Walk This Way

A walk can be a new adventure every day or a way to get from point A to point B. These photos are from todays adventure.

The reservoir. Hole number 7 goes along the fence on the back side of the reservoir.

Notice the touch of red in the foreground?

Sumac- waiting for the blast of scarlet

Maple- the queen of color

This is Barky- so named by me. We have made a game of getting past Barky without a bark. Did not make it today.

Reservoir and hole #7 up on the ridge.

The billboard featuring our RV has been up for quite awhile. I have been lazy about getting a picture of it.

Butch is in a sand trap on hole #5. He does not know I took this shot. This was after attempt #2 in getting out. 

Fossil finds

My fossil bed of choice.

Hen & chicks in bloom. Mister Frog has a fancy outfit.

Our path through the fenceline leading back to the RV Park

Forgotten Toys

Hosting Job

With the departure of the campground hosts,Ted & Jan, we will be taking on new duties. With the waning of the season it will not be nearly as much of a job as it was earlier. It sounds like we are not busy now and that is far from the truth. Thunder Bay Resort picks up considerably when the leaf color changes and elk bugling begins. I understand the sound is unmistakable. The leaf color has started but I have yet to hear a bugling elk. We have many tours coming in this next month, many of them overlapping. I am sure they were booked with hopes of brilliant leaf color and noisy elk.
I was thinking this morning...Butch hates it when I'm thinking...that we should do our fall housecleaning. This is when we go through the place and pare it all down, setting aside things for the first garage sale in Magnolia Park. We are in a good place to do a thorough cleaning as we do not have a bunch on our agenda nor many distractions. Yup, I think we will do that!
When I turned on the computer this morning there was a severe weather warning for this area. I say this area but it was actually west of us about 14 miles. It is rare this summer to have a weather alert and in addition to that the weather pattern is much like in the mountains-in other words you cannot tell what direction it will be coming from if any. I am sure the fact of being between two large bodies of water makes the weather somewhat unpredictable. I have come to the conclusion that severe weather such as the plains is subject to doesn't happen here. That will take some getting used to when we return to the volatile weather of the plains states.
Oh yeah, Butch is golfing.

Cool Idea!

Iowa City works to expand popular public piano idea

By JOSH O'LEARY
Iowa City Press Citizen
Iowa City, Ia. — When Marc Moen heads outside at night to cover the public piano in front of Plaza Towers, he's reluctant to bring the music to a halt.

He's not the only one who feels that way.

The city will allow the two pianos on downtown walks to stay up through October. It has established a permit process to allow new pianos to be rolled out this fall and in future years.

Moen, a real estate developer who began the Downtown Piano Project with business owner Mark Ginsberg in July as a public art endeavor, said enthusiasm has been overwhelming and he expects more businesses to put out pianos.
Two uprights sit outside Moen's Plaza Towers, 221 E. College St. in the Pedestrian Mall, and M.C. Ginsberg at 110 E. Washington St., where passers-by can take a seat and strike up a tune.

"I hate going down and covering it up because almost always I have to tell people it's time to cover it," Moen said.

The initial agreement between the businessmen and the city granted them permission to have the pianos on the public right of way through Oct. 1. The new permits will allow the pianos to be in place March 1 through Oct. 31.
The two pianos are bolted to the concrete and have all-weather covers that are locked each night. Moen said they have had no problems with vandalism in the two months they have been in place.

Connie Champion, a city council member who recently voted in favor of the permit system for more pianos, said her downtown clothing shop will partner with several other businesses to put a piano in front of Herteen and Stocker Jewelers in the north end of the Pedestrian Mall.
Champion said, "You see people of all ages sitting down and playing them for a while. Some of them are good, and some of them are really bad. But that's part of the fun, and the kids seem to really like it."

The pianos require a business' financial commitment of purchasing the instrument, having it bolted down and ordering the cover, and the time commitment to have someone cover it each night, Moen said.

---

Where is the faucet?

