If cats could talk.....

Paige, Brooke, Emily and I were at the park near the ovals when the Kaye Barker was leaving port. It was great to watch until we were blasted by the ridiculously loud horn!

After the rain

It was great listening to the rain on the metal roof of the van as I sat down by Lake Michigan and watched the storm come in. Then the grand finale, a rainbow to the east, over Muskegon Lake.

Never A Dull Moment At The Lake

This is the partial lunar eclipse we saw down at Pere Marqette park on August 27, 2006.

The ship in the background is the Samuel de Champlain/Innovation. It was scheduled to dock today at 6:00 P.M. Unfortunately, the 1,000 footer, the American Integrity, got there first and ran aground, corking the entrance to the channel like a cork in a bottle. After about an hour, the American Integrity wiggled free, but backed off to let the other ship, a 544 footer, go in first. This is the second time a ship has run aground in the same place. The Corps of Engineers will only dredge once every three years, and the entrance to the port of Muskegon isn't due until next year. Lower lake levels have caused a number of problems for the big freighters this year.

A Time of Remembrance For Our Mother

Montague Township Hall, August 25, 3 days after what would have been my Mom's 75th birthday.
We gathered together with friends and relatives to honor and remember our Mother, who died September 22, 2006, in Tulsa.
Tributes were made by family members who spoke about her and sang songs. The tables were decorated with her favorite things, like roses and lighthouses and seashells. Some of her favorite foods were served. We played her music, played a DVD of her life in pictures, and released balloons in the air that contained messages from us all. It was a truly meaningful and heartfelt way to say our goodbyes and remember how much she meant to us all. She will always be in our hearts, close, until we meet her again beyond the rainbow.

Friends of a Lifetime

I have known Debbie and Lyda (and their older sister Linda, not shown) since I think about the age of 10 or 11. We have been friends ever since, even though separated for over 2 decades. This summer the 3 sisters came up to visit and although I could write reams about how much I enjoyed their visit, suffice it to say that those bonds made in childhood not only stood the test of time but are even stronger than before. To know them is a privilege, they are all special each in their own ways. This first summer without my mother coming up to visit was happier and even comforting because I got to see the Redding girls.

Future Rock Stars?

When Ray and Cindy went on their 1oth anniversary vacation to Mackinac Island, Brooke and Paige stayed at my house. We went to hear Aunt Valerie sing at the Foxfest in Lakewood. I think they liked being on stage! Watch out Mom and Dad....it's in their genes.

Risque, Naughty, Homewrecker Bathing Suit

Okay people, this is the bathing suit that was commented on by a woman whose husband and children were in the hotel pool at the same time as Jamie. This was in Escanaba. She was overheard to say that kind of suit should not be allowed in a family pool! Take a good look. IT WAS GRANDMA LARSON'S bathing suit!!!!

Summer Day

Summer days are meant for backyard lounging and snacking. Between the sandbox and the swingset, Paige and Brooke did some reading homework and then enjoyed some fruit and crackers.

Chantze wasn't here on this day, so he missed seeing and hearing the big hawk that sat in the neighbor's yard all day and made a racket. We also saw a bunny and ate some raspberries from the bushes. But the next day he came and earned some money for a Trac phone by using the weed whacker and watering the plants.

On the Way to Montague One Day

I don't think any explanation is necessary here.

Debbie and Lyda

For those of you who didn't get to meet them this time, here is Debbie and Lyda (formerly Reddings, now with married names.) This was taken at the airport, as Debbie had to cut her visit short due to severe back problems. Linda came too, but I didn't get a picture of her. They rented a really cool cottage on Lake Michigan and we had some wonderful visits. We spent some time at Val's around the fire and went on some joyrides, too! Of course we visited a restaurant here and there. But the very best part was just being with them and visiting about past, present, and future. Many a night we stayed up late talking about things that no one here would remember or understand. It was really special. That's why we consider them more sisters and long lost family instead of just friends. Anyway, they had to go back. Yesterday I received a huge basket bursting with fresh cut flowers from them to thank me for my hospitality. The gratitude is mine for being able to reconnect with them.

Fourth of July. Family, park, picnic, and fireworks made it such a special day. Aunt Jamie kept the kids busy with "Mother May I?" and "Red Light, Green Light" to which she added "Gray Light." We had sandwiches and pizza. We walked up the hill to Wesco and brought back hot coffee. Just before dusk, a thick fog rolled in from White Lake but cleared by the time the fireworks started.
There was apple juice, water, coffee, punch, beer, pretzels, every kind of chip, cheese popcorn, and peanut butter cookies to keep the troops quiet for the several hours we were there. Getting there early paid off, as we got easy nearby parking, a spot close to the bathroom, and a perfect view.

Grace and Emily watched the fireworks with their Dad and Grandma somewhere in Whitehall but we didn't run into them. Scott and Barb Sarazen brought their daughters, two with boyfriends, and Ray Redding wandered over to visit with his daughter and stepdaughter. We ran into a few more people there we knew.

This was our family fourth of July get-together at Goodrich Park in Whitehall. Ray has lost about 40 pounds since spring so he didn't mind me taking this picture of him enjoying one of the many servings of junk food Jamie brought to feed the flock! Oh, and did I mention Scott Sarazen made a run to Little Ceasers? That's Cindy with a breadstick.

