Hard to believe that it is Fall already  but looking out the window you can tell the leaves are giving us that beautiful picture show of all the wonderfal colors;,  the Apples on the trees are begging to be picked ( and there are lots this year) of course there are the signs we don't really like too much  *** garden s are dying, some flowers are still holding  on as long as possible, and we have rain, blustery winds, and Oh yes  Cool temps.....We even had frost yesterday.....Boy I don't know about you out there but I AM NoT READY  for this  not yet...We had so little summer I really thought we would have some nice camping weather this month  but maybe I was very wrong. 

 

My dog Toby seems to like the change in the temperature....Sure why not he just lays by the fire and stays warm...OR he get under the fleece covers...I will say he is no dummy he know what to do     when the weather starts to get cold...As for us humans   we look outside and see what still needs to be done outside before the snow flies...and wonder   :"Well we be able to get all that work done  and there are bulbs to plant too...maybe I will just plant them in pots in the house...Am I getting lazy or just getting old   lol  lol  maybe a little of both..

 

We had a great camping trip last month the weather was perfect in the lower 80s  and the new State Part didn't disappoint us at all   Lots of sand dunes, tons of trees and lot of beautiful water  almost like paradise   and oh yes We hooked up our satellite dish and it worked   I am so happy for Jerry he worked really hard on that project....

 

I have had a few people wonder if I am ill or something because I have not been on this site in a while....No not ill just busy, lazy some times and on facebook too...but here I am today  I hope someone stops in to say Hi.....

 

This is about it for today,,, hope I find something to      write about tomorrow

 

Lateer and Hugs..

wow it is hard to get back into the groove here but I am trying really hard....The news around here is that we are taking off tomorrow to do some camping this week...Trying a new  state park  In Petoskey,,,we drove through it before but never camped there so we  3 are  looking forward to it... I made up some macaroni salad and same ground up chix salad... yep ;you are correct I do not plan on spending all my time cooking...We  are not far from places I would like to drive up to so we well see how we feel and what the weather will be like...

Camper is pretty well packed and yes I didn't' for get our pills  that is the first thing I pack in the camper...I think I have enough food to have company while we are there so if you are reading this stop in it would be nice to see you all...

 

Jerry is excited because he wants to see if his direct TV is going to work....I can careless I have brought some movies and a book so I am set.   well he worked hard on it so I hope for his sake it does  work...  how spoiled is he???  lol lol   VERY!!!!

 

Well have to be sure all my farms and my apartment on FB are taken care of so I will say good night and see you all in a few days....unless we are able to pick up someones wireless  lol  lol 

 

So I am off..  have a great week.....I plan on doing just that myself....

 

Toby got a bath today and boy is he handsome..The deal goes like this I trim            Toby paws, Jerry cuts his nails, Jerry give him a bath and I dry him off and brush him...It is a family affair  lol  lol 

 

 

 

The day has been pretty warm but  i just looked and the temp has dropped about 5 degrees  but that can change with out notice...I was as going to work outside but decided not to   there is tennis on today and  I like to watch some of that....My Michigan  Football team played great   hope that is a good sign  because last year they were   well have to say it BAD!~!!!!and not is a good way if you get my drift..lol  lol   As most of my friends know  I really like to watch football so the season is here and I am in my glory....Go Blue!!!!

 

When the festival was here in town I bout this potato bag...Looks like just some material sown together to make like a big pocket...any way today I tried cooking  some fresh corn on the cob in it...you wrap the corn on the cob in paper towels and slip into this bag and put it in the microwave and I cooked it for about 5 min...oh my it was perfect..I did try the baked pot. and they came out really nice...so this time I   got something that really works...in the past I  have been fooled by different products..lol  lol 

 

So if you  are at an arts and c rafts show I am sure you will see these so called potatoes bags    they do work...

 

Well I have spareribs in the crock pot then they will go on the grill to brown up  and you guessed corn on the cob  and maybe a fruit salad...Sounds                   good to us...So guess this is it for today  hope everyone is have a great day...

 

Hugs.

b day is over and no more waiting on Jerry hand and foot..lol  lol  he sure is spoiled  I wonder who spoiled him so much   Duh!!!!!!

 

Friends came over and we had a nice visit, a few drinks and that luscious cake and cream pie...Still a lot left  so stop by   PLEASE!!!!!

 

Got up had coffee together on the deck, looks like it is going to be a warm day  summer is finally coming here  sure hope it stays awhile a very long while... We went to the farmers market in town  not a lot to choose from but got some corn and potatoes (purple one s) something new I think I will let you know how they are..and a couple of tomatoes not the best but fresh...These cold nights are      really holding up the tomatoes.....I am waiting for the fall squash   yum yum 

 

Today College football starts so you know where I well be later this afternoon yep right in front of the TV...I can't wait ... I LOVE FOOTBALL.  So if you are not busy join me there I have great seats...

