Sunny Michigan Summer

What we did this summer.Sitting down I couldn’t help but have nervous flash backs to the many English classes where this question had to be put to paper.The good part is I no longer have to worry about grades, sentence diagrams or what ever else it was those well meaning folks tried to teach me.

While in Michigan Les and I celebrated one year on the road and living in our 5^th wheel. I feel as though we are now full time RVers and have not regretted it for a minute.However, we found the best way to know that you have amazing friends and family is to go away and come back.We felt so much love and joy during our time home.Thank you all.

We found a cute RV park in Delton called Stoney Point.It is a peninsula located on Crooked Lake. Everyone (but us) had full time spots here.Everyone was very happy to open happy hour at any time and welcomed new conversationalist. A very fun point; many of our new friends have places in FL near us and addressees have been exchanged.

We started the summer with the long standing tradition of the Memorial Day cemetery visits and picnic at Long Lakeand Bob and Edie’s.Luckily the weather was amazing for those two days.This got me ready for the deluge of rain for my next adventure.I kissed Les and Brady good bye and drove north (Not far from Harbor Springs) to visit my former horse Axle and retrieve my horse trailer.Axle looked great –even though his interest was more on the beautiful green grass then me.Then on to my good friends Dug and Val in Grayling to pick up Sophie.They had done a great job taking care of her and I can never thank them enough.I spent the next day catching up and enjoying their company – Still raining by the way – Sophie practically jumped in the trailer and was clearly ready to start her new adventure.

My friend Kathy in Delton has just finished a complete remodel of her new horse property and Sophie can stay there.This turned out to be such a perfect fit.Sophie is now with her favorite horse buddies and she lives 5 minutes from our summer camp.Her convenient housing allowed for much riding and two horse camping trips. Locally we ride at Fort Custer Rec area, Yankee Springs and Silver Creek. Camping at Hungerford National Forestis the best.Miles and miles of trails that are groomed or rustic for the adventurers (I can say that we never got lost but our last day did last longer then we planned {thank goodness for amazing horses that like to be on the trails}). Never fear Tammy always gets us were we need to be.Waterloogame area was the last camp of the summer. It always offers challenging trails with great colorful players everywhere.

I could go on and on about riding but I have found that if a person doesn’t ride they just don’t care and I am fine with that.We horsey girls see ourselves as a very exclusive bunch of rugged ladies.“Salute to the breakfast of champions”!

 

 

 

Specials events:

The Marriage of our Great Niece Jen to her high school sweetheart Nick Jenson.We were honored with being the Master and Mistress of Ceremony and loved every minute of it.

Our Great Niece Stephanie graduated from Michigan Statewith her bachelors in media.

We went to our Great Great niece Mekenna’s 1^stbirthday party

And last be not least;

Our niece Susan and husband Bills wedding reception.They had gotten married in Mexico earlier this year.Thanks for such an amazing reception so we could all celebrate with you.

 Happy blessing to you all – we love you so much

 

 

Nick and Jen

Susan and Bill

 

 

 

The biggest and nicest surprise this summer was reconnecting with Les’ son Matthew.In addition to seeing what a great guy he has grown to be we got to meet his charming wife Ellen and our three grand sons; Gabriel, Charlie and Jack.They are such an amazing loving family.We are very excited to make many memories with them.Thank you Ellen.

 

 

 

Matt and Ellen

Grandma Marcia, Jack, Grandpa Les, Charlie and          The Legoamaniac GABE!!!

Marcia and Sophie

Yes she is a very cute horse                   (Thanks Tammy for making us do this)

She has a lot of motor in that little horse chasis!

No better riding buddies EVER

Tammy and Gypsy, Kathy and Mac and Beth and Jessie

(We missed you this day Rachel)

 

 

*Note -I just noticed the over use of “we”.But this is about us… so……the “we s “ shall stand!

We took a day to visit two of Brady’s friends from Florida that live in Dimondale in the summer; Baxter and Elmer.We also enjoyed a pontoon ride and beautiful lunch with their parents; Mike and Sue.The boys were happy to see each other and Baxter and Elmer were glad to show Brady their running trails.

We got to spend much (but not enough) great neighbor time with our friends Mike and Sharon.We also were happy to be there during the announcement of their daughter Bethany’s engagement.So exciting and we all like the fiancée, Mike 2.

 

Sharon; The best wine buddy a girl could ever have!!!!!!!!!

 

We were able to go to see Max at CMU a couple of times.He worked on campus for the summer and seemed to really enjoy his job as a summer event Manager. This will be Max’s final year at Central.He has done so well here. We are all anxious to see what will come next.I, of course have no doubt that there will be greatness.Max and Courtney

 

 

The rest of the summer was filled with golfing with Army friends for Les, cookouts, cook ins, BBQs (Thanks to Dee, John, Deb, Nancy, Mike and Sharon, Kim and Craig, Addie and Norris, Bob and Edie) , Swimming, floating, boating and cocktails. We had couple of fun visits to the Grand Rapids Art Prize www.artprize.org .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Brady became quite popular on the peninsula as a ardent varmint killer    ( 7 wood chucks, 5 ground moles, and one tough muskrat)

 

 

We spent our last few Michigandays with Bob and Edie while our 5^th wheel was going through a health check.They are always fun company.Nice to catch up with nephew Matt while there and see the three little furry cousins getting along.

 

We had a fun weekend in Frankenmuth with Addie and Norris.In addition to the traditional chicken dinner, Glockenspiel, Christmas store, and indoor water park we visited the Michigan Military and NASA museum. It really is a surprising and inspiring little nugget of Michigan history.So glad we went there.

 

 

 

Here is the final great news story for our summer.Last year our barn cat, Olive disappeared right before she was going to move to her new home up north with Dug and Val.So for the last year our neighbor Sharon Lakehad been keeping an eye on her and making sure she had food.After some well timed emails and phone calls Olive now lives in Kathy’s barn back with Sophie.Reports are she is doing very well and has shown no intentions of leaving the barn.

No summer could have been nicer –

9 OCT 2012

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