Monthly Archives: July 2011

Monday morning

Monday, July 11, 2011, @ 6:57 amFamily, jobs, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, Family, fishing, Grayling, reading, seventh grade, Summer Vacation, teaching, weather, writingClay

bald_eagle — A bald eagle finishes his meal – a fish – in front of the sandbox

We’ve been up at the cottage over a week, though it seems like yesterday that William and I arrived and picked up Olivia from the airport a day later. I have done a few things but for the most part, I have been wrapped up in caring for my kids, taking care of their needs, ensuring they’re safe, separating them when they need to be apart, making sure they’re fed, and getting them to bed at a reasonable time. I have been lax about the eight in the morning bugle call, because I do savor the quiet moments in the morning sipping coffee and looking out on the lake. Continue reading Monday morning →

Queen of the Bluegill

Sunday, July 10, 2011, @ 9:02 amadventure, Family, food, jobs, Reading, Writingchildren, eating, Family, fishing, Grayling, reading, Summer Vacation, teaching, water sports, writingClay

gluten-free cherry cobbler - campfire style!

Short of sounding like a crank, it has been busy! Even being at the lake can be tiring and regular household chores can quickly fall by the wayside piling up until such a point where I have to stop and catch up. Today is that day. It is a perfect day to catch up, or at least make a valiant attempt. It was windy and cloudy this morning as I watched clouds forming in South Bay come across the lake and sprinkle the lawn. Rain is in the forecast off and on all day and it is just the right weather for a day of catching up. Continue reading Queen of the Bluegill →

Summer foods

Thursday, July 7, 2011, @ 10:19 amadventure, Family, food, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, eating, Family, fishing, reading, Summer Vacation, teaching, water sports, writingClay

bbq_chicken — BBQ chicken on the deck, what could be better?

I am really blessed. Growing up, summer vacation meant staying at home and maybe a trip, but mostly it was time spent at home swimming in the lake, boating with the neighborhood kids, or at the swimming at the country club my parents belonged. Thirty-six years later, I have a place to go for the summer – the cottage in Michigan. It’s not mine, but it belongs to Beth’s family and has been in her family since the fifties. Continue reading Summer foods →

Friday’s slides and video

Tuesday, July 5, 2011, @ 7:56 amadventure, Family, Scouting, teaching, Writingchildren, education, Family, scouting, Summer VacationClay

flags2011 — Troop 35 retires the colors on Friday, July 1st

It was late Friday and Saturday, Sunday, and Monday have come and gone. I wanted to post pictures from Friday’s activities as well as post the link to the “Mountain Dew” song.

William, Olivia, and I are at the cottage and Beth and Ivy are back in Wheaton with grandma. I hope she gets better and is back at the cottage soon, it’s just is not summer without her and grandpa up here! Continue reading Friday’s slides and video →

Two days in one post

Monday, July 4, 2011, @ 4:12 pmadventure, country, Family, Life in General, Reading, Scouting, teaching, Writingchildren, Family, Grayling, reading, scouting, Summer Vacation, weather, writingClay

The last two days have disappeared before I knew it. Saturday we broke camp at Camp Tesomas and departed summer camp; the troop drove south and home to Wheaton; William and I took another direction, east to Grayling, Michigan and Beth’s family cottage. On Sunday, William and I drove to Traverse City to pick up Olivia who flew up from Wheaton to join us and we spent time on errands before coming home. At times, I have been too busy to think about camp and writing, but it is early morning and quiet. The kids are sleeping upstairs and everything is still and calm – the perfect time to write. WARNING: This is a long post, read at your own risk. Continue reading Two days in one post →

Elmo gets it!

Friday, July 1, 2011, @ 11:09 pmFamily, history, Scouting, teaching, Writingchildren, education, exercise, scouting, Summer Vacation, teaching, weather, writingClay

Friday is never an easy day at camp. It means it is the last day and it’s time to pack up and return home to our families. I know I had a few items on my ‘to do’ list for Friday as did the scouts. They had to wrap up their merit badge classes and a few of the younger scouts had to finish requirements for advancement to Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class – big moves for a first year scout. All I had to do was finish the Geezer merit badge and swim the mile. Continue reading Elmo gets it! →

Thursday news from camp

Friday, July 1, 2011, @ 7:26 amadventure, country, Life in General, Scouting, teachingchildren, education, Family, patriotism, reading, Summer Vacation, teaching, writingClay

Yesterday seems lost when I look back but it wasn’t, it was filled with the sights, sounds, and memories of scout camp. I busied myself with visiting a couple of program areas and checking off requirements for the Geezer merit badge, I swam a half-mile in the afternoon with William, and I took only six pictures. I have no idea how that happened. However, I did get a good night’s sleep and woke up rested this morning. Continue reading Thursday news from camp →