 

Well that's all the exciting  lol  lol  things that have happen around these parts...Hope you life has more to chat about...

 

Hugs to all...

Today is Jerry's b day and we had a nice day   really didnt do too much   I         have hisjcoconut cream  pie for him and I bake a mangerine orage refrigerator cake too... so Please come over and help us eat it...  Friends are suppose to stop in tonight but there could be a change in those plans because they are having some problems with their Tv programaing so they might come late    whatever as long as they help us eat all these goodies.... We went out for dinner had the friday special Deep fried Cod all you can eat and a couple of beers to celebrate and  was nice...So now just waiting for our friends then we can have our dessert....BUT I really want some right now  lol  lol 

 

Not much   else happening around these parts...

 

Well what more can I want to do then to celebrate another B day with my honey  . Hope we have many more b days together.. 

I changed my back ground went way back to what I had on first...Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers ,,,Maybe because It makes me think of Fall...I love the fall season..The changing of the leaves and the cr isp cool days ( well who know what fall with be like now everything is so different  nothing is normal anymore) the apples being harvested and it is our camping time too....We are planning on going camping next week after the holiday looking forward to that...  I see some of my friends were a little confused being on my space and thinking they were on Toodies...Sorry girls but that is a sign    of getting OLDER!!!  Oh NO!!!!!  are you coming to join so many of us out here in spaceville..

 

Well not an exciting day here.. Toby and I walked around the yard today...but I said to myself   "Self you will not work in the garden today  watch that back"  So I did listen to myself this time and stayed away from that back breaking work   but I know I must get things done soon....I did the easy job today  I washed clothes so one chore down ...and I did    do a little grocery shopping too.. I want to be sure everything is ready in the camper to go at a moments notice.....

 

 

 

What wonderful words of wisdom can I offer you all today    Hummmm   that may take a little thinking time for me...lol  lol 

 

Summer???    where did it go  ??  was it even here???   Not really maybe a couple of days here and there BUT maybe September will a month    of Glorious days like         today...So beautiful..I walked around the        yard with Toby  (my dog)  and check out my gardens   well flower  garden is really   having a great looK For    the fAll season but my veggie garden is so   sicKy and all those flower seedS I planted   well so many look like the weeds I usually am pulling out  but it is interesting to see the flowers that bloom from this        plants.... 

Tomatoes well ~~~~not soo good...we haven't had many warm nights but I may get a few in the weeks to come   have to be aware of all the frost advisories we have been getting....What crazy weather we all are having...

My apple tree is LOADED  so maybe I will be able to get a few pies in the freezer this  year..

 

Not much going on since the kids left  but boy we had a wonderful time...I sure do miss them...

 

I am feeling much more comfortable with my keyboard  sure hope that means lots of things will be showing up on my space  lol  lol    Remember we live a very quiet life here up north  and of course the cost of everything has gone up so high that staying home is more likely than ever...We are still planning a few  camping trips in Sept and OCT.

 

Well  that's about all for today  don't want to tax this     brain too much  I will slowly get back to my usual talking your ears off   SO BEWARE!!!!!

Yesterday was a disaster.  Got up all excited we were going to met the girls Laura and Nikki in Alpena and have breakfast...I asked Jerry to get something from the basement and all hell broke loose..Yep the sump pump kicked off during the night and we had a wading pool in the basement   there were a few things floating around  and a few extra friend  like a couple of snakes....Yuck  I am NOT a friend of snakes  caught them  well Jerry    caught them and  had them in a bucket and I got to take them outside...they were trying to get out of that bucket too    I screamed and finally got them outside and let them go   and off they slivered to who cares where.

 

So today we are getting ready to have the breakfast date with the girls  always nice to spend time with them... IF anything exciting happens today I will let you know BUT I do hope it is just a fun day.   Toby can't wait!!!!!

 

So it if off and running for us...  have a great day...

 

Hugs

Hello,  how do you like my Toby's picture..I think I took this right after  ALL my company left...He was really tired from all the playing around  EVERYONE wanted to hold him... It has taken him a few day to figure out that everyone has left...He keeps going by the camper ( where some slept) and barking to wake them up  lol  lol 

 

Most of you know I had my family here for a couple of weeks...Oh what a joy that was.  Everyone I am sure had a good time. And as for me  I was thrilled to see everyone together..But it was hard to see them all leave  thank goodness they all didn't go at the same time...That would have been a real downer....

