To the Beach................

Yesterday was a perfect day to go to the beach, so we did. It was hot enough but not uncomfortable. It was breezy rather than windy. The water like bath water. So we took the kids life jackets this time because we had said they could go in. I remembered to take Tristen some dry clothes and he had some beach shoes. We set off ready with his swim trunks on and wound up to bustin........we went to lunch first. Figured we just better get that out of the way. Made it without too much stress as the kids were excited. So then on to the beach. We parked at the Lighthouse....bathrooms woo hoo. Nice ones too.
So, the first thing they did was find the mud puddle, yep of cause they did.



Then on to the water (eye roll here)










In the background you can see one of the Manitou Islands. The baby bear cubs.......this is the Sleeping Bear Lakeshore. I have told the story before but will have to tell it again some day.




We ended up walking right around the point just to see what was beyond. The water was not as calm around the corner. It was the original location of the lighthouse, but because of the storms it was moved to its current location. There are a great many shipwrecks in those waters.



We had walked a long way so turned back. We sat and let them play some more in the water. Great spot where the water was shallow and we didn't need to worry. We have to watch for rip tides so we don't let them go in too far. It doesn't stop the enjoyment.


Reina is 7 she and Tristen are like brother and sister. She is really his aunt as his mother Alexandra was/is her sister.


After we left the beach we took a drive up the Dunes on the trails there. This view looks out over Glen Lake at the Alligator...........can you see why its called that? Come Fall or cooler weather we want to climb those trails as I have not yet done so.




This is another view from the top of the dunes It looks down over Glen Lake.


This one looking in the other direction, you can see the same view we were looking at from below.




We stopped at one of the picnic spots, we usually stop there and look for Indigo Buntings. We found raspberries, and wild cherries. Yum and did see a Bunting too.

Here is an Indigo Bunting, I could not get a better shot.

Reina loved the cherries, Tristen "I dont love them"


We met this old gentleman there, he was setting up for a picnic. I thought he was alone so sent the kids over to say hello. Tristen says "hello my name is Tristen and this is Reina" they started to chat. I went over after a bit and he told me he drove this old car all they way to Alaska. Said it took him 12 days to get there and 10 days to get home because it was downhill coming back. (smile) Come to find out he was meeting a group of people there so that made me feel better, I thought he was alone.


on the way down we went through dunes covered in Babies Breath, it looked ethereal

I spotted a deer, through the trees and it was laying down. Took ages to get a shot of it. Turned out to be a small buck. It was the sun on his ears I first spotted.


I gave the camera to Laura and she snuck up a bit closer but we still had to focus through the trees. Ended up with a couple of shots I could use.

He was easy to spot because the sun was shining through his ears. Getting the shot was the hard part. Then we thought there was another one, boy was that ever difficult to figure out. It turned out we were right though. Twice we nearly drove away and then went back. They got sick of being stared at and got up to walk away. Got ya,,,,,,,,,,,,Can you see her? I may only have one good eye working but it does a great job. Imagine back when I had two eyes, they didn't call me hawkeye for nothing

She blended in perfect with that dead pine behind her. Felt bad that they had to leave but ah well........if we saw them......nah, I don't think anyone else would have. We continued on home, everyone tired by then and ready for coffee. Got some in Empire and muffins for the kids to stuff their faces on the way home and tide them over till supper. End of a perfect day.

Tristen goes camping......

Tristen had a wonderful July 4th long weekend. His auntie Laura and Uncle Greg took him camping. They went to Turtle Lake campground and he got to sleep in a real tent. They took every precaution (I was worried he may take off during the night) They fixed the zipper so he could not open it and wore him out so no danger of that. My daughter (also) Laura(Jane) took Reina to visit most days. They were there till late at night so the kids had a great time. Laura Herman sent some pictures
Here is Tristen on a 4 wheeler, its not a real one they said and top speed is 3 miles per hour (they said ).

He thinks he is the cats meow now....what a face.

