Rock hounds and fish

Butch and I went down to the quarry. The fish feeder needed filled and I took the chance to get more Petoskey rocks and fall color photos.

Butch has wanted me to take a picture of this tree all summer. It is near hole number 6 and it is one large trunk with about 6 trees coming out of it.

                                                          These two are near Hole #3

Quarry Pictures Below

See the three on the rock? Only visible when wet. It is a perfectly formed number.

These three pipes supply water from the reservoir to water the golf course.

Love the shadow.

This large one is a Pudding stone. See the embedded  pieces of other rock in the bigger stone.

Clearly water

Can see the weeds under the waters edge

On the other shore which is not at all easy to get to.

Butch is filling the feeder

Under the water

See the golf ball?

Petoskey Rock hunting posture

A Face in the Rock

Sad face set in stone.

Time Marches On

Our time here is winding down. Funny how it sneaks up on you. Many things jump to mind that I need to get done before we leave. I have done one thing on my list. Learning the cluster bracelet from Linda. They are not a favorite of mine but young people seem to really take to them and I have a few young people in my life. After I learn one I need to make several in a row to get the procedure firmly planted in my head. So now I am working on the 3rd one.
Yesterday Jack asked me to come to his office to help get some info out to prospective workampers for next year. We emailed about 80 people but of course only a fraction will respond or take him up on his offer. It has been a great experience here. I have learned so much and become acquainted with a great part of the country. Michigan is a special place and so much more than a name on a map. The biggest surprise to me is the cleanliness of everything-the air-the water- the countryside-the towns. It is all very clean. I will miss that about Michigan most of all. And we have made more new friends from all over the country and it will be much fun to connect up with them in other places as I am sure we will.
Butch is out mowing greens this morning with his winter coat on. We had a freeze warning last night. It was close but I do not think it made it to 32. I think 34 was the magic number. Too close for comfort however. I put my plants under the motorhome for protection.
We have an RV group coming in today so we will be tied to the place until all 9 Rv's are settled into their slots. It is one of the side effects of campground hosting that many people do not think about. You cannot wander off for a walk, a golf round or anything else until they have all arrived and been dealt with. Those hours sure add up in a hurry though!
So I think we are going to partake of Sunday brunch in the Grill and stick close to home.
Oh yes, A recommendation to Netflix users: The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. It was an HBO series and we are on the first of 3 DVD's. Very different type show and quite fun. We are looking forward to the next ones.
Later...

Beading and Meeting

Thursday is beading day and we are going to add a second day to the schedule. So now we will be beading on Mondays and Thursdays. I learned how to make a cluster bracelet yesterday. The rest of the class had already learned it ahead of me but some needed refreshers so Linda made the day a cluster bracelet day. I finished mine last night.

I thought it turned out pretty good. Now I have to do another one right away so I don't lose the knowing how part.
We then had a scheduled meeting with Jack, the owner of Thunder Bay Resort to discuss the rest of the season and the things he would like to see done before we all head out for warmer climes. He treated us to pizza. Yeah, another meal I didn't have to prepare. Butch and I are leaving October 5th or 6th just a bit ahead of the time he would like us to but doctor appts await. Need to get them out of the way so we can enjoy another healthy season in Sunny South Texas. Last year we were both able to get through the season without a doctor visit of any kind. We would like to repeat that this season.
I spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening finishing off the bracelet.
This morning I was able to get my walk taken. It rained yesterday so it was a pass. Rob and Ronni and their guests Jim and Diane wanted me to show them where we found the Petoskey Rocks so I stopped on my route at the quarry and all of us were successful in finding Petoskeys. I guess Jack was right when he said they are very abundant. The place is loaded with them and once your eye is trained to see them they jump out at you.
So now Butch is golfing and I am trying to catch up on posting to the blogs.
We plan to go to Alpena this afternoon for a bit of shopping. Now that we are campground hosting it makes it a bit tougher to get away. If we know one is scheduled to come in  we feel obligated to hang around until they arrive. There has been one a day for most of the week but today is open. Sunday there is a club coming in so there will be no going anywhere that day.
Till next time...

Awwwww!

The latest shots of Elise sent by her loving grandpa Gary:

And we can see her on Youtube!

Elise Tickle Reaction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY8KVEEtxEs

Not quite as good as seeing her in person but definitely good to see her.

Road Trip

Yesterday Ronni and her visiting friend Diane and I went on a road trip. Indian River Mi was our destination but we went with the idea that if we saw something of interest we would stop. The first thing of interest was a large flock of turkeys crossing the road. Only had time for one quick photo through the windsheild of the last turkey of the flock.

We then stopped at Clear Lake so aptly named. When the light is right it has the same turquoise hue as the waters of the Caribbean. 

Crystal Clear

Blue skies

Beautiful Barn

We had lunch at The Inn-Between in Indian River Michigan. It sits on the bank of the Indian River and this was the view from the window And the food was very good too.

The leaf color has started its transformation so the chance to get some knock your socks off colorful leaf pictures should be happening very soon.

We then made our way back to Hillman. In the evening Butch and I walked to the reservoir to go Petoskey Rock hunting and we each found one. I think the secret is to know what you are looking for although both times I felt like I was guided to it.

Garden Art

On our previous trip to the Harrisville Art and Craft Show I spotted these flowers made from dishes and other found objects of various sizes. Click on the photo then click again for a very close look. They are so simple. It consists of a piece of ReBar painted green for the stem. On the back of the plates that have been glued together is a hockey puck that had a hole drilled into the edge to be slipped over the end of the rebar. They are so simple and yet your imagination can go wild. I am sure most people have dishes in their cupboard that would work so well for this idea but if not, cheap, colorful dishes can be found at most thrift shops. I found some plates yesterday at a thrift shop that will be the makings for my Garden Art after I obtain the rest of the things I need. Here is what I have so far.

