Tues., 9/22/26, Garbage Day, picked and washed stuff in the garden, Bill got us lemonades from Panera, talked to Marie and found out she has bronchitis, texted with Lisa J., talked to Vikki, talked to Melissa

Picked the squash, some cucumbers, some tomatoes and Bill dug up the onions and I picked them up.  Harvest day at our place.  Still have beets to harvest and tomatoes are still coming.  Green peppers are doing good and should be big enough to pick on Friday.  The electric fence is gone, so I saw some deer tracks and a nibble on one of the squashes.

That’s the last of the cucumbers.  More tomatoes are getting ready to ripen.

Washed everything, then brought them to the front yard to dry in the sun.  Washed the cart and let it dry in the sun too.

We got up at 8:30.  Bill drank his protein drink and started reading his Bible.  I made us each a coffee.  Then I ate a bowl of Life Cereal with honey.  I brought in all of the refrigerator/freezer stuff and some stuff from the cupboards of the camper in.  After I finished I asked Bill if he took the garbage out.  He forgot to.  He got right up and took it out.  I had went out to put a couple of things from the camper refrigerator in the garbage.  It hadn’t been taken yet then, but by the time he got out there, the neighbors had been picked up but ours was still full.  Bummer.  Good thing they are big containers.  We will have enough room to add next week's garbage.

I put my electric throw on and got warm.  We haven’t turned our heat on yet and the mornings are cool in the 40’s.  I put warm long pants on with a sweatshirt to keep warm too.   I came in and read my Bible and prayer books.  God has been putting Scriptures before me about pleasing Him, not pleasing people.  

Bill cut the grass.  I put worship music on and listened to it for a while.  I called Gayla to see if Wes made it back safely from Tennessee.  He took their motorhome there so his son and his wife can stay in it while they are having their house built.  Then Wes drove back by himself on his motorcycle.  He is 85 and she said he made it there and back safely with no problems.  I was happy to hear that.  She was at a women’s retreat her church was having, but she talked to me quite a while.  She had just gone back to her room, so had time.  I thought her retreat was just for the weekend.  She told me they got a call and have a spot reserved on Iron Mountain for our Color’s Rally in Arkansas.  They will pick up the motorhome on their way there.  She told me what she thought their campsite number was and I think it is pretty close to where we will be camping when there.  I’m happy they are going.  Cindy and Lew told us they are going there too when they were here last night.  

Bill called me to see if I wanted him to pick up a lemonade from Panera for our free drinks.  I told him yes, so he brought one home for me and one for him.  

It was a nice temperature to harvest stuff out of the garden.  We sure have some nice squash and onions.  Beets look pretty good too, but not ready to pull up yet.  

I went to make some pancakes for dinner because Bill picked up a mix at the Amish store and has been wanting me to make some.  Then I saw it took milk and I only have Almond Milk.  I told him I couldn’t make it, but then I thought of using powdered milk to make the milk.  The recipe also needed an egg and 2 tbsp. of oil.  Bill really liked them.  I tried a bite of his and they were good, but I just had a hard boiled egg.  The mix said the amount I used would make 7-10 pancakes.  I only got 4 average sized pancakes out of it.  

I called Marie to see if she wanted me to bring a meal for them.  She was supposed to be having her cataract surgery on her other eye, but has bronchitis, so it will be next week now.  She went to the doctor and got an antibiotic and said it has helped.  I’m praying she is healed quickly.  She said she has lots of food, so doesn’t need anything.  We talked for a while and caught up since I have been gone camping.

I talked to Vikki after that.  I am happy to hear she went to meet her new neighbors right next door and they are really nice.  They are friends with a lot of people she knows from our church and Vikki and Rody's church.  

I got a message from a friend from my Church and she found out that Melissa’s doctor she really liked, is leaving the VA and starting his own practice.  He had to do there in order to be able to start his practice on his own.  I called Marie and told her too.  They were both very happy to hear they will probably be able to get their favorite doctor back.  I am happy for them.