Everyone gets to clean up, even the little ones.


They were at Turtle Lake campground. The lot they were on was right on the lake. Very nice. He had never been camping before so we were all a little concerned as to how it would go in a tent. Would he sleep. He did, and very well.

They found a large snapping turtle and Tristen said he saw a dead fish. He says that "Fireman Sam can't fix dead people neither and nor can police men" so he knows that dead is dead. They kept him busy every day they were there.

They went fishing from the dock and tubing on the lake. Tristen was in the boat though secured in life jacket and watched like a hawk.


Next they all went to the small village of Lake Ann. It was the week of July 4th and most places had parades that week. So off they went to the parade. The kids wanted to see the fire engines and that they did. After that they went to stand in line to play in the bouncy house.


Then the best of all they got to ride some horses, that was the highlight for Tristen.

How I wish I still had my old horse Lady........she was around for all my grandkids and even the ones now. She has been gone 5 years now.Tristen would have adored her, his mother did.

Art and ideas..............

I love to paint and draw, I always have. My problem is, as with everything I do, I can't stay focused. I have no style. When I do crafts I want to do so many things. Its like now, just thinking about it, I want to do everything. I want to do so many things. I get so frustrated that I end up not doing anything.
At the moment I am forcing myself to focus on my watercolours. In summer I have so much else going on. Its hard to do much of anything artistic with the garden to keep up. I also have a child to entertain (smile).
So...........how do others manage to do so much.? I used to read a lot. Now its hard to focus long enough to finish a book. I did begin at the start of the year to set goals, a book a month.......write one poem at least and complete at least a few pictures. I found this useful to get things done. I did get some table runners for Teal my sons step daughter. I got 4 of them done and sent off. At least that was an accomplishment.

I like to draw and paint in detail.......this is what I am trying to get over. I am trying, through doing journals to "loosen up" this is a looser style


However I really want to do more than paint. I want to do some felt work, some crochet, some quilting, some knitting........and so on. Anyone else understand what I am saying?

I have made baskets and stained glass and want to learn beading and tatting. I feel time running away from me.............this is one of the first stained glass items I did. I made a lot of wind chimes at that time. I don't have any left.

I made this little coat for Reina with embroidery on it.


I know a lot of it is lack of time, or is it not making good use of my time. Or is it lazyitis

Well, my question is anyone have suggestions? How can I better handle time so that I can do the things I want, handle a 3 year old and the house and garden. I am 67 and already raised my kids long ago........grandkids are grown and this is my great grandson.......life revolves around him. I am tired, but should not be I get free time every other weekend that I use to catch up in the house and garden so..........how can I better manage my time in the evenings ? I know stop blogging right? NO I cant do that, this is what frees up my mind and keeps me sane (smile) ...........I do welcome suggestions from others who have small kids because I forget. Things are so different to when I raised my own.

Trips to Canada....................

When the kids were young and before we had to have a passport, Canada was a favourite destination for trips. Ontario being just across the border of Michigan at Sault Saint Marie. The Soo as we call it is the northern gateway to Canada.The Soo locks connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The Soo lies on the St Mary's river and the town gets its name from that. Saint Mary's Rapids.
Well anyway, we cross the international bridge from Michigan to Ontario and on our first visit stopped at the welcome center. I had a map of Ontario, well of Canada, folded down to the area we wanted to explore. I saw two roads west, Hwy 17 and hwy 11 a bit further north. So map in hand I asked for a map with the roads on it. Got a puzzled look from the guy at the counter. I said I want the map with roads that go up there.....pointing to Polar bear national park. It didnt look too far and maybe we could go up there........he was very nice and politely explained (without laughing) that the only way I would get up there was in a canoe or a water plane. BLUSH!!!!.......I did not believe the models on display of fish with fur or rabbits with horns though,
So we decided we would make the best of it and go to WaWa on 17 and back on 11.............the next time we went as far as Thunder Bay.
Wawa is a very small town. They have a general store and it was fun to watch the Chipmunks helping themselves to corn in a sack and peanuts.



