Quilters

Quilt Retreats are one of the many activities offered here. The quilters look so intense so they must be having a good time! When one is concentrating intensely the look on your face can be a bit misleading.

Big smile here!

Butch and friends in the river

From left to right Randy Sadler, Butch Booker and Howard Payne

Couples Golf plus other stuff

Wednesday night we played in the couples golf event. We had a great time with Trish and Dan and Wanda and Tom. It was the first time I had played golf since March and the first time for a couples event since June of 2006 in Atlantic. We did well as a team and won prizes. Enjoyed Pizza after in the grill.
Yesterday Butch and I went on a road trip after he played golf with his co-workers in the morning.
We went to Alpena,Pop.10,465, 23 miles east of Hillman, to do some shopping. Alpena is a big surprise for a town of its size although I imagine the population swells considerably in the summer months. Besides that it is the largest town around for quite some area. In looking around we spotted 3 McDonalds and it is the largest WalMart Supercenter we have ever seen anywhere. It took a long time to walk from one side to the other and they were busy although not crazy busy like in other places. It also seemed to be well staffed and that is another contrast. And the clerks were friendly, courteous and helpful! We also stopped at a Super K-Mart while in town. I have always liked K-Mart. The parking lot and the aisles of the store were empty of people. It is really sad but I told Butch this store isn't long for this world. A business cannot stay afloat without customers. We purchased some shorts for Butch and he picked up some golf balls on sale, another story there.

Thunder Bay Golf course eats golf balls all day long! By my standards it is a tough course. I like my golf easy so I plan to center all my golf around Butch's help. The couples golf is a scramble which means you all share the burden of playing the hole. On this course I need all the help I can get. There is water, sand and lots of distance. I will say the greens are the best I have played anywhere. They are not razor fast and they have enough character to make you think about how to play it but not so much that you 4 putt every hole. End of story.

We purchased the bulk of our groceries at WalMart, simply because we are familiar with layout and products but we also stopped at Perch's IGA, a small grocery store in another part of town. They have an excellent meat department. We purchased a steak for supper and a couple pounds of hamburger for Runza casserole. (Butch can hardly wait.) We will definitely be buying our meat there and as we get better acquainted with the store we will buy other things as well. Oh and the prices! We are finding nearly everything comparable to prices in Iowa. Colorado always had us cringing when looking at price tags but Michigan is much, much better.

We came back to TBR (Thunder Bay Resort) and Butch grilled our steaks. Long time since we have had a steak. After supper he went on a couple of electrical service calls. I am working on a wedding afghan and I am really liking it. I may have to make one like it for myself. So we are settling in and getting acquainted with our new surroundings.
Having fun in Michigan ...till next time...

After the round

Chatting as they make their way to their vehicles. Hey! There are young people who will carry those clubs for you guys!

The entrance

And below is the gathering spot for RVers after their daily activities.

Thunder Bay Resort Today

The RV site we have is very nice here. I love the patio furniture instead of a clunky picnic table. Much more

 practical.

This is the backside of our car. I could throw a rock and hit the # 4 tee box or the # 3 green. Butch loves being close enough to hear the ping of a club making contact with a golf ball throughout the day.

The practice range is across the street west from our RV. Everything is handy and close. I had planned to count the steps from number 1 tee box to our RV but as it happens we are at the far end of the RV park so it is about a city block walk. Too many steps to be impressive. For our friends who do not have RV's you could gather up a foursome and stay in the suites,villas or chalet. They are all set up to accommodate a number of people or not. Depending on your choice..

We are in a beautiful part of Michigan. Very rural and non-touristy.

The seniors played this morning and Butch was among them. These two fellows were looking for a golf ball. Imagine that!!

Getting settled

The trip up here apparently dragged me down but I am slowly regaining me vigor. Jack picked us up yesterday and we toured the resort and the town of Hillman. He picked us up at 10:00 AM and I was shocked upon returning home to find that it was noon. There is much to see here and it will take awhile to learn the ropes.
After our very informative tour Butch decided to go play golf. He picked me up after the first nine to ride along. The ranger stopped to visit and asked Butch if he would like to sub for league at 4:00. He said "yes" and thus played 27 holes yesterday. He said he went brain dead on the last nine. It has been a long time since he played 27 holes in one day. Used to be a fairly common event but only if I wasn't with him!
I was looking at a Google map yesterday because we have decided that if the weather holds we might go north to return to Iowa. I wish I had checked it out before because mile-wise it is only about 25 miles difference. I-80 was so bumpy in places that it unpotted my cactus and knocked the plug-ins out of their sockets. We have never encountered those kinds of bumps before. It would also take us through a different part of the country. We would see part of Michigan's U-P, Wisconsin and Minnesota if we chose that route.
I promise to get out my camera soon and post some pictures. The trees are magnificent as many have told us they would be.
Till next time...