 

Monday, 9/21/22, It was a cool morning and day with a high of 60 degrees, went to Matthew’s for Bill to set up garage opener, walked around the River Place and went in some stores. Bought some popcorn from the popcorn store, on our way home we stopped for ice cream at Woody’s. I had a banana split and Bill had a big ice cream cone dipped in chocolate

Bill and Matthew

Going to the River Place

Eating our popcorn as we walked

My big banana split

Bill’s big ice cream cone in a dish

It was pretty cool out, so I put jogging pants and a warm sweatshirt on.  I made my coffee and sat on my recliner with my electric blanket.  I read my Bible and prayer books.   I talked to Kimmy for a while and caught up on her and her family.  I was happy to talk to her.  Then I went outside and fed the birds.  I started Ruby up and she vacuumed the whole downstairs.  

It was almost 1:30, so Bill called me in to get ready and leave to go to Matthew’s house.  We got there and Tom was home too.  Bill had me get the garage door opener out of the box on our way there.  He got the stepladder and set it and it started working right away on the garage door opener.  It worked great.  Matthew was coming out to the garage, but Bill got it fixed so fast, he didn’t get all the way out.  We went inside and Bill went in to Matthew’s room where Tom was working on the computer.  I visited with Matthew and then he told both of us about his accident, and going into a 10 foot ditch with his Amigo.  He said he called out for God to help him right away.  God was sure there with him.  It was a country road he was on and the ditch had water and lots of mud in it.  Praise God his Amigo didn't land on him.  He was able to scream.  There was a barn on each side of the road and they both came to help him.  They called 911 and got the police and firetruck to come.  He has recovered very well from it and didn’t have any breaks or injuries. We walked through the River Place Mall after that.  We bought two medium bags of regular salted popcorn.  We ate it while we walked.  It was so good.  

We stopped at Woodys for ice cream on the way home.  I got a big banana split and Bill got a large cone dipped in chocolate.  We came home and relaxed, then Lew and Cindy, our area reps from Saginaw came to visit us.  They have been trying to save a chapter that was dying out.  After a year, we are going to let it die and they are going to start another chapter in a different town in the Thumb.   They tried hard to help them. We visited longer, then they left.  We walked outside with them.  Laicey called me after that and I talked to her.  I talked to her nana some.  After that I worked on my blogs.  

9/20/26, Sunday,, Packed up last minute stuff, told Julie, and Phil, Rob and Doug. (Sue was still sleeping) came home, unpacked some stuff, went to Bob and Jan’s 60th wedding anniversary, went to Kenzie’s and took Rehvyn home,

Bob and Jan right after the came in.  I’m sitting in the back.  I got to talk to that girl next to me and encouraged her to start going to church with her little girl and to start reading the Bible together.  She was so nice and said she thought her grandpa, who was a Pentecostal pastor, was having his prayers answered.  Her little girl is 9 and is sitting across from her.  She was a sweet and pretty girl.  

Bob entered after Jan and was so surprised

He walked around and talked to everyone

Jan walked around and talked to people and gave hugs

Jeannie and I...we went to Amazing Grace Church together

Paula, me and Jeannie.  Paula is Bob and Jan’s daughter who was a really good friend of Melissa’s in school.  

Their oldest son, David.  He’s had two strokes but is doing well now

The maid of honor, Jan, Bob, and the Best Man in their wedding

Jan

Their son Greg above and below

David’s daughter is with Greg

Tracy by the window on this side and her brother Mike, by the window with his wife on the other end.  They both came and talked to us a long time.

We got ready and Bill unhooked the electric and the water hose outside.  I packed up last minute things inside and put slide outs in.  Julie and Phil came over to say goodbye to us.  We went out and talked to them for a while.  We went over to tell Doug and Sue goodbye.  Sue was still sleeping, so we went over and told Rob next door to them goodbye.  Then we dumped the tanks and started on our way home.  We listened to most of our church service, then listened to worship.  When we got home, Bill parked us, then connected the power cord.  I brought in a carload of stuff, but decided to unpack the rest tomorrow.  

We got ready and went to Bob and Jan’s 60th Wedding Anniversary.  We saw lots of people we know there.  It was fun talking with everyone and catching up.  We hadn’t seen some people there for 15-20 years.  So fun to catch up.  We sat with Melissa’s favorite teacher in 4th grade, Mrs. Gross’s, husband and daughter.  Mrs Gross passed away a few years ago.  We were happy to hear how peacefully she had passed away and how joyful her day had been before it.  We all loved her.

