Monday, July 7, 2014

When I say I am a Christian...................

When I Say, "I am a Christian," I'm not shouting, "I am saved!" I'm whispering, "I get lost!" That is why I chose this Way. When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble And need someone to be my guide. When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I am weak And pray for strength to carry on. When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed And cannot ever pay the debt. When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are too visible But God believes I'm worth it. When I say, "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches Which is why I seek His Name. When I say, "I am a Christian," I do not wish to judge. I have no authority. I only know I am loved.
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Gabby's Day................

My Granddaughter Gabrielle lives with boyfriend Tony and their son Cooper. This year they had a BBQ at their place. Their first time entertaining. She was nervous. We got there early because it was going to be tough getting out of town. There was an air show at the beach featuring the Blue Angels. It was packed. I mean, the largest crowd ever. Always popular here doing their show over the Bay, they bring in the tourists like nothing else. Great for local economy but for those of us who live here, well not so nice. Thats how it is in a tourist town. We have to put up with it and we get to enjoy the whole of the rest of the year in somewhat peaceful surroundings. We can go to the beach anytime and walk alone with our thoughts, but not in midsummer.
So we got there early while the show was still going on. Passed lines of traffic heading in to town. Glad we were heading out.
Cooper was happy to see us
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We didn't do much but it was great to just sit, and it was cool enough under the big tree. So we could visit in comfort. We met Tony's mum and some friends of Gabby that we didn't know.
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All was quiet till Tristen arrived. He had spent the weekend at his auntie Laura's again. They went to the fireworks and air show and on Saturday they went tubing down the river. He had a lot of fun. Reina was already there when he arrived and so the noise level quadrupaled. He found he could climb the tree.
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Here we have Todd and Dan (Uncle Todd and Grandpa Dan) enjoying a beer and chin wag.
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This is where all the noise came from
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The teens helped to wind them both up.
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Grandpa Robert (Laura's husband)(Todd is auntie Laura's husband) and Cooper etc playing ball. Waiting for BBQ
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Gabby and her dad (grandpa Dan)
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Laura and Robert and you know who playing in the background. Clarissa is the young girl in glasses, she is Laura Hermans daughter. So she spends time with Tristen frequently.
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Grandma Laura and Gerry (granddad) and some friends of Gabby in the background.
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After we left they all played a game of ball.........Tristen was tired because of a very active weekend. So we took him home and he slept in till almost 8am this morning. He is still tired, but playing nice on his own. I think all the activity wore him out. Now needs some quiet time. Reina will be over this afternoon for a couple of hours and maybe tomorrow we will all have recovered enough to do something fun.
I will be sharing with Cottage style party with thanks.

The Dedicated House

Friday, June 27, 2014

A Day out with Edna..............

Edna had asked me during the week if I wanted to go out with her to the Granery. Esther had asked her to make pies for the Granery. It so happened that Laura was not working and so I asked if she would watch Tristen for me. She was glad to, both Tristen and Reina had a great day. It was a nice day so they were outside all day. At her house they can go out on the street and along the subdivision and play in the hole that had been made across the road. SO he took his little bike with him and took off straight away when Gerry dropped him off. This is his weekend at his aunt Laura's. Grandma Laura was to take him over there because they were all going over for pizza. SO it was with a clear concience I had a day out.
Edna had pies she had made for Esther who owns the Granery.
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So that was our first stop. I didn't go out there last year and Esther (in the picture) had not seen me before without red hair, she didn't recognise me. The Granery is an old farm house with a (yes) Granery that Esther sells hand made things and local treasures. It's always interesting and Is a place I love. It is also a working Cherry Farm. The garage has been converted to an Antique shop and I often find some lovely linens there. I didn't look too close today, I didn't have money to spend. I also resisted the flowers.
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After we dropped off the pies we went to Elk Rapids, but on the way we saw a small farm Market. We stopped.
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I bought some of these
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....and some of these.
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For a small market there was some good stuff. I also bought some Pasties. Beef Pasties. Edna had a cooling bag so they got home unthawed woo hoo.
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I would have loved to have bought some plants, herbs and so on but I didn't have enough cash. That is Edna(above) admiring them. They have some Bay trees. Small ones, I have never seen those before. I recognized them from the leaves.
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So after we enjoyed that little market we went downtown Elk Rapids for a look. There was a man in the park walking a Golden Retiever, It layed down and refused to budge. When we passed them again it was still laying down and he was talking to it. Did I say it was hot today? I dont think that Retriever was going to cooperate unless he took it down to the river for a swim maybe.
Well we went on to Alden. That is another small town. I use the term town loosely. They are villages really. All done out in summer finery. Our area is a tourist attraction, these small town rely on summer visitors and so they spruce up and look their best.
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Both of us wanted to go to The Mill House in Alden. Its a place to get kitchen stuff and they have their own brands of herbs and spices. I may only go out once a year, more if lucky.
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The Mill House has an interesting garden. There was a man sitting in one of the garden chairs next to a skeleton, He said "this guy was waiting for his wife, did you see her in there?" I said "No, but it looks like you bored him to death"
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Mill House gardens
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We had lunch, we walked past the place once and the smell of fish and chips brought us back, it was lunch time. There are cute shops in Alden and small restaraunts.
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Every corner of this little town is decorated with flowers. The shops have benches or seats outside and the men were taking advantage of them while waiting for the ladies.
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Other years there has been a butterfly garden outside one small eatery. It was not there this year, maybe the harsh winter was the reason. I missed it. I have wanted to go to one shop in particular to get some small pretty glass dishes, they are for rings or pills or whatever. I got 3 and Edna got a couple too. So pretty. I think I was a magpie in a former life. I love glitter and glass.
I liked this idea, the planter that is........not a new idea but it looks fresh. It was outside the place we had lunch.
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Well that was pretty much our day, we did stop at Renee's quilt shop on the way home. Again I didn't buy anything. I have been sooooo good today. Renee is a lady who used to teach at the first quilt shop I went to and took lessons. She now has her own place and its beautiful. She is a lovely lady and she and her husband have made a fine store. It had got too hot for the both of us so it was home for the rest of the day.
Sharing with Ivy and Elephants

Sunday, June 22, 2014

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...
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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.
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Laura and I thought this was cool. The kids were not impressed but were more interested in the play ground.
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There was also a car show going on. None of us were interested in that but there were some cool old cars
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The girls name was Grace, and here she is showing Tristen the tadpoles
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Here is one of the little cuties who got his freedom.
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Watching Blue up to his antics
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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They climbed and jumped and ran around and climbed and jumped again............sqealing with delight.
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It was a job to get them back in the car, even with the promice of stopping at Moomers for ice cream
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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