Happy Birthday Leo L.

Yesterday we finally had a chance to see Leo.  The "Michigan family" arranged to meet in Big Rapids.  Eva, Jessica and Doug drove up from Grand Rapids, Leo drove over from Clare and Bud and I Drive down  from TC.  It was about and equal drive for all of us.  Bud looked up places to eat on the Internet and found this nice sounding place in downtown Big Rapids.  It was called the Blue Cow.  We all arrived about 5:00.  Originally Leo and I had talked about meeting in Clare but he said that he wanted to get out of town after spending 14 straight days of working.  About Wednesday Eva sent me a text about what we were doing to celebrate Leo's 55 birthday so I invited her to join us.  She talked to Jessica on Friday and invited Jess and Doug to 'crash the party".  They kept that as a secret so I was just expecting Eva.  It was a wonderful surprise for all of us.  We stayed for about 2 1/2 hours just relaxing, eating a wonderful meal and giving Leo both his Christmas and birthday gifts. 

 The food was terrific.  I think we should do it again.  It was a great location for everyone.

The "Party Crashers"

 Leo opened his Christmas presents from Eva , Jessica and Doug and from me.  Eva gave him some new slippers, Jess some candles and a new car trash container she made.  Bud and I gave him his new digital picture frame with about 200 pictures loaded in it. 

The " Michigan family"  did a good job of helping Leo celebrate his birthday.  It was fun to see everyone.  

I am working on family photos

I have been working on a Christmas present for Leo today.  It is a digital photo frame.  This required me to load some pictures and sent me to the photo albums to find pictures.  It has been a busy day but here is a small representation. 

An early picture of me teaching.  Probably the shortest my hair ever was.

This is the picture that started the whole thing.  Some of you may remember that I kept leaving this picture behind somewhere at the farm when we were cleaning out the farmhouse.  Last year I had this picture put on a mug for Leo.  This year I decided to load some of my school pictures and many other family pictures on a digital frame as a Christmas gift.  We are going to see him tomorrow night so today, at the last minute, I was working on his present. 


My final year of teaching.



This is an early picture of Josh.  I don't know the year.

Josh was just a baby when this was taken.  How about those styles everyone????

I don't know the year of this one but am guessing about 1960

Baby Leo. 

Mom and us kids, probably the summer of 57 by the looks of Leo's age.

I liked this one of Erik and Dad.

I don't know the year but you can see that Amy's daughter, Caydee is a baby.

Mom with baby Caydee.

This is a picture I had of Glen and Penny at Amy's wedding.  They clean up pretty good.

I think this was an anniversary party we had for Mom and Dad but can't remember the year.

Same year and same place.

Isn't this a typical "boys at the farm'  picture.  Where is your shirt, Matt.

This is the only Skip-bo picture I have.  I wonder who is winning?

WOW  how young were these kids???

These kids too???

Mom's last Christmas.

The football teams a couple days after Mom's funeral.

Amy's family.  She sent this to me earlier this year.

The Coleman team. 

My favorite picture of Leo and Josh.

Just a picture I had of Mom and Dad.

I loaded a LOT more pictures for Leo but I thought you would enjoy this selected few.  I will be working on a family photo album this winter, now that I have figured out how to do it.  Enjoy the trip through time.  

2010 Photo book

This is my 2010 photo book.  I know the pictures a little small when you view it but I thought it was pretty good that I was able to put this on my blog.  Enjoy.  It took me quite a bit of time to do this but it was worth it.  I am going to try to go back and do this for previous years.  I haven't printed many pictures since I bought my digital camera and do miss having a copy. 

Click here to view this photo book larger

Is it Bud or Ken?????

Bud wants it to be noted that he objected to being the object of this blog but I talked him into it.

I walked upstairs and noticed Bud's clothing selection for his day at leisure and commented, "You look like Ken." Many of you may remember that Dad (Ken) always dressed for work in his blue or green Dow Chemical uniform.  He always wore them when he worked. He would wear this 'uniform' type of clothing to and from work and had something else he wore at work.  I don't think I ever saw a picture of him in his real Dow uniform.  For as long as I can remember this is what he wore to work.  Even after he retired he continued to wear this type of clothing every day at home.  I guess he thought it was comfortable and easy but not much style.  When he was working around the house he would switch to his bib overalls.  He was a man of simple tastes in clothing. 

