Graduation

A very happy day. 

Lillie's graduation party. 

A Beautiful Day for a Drive

We went to Pier 23 for lunch. It was a beautiful day. Sunny, warm and windy.  Unfortunately they didn't have perch, Pat's favorite. So he had what I always have, Brook Trout. It was delicious.

We stopped at Tawas State Park and took a picture of our reservations for camping with Caroline and Danielle and all the kids later this summer.

Then we stopped at Kay and Jerry's. We sat on the porch. It is so relaxing listening to the birds. I am excited because we dropped off the book for her to edit.

Then on the way home it began to pour. By the time we drove down our street it was flooded. Good to be home, but disappointed the Tigers don't play until 10 pm.

Inspiration from Pinterest

I saw this on Pinterest and I fell in love with the draping. Yes, that is a goose. We decided to try this for Pentecost. After the meeting, Jean and Nancy bought material.

At first I thought we would take the lights down from Easter. But we decided to see how it looked with them.

 Love it with the lights. Then I asked if we could have the doves from past years. These doves brought me back to art and environment. I knew I wanted to work with the people responsible for these.

Mama in the house

I looked over at the bookcase to see the sun shining through the window onto my Mom's crystal. The sparkle of her just filled the room. I can't believe it's been 21 years. Still feels like I could call you up on the phone and hear your voice.

You always had time to talk. Time to share your wisdom. Time to let me lay my head on your lap. Time to tickle my arm. Time to be a fabulous cook. Time to play cards. Time to share a book. Time to teach me about life and about death.

I know you sent that sunshine. Thanks Mom for everything.

The kids were so good at church.  That is a good way to start a full day.  After church we went to Subway where I got lots of frowns for letting Tino and Romeo run up and down the aisle.  Romeo was an angel when I told him he had to wait for someone getting a pop to be done.  Then he would run to Grandpa or Grandma Caroline still in line to order food.  

After lunch, which some whom shall remain nameless, did not eat, we went to the park across from Walmart on Bay Road.  It was such a fun afternoon.  

Ayva must wear tennis shoes if she wants to jump high enough to grab that wheel.

Javier tried on Papa's hat.  His mission is to get his hands toughened up in time to go to camp.

Tino loved running down the ramp and pushing Grandma Caroline onto the grass.

So did Romeo.

What a great day.

Woohoo

We took the printout copy of A Light Shines Forth to Mary Lynn today. I was telling her that we went to lunch in Owosso with friends then we stopped at the museum by the Curwood Castle. After going through the museum we went to the castle.

I was shocked when I saw all the books James Oliver Curwood had written. I think around thirty. So I sat in his chair at his desk. Hoping for inspiration.

I finished my book just two months after that lunch. I would say it worked.

A Light Shines Forth

Last year in August I was inspired by the photo below taken by Mike Sonnenberg of the Tawas Lighthouse.

I immediately contacted him to purchase the picture for my next book. I had no idea what that book would be about.

This has been a tough year. It didn't help when two of my characters hijacked the story!

I thought that Ellie and Isabella were the main characters, but Emma and Noah stole the story.

A Light Shines Forth, is finally ready to go to my first editor, Mary Lynn.  She will edit it and then I will make her corrections. She makes my sentences shorter and changes my punctuation. Then it goes to Kay my, second editor. She looks at the storyline, watches that the correct character is named and sometimes changes my corrections I made! Then I make more corrections.  My sister, Jane is my third and last editor. She has a critical eye for the whole story. And again sometimes corrections I made go back to what was originally written. Each of them do some of what the other editor does, but my stories are so much better because of all of them.  They are tough taskmasters.

Hopefully Kay's husband will find some places to add in some of his great puns.

So there is hope that this book will be on Amazon before the end of the year.

A Great Couple of Days in Traverse City

When the weather report said the temperature in Traverse City would break records and the calendar showed the only thing was a shredding day at the credit union - it was a no brainer - we packed our bags and took off for Traverse City.  We had so much fun.  

These were a few of the pictures from the Joshua Davis Welcome Home

Cherry Blossoms and Dandelions - An unbeatable combination!

So many Trillium

Folk Art - A Hen House and Mailboxes

Barns

More Cherry Blossoms

Barns

What a glorious mini vacation

The forecast was to be record breaking temperatures in Traverse City so we jumped in the Equinox and took off. What a great trip.

We stopped in Sand Lake to check something for Fran. Then went to Traverse City.

We drove around a bit and a road closed behind us. There were hundreds of people waiting for one of our favorite Voice semi finalist, Joshua Davis.

Pat parked and we waited an hour and a half. We gave up. Just as we were leaving he came with a police escort. It was fun.

Today we went on a wine buying trip.

The weather yesterday was 89 and today 85. We were so ready for summer. What fun.

Weather Forecast

It's supposed to be record breaking highs 

in Traverse City today.  

I'm just sayin!

Dad

You have been in heaven longer than you were alive. To think that you had such an impact on your family, your church and your community that we still honor the anniversary of your death, May 4, 1964.

In so many ways I remember my childhood events as before or after you died.

These are my favorite memories:

Hearing you read the Little Red Hen
Listening to you sing Rosalie and Ave Maria
Going to Andersen Pool after dinner
Getting a Mooney's ice cream
Walking in cadence until you did a little shuffle to mess me up
Always having a clean white hankie
Taking us to the fireworks
Every single time getting the red gumball to come out for my penny
Being the first cantor at the Cathedral
Spending so much time working for our school and church
Looking up to see you wringing the neck of Jane Shea Noble 's stuffed toy duck around a corner of a room

To anyone parenting little children right now - the time my Dad spent with me had such an impact on my life. Not money. Time. Read a story, sing a song, go for a walk.

Thank you, Dad.

Earthquake in Michigan!

This was a first for me. I was sitting on the couch in my living room when the house began to sway as if it was on a boat. Sort of slow motion.

I got up and looked out the windows wondering if a car hit the other side of the duplex.

It was a 4.2 earthquake. Michigan hasn't had one since 1949. Even if no damage was done because of the earthquake I didn't like it.

Month of May

As we celebrate the month of May - the month we honor our Blessed Mother - I will be posting pictures of Mary that I find on the Internet or even in my home.  I love Mary.  She got us through a lot of sleepless nights with Joanna and Caroline.  I remember thinking that I just had to sleep for a few minutes.  The baby at the time would be crying in her crib.  Already changed, already fed, already snuggled.  I would pray to Mary to please pat the baby's back and sooth her until I could get enough rest to be able to function.  She came through every single time.  I am devoted to her.