summer days..................

It's too hot and humid today, I was planning on working in the garden but.........well here I am instead. On Thursday Laura, Reina and Tristen went with me to Elk Rapids. There were so many places we wanted to stop but, not with kids. Laura and I need a day off by ourselves. I love the art galleries and the little boutiques and shops. The antique shops and all that..........instead, we packed their scooters and headed out. We got to Elk Rapids and got out the scooters, Tristen headed the wrong way......Reina headed for the playground.

Its so pretty there and the water levels are up high.

It was cool so we had no intention of them getting in the water and besides that we were going other places. Some people were making the most of it though

We bribe them with playgrounds to keep them interested and there was one in each town we were to visit so........

Wear them out is my motto

we walked up to the park by the river and watched some baby bunnies while they rode around on their scooters again. They don't look small in the picture but they were, and adorable

The river was calm and beautiful, some kids were enjoying it.........we went over the bridge so they could ride further



The town was all dressed out with flowers. They have lovely small gardens that are well tended.

A nice shady places to sit and rest while shopping.
We left there and went to Alden. I did a post on Alden when I went with Edna. We had lunch at the same place. The kids ate voraciously and Laura and I cleared our plates too. I had promiced to take then in a store where they had some really cool toys and gifts. That was where I got my glass last time. Well we left them choosing a toy while we looked around. The store meanders around in a circle of rooms so we could creep up on them from another direction to be sure they were behaving. Well we want to go back at Christmas time to shop, they stay open until January so we should be able to do that. We bought their toys and before we left we stopped in the Mill house gardens. I just had to show Tristen the skeleton. He hid behind Reina




He was perplexed and had questions..........then off we went. There are lovely shops. We went in a couple but its hard with kids, so we didn't linger. IN this town they are nice enough to provide seating for those who wait.

There is a butterfly garden and I always stop

There is one shop I just had to show Laura. It is expensive and would not really fit in with our life styles. If I had an occasion to dress up then I would go in there. They have just wonderful things. Every single thing is a work of art. The shoes, flowers, bags, jewelry and beautiful boxes. We could not stop because, well.....you know, dirty fingers and all that. Had to make them "not touch" I am sure the attendents were very nervous and so were we. Still I had to show her. This shop picks fresh flowers for their door every day.

We stopped at the park as promiced and we got ice cream. I think they were happy with their day. On the way home we took a detour so we could go look at Lake Skegemog. We took a dirt road. Look at these cool barns.

What a great place to have a home and boy were there some big houses back there with gated roads. Then cottages along the lake as well. The road wound back through cherry orchards and we saw some Sandhill Cranes in among them. Later we were driving with open windows, we like to hear the birds etc and I was eyeball to eyeball with a mama deer and her baby. We didn't stop in time so by the time we backed up she had taken the baby into the woods so no picture

She was the only deer we saw that day, and what a beauty she was.
When we left and were on our way home we stopped to check on Alexandra's grave. It was pretty good. We do need to go back and update the wreath. Maybe next week. She is looking pretty for now with the Day lillies blooming and the geraniums.

The kids are getting tall and I can see him growing up with Reina and it's sort of sad that she is not here to see them. Reina is so much like her........it's amazing.
Sharing with anything Blue Friday

I am also sharing with Inspire me Monday at Create with Joy
Thank you to all the lovely people who host these parties
Also partying at dear little red house's Mosaic Monday

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.

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

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.


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.


Here we have Todd and Dan (Uncle Todd and Grandpa Dan) enjoying a beer and chin wag.

This is where all the noise came from

The teens helped to wind them both up.

Grandpa Robert (Laura's husband)(Todd is auntie Laura's husband) and Cooper etc playing ball. Waiting for BBQ

Gabby and her dad (grandpa Dan)

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.

Grandma Laura and Gerry (granddad) and some friends of Gabby in the background.

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.

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.

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.


After we dropped off the pies we went to Elk Rapids, but on the way we saw a small farm Market. We stopped.

I bought some of these

....and some of these.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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"

Mill House gardens

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.


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.

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.

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