Outdoor Projects

Wow, it’s been a while since I posted anything on here. 

But … we’ve been kind of busy.

When good weather comes, we always have a lot of outdoor stuff to do like re-building rock gardens, putting up a windmill, extending our garden – which meant building new raised beds and extending wiring. That also meant taking down the old gate to move it which lead to repainting it … the list goes on. Not to mention the regular yard work like mowing and trimming.
On rainy days we play catch up in the house with cleaning, cooking, laundry etc. Now toss in a few doctor appointments, grocery shopping and social events and there goes the time!  

So we went from this ~

 To this ~ See how we grew!

House Hunting

Searching for the perfect home! 

I already checked the one over there 

I knew you'd love this one Dear! 

 Tree Swallows 

Bedsprings and Wine Bottles

Bedsprings and Wine Bottles 

One thing leads to another! 

YES - We got snow!

YES – we got snow!

NO – I don’t want to talk about it!

YES - the calendar says Spring!

NO - it doesn't look like it!

YES - I'm thinking of gardening!

NO - the garden isn't ready! 

YES - I said I didn't want to talk about it!

NO - I didn't keep my word! 

Longing for Lush

As I watch my world become increasingly white I begin to dream of the lushness of green.  Snow can be so beautiful when winter begins - but once it reaches mid-winter, I long for green. Then I suddenly crave colorful flowers and that transforms to thinking of the burnt golds and bronze of autumn – and back again to dreams of white.  But today I long for lush green! 

Happy New Year!

Home Again, Home Again

Traveling in the winter through the Great Lake States is always an “iffy” thing – So my kids understand when I say “if” the roads are clear and the weather outlook is good, then you will see us for Christmas. If we are in good health is always another factor.
This year was great on all counts so we packed our Yukon full of gifts and goodies and headed South – then Northwest – then East before returning  back home!

We made a big loop through Wisconsin visiting our bunch of kids and our Grand-loves then headed Northwest to spend a few days with my Mom, brothers, sisters and their families.  It was a Great Christmas! 

Now we’re home and the snow wont quite, our noses are getting stuffy and our throats feel yucky! But we did have a Great Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Glow

Opening Day of Hunting Season

Its opening day of hunting season ~

I got my shot at the deer with the camera. 

Right from the comfort of my warm house. 

First Storm of the Season

Brr … what a difference two weeks makes!  On Oct 30th we picked fresh lettuce from the garden and sliced up the last of our ripened tomatoes for a meal of BLT's. Today is Veteran's Day (THANK YOU TO ALL OUR REAL HEROES) and we had a snow storm.

Between last night and today we had over a foot and a half of snow to move and more expected to fall tomorrow. Drifting caused this first snow to swell up to my hips.  And it wasn't that light fluffy stuff either - it was damp and heavy! I had a good cardio workout moving it. But the good news is - it gave my guy a chance to try out his new snow blower ~ and it worked great. 

It's my Time of Year!

Pumpkin time has arrived.  It’s my time of year! 

Pumpkin this and pumpkin that …

for starters I baked some real pumpkins, cooled them peeled the goodies  from the skin and pureed it. 

Then I made pumpkin cake, pumpkin bread and pumpkin pies … and I’ve only just begun. There’s more pumpkins where that came from. 

Our Maple

Our beautiful maple tree ~

Every year it is one of the last in the area to change,

but always one of the most striking trees around.

Fall in the U.P., 2014

It's been about a week since I took these pictures but I still wanted to share some our Upper Michigan beauties.  Enjoy!

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Wow, it’s been over a month since my last posting.  Sorry about that!

Our washer went on the fritz which was no huge surprise since it’s about 15 years old.  So we bought a new set which I absolutely love, love, love! 

My dear man checked with consumer reports and the one we were interested in just happened to be on sale at that time AND it was the number ONE on the best top-loading washing machine list ~ Score, score, double-score!  

So once the delivery and install was complete – the new ones sat out from the wall a little further than the old set which meant my short arms couldn’t reach the shelf.  Not a good thing. But have no fear Super Husband was here to come to my rescue.

He added a lower shelf.  I added a little domestic flair and all is well in my world once again! Curtains hide all the household cleaners - which I can now reach ... 

and the electrical and water hoses are also hidden. 

Happy happy, joy, joy!