Grace graduated from elementary school and will be going into middle school next fall! She and her mother and Chris went to a formal banquet to celebrate the fifth graders turning into sixth graders. She looks so grown up in her formal dress! And beautiful, too.

Jamie and Aaron went to her friend's wedding on HER birthday! She was Maid of Honor. So this was on......you all should know this by now....MAY 25, 2007.

A Major Update!

Wayne and Mike's Birthday Party

Um, don't ask what was going on. We had fun. People got crazy. You know how it is.

Does Anyone Recognize Them?

I try to scan a few old photos every so often to make sure they get preserved. I found this one with four people I don't recognize. It looks like Aunt Zelma on the far left, who sometimes came over when we were at my Grandma Horton's, even though she came from the Squire's on my Dad's side of the family. I don't recognize the boy in her lap. On the far right is a lady and young girl, I don't recognize them, either. The rest of the family of course is Grandma Horton, (who looks so nice in this picture), Mom who is hugging Mike, my sister Laura holding a child I don't recognize with my brother Wayne standing next to her. Also, I am not sure where this was taken, but was wondering if it was at my Grandma's if maybe it wasn't Verna Lamb and a couple of her boys....although that doesn't explain who the girl is.

A Shout Out and Chimes

A shout out to Wayne: Get Well Soon! We Love You!

Now for the chimes. Mike and Margie and family got me some pretty sailboat wind chimes for my birthday. Before I had a chance to hang them outside, we had a very windy night, and when I went to bed, I made sure my window was open so I could hear the wind. But what did I hear? Some very LOUD wind chimes coming from the back of the house. So I figure my neighbors have hung out THEIR wind chimes before I had a chance to hear my OWN wind chimes, and that made me mad! Oh yes! I pouted because I was forced to listen to their wind chimes, and I hated the way they sounded because they weren't mine. I was mad at myself for not hanging mine up. And I hated it that my neighbors chimes were so dang LOUD. It really intruded on my ear drums.

But wait...then I remembered I HAD hung some wind chimes up in the back yard last year, but the center thing was broken so they only chimed when the wind blew very hard. So then I got all happy again, and felt silly, because I was mad listening to my own wind chimes when I thought they were the neighbors. And listening to them calmed me down and I went to sleep because they were MINE, MINE, MINE.

Next day I get up, and guess what, I look out the window and see very clearly that there are no wind chimes hanging out in back. Matter of fact, I saw them hanging in my room, where I had brought them to repair but never did get around to it. So my happiness of the night before was based on a false premise and it is unfortunately true that my nabes have hung up some very loud, instrusive wind chimes. Sigh. I just hope my new chimes outchime the neighbor's. In a world fraught with so many critical problems, this problem is really quite petty and miniscule. However, I would like to point out that listening to the wind and my own windchimes was something I look forward to at night because it is so soothing and comforting. According to Feng Shui, it attracts good energy, too. So how do you sleep when the wind blows hard?

Family Celebration

It was a great celebration, as Michael and Michelle both got their high school equivalency cerificates, and Michael will be getting his driver's license very soon. It was the first big gathering on the back yard deck, with the sliding doors opening into the dining area, where a wonderful feast was laid out on the dining room table. We played badminton, William played his coronet, we joked around and visited, and harassed Michael and Michelle into giving graduation-style speeches. It was a lovely spring day which we all enjoyed very much. Mike and Margie did a great job hosting, and a special kudo goes out to Margie for sticking with the program. We are very proud of the kids for their accomplishements and hope that this will be the beginning of many more good things to come.

A Delayed Easter Egg Hunt

Oh, we were quite clever to plan our Easter celebration the week afterwards. We didn't know how much snow there would be Easter Sunday, but the real reason we delayed our plans was because we wanted to make sure everyone could make it. And it was a beautiful sunny day, anyway.

This year we did something different. Finding eggs and gorging on candy just didn't seem challenging enough for the kids, who are now "tweens." So, after Brooke and Paige got to find their eggs first, out in the woods, we refilled them with not just candy but little slips of paper with CHORES printed on them. Yes, jobs that the older kids had to do! And some of them were back-breakers. But that isn't all. Many of the eggs contained facts they were supposed to memorize for a pop quiz Ray sprang on them before dinner!

Brooke and Paige hid the eggs for the older kids, with a little help from us. Then we turned them loose and the leaves and branches rustled and crackled with the 5 older kids racing through the woods! Hailie got the most eggs and so got the most chores. The kids were not altogether delighted....especially when Ray handed out a test on those aforementioned facts!

Hailie opened the egg with the little Easter Bunny inside, and that was a magic charm that got her out of all of her big chores. But there were separate chores on pink pieces of paper she didn't get out of. The rest of the kids got to competer in challenges for a chance to get out of the big chores. And thankfully, most of them did win their freedom! It sure was fun. Brandie won the test, and got a fluffy little bunny as a prize. Gosh, we sure got them going this time.

Ray could have told this better, but you get the gist, and here are some of the pictures. Oh, and the ham dinner was excellent!