It is like someone turned the faucet on and turned down the thermostat. We were going along nicely with warm temps and plenty of sunshine and then September happened and with the turning of the page on the calendar the turning of the weather took place as well. We knew it was going to happen but for some reason it was a bit of a shock. Still is.
Workampers Ted and Jan who were our campground hosts will be leaving tomorrow due to a death in their family. I will miss them. Sure hope we can make connections somewhere down the road. Jan and I are beading buddies,sharing ideas, patterns and websites etc.
I missed my walk yesterday. Mainly because of spending time setting up the new blog for bracelets. That is now done and the maintenance and additions to that will be minimal so now I can move on to my next project. Hmmm cannot pinpoint that right now...
Probably involves SPIDERS!

New Blog-http://barbsbracelets.blogspot.com/

I know, I said I wouldn't do it and now I have. This one is for the bracelets. Do I expect to get rich?-No. Will I be swamped with bracelet orders?-Not! But here is a place where they can be viewed and ordered if someone is so inclined. Oh yes, I set up a new email for the bracelet blog as well. Now I will have to remember to check it now and then. That might be tougher than making bracelets!

Barb's Bracelets

I placed the bracelets in a slideshow on their own page with captions and descriptions. On the top left of this page you can find- Home- Barb's Bracelets and Swedish weaving. You are presently on the homepage. I have to find an easier way!!

A Day at the Fair

We and fellow workampers Rob & Ronni went to Harrisville MI to an Arts & Crafts Fair. A really big one with over 500 vendors. Usually these things are long on food vendors. This one was not, as you had to look a while before finding one. They were spread out too. Butch and I ended up with a pulled pork sandwich. They need to get to Iowa and learn about a pulled pork sandwich. It was good but not Iowa good. There were many,many interesting things to look at and I was definitely a Lookie Lou as I didn't buy a thing. Took lots of pictures and came away with lots of nifty ideas.

Interesting wood and the vendor made many interesting objects of art from this gnarly wood.

Golfers are very aware the devil is always near.

Leaf color is a changing

Beautiful Lake Huron at Harrisville MI

Rob rests

Ronni gets some great shots.

Butch water watching

Homeless? No- Rob has a beautiful Allegro Bus RV.

We were very lucky with the weather because it rained much of the night and the temps were in the 40's.It cleared just shortly before Butch had to mow the greens so all he had to deal with was the cold. He wore his Snow Mountain Ranch coat and was glad to have it. It did warm up into the 50's and cleared enough that we did not get wet while attending the fair.
After returning to our warm and cozy home we have been having a few cups of hot tea. It is perfect hot tea weather.
I saw a few,but very few of the bracelets I have been making and they were sporting some hefty price tags. I asked one of the vendors who had them there and she said it was one of a kind because they were so difficult and took so long to make she would not make another one. Hmmm ...I thought, I do not think I agree with you. The price was $59.

Dancing dog

Dog doing the Merengue- Really Cool

http://comedy.video.yahoo.com/?v=8171221

Day Off

Yesterday I took the day off or at least that is what it seems like now. Got my walk in-went to beading class-then to Alpena for some quick shopping and lunch at Culvers. I had a prime rib sandwich at Culvers and it was scrumpdilicious , the best sandwich I ever had there. When we came home we watched the movie "The Secret Life of Bees". I loved it but it is a 3 hankie movie. Dakota Fanning always does a good job and it is the best role I have seen for Queen Latifa aside from "Chicago".  "The Secret Life of Bees" will get a 5 star rating from me on Netflix. Excellent movie. And that wraps up my day. It started raining shortly before bed time so we went to bed to the sound of pitty patters of rain on the roof.
While at Culvers the ladies behind me were talking loudly. Not so loud the whole room could hear but I thought it was a tone or two above conversational. They were talking about how often they brush their teeth. One said they always had good intentions but they never seem to brush more than once a day and that was before bedtime. Now this seemed an odd subject for lunch conversation but I know how that can evolve at times. And it got me to thinking. I was not blessed with good teeth so now it is a subject I feel strongly about. When I got my dental implants the dentist told me that brushing the (implant=teeth) was absolutely essential because if I developed an infection in the bone surrounding the implant I would lose them and perhaps even part of my jaw. Now that was more than enough to scare the bejeebers out of me. He also told me that it takes about 16 hours for bad bacteria to form in your mouth so if you brush twice a day it does not have time enough to form and get a grip on you so if you brush twice a day, you are taking good care of your teeth and mouth. Now if someone had told me that when I was seven perhaps I would not have needed the implants. You can bet I have brushed twice a day ever since the day the implants were implanted. I missed once when I had the flu. I am not taking a chance with one of the best things that ever happened to me. I wanted to turn around and tell the ladies the importance of brushing twice a day...but I didn't.
Butch is off mowing greens this morning. He has 3 days this weekend -filling in for the holiday. We are still trying to cut back on hours but not having the best of luck with that. When you know those spiders are over there making webs you feel compelled to take a broom to them. Or at least I do.