Her daughter Deanne made Melissa and Kimmy’s wedding cakes and did an amazing job on them.  I told her about Evan looking at Melissa’s wedding pictures and how he loved the beautiful cake and said he wanted a cake like that for his wedding.  That made her happy.  We didn’t get a picture of them.  

We got there a half hour early because it was a surprise party.  Bob and Jan were so surprised when they walked in and saw everybody.  They are a much loved couple.  We hadn’t seen their kids since they were in high school.  They all remembered us and came up to us.  Their cousins came up to us and remembered us too.  

After the party, we came home and I changed and got ready to go to Kenzie’s.  Vikki and Rehvyn came and went with me.  We had fun at Kenzie’s watching Rehvyn and Peyton and Kenzie made delicious chicken with rice and veggies for us.  Then she made us smoothies. Yum!  Thanks Kenzie.  Travis called Kenzie and was going to be home in around 3 hours.  We left and brought Peyton home with us.  She had spent the night with Kenzie.  I was so happy to spend time with Vikki.  She’s been sick and then I was gone camping, so it’s been a while.  I sure needed to be around her and her family.

I fell asleep when I was working on this blog last night, so decided to finish it tonight. 

Sat. 9/19/26, West Branch RFS breakfast, 10 a.m. ride around from St. Helen to Houghton Lake, buffet pizza lunch and salad bar at Puccini’s, visited in camper with Russ, Marsha and Barry, potluck at 6:00,

Prayer before Ride

Bike and Off Road lineup

At Bucinni's

Potluck in the evening

I read my Bible after I got ready.  West Branch put on a breakfast to raise money for RFS.  We all went to eat, then lined the bikes and Off Road vehicles up.  We prayed before leaving.  Then we left for our ride.  Rob did a great job leading us.  Doug was next, then us, and then Rod and Beth.  There weren’t as many up here this year, because of the weather forecast and also some parent’s kids had sports events they had to be at.  It was 49 degrees this morning.  It got up to about 53 when we took off.  We were all dressed in layers to keep warm.  We stopped in Mio at a gas station, but no one needed to use the restroom and no one got snacks.  It was a sooner stop than yesterday.  The sun came out while we were stopped, and stayed out while we rode for about another 20 minutes.  When we got to Roscommon, we turned the corner in town, and there were lots of people sitting along the road.  They were waiting for the parade to start.  Some of the people were waving to us, so we waved back.  Glad we made it through before the parade started.  When we got close to Higgins Lake, it started misting out.  It wasn’t much at all, so we kept riding and didn’t stop to put our rain gear on.  It stopped about 15 minutes later.  None of us were wet so that was good.  We arrived a half hour early at Buccini’s, but they let us go to the back room and brought out water and whatever anyone want to drink with their pizza.  At one, we all got the salad bar, then they brought in lots of different kinds of pizza.  Of course Bill ordered his special no cheese pizza.  We sat across from Jerry and Sandy, and had a nice visit.  Rob and Barry were at our table too, so we talked with them also.  Barry just drove up for today and brought his Off Road vehicle up so he could ride with that group.  We all enjoyed great pizza and fellowship.  Then we took off again to go to back to the campground.  It warmed up to 65 degrees and felt nice out.  I went in the camper and heated up my chili and put it in the crockpot and turned it on low.  Bill wanted to load the motorcycle, so we packed stuff away in the camper that needed moving, put the slide outs in, Bill disconnected the water and the electricity.  I helped guide Bill onto the hitch.  Then he drove the bike up on the trailer and we secured it.  Then we put the slide outs back out, and he plugged things back in.  I put things back in the camper that I had to secure.  I packed everything in my basket carrier Vikki got me.  Then Marsha, Russ and Barry came and talked to us outside and we invited them into our camper because it was misting out.  Julie came and told us that the Pavilion was open for us to use while we ate so that was good.  It quit raining, so we cleaned thing up, then took stuff back to our campers and then sat around the campfire until around 9:30.  Melissa called me and told me how far she had gotten with taking off the wallpaper in her kitchen and dining room.  She only has to do over the refrigerator.  She FaceTimed me to show me.  She did an amazing job. I’m so proud of her and so thankful God gave her good health so she is able to do that.  I’m very happy. 