 

Well we did a lot of eating and drinking too...but one day my grandson called and said he caught some fish and was coming over to make us dinner  and boy was it good and he did it all.     fried the fish and fried up 3 pans of potatoes  boy I sure did enjoy that   not often I get someone to cook for me.....I love to see a man cook.  Josh frying up the taters  

 

I finally have some time to write.  been really busy...Lots and lots of company this month...grand kids are gone for the day with their dad, Aunt Laura, Nikki and big cousin Josh....big day planned...4 wheeling, and go carts and who know what else..I know they are having a great time and I get a couple of needed hours to clean the house, wash towels and just sit here at the PC.

 

My oldest son and his wife left very early this AM to head back to Virginia  about a 13+ hours drive.  I really think they enjoyed themselves  saw the family and a lot of Mark's school friends    He attended his 30Th class  reunion and they had a blast.  There are some pix on my facebook if you want to take a peak...

 

My youngest son and 2 kids are here until Sunday..  Oh boy do those kids eat but its nice now that they are older they can help themselves  it is good to see them eating so well...They were a little picky when they were younger.

 

We shot off some real fireworks in the back yard last night....No cops came so we were OK  lol  lol   In Michigan you arenot  suppose to shoot off anything that leaves the ground....hey that's no fun...lol  lol  the kids and adults loved it...

 

Lots of people  sleeping  here  in the camper and in the family room...  bodies everywhere... I think everyone has been having a good time...You asked if I were tired...Yes, but I just love having them all here   doesn't happen very often....

 

how is everyone doing this summer?  busy like me??  We finally are getting some real summer weather sure hope it stays around a long time and winter doesn't get here any too soon....

 

 I am ready to go camping but I see there is a lot  of work to do outside....Hummmmmmwork outside   or  camp...hard choice isn't it but I am going to choose   surprise   CAMPING~

 

I hear the drying buzzing better take care of that...have a great day.....I will get around to see you all soon...Take care

we had an  inch of rain yesterday...Really makes those plants perk up...No they are saying rain for Fri. Sat. Sun. and who know maybe Monday..Well that's the way the weather goes around these parts so let it rain let it shine just as long as I am alive to see it happening  lol  lol 

 

Laura and Nikki visited yesterday  and it was a nice visit.  just talked about a lot of things...like Josh's wedding, Nikki getting senior pictures taken where, by whom and what she is going to wear..Lots of big decisions..Oh yes about the newest cat in their household..first there was one  then two and now Three...she really loves cats...
She almost has us convinced to get a cat too...we will see about that  I like cats too but if you are an animal lover you know it costs to have a pet so I will have to do some checking around to see if another animal is affordable for us...

They stayed for dinner and guess what we had...yes it was take out but what kind??

 

Darn you guessed it Chinese  a favorite of all of us....and it was good...Almond cookies were so so not as good as the ones I use to bake...hummmm maybe I should bake some up and keep in freezer for the next time we get take out....oh my so much for me to think about  lol  lol  

 

Getting a little warm here 78 right now...I have a little shopping to do today...I did get my phone calls completed  the Vet to make an appointment to get Toby Groomed  oh he is going to love that...Then called the clinic to get my meds refilled  So I am on a real roll..

 

Carole, to answer your question    Yes there is a group called the Romeos   Stands for Real  Old Men Eating Out Society..We meet some on  one of our outings  That was sooooo cool...

 

Well have some running around to do today  going to get some blueberries at the store while they are on sale and going to freeze them   I love blue berries..a big             blueberry pie would be good too...lol  lol   Patty you are never going to lose weight that way...yes I know but it is sooooooo tasty

 

See you all later

 

 

Looks like the weather can't make up it's mind...very cloudy this AM and sure did look like rain but now the sun is shinning  Oh well not much I can do about the weather but I sure would like to see some rain...looking at my weather on my space it looks like rain every day  but where it is ??  well it is still early in the day all we can do I wait and see.

 

Got up this morning and shared coffee with Jerry on the deck and yes Toby was right there on my lap too enjoying the quiet of the morning  the only thing we heard was the Woodpecker doing his thing on the trees in the yard...He had pretty good rythme today  

 

I walked around the yard checking out my garden and flowers looks like everything is doing OK...The flowers look better after I weeded and thinned out here and there...There are things I would like to do in the yard but Jerry says I really dont need to make more work for myself..  I think he is right but does it hurt to think about things    NO!!!!! it doesnt 

 

My poor Jerry has been working now for 3 days trying to  get DTV  in the camper  we have an extra dish and receiver  but looks like it    isnt working for him so a Tech is coming one of these days to help him out....Oh I was so glad to hear that...As he gets older Jerry gets frustrated very easily and that worries me   Not that is wasn't nice  him keeping so busy all those days   out of my hair and I got things done in the house...that was nice....