Anyway, you can see why Bud objected to being accused of having Ken's style.  However, you many notice that there is one BIG difference between a picture of Bud and one of Ken.  BUD IS SMILING.  I hope I put a smile on your face today and brought back a few memories of days past.

Winter is back in N. Michigan

When you don't have anything to blog about in N. Michigan there is always the weather, ever changing, sometimes beautiful and also frustrating. 

Today the 'lake effect' snow has been falling all morning.  It is a fluffy snow but it is persistent.  The weather forecasters are calling this heavy lake effect snow.  You really can't the snow falling in this picture but it is coming down. 

I am planning to get out today though.  I haven't been our wandering around, running errands much lately and I need to do it today before I get 'Cabin Fever', another problem in snowy N. Michigan.  I am going to the post office to mail a package to my most loyal blog follower, Sara!!!!  So, Sara, look for a little surprise in the mail soon. 

I am also wanting to get some exercise today.  It is on my 'short list' of things to do today.  I want to start some kind of exercise program, hoping that my feet will tolerate some walking.  I used to walk every day for 2 miles and have not picked up that habit again.  I have been working on improving my feet so today will be a test of my commitment and my feet with the slippery snowy weather.  Warm clothing and a commitment is all you really need to get out and do some exercise.  I have the warm clothing so I hope the commitment 'kicks in' for the health of my body. 

Here's wishing you good health and maybe some commitment to something that improves your health.

REVISION:  I have been thinking about that previous statement where I named Sara as my most loyal blog follower and decided it needed some revision.  I don't want to alienate any of my followers.  I should restate that Sara is my most loyal blog commenter. 
WOW, I just got back from adventuring out with my car.  I am a little unsure about the walk now.  It is getting worse and is pretty slippery.  I will try it and see how that 'healthy living' thing works out in this snowy weather.  I wouldn't want to break a hip or something like that.

Another update:  I just finished my 20 minute walk.  No broken hip but I AM out of shape.  Well, one day toward better health. 

working on projects

I pledged this year to get back on track and work in a more organized way on various projects.  When I first retired I was more likely to make lists and work on projects from a list. That worked pretty well because I was kind of busy getting ready for my trip and selling the farm.  I have not been very well organized lately and I seem to have a lot of little projects kind of half finished.  I know that a retired person can divide time between many projects but I feel a little need to have fewer projects 'out there'.  SO, yesterday I at least worked on a couple projects that were half completed.  I will work on a list today.

 I took a jewelry making class last winter with the idea of doing this project.  I had a garnet necklace that broke and needed restringing.  I also had a white pearl necklace that David brought back from China that I really didn't need in that particular form.  I decided to combine the two and this is the results of one afternoon of stringing garnets and pearls.  It is going to be a long necklace that I can wrap many times around my neck.  I like how it is turning out.  (Click on the picture and look at it close up.  It really looks good.)

I also started this lovely purple scarf last winter.  It sat beside the TV on a table all summer but I finished it this past week.   I really like how it turned out.   Knitting is fun but this took way too long.  It is a very soft fine wool that feels very soft around my neck though.  I will wear it a lot.  I do like it. 

I will finish the necklace to day and then go to list making.  I have some furniture to paint, my bedroom decorating to finish and match with the quilt I made, closet cleaning and many other little tasks.  I do enjoy making lists and completing projects so the list making will energize me. 

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

I hope all of you had a safe and Happy New year's celebration.  We went out to the Yacht Club for dinner but didn't stay too late.  We came home and opened a bottle of Champagne (Bud had put it in the freezer and did you know that it CAN freeze so he made a bit of a mess while opening it but it was still good)  Since we didn't have to work today we slept in and just relaxed around the house this morning.  You can see from the picture, we are getting a winter thaw here.  It was 40 degrees this morning when we woke up but the cold front is moving this way.  We are suppose to get cold and snow later today.  It is hard to believe that the snow we had melted so fast.  Today Bud is watching the Michigan State game over at the Yacht Club.  I am making cookies and we are going to a Rose Bowl party later today.  Relax and enjoy the day.