Tag Archives: Family

Driving games

Thursday, July 14, 2011, @ 10:33 amadventure, Family, pets, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, education, Family, Grayling, pets, Summer Vacation, teaching, water sports, weather, writingClay

drive_rearview713 — William's view in the sideview mirror

Wednesday was a travel day back to the cottage and the traffic and weather couldn’t have been better, clear and sunny all the way, all 350 plus miles. It was great going back to the cottage especially knowing Beth and Ivy would be leaving Versailles and travelling north to meet us.

We started later than I wanted because there were a few items I had forgotten when I went to Trader Joe’s, our family’s main grocery supply. While the storm had not affected our home two of the three closest TJ’s were powerless, sadly they were two of the 500,000 who had lost power in Monday’s storm. We have had two big storms blow through our area this summer packing winds of 60-70 mph both times and parts of Wheaton have lost power, but not us. Somehow, I think we are due. Continue reading Driving games →

The Arrow and the Spoon

Tuesday, July 12, 2011, @ 8:52 amadventure, Family, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, education, Family, reading, scouting, Summer Vacation, teaching, writingClay

I am home this morning; I slept in my own bed for the first time in over two weeks. It is good to be home but our visit is short-lived, we’ll be heading back to the cottage tomorrow, leaving early in the morning. It is a long journey for a day but William and I had appointments and a meeting we needed to attend so we made the trip. Today is also the thirty-fifth day of my seventy-day summer break I am half way. I can look at it half-empty or half full, I choose half full as it has been a great summer and there is more to come and accomplish. Today is gonna be a great day. Continue reading The Arrow and the Spoon →

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 →

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 →

Wednesday and the Order of the Arrow

Thursday, June 30, 2011, @ 12:30 amcountry, Family, Life in General, Reading, teachingchildren, church, Family, reading, scouting, Summer Vacation, teaching, writingClay

It was cold Wednesday morning, when we woke up. I lay inside my sleeping bag with just my head out and heard a few scouts and adults stirring around camp. I heard someone say, ‘It was 42 this morning.’ The forecast had called for a low in the forties, but 42 – that’s cold for the last part of June, even up here. I was the last adult up and out of his tent and the last to leave camp for the flag ceremony and breakfast. The scouts are well into the camp routine, even the newest scouts. Breakfast, and then off to classes. All of the adults attended the scoutmaster meeting with the daily briefing and then we hiked back to camp taking a shortcut that wasn’t. It was okay, though, we can use it as a Geezer requirement! Continue reading Wednesday and the Order of the Arrow →

Monday – Battle of the Bands

Monday, June 27, 2011, @ 10:41 pmadventure, Family, jobs, Scouting, teachingchildren, exercise, Family, fishing, hard work, patriotism, scouting, Summer Vacation, weather, writingClay

smiley — Smiley the Tent watches over the trading post

Light comes early at Tesomas, about quarter past five and I stirred but didn’t get up. It had been a late night Sunday and I was enjoying snuggling inside my sleeping bag. I am certain I wasn’t the only one. My alarm sounded at six and I reluctantly crawled out of bed and joined the group of scouts at the picnic table. They were excited about the coming day and possibilities it held. Continue reading Monday – Battle of the Bands →