 

Well nothing really going on  next week I go out with the girls again....wow  we started out once a month  now we have our monthly meeting, an outing and what ever we want to do anytime...I love it...I dont know what I would be doing if we didn't get together....Oh yes I do   put on MORE #s   well I guess all this eating out isn't helping either..lol  lol  I really I mean REALLY have to start working on losing weight....But boy was my homemade Mac and Cheese good last night ..

 

Well got to go and check on my face book  I have a farm there and I am having so much fun....feel like a kid when I go on there....And I still have to post the other garden pix from my trip   oh my better get moving..

 

 

 

Hi  everyone, another nice day  what did we do to deserve all this nice  sunny days and not hot temps??  I love it...

 

Well here I  go complaining again but this time I have good reason to   well not really "Good" but  well here goes..Yesterday I was outside and watering my plants the potted one that need watering about every day...well I was backing up pulling hard on the hose   andddddddddddd....I didn't know this metal bicycle flower planter was right behind me    and oh yes  silly me backed right into it and down I went  HARD landing on the grass with my shoulder and head with my ass and legs on top of the planter....so today I am a little stiff and sore but will be fine...BUT one of these days these falls I keep taking is going to catch up with me and I am going to get hurt   ouch  I mean really hurt... What can I say  I am a klutz  

so I stopped my gardening choice for the rest of the day..

 

Well not really I went and weeded A little in the veggie garden abut getting up was too hard for me so stopped that do..

 

Well there's my story of the life of Patty  doing her  thing   not too smart  lol  lol  

Oh my aching back and legs  ouch there are hurting today   hmmm could it be from all the gardening I did yesterday   yep  I am sure of that...but hey, garden looks so much nicer  still have things to do out there but maybe tomorrow  lol  lol   Have to get out there and water hanging plants and veggie garden....Here's some pix of all the different ways I am growing tomatoes this season....and I will post  more as they get bigger...they are a little bigger that what these pix show even have a couple of flowers on the potted ones...Do you think I will have ripe tomatoes before the snow falls??? 

 

 

I am testing out which way is the best  planning on making veggie garden another flower garden next year...well maybe   I always have so many plans but  not all come true...

 

Nothing exciting happening this week...but next week hope to take a trip down to see my sister and then have another date with but            who else my Red Hat sisters...We found a little marketplace that serves gourmet sandwiches  and has a little store  with all kinds of goodies so we just HAVE to check it out...oh my what would I do without my girls????

 

Well that's about it for now  catch up later...

 

 

 

A beautiful but crisp morning here in beautiful norhtern Michigan.... I love this cooler weather but I am sure all the tourist would like it just a tad warmer  and that will happen sometime this week....

 

Today I have a big project in my garden....it is called cuttin g all the dead heads off the plants...Ohhhhh this is a very hard job to do...no not really but it certainly is time consuming...but I know it had to be done   and I see a few weeds that need to be asked to leave  so I      do have my work cut out for lme this  beautiful  day...

 

Recieved calls from both the boys this morning ( they call every weekend)  sounds like life is being good to them  and that makes this Mom happy...

 

As you can see I got my pics on but I still have to get the ones from the garden walk at all the private gardens...I will try to get them off when all the dead heads are out of my garden

 

Things are good around here and I hope it is the same where you are too....have a great Sunday

 

Hugs

Ok I got some of the pix in an allbm  I appolige for a few that I forgot to rotate  dont hurt your neck looking at them   lol  lol     I will get the rest of the garden tour pix on another day...Boy this took a long time but I hope you will enjoy them.

 

If you view them as a slide show you will se my little comments about the pic..

 It is  hell getting old   the memory just isnt the same...I said I would put in the addy for Castle Farms and I didnt  Sorry....

 

 http://www.castlefarms.com/about-us/history/

 

 

 

and I  liked this site too    has better pix than I could take  but mine are nice too :)

 

 

 

 Take a minute and you well really see all that we saw and  if you are ever or are in Michigan it would be worth the trip..

 

 Good Morning,  I wanted to get this posting on early today because I have lots of things to get done here today  so here goes**********

 

The day started off by me getting up early ( I have been really sleeping in lately)  but I did wake up around 6:30...I had everything laid out that I was  going to        where...I wore a Red dress with a               short  red sweater and a scarf that had some purple in it....( we are not really strict on what we wear except for that RED HAT!!!)  and of course my newly decorated hat I worked on for just a few min. but I thought It looked nice....