Worry Wart?

Butch and I stayed at a Flying J truck stop in LaSalle Ill on Saturday night. It wasn't a bad place to stay. It was quiet and since we were in a boondocking situation we watched very little TV. Read a book and did Swedish weaving. Went to bed early as we planned to make our run through Chicago/Gary area as early as possible. The plan worked. Butch awoke at 4:00 AM so we got up and ate breakfast waiting for a little daylight.
We did sail through the area very easily. We knew at one point I-80 and I-94 joined up and that was good because we needed I-94. We planned to make note of when I-80 split off from I-94 but we never did see it. It was okay this time but if we had wanted to stay on I-80 it would have been traumatic. I-80 went missing!

We had a good travel day and even though it was well over 400 miles we made it all the way to Hillman/Thunder Bay Resort in good time, around 5:00PM Eastern time.
The volunteers have a potluck on Sunday nights at 6:30PM so we quickly set up and grabbed a couple of items for the potluck (fruit and chips) and began the get-acquainted process. They seem like a good group and we look forward to getting to better know them all.
We are on site #19 in the RV park section of the resort. As I look out the window I can see the sprinklers running on number 4 tee box. Once I have a walk route established we will both be happy. Jack (the owner) met us and guided us to our site. He also stopped by the pot luck and visited with us for awhile about our wants and needs. A full orientation happens this morning at 10:00 AM.
Lum is the one who did that for us at Snow mountain Ranch and it is funny to me that Lum and Jack both have similar looks.
Here is the league schedule for golf play. Butch will like it. He might actually get to play 'enough' golf this season. [Love that little snippet tool in Windows 7 by the way.]

Stay tuned for further developments...

For those that worry...

We are safe and sound in the Flying J Truck Stop near LaSalle Ill. Traffic was quite heavy around the Des Moines area this morning but other than that it hasn't been too bad.
We will be smooth sailing through the Chicago/Gary area very early on Sunday morning. After 7 years of doing this we have learned to do cities on Sunday. Makes for a lot less hassle all the way around.
Next stop: Somewhere in Michigan...maybe even Hillman!

In a few

I have just a few minutes to say we are off for Michigan this morning. I tried to find us a place to stay in Illinois this evening but all the campgrounds I tried were full due to the holiday weekend so plan B is boondocking in the Flying J near LaSalle Ill. It isn't the first time we have done that and it sure beats paying $34 for a campground when all you plan to do is sleep 8 hours and continue on your way.
On the road again.. 

Jan Durlam Mitchell

Today a car pulled into the driveway. Butch said, "Oh ,it is a Hyundai and then went to investigate who it was. In a few minutes Butch came back and said somebody wants to see you. I said," Am I going to recognize them?" He is so much better at recognizing people we haven't seen for 30-40 years than I am. I didn't recognize her but she was kind enough to tell me who she was. Jan Durlam was a classmate of mine. Class of '61. When I think of her I think of big brown eyes and a very pleasant disposition. Jan's husband Jack Mitchell's parents used to be the owners of Leo & Keri's property so they had stopped by for a quick look. It was nice to see her again. Wish we could have visited a bit longer.

To Catch Up

We put a bid in on a house in Jefferson last week. On the way back from Missouri we learned that not only did they not accept the bid they would not even counter. So I began investigating. The lady who lived in the house moved into it in 1995. In 2003 she moved into the nursing home and in January of 2009 she passed away at the age of 98. She was never married and did not have any children so her sister and a nephew inherited the property. The sister is 85 and lives in Ottumwa Iowa. She is the block to the sale. Apparently she thinks it is worth far more than it is and has turned down several offers all in the same price range. This tells us she is not being realistic as to the value. So here we are. BUT miracles happen everyday and you just never know when things might change.
We are shaping the future by dealing with the present. And Saturday next will find us on the road to Michigan.
Stay tuned for further adventures of Barb & Butch.

Jared Hall performs in Atlantic

Our friends Randy and Sherri Clarks son Jared Hall played in Atlantic last Thursday evening. This small bit of the performance was on the Atlantic News-Telegraph website. I snitched it and I hope we can play it from here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhdQlcnosIM&feature=player_embedded

Sweet Love Elise

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Brad, Amanda & Elise Teeter

9 Days old

Angel Sits

Angel sat on my mouse and I could see the red glow so I grabbed my camera but I wasn't quite quick enough. She apparently became uncomfortable and moved.

In the bottom picture you can see the red light beside her after she moved.

Two Trees Down

Two trees were cut down at Leo and Keri's place yesterday.