The store is what one would have expected 100 years ago and is about all there is there. Wawa takes its name from the Ojibwe word for "wild goose", wewe. There is a huge statue overlooking the lake.


The town from the lake.

The town has declined since we were there and I have no idea what its like now, one day I do want to go back. The mine closed and the forestry has stopped as I understand. The harbor from above.


Back to the road trip. Hwy 17 is the Trans Canada Hwy. From Sault Saint Marie to Wawa (and beyond)there is not a lot in between so be sure you have plenty of gas. One time we took my Mum and Dad. We were naive and took a side trip through the woods in the hope of seeing some wildlife. Saw nothing but black flys. Had a giggle because Dad had to take a potty break and went off into the brush. We could tell where he was by the cloud of black fly hovering over him and following him back to the car. The road was endless and our gas gaige on empty. We never told my parents but we were worried, we had no idea where we were or how long it would take to get out. We had no idea if we were going off into wilderness or towards somewhere........eventually we saw some men in a tree. Yes in a tree, lumberjacks. We got their attention and they told us how to get out. Just as well because I am sure we coasted into the gas station on fumes.
One of the first places we stop is Old Woman Bay


A breathtaking view of Lake Superior can be found here, as you look out over cliffs that tower more than four hundred feet above the lake. Recently this region has become home to Peregrine Falcons, once thought to be extinct in the area
Not much further, or maybe it was before (its been so long now) there is an amazing place where Indian pictographs can be seen. I was terrified and dare not go out on the ledge. I would not let the kids go either as its a slope and really quite safe but I am paranoid. The adults all went out there and got pictures. I have a huge respect for Lake Superior, she can be an angry bitch.......
'
They say young Indian boys went and sat there all night on vision quests. I can only imagine what they would see.

There are many more than these but I cant fill up the post with just this, and its really only a glimpse of the beauty here.
Another place we always stopped were the Magpie Falls. This picture shows a calm waterfall, sometimes its a raging torrent of water that you would not want to be near. I have pictures of my boys when they were young out on the rocks probably before they build the lookouts,

I believe we usually spent the night near Wawa before taking off on Hwy 11 for the return trip. All we want to see up north is Bear, Moose or a wolf. Well we did see Moose a few times but until we stopped at a motel and saw photo's we didn't really appreciate how they could be. My aunt Liz went with us one time and we saw a Moose, we stopped the car, got out and walked along the ditch until we got close to it. She was shaking with excitement or was it fear?(Liz says she was awed) We were across the road from it, a small female. (Liz's pictures)




We could smell it long before we got to it. When it comes to wildlife I admit I have no sense. I have no fear. So we did get a few pictures but not good ones. Liz not so good with the camera got some knees and other parts. The moose went off into the brush. Now........please don't ever do that. They can be aggressive. They are huge and at certain times of the year will not think twice about picking a fight.

You can see how lonely the road is, help is not close at hand. Be smart, drive with caution.


Along the way there were a couple of places worth stopping. The Canadian Carver.......wood carvings. Naturally I bought a couple of things that I still have.


We hoped to see Bear but didn't or Wolf either. I guess we have as many in the UP of Michigan now and they are seen more often. Bear, well we have them right here in the neighbourhood now. The only time we saw the Bear in the wild Liz was with us, we stopped at a dump known for having bear visitors............so we did see our bear. He was at the edge of the dump. He took his garbage bag and took off into the woods. (Liz pictures of our bear)






Trying to coax him back we got out and put candy out in the hope of him coming closer to us..........again.......dont do that!!!!!!! If he would have come to the car for food he could have been aggressive and its always the wildlife that pay for people (like me) mistakes. I know better now, I am older and wiser. Ontario is a wonderful place to visit if you enjoy the remote places with nothing to do but enjoy the view. Thats me...........cant wait to go back some day and see how much its changed.
I will be sharing this with Our World Tuesday