The skies were almost black as we all met at the parking lot there were only 5 of us  one girl didnt  feel well so she didn't go...So we start our 2 hour drive to the other side of the state..got about 10 miles out of town and the rain comes pouring down... We were hoping it would clear up when we reached our destination which was Charlevoix to Castle Farms...the drive was good and we got there a little early ( we are usually early )  Oh the Castle was a marvelous site.... This  couple bought it several years ago and put in 10million $s worth of restoration...She was very adamant that they should try to save as much of the old materials as possible and to keep it as it first was  So many details in the structure...I was very impressed..

 

there is so much more of this place then shows here.....

Well as we waiting for the doors to open..I thought I would just ask about the extra ticket we had ( I didn't think it would hurt to ask)  so I told them that the lady who bought the ticket had Cancer and wasn't feeling well enough to attend and it would be nice if she didn't lose her $35.00....Well a lady said that she needed one more ticket and bought it from me...Later I found out that was the lady how owned the castle...They all say she is the nicest and kindest person to be around so I think she bought the ticket out of  kindness and didn't need the ticket at all....

We walked around inside the castle  I have pics of us sitting in the King and Queens Big Chairs.

 

Well then we were off to tour the castle and the gardens inside the grounds...Oh It was magical walking around and going inside the castle...( Oh I should tell you the castle was build by a farmer as his barn)  I will put down the addy of the site and you can see for yourself  but I do has some fabulous pix if I do say so myself...lol  lol   (See Patty patting herself on her back)

 

They have many wedding that take place there...out in the gardens or inside the castle...there is a part of the castle that is the wedding section...upstairs there is a bride's room with a big mirror and vanity,  white wicker chairs and hooks in the rafters for the ladies to hang up their dresses....Just a perfect place for a wedding ceremony and reception..Oh the hall for the reception is beautiful too...All over there are Pictures of wedding parties, brides and brides and groom...

 

There were Queen Castles, Kings Castles and garden settings that were so wonderful to view...We enjoyed it very much   after about  2 hours of touring the castle we were ready to have our luncheon.....There were several tables all decorated up  each differently with a different theme   ( oh guess I should have mentioned  this was a garden walk put on by the garden  club of the town of Charlevou In Michigan....)

anyway we were the first group to arrive.....The "Queen" and a "jester" greeting us and set us up at a table which just happen to be decorated in Red and White  how perfect was that...The Jesters setted us all individually  made you feel very special..

So we had our little lunch  ok I will tell you what we ate..lol  lol   It was a nice plate of lettuce, chicken salad, fruits with a delicious dip, zucchini nut bread, Ice tea, and for dessert a lemon sorbet and a rolled cookie...Very nice..And we did get a lot of attention from everyone WHY you ask  well because of our silly Red Hats...lol  lol   as we were leaving a lady comes up to me and asked if we ladies would let them take a picture of us with the  Venetian Queen and her court..oh how special it was for us so we did.. 

 

the gal taking the pic didnt get the Gueen in but I do have a picture of the  queen for you to see I will post it soon.Then off we went to visit 6 other gardens in the town these were at people homes..It was such a joy to see the heart and sole that people have put into their gardens and were willing to share them on this special day....I told aver157 pictures  I was just a snapping all day....I even did the timer  yippee.....after several attempts I figured it out  it is VERY easy when you know what you are doing   lol.

What was so funny about that was I was trying to  time a pic.  and they man saw that I was having trouble and asked if he could take it for me...The girls yelled out " no she has to learn how to use it"  So the first time I got it working I ran over to the spot with the girls and got the pic. but forgot to wear my hat   so black again and this time it worked....It will be the picture in the gazebo..

 

This is a long one I know sorry but so much to tell this time and it feels good to have something to  write about..

 

Well on the way home we decided to eat out so we didn't have to cook when we got home so about 20 min. from home we stopped and ate...it was a long day 8am to 6 pm and a lot of walking and talking    I LOVE THE DAY IT WAS PERFECT. 

 

Forgot to say this one thing...we DID NOT get a drop a rain  on our little garden tour outing  :)

 

I will try to get the pix on today...hope you enjoyed my little trip...

 

 one of the many flowers we got to see in the private gardens...

 

I just got home from another outing with my Red Hatter Sisters...It was a garden walk and a visit to a Castle and a lunchoen...I will tell more after I get my pictures on the PC...But we had a great time but it was a full day for this old gal and she needs to pick up her feet and relax...So look for  my story  I ;think tomorrow...

 

Hope all is good with every one...