Kool-aid/Jello Popsicles

Son Jason called and asked me for Grandma Brooker's popsicle recipe. I tried to give it to him from memory and he too thought I was close but I decided to do a search and see if I could come up with it. This recipe is it and they are ever so much more flavorful than any you can buy.


Recipe:   KOOL - AID POPSICLES        9/1/2010
Category:
Author:   Grandma Brooker

1 sm. pkg. Jello, any flavor
1 envelope unsweetened Kool-Aid, same flavor
1 c. sugar
2 c. boiling water
2 c. cold water


Dissolve Jello, Kool-Aid and sugar in boiling water. Add cold water. Pour liquid into
small cups and place in freezer. When they are slightly firm insert popsicle sticks
into the cup. Freeze overnight. Our favorites are grape, cherry, and berry blue.

Recipe-Farmer’s Market Soup Mix

My sister Theresa asked me to send her some of my recipes as she had lost them. In going through them I ran across this one and I think it is a perfect time to add it to the blog. So hurry on down to your local Farmer's Market!
Farmer’s Market Soup Mix            



Freeze-Ahead
Farmer’s Market Soup Mix
This takes longer to read than to make, so bear with me. Make a huge soup kettle of this basic mixture and freeze it in batches suitable for your family. Each 3/4 cup of mix makes a two-cup serving of soup after “completers” are added. Enlist the family to peel and chop or just put everything through the food processor.

3 tablespoons canola or olive oil
2 bunches celery, trimmed and chopped
2 pounds carrots, peeled and chopped
6 medium onions, peeled and chopped
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2-pound head cabbage, coarsely chopped
2 pounds diced vegetables*
4 cans, 28 ounces each, diced tomatoes in juice
3 cartons, 1 quart each, broth **

Heat the oil in a big kettle and add vegetables gradually, stir-frying over
high heat.
When vegetables are limp, add the broth and tomatoes, cover, reduce
heat and
simmer until everything is tender. Soup will be thick. Freeze in batches
to suit
your family.

* The more variety, the more colorful the soup.
** Chicken, vegetable or beef broth, store-bought or homemade.

To make each serving of soup in camp:
3/4 cup Farmer’s Market Soup mix, thawed
3/4 cup water, broth or tomato juice
½ cup total add-ons (see below)

Suggested add-ons:
* Protein: canned chunk chicken, ham or turkey. Diced tofu. Diced
leftover meat. Canned beans (unseasoned). Sausage crumbles, real or
vegetarian.
* Starch: cooked rice, diced potatoes, noodles, broken spaghetti,
tortillas cut in strips.
* Flavor makers: Add Italian seasoning to taste and garnish with shaved
Parmesan. Add chili powder and diced chiles for a Mex-Tex touch. Pass
sherry, hot sauce or Worcestershire. Top soup with showers of
minced parsley or cilantro. Top with oyster crackers and pass the
sherry. Or, just add salt and pepper.

A New Way of Walking

I changed my route and took my camera. It is like looking at the same thing with new eyes.
I started off by taking some shots of the Hen & Chicks in bloom. I thought this the best of the selection.

Stopped at the reservoir and this Mullein caught my eye. Looked it up upon returning home and found out this plant/weed has a two year cycle. This one is in year one and will grow its tall flowering spike next year.

This is the reservoir where I like to rock hunt.

The sumac is beginning to change from green to its brilliant scarlet.

Color is beginning to show in the trees. Just barely beginning.

