justin and Laura, then Laura's girls. Tristens mum Alexandra, Danielle and Gabrielle. Gerry did the same thing when he was a boy. I guess its a family tradition.

One Good Man..................

Find me one good man God said to Lot. There were none but God favoured Lot and so He saved him and His family. God tells us, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There are none that are good save for Jesus Christ. So...........what does that mean in todays world? Do you know any good men? They may look good on the surface but our standards are somewhat low. If a man tells you "No I am not a good man" trust him, he knows better. So what makes a man good by worldly standards? There used to be something called Honour. What happened to that?
Young girls used to be told about their "Knight in shining armour" who would rescue them from their enemies. No one believes in that any more. Most women prefer to rescue themselves. They don't want to be hapless maidens. Well King Arthur can rescue me any time he wants.
Then there was the code of honour. Fight for right not might. What happened there? Now we send our men in to fight for oil, destroy countries so that the rich can get richer and the poor can just die. If civilians are killed, well that's just collateral damage
In the case of the Knights of old, well think what those Knights Templar did out in the Holy Land. It was not for God and England and St George because they raped and plundered and the Muslims hate us to this day. What a legacy that was.
So what is a good man? I have a relative who became a Christian, I liked him better when he wasn't. He became a know it all, condemning self richeous man. That is not what God wants for us at least I don't think so. We have to work on our own issues before we point out other peoples, but that is just my opinion. We can say when we believe someone is wrong, indeed, if we are close to that person we should do so but in a way that does not alienate them. What's the point in that. You cant save someone who wont speak to you. I believe in the power of prayer and keeping our own life as clean as we can. True that is easier as you get older. Most of the "sin" in my life went away over time. I like to believe God guided me in the right direction but in honesty most things I just grew out of. So it's hard to condemn a young person, but I can offer my advice having lived through many things. If they choose not to listen thats ok. We all have our own path to walk.

We are carnal beings who want to be loved, physically and emotionally. Its hard to suppress that desire especially when we are young. We want to attract the opposite sex, at least I did. Looking back I was no saint for sure. I think I may have hurt some people by my willfullness............but I can not say I would have wanted to be different because I would not be who I am now. I am sorry for those I disappointed and for how I ignored God's commands. I must say in my defence that at that time I had not come to the realization of what Salvation was. I also see now that I am old, how our actions do indeed resonerate through generations. What we do, effects others.

If I do have a guardian angel He is not guiding me gently like in that picture he is dragging me kicking and screaming. I am sure he has wept a river over the things I have done.
So..........what is a good man? What do I admire in a man. Strength, honesty, honour and integrity but not a prissy prude of a puritan. I believe most of those men have hidden secrets. Then again, most of us do. I like to think I am a "what you see is what you get person". A lot of people would say I am a Liberal. I really am not. I am quite conservative in my own life.I just dont think things like morals can be legislated. I think we all have a concience if we allow it to blossom. Some things are easy. Don't steal, but by golly if my child is hungry and I have no other choice then God had better show me a better way so that I can avoid temptation. I do believe that God helps those who help themselves, meaning we must not just sit and pray, but after prayer we need to take action. We just need to know what God's plan is for our life, not always easy.

A good man spends time with his family, puts them first in his life without smothering them. He can be trusted to make the right moral choices without being judgemental because what is right for one may not work for another. Above all He loves God, respects His commandaments and leads his family by example. There is right and there is wrong and then there is the area of compromise???? maybe over time we can slide more to the side of right, that is what life is to me. A journey, lessons to learn and in my case definatley a work in progress.