November? Is it really?..................

Today, November 5th, Guy Fawkes night. Many great memories there. Tristen will never know that one. We have him with us this weekend. He is more comfortable this time. He said he wanted to stay home this time. He wanted to enjoy his room, his Ipad and his toys. He said he just wants to spend time with us and when he is old enough he will come home. Awwww, well by then we will be very old and he will have his own life. Still it's the thought that counts. Meanwhile he went outside to play with his friend from down the alley. She came over for awhile but could not stay long and so Tristen helped Granddad rake some leaves. They didn't get a lot done.
Here is Brea enjoying some sun.

After that he wanted to go to the store and he came home with a little plant he bought me. Also a little car that he played with all day. It wasn't long before Granddad was asked to take him to his old school so he could play there for awhile and when they came home he said "Get dressed Nanny (I was enjoying a PJ day) we are going for a walk".

We just went to Silver Lake Park. Not a long trip.

I was glad of the chance to take some pictures.

Not a lot going on.



The same old views with new colours.


We didn't go on a long walk, I have blisters from walking with Reina yesterday.
Instead he played with his cars and not so much on the equipment. Probably because the kids there we all pretty young.


We got Burgher King on the way home, at his request. I don't like fast food but if I can get anything in his body I am willing. While waiting in line, the light was pretty through the trees.

I also got a picture of the Canadian Geese who seem to always be there on the soccer field.


So what will he be wanting to do tomorrow I wonder. It would be perfect for the beach if it's like today.

Boardman Trail....................

I had Reina on Friday while Laura worked. We had some running around to do, the store and the to McGoughs for dog biscuits and Bird food. It was so pretty outside that I figured we could go for a walk. As the Boardman trail is right near McGoughs, that is where we went. I had hoped to see some geese, ducks and swans. Nope. no one around, but it was still a pleasant walk in the sun.
Saw this chap stocking up for Winter and enjoying a snack.

He looked a little worried

The path goes right around the lake, but we only wanted to go a short way. I got blisters on my heels as it was.

Reina taking pictures.

No wildlife except some Chickadees



The berries are bright and beautiful


Lots of food for the birds and beasts.
Some of the leaves made pretty pictures.

This little woodpecker was enjoying some snacks

Brilliant yellows make a nice design

Reina is being taught to notice things around her. The sound of the Poplars in the wind is so pretty and the red of the berries. We need to notice these things and I think if we show our children they will grow to love nature. They may not appreciate it now, those sounds and feelings. The wind in your face and the smell of leaves, the sound of birds busy in the trees. How nature comes full circle to death (even in death there is beauty if you look for it) and then the rebirth in Spring that gives us hope for ourselves. God said to look to nature to see Him. I do that, and I see Him in all things. I know that nothing is really gone, it all completes the circle of Life.

It's November and sunny, wow.............................

I can't believe how beautiful the weather is. It's November and its warm and sunny. So, as Laura had the day off work we decided to make the most of it. We can get snow any day now, so lets thank the Lord for sunny days.

The sun was out and the sky was grey. It looked like heaven had turned on the lights.
We went out towards our usual haunts. We didn't know if it would rain or not but as it was sunny in patches we thought it would make for some nice pictures. School was 1/2 day so Laura kept Reina home so we could take our time. We took a picnic and sat in the car to eat it.

This is Old Settlers picnic area, it was quite windy so chilly for actually sitting outside.

There is a small chapel there and so is popular for weddings.
After we ate we went up onto Miller Hill to see the view. It was still beautiful and full of colour. More into the yellows now than reds.

Lovely unpaved roads up there.

Such beautiful views. As always, a pity about the power lines


We saw no wildlife this time. The Vultures and eagles were not around.

Back down and on to Port Oneida.

Magnificent colours



Same views we always take but oh so pretty, I never get tired of looking. The Sleeping Bear national park bought up every farm in the area and we now have them for posterity. We can learn the history of our early pioneer families and it will never be subdivisions.


I ponder on life back then, when this was farmed and how these families managed in winter times. Here is Laura taking pictures

Reina enjoying some exercise in the fields

Probably one of the last ventures onto the dirt roads back in there.

It is after all November and those roads are not maintained in the winter months.So on we went to Leland. We just had to check out the beaches. The dead birds from last time are just about eaten up. We saw two Bald Eagles fly over. I had put the camera back in the car. Darn it.


It was a little cold but Laura managed to get wet. The waves crept up on me a couple of times so my feet got wet. We found a few beach treasures. Some blue stones, beach glass and pretty rocks.Look at this piece of woods. It is the same on both sides and to me looks like a Robin?????

I love it when I find things like that.Me on the beach looking for treasure. I thank God that I find such joy in simple things.

So home for now.
The light was very bright

It was as though Heaven shone some lights down for us. I am hoping that this weather continues for a time. It makes Winter seem shorter.

October Beach Days....................

So, cold and rain does not stop us. As long as we can we will be going out and having fun. Winter is way too long. So let's make it as short as we can.
Laura and I headed out just for a ride but we ended up in Leland, yes, on the beach. We could see the rain so knew we had a little time. I wanted to get some pictures of the Fall colours while the leaves are still one the trees. Well today we had a dust of snow so these days are getting fewer.
Off we go.

There were still some colours out there.

Some chilly Seagulls waiting. Waiting for what?

We stopped in Lake Leelanau for coffee and a scone. Yum, Blueberry. Watched some birds at their feeders.

And I loved this pumpkin outside.

We sat inside while it rained. Didn't last long and so we went on to Leland and to the beach. The sun was out again and there was a rainbow

It came and went and eventually made a whole bow. Meanwhile we looked for blue stones without much luck. I did find some nice flat oval stones that will make nice necklaces. (we hope)


I love the beaches at this time of year. Dramatic skies and howling wind. It was not cold, just very windy. We could see the rain coming and knew how long we had to get off the beach.
One thing that was very troubling was that we found about half a dozen dead water fowl. I wonder why? They may have got cold or drowned in the storms? I have no idea. One strange thing was that one of them had the body of a small rodent a few yards away.
Does Laura look a bit cold?

The sun came and went and the sky was beautiful

Across the river, the harbour and Leland Fish town


We could see the rain coming so we left.

As we left this young guy was on his way down to the beach, haha

We had to go home because we had a late start, so even though I don't have to get back for Tristen anymore we still have to be back for Reina by 4ish


Lovely old barns on M72


We were going to go out today but were too tired. It got really cold and rained too so just as well we decided not to go. There wont be too many more days like this one. Snow was all around us, it wont settle yet but it won't be long.