 

Evan sent the sweetest text to me thanking Papa and I for his prayer month gift.  It is a watch he can wear that he isn’t allergic to.  He also added that he was thankful that we prayed for him. 

Bill and I played 3-13.  I had over 100 and my goal of the game was to get him out of being negative.  I didn’t make it, but he only hat -5 at least.  It was -60.  We played his new dice game and I won 2 out of 3.  Then we played dice and we tied.  

 

 

Friday, 9/18/26, Cool morning 58 degrees, Marsha, Russ, Rich, Kari, and Rob came from the Indian River chapter, we went pre-rides for tomorrow’s ride, sat around visiting outside, went to dinner at Angry Oven, sat around campfire at Phil and Julies,until about 8:30

Kari and Ricky coming for the ride

Marsha and Russ in their new Off Road vehicle.

It must be thrilling from the look on Marsha’s face.  She’s so cute!
They did the Off Road Pre ride along with, Rick and Kari and Bob and Carol

Six of us did the pre ride for tomorrow.  Rob lead us, Sue and Doug are ahead of us, and
Jerry and Brenda were behind us

We road to Rose City, Mia, Luzerne, Roscommon, by Higgins Lake, and to Houghton Lake

It was a cloudy day with a high temp of 65 degrees.

Eating at the Angry Oven...Jerry, Brenda, Bob, Carol, Marsha, Russ, his brother Rick and Kari

Rob, Sue, Doug, Phil, Julie, me and Bill

It was a cool 58 degrees and cloudy when we got up.  We got ready and read our Bibles and did our prayer books.  Marsha, Russ and Rich and Kara came with their Off Road vehicles.  Marsha and Russ came over, and then we went outside to look at their new Off Road they bought.  So happy for them.  We sat at Phil and Julie’s for a while, then at 10 we all left to do the pre-rides for the street bikes and the off road vehicles.  Rob was our leader.  He did a great job.  We stopped in Roscommon to stretch and have a bathroom break.  We bought snacks to eat too because we were hungry.  We finished our ride to Houghton Lake, and stopped at Buccini’s where we will be having pizza tomorrow after we all finish our ride.  We didn’t get anything to eat, because we were going out to eat later.  We came back to the campground and sat around at Julie and Phil’s, then when it was time to eat, we rode the motorcycle to the restaurant.  We went to the Angry Oven, but since we were going to have pizza tomorrow, we didn’t eat their specialty pizza. 

Bill got chicken tenders and I got Mac and cheese.  The restaurant we usually go to on Friday evening when we’re up her closed temporarily.  

We came back and sat around the campfire.  It rained lightly so I put on my raincoat and a hat.  It was mostly just a mist.  It didn’t last long.  We sat around the campfire until 9:30, then came in the camper and Bill and I played 3-13.  I won 3-13, he won on the new dice game and I won regular dice.  I worked on my blog after that.

Thurs. 9/17/26, Took showers, got ready, packed last minute stuff, went to Bill’s dr. appt. with Evan P.A., stopped at Panera, picked my prescription up, unloaded clothes baskets in camper, loaded motorcycle, left for St. Helen, Arrived around 2:15, set up, visited at Sue and Doug’s, with them and Phil and Julie, sat around campfire at Julie an Phil’s, played 3-13, a new game and then dice

I forgot to take pictures during the day, so here we are ready to play games.

I got up first and took my shower and did my hair.  Bill got up and took his shower.  

After we were ready, we packed up the last minute stuff and I drove my car with a load of stuff out to the camper.  I just set the stuff in it and put only the refrigerator stuff away.  

I had to drive back to our driveway and get my stuff so we could leave for Bill’s doctor Appt.  We had an hour wait, most of it in the room waiting to be seen.  Dr. Adam’s is on leave because his wife has cancer, so he saw the PA, Evan.  He’s really nice and seems really smart.  He explained the MRI results and the conclusion is to wait since Bill is doing pretty well, and then see in December what Dr. Adam’s says.