Busy Days...and nights

On Monday we recieved a message that they needed chairs set up for a bonfire and a performance by Silverfox. 48 people were coming in on a tour bus and this is part of the package. The bus was late so therefore their supper was late and thus the performance. Butch was substituting in a golf league so he set the bonfire up ahead of time so all that was needed was to start it and I must brag on him because it was a ONE MATCH bonfire. I put one match to it and it took off and we soon had a beautiful bonfire. This was a very different event because all of the others had daylight. This one was in the dark and it was special with the fire being the focus and Silverfoxes music as a soothing backdrop. The s'mores were very popular too with nearly everyone having one. It was a great evening.
For a short video go to:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udE8Oynz3BQ

Many, many S'mores too

Petoskey Rock!

When Butch and I and Tom and Wanda (fellow workampers) went to Mackinac Island we got into a discussion about Petoskey rocks. They are Michigan's state rock and can be found in abundance on the shoreline of Lake Michigan in the Petoskey area. I didn't know what they looked like so I googled them to find out. They have a patchwork pattern on them and it is fossilized coral. They are quite distinctive and eye-catching. I found one today in the reservoir area. I have made a habit of stopping for a few minutes to rock hunt and today was my lucky day. My theory is that if there is one there has to be more!
Click once on the pictures below to enlarge them, then click again for an even larger look.

Petoskey Rock

Google Petoskey Rock Images to see what others look like.

Or click on the link above.

I need to polish mine now.

More of the Hen & Chicks

Just when we think this thing is through doing whatever it is supposed to do it surprises us even further.

Butch and I parked our first RV guests this morning. Labor Day doesn't stop everyone it seems. We got back to our routine of getting our walk in. I haven't felt like doing anything the past couple of days but now I am off the cold meds and feeling more like myself again.

When we went to the Art and Craft fair in Harrisville I picked up an idea that should be a fairly simple thing to put together. So Tuesday a few of us are going on a search for the supplies. Hopefully I can show you a finished project before long. In the meantime I will keep you in the dark. If it works as planned I will be emailing supply lists and directions to the craft people of Magnolia Park so they can head south with all or most of the stuff they will need.

Clay County Fair

We have made it to the Clay County Iowa Fair the last few years with friends Dale and Norma Cooklin and Dick and Leslie Cleaveland. They are having all that fun without us because we are here in Michigan BUT Norma entered my pictures anyway and the final results are...

Third Place

Both the Elk and the flowers below received second place

And the Flyfisherwoman below received a FIRST PLACE!

All these photos were taken on the same day. I must have been on a roll.

Head Cold

The aforementioned caught up with me and smacked me in the behind so therefore I pretty well vegged out yesterday. Butch did get inspired to install our new faucet . I helped a bit with that and it looks and works great as well. My condition has improved this morning so I think I'll live.
Butch ran the bush hog for a couple of hours yesterday on a couple of vacant lots. Later in the day I worked up a job description for the spider fighting we have done. I thought it might be handy for the spider fighters of years to come. And then this morning I read the following article;"Spiders are attracted to the smell of propane but repelled by the smell of a flea collar. So, before we store our RV, we cut a flea collar in two and place the halves in the outside access compartments of our refrigerator and water-heater.". I can picture little flea collars on all the light fixtures. NOT! Actually that could be quite costly. Flea collars are not cheap.

I had to look back in the blog and see where I left off. We did go to Alpena on a grocery run but before we did we went for our usual walk and stopped at the reservoir for a few minutes of fossil hunting. Found several. I only keep the ones small enough to use as "mulch" in my cactus pot. The rocks in that pot are ones I have gathered from many different locations. The fossil ones I will always know came from Michigan. We have never been anywhere where they were so abundant.

 For the past year or so Angel-our cat has been crying. It used to happen when she was sleeping and I thought she must be having a bad dream but the last few months it happens at all times. She does not appear in distress when we look at her but it is a mystery we would like to solve. She will be 18 this October. That is pretty old...like 126 in people years

Down but not out

Butch and I developed head colds the last couple of days. His was and is far worse than mine and that is a bit unusual. He has amazed me in the past as to how he can keep on doing his usual activities even though he has a bad cold. Not this time. If I catch the fact I am getting a cold early enough I can usually keep the effects from doing me in too much. Zicam and the neti-pot are my weapons of choice and this time they have helped me out a bunch as I can tell I am getting better. So this cold will be a 3 day one for me. Butch on the other hand has had his for a few more days and yesterday he really wanted to veg out and do nothing. Very unusual. He is feeling better this morning so we will be out and about.
The ten day forecast does not contain any 70 degree readings. As Howard says I am getting hitch itch-ready to hitch up the car and move on down the road. If we have two days in a row with highs in the fifties it might just become a reality. This morning it is 53 and a predicted high of 63. It could get higher than predicted because the sun is shining. I am definitely a plant of the hothouse variety and highs in the 60's are okay but they are getting awful close to my limit of tolerability. The last two days were very windy! The most wind we have experienced all summer.
We had a big surprise yesterday when Don and Shirley Trow from Pella Iowa pulled in with friend of theirs from Gaylord MI which is not too far down the road. We met Don and Shirley at Snow Mountain Ranch and we have a special tie being fellow Iowans. As well as having several mutual friends at Snow Mountain Ranch. They filled us in on the happenings of the summer in the mountains. It was quite a pleasant surprise to see them.
So my shopping list is long so we will most likely be going to Alpena today...
Till next time...

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!!