Beat out

We got beat out by a local slum lord. The property had a house with good bones but it was a total wreck. It had a good price on it and apparently it was in the works when we first looked and didn't know it. So we are back where we started. One of these days it will all come together.

Isn't it funny...

I had come to the conclusion that if we found a place near the bike trail etc. it would have to fall into our laps. Well, that may have happened. We have spotted a place close to the bike trail, in Jefferson that we are considering. It is a repo and needs a total makeover but the price might be right. We are taking a look on the inside tomorrow.
We are still going to Michigan so it would be next Spring before we could really get a handle on it. We will see if it all works out. You never know...

Where we are...

Keri's tipsy pots planted with herbs

Grass...current...creek

Leo and Keri's place from the bridge

My Friend Peggy

Baby Elise

Grandma Susan with granddaughter Elise.











Grandpa Gary with Granddaughter Elise.

New Mom Amanda with daughter Elise.

         

Elise Colleen Teeter in her new duds.

Keri treated Butch and I with a delicious Lemon Meringue Pie.

Refreshingly delicious.

And then we have Renee who was resting comfortably on the deck

Clarification

Elise Colleen Teeter is the daughter of Amanda & Brad Teeter- Amanda is the daughter of Gary & Susan Brooker- And Gary is the son of Barb & Butch Brooker.

So Elise is our 2nd Great granddaughter...and she looks like her Daddy Brad. At least right now she does. But if she takes after her mother she will be a real chameleon. Amanda always looked very different in almost every picture taken of her.

Elise Colleen Teeter

May 14th,2010

Born around 5:20PM, 18.75 inches 7lbs., Here are a couple pics. Heard lots of crying from the room.

yesterday

Yesterday was the last of my testing. All results were good. I do not even have any necessary follow-up of any kind. Butch has a cataract that will need attention soon but not just yet. Oh the perils of aging...

One of the things I will relate from all the tests I have been through; Last year about this time I read that cinnamon can help regulate your blood sugar and since I had a pre-diabetic diagnosis two years ago I decided it could not hurt to try it. I bought a big jar of cinnamon capsules and took one each day. I was not particularly careful of what I ate throughout this past winter although I did refrain from the evils of white stuff (potatoes, rice, and pasta). When first told I had high blood sugar readings, my A1C was 5.9. They do not want it to be above 6.0. An A1C test is an overall reading of your blood sugars over a 3 month or more period of time. Well, when first diagnosed we all know we are much more diligent about things you need to do than after you have adjusted. I have adjusted. 6 months after I first found out my A1C was 5.5. 6 months after that it was 5.9. So now one year later and a years worth of cinnamon capsules later my A1C is once again 5.5. I am going to keep up with the cinnamon. I tell you this because it is such an easy thing to do and I know there are many among you who also struggle with the regulation of your blood sugar. Yeah, Cinnamon!
Search Amazon.com for cinnamon capsules

Busy Week

On Tuesday we went to Atlantic for appointments. We have changed our medical from Atlantic to Jefferson IA, but we haven't changed dentist or eye doctor. So we went to Atlantic and visited with friends Bev & Bill Gunderson. Enjoyed a great lunch at Farmer's Kitchen with them. Then our first appointment was at 2:00 with Dr. Kreifels. I have dental implants and my implant receptacle on my bottom plate was loose and needed to be repaired. I was able to get my haircut from one of my favorite hairdressers in between appointments. And then at 4:30 we saw Dr. Sharp to make sure our eye health was up to par. We went to supper at the China Hut with friends Randy & Sherri Clark, visited awhile and returned home after 10.
Wednesday in Jefferson I had a stress test and chest x-ray in the morning and then spent the remainder of the day doing the prep work for a colonoscopy to take place today. Today I can have nothing to drink before the test which takes place at 3:00 and that may be a bit of a mental challenge. It will be good to get this out of the way. Every year at my annual check up I get asked about a colonoscopy and I have kept putting it off. So this should take the question out of it for a few years.
So far all results look good. No one has said otherwise anyway.
So I am looking forward to supper this evening and getting my life back to normal...Now if only the weather would...

Our friends the Meyer's Grandchildren

NICOLE MEYER A SEVENTH GRADER JUST WON STATE HIGH JUMP 4 FOOT 8IN

ALSO HER BROTHER JACOB SHOT HIS FIRST TURKEY ON THEIR FARM IN CASEY IOWA

PICTURED ABOVE

Our friends Merlin and Bev Meyer have several exceptional grandchildren and here are two of them.
Barb

Weather

The weather outside was frightful but the day was so delightful. Mickey and I did lots of catching up on lots of levels and she fixed us a deliciously healthy lunch.

Monday in May

Headed for the big city to get the car serviced and to see my lifelong friend Mickey. Looking forward to a good day

More Deer adventures

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