The Hillman bridge with the Brush Mill Museum in the background.

The new bridge in Hillman is looking fine.

Thunder Bay River

The wood chips for the power plant.

One of natures beautiful arrangements

The back way into Thunder Bay Resort

Once you enter this sanctuary the sounds of the busy little town are muted. Everything is still except for the occasional falling of an acorn.

It doesn't take long for moss to coat everything.

Horse hoof prints- both directions represented

There is a deer in this photo...VERY hard to spot.

The bridge back home

Sunlight sparkles on the ripples

The water is clear- Pure Michigan

Hen & chicks in bloom

I have been not so patiently waiting for the Hen and Chicks to bloom. I knew it was close. The first of a dozen or more little flowers opened up this morning. It doesn't take much to please me...

New Faucet and the heat goes on

 I have wanted a different faucet in my kitchen ever since we moved in but I "got by" with a flexible sprayer do hickey on my faucet. For some reason Butch got fired up about replacing it. There is some corrosion around the base of it. So we went to Home Depot and looked at the pricey ones on display but we didn't buy that day. I began an online search for one and found what suited me on the Home Depot website for a modest $58. I read all the reviews and the people who had purchased one were happy with it so...
I thought since Home Depot is so close we will stop by and pick one up and save on postage. NOT! First off the stores do not carry it and secondly they cannot and will not order it for you. From experience I have found the online version of any store in any town is in no way related to the store you walk into anywhere. I feel they ought to advertise as such. Big sign saying if you order online we do not care- we do not have it here-and we cannot help you.
So I returned home and ordered it online. That is usually what I do anyway. And I found it on sale so with the sale price it made up for the S&H and thus got it for $58. So it all worked out as things usually do if we let them. 
We have been having some warm days (upper 80's) and running the AC. The forecast is for 2 more days of it before we have a cool down. It will be September then...wow- the days fly by.
later...

Work and a rockpile

Butch and I were 13 hours over this past week. We are trying to go the other way and work less hours not more but it isn't working out. Butch mowed greens yesterday morning and it was the first trouble free day of mowing greens that he has had. The weather was beautiful, the mower worked properly and everything went like clockwork.

After he finished mowing we walked to Hillman for breakfast. Stopped at Dollar General on the way back to see if they had horseradish. They didn't so we bought cookies instead.  Not totally Butch's fault this time. Butch said I think I am getting thicker through my middle because my pants are rolling over top my belt. I said uh,huh-that is why I wear my shirts over top my pants and have since I was 10. Butch weighed a skinny 135 when we got married and the list of things he would not eat was 3 times as long as it is now. And it isn't a short list even now!

But that worked for him in a way. Maybe I need to be a pickier eater. I like everything!!

As you can probably tell we haven't done a bunch of exciting stuff lately.

I went to the reservoir, a former gravel pit and did some rock hunting. That was fun and the fossils abound there. It does not take long to spot one. There are an abundance of Horn Coral fossils as I have found plenty of those and quickly.

It reminds me of a Ropa experience, sitting in a pile of rocks and looking them over, keeping the good ones and discarding the ordinary ones.

Video of GreatGrand Elise

Getting anxious to see her in person!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJwaCce_oKU

Bonfire pictures

Jan gets the table ready for Silverfox to set up

Butch and Ted get the fire going. Ted knows how to fan the flames!

Workampers Ronni and Rob enjoy the music.

Emma, grandaughter of Jack and Jan Matthias is working on S'mores.

24 hours

I kept getting a message that my pictures I was trying to upload were "server rejected". I was puzzled. Rejected by who? Verizon? I finally traced it down and I was being rejected by Blogger which is a part of Google. It seems you have a limited amount of space for pictures and when you exceed that you are rejected. I can buy more space which I have but it might take as long as 24 hours before it shows up in my account. So if you ae looking for the pictures I tried to post they are most likely not there. It seems I can post text and that is why you are getting this message.
Hope all is back to normal by tomorrow.  Just testing....

Thunder Bay is featured on M-Live

Thunder Bay is featured on M-Live and the phones have been ringing for reservations. Check it out. I am tickled pink we will be here for the fall colors and bugling elk.