Thursday, April 26, 2012

Quilt Giveaway


The winner of the springtime baby quilt giveaway is Brietta Kate!   It'll be delivered after I get back home sometime next week.




It's fun when my quilts find a good home -- hope you enjoy lots of cozy time in your new quilt Brietta!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Day 18 Photo Challenge - Water

Just found out that the battery in my camera died.  I don't plan on heading out on this cold, rainy day to replace them, so instead I'll share another photo I took yesterday on my detour through Portage Entry.



Many childhood hours were spent with me walking and everyone else running along this pier on our summer vacations.  I was pretty sure if I ran I would trip and fall into the water.   Maybe that's why I was so fascinated with the brick walls that surrounded many yards -- much safer to fall on the grass!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Day 17 Photo Challenge - Reflections

The big lake and even the canal wasn't quite still enough today for me to capture any reflections.  As I was heading home from the Baraga root beer stand, I took a detour through Portage Entry to see what I could find;



and I came across this pretty little pond.  What a difference a day makes with the weather!  If I had a lounge chair with me I could have pulled it out and sat enjoying the view just as much as those travelers (you know who you are) enjoyed their sunny beach.





Monday, April 16, 2012

Day 16 Photo Challenge - Fences

I braved the cold wet windy sleety snow and drove around Calumet after work looking for fences that I could shoot from the comfort of my warm car.    It seemed like it would be cheating too much to take a picture of the horse fence again from my front porch.

Yes -- these were all taken today.  I wish I could trade April for the March we had.




I actually got out of the car to take the following pictures -- and was relieved to survive unscathed.  The road   here was a sheet of ice.


Here's a number to call if our winter weather appeals to you.


I took a quick run through Laurium to find one of these brick walls -- would they be considered fences?  I know there are some nicer ones, but I was ready to get home and have a hot bowl of soup so I settled for the first one I saw.  Again, I had to get out of my car.  Brrrrrr!



I remember coming on vacation to the Copper Country when I was a child.  These brick walls fascinated me.  I thought it would be the neatest thing to live in a house that was surrounded by a brick wall.  I'd dress in my Sunday best, have my mom put braids in my hair, and I'd walk back and forth on the wall with my arms outstretched for balance, and I would be the envy of all the kids in the neighborhood.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Day 15 Photo Challenge - Animals

Hey look -- I see a horse!


And there's two more!


I had hopes of getting a little closer today -- but it's cold and rainy so I zoomed in as much as I could without leaving the shelter of my front porch.  

Friday, April 13, 2012

Day 13 Photo Challenge - Favorite Saying

Like Yvonne said -- it's hard to pick just one, but after visiting with grandkids downstate the beginning of the month, and then having some here this week to enjoy, this one came to mind.



"I love little children, and it is not a slight thing when they,
who are fresh from God, love us"
-- Charles Dickens

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Day 12 April Photo Challenge- Bedside

Just a little bit of clutter.



I keep my Kindle handy when I go to bed - for those nights when I toss and turn and finally decide to quit trying to sleep.

I keep my Magic Ball handy for those mornings when I wake up with a stiff back or shoulder.  I just find a good spot to stick it under and relax into it for a bit - makes getting out of bed much easier.

A cough drop - just in case I need it.

The phone handy of course -- in case my mom's Lifeline decides to go off.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Day 11 - Art

I think it was more than ten years ago when my sister and I attended an art show at Michigan Tech.   After wandering our way through all the entries we asked each other what our favorite piece was.  When we realized we shared a favorite we decided to pool our funds and purchase it to share.  We each keep it for a year and trade it in May.  I still love the painting and I know my sister does also; we both look forward to having our turn to own it.  It's a watercolor by a local artist and former Calumet art teacher, Nancy McCabe.





Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Day 10 - Transportation

Looked what pulled into my drive yesterday!




Looks like it'll be a little busier than normal around my house this week -- fun times!  And yes -- that's a little bit of snow on the grass this morning.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Day 9 - Dad

As a young boy




Barb took this second picture of our dad when she took him and our mom on a color tour about a week before he died.  She probably doesn't have any pictures of him with her in Gulf Shores, so I'm posting this on her behalf.


Sunday, April 8, 2012

April Photo Challenge Day 8 - Guilty Pleasure

I was a happy gal when I saw that IGA carries these in single serve bags!




It eases the guilt a bit.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Days 6 and 7 - April Photo Challenge

Day 6 - Funny

You'll have to use your imagination and picture this one yourself.  I spent the 6th of April driving home from downstate and the only funny of the day was before I left.  I managed to get the car all packed and almost took off before I realized I didn't have my purse.  Then I realized I had locked myself out of the house.  It was 6:15 a.m., it was 26 degrees, and Sharyn had been looking forward to no school, Greg home, and sleeping in.    For the next 45 minutes, I went from the back door to the front door to the doorwall and back again, knocking and ringing the bell, trying to wake someone.  I didn't care who it was but I really just wanted to wake up one person -- not the whole house, so I was a little hesitant with my knocking and ringing.  All the while, the dog sauntered from door to door and just looked at me as if to say "I'll wake them up for you if you give me a treat".  After 45 minutes, I got a little more insistent with my knocking and managed to rouse Greg.  Fortunately, Sharyn did manage to sleep through it all.

It was quite invigorating out there in the cold -- it really woke me up good for the drive!



Day 7 - The Moon


I took this photo in Sharyn & Greg's backyard.  It wasn't quite so scary going out in the dark since I wasn't home alone.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Birthday Girl


Turned 92 on Tuesday





She got a escorted to lunch in a 92 vehicle.



She still has enough oomph to blow out those candles!


Wish I could have been there -- but she won't mind having another celebration when I get home.  She loves to party!


Day 5 April Photo Challenge - Hands

At Work





I love when little boys are excited to help.  Mark was a little  upset last night when someone accidentally took his turn doing the dishes.   He cheered up this morning when he was able to do the breakfast dishes.


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Days 3 and 4 April Photo Challenge

Black and White




and read all over

I know -- that was lame.  But I hated to just ignore the day's challenge, and I was getting desperate.


From a Low Angle -


I thought I'd go lay in the grass to play with my camera this morning so Sharyn's neighbors could see that she comes by her weirdness naturally.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Day 2 -- From a high angle

I thought I might have to skip this day until I got the bright idea to send Wendy up to her favorite spot in the tree and let her take the picture.  I didn't quite have the nerve to climb up there myself.


Sunday, April 1, 2012

April Photo Challenge - My favorite place to be

That would be anywhere on the shore of Lake Superior.


With emphasis on the shore!  I do occasionally enjoy going on or into Lake Superior, but for the most part I'd rather be walking on the shore.

And in case you were wondering -- my least favorite place to be is at the top of this bridge.



I drove across there yesterday, and it wasn't the best part of my day.  But it was a good feeling some years ago when I conquered it.  There were a few years when I would let someone from the Bridge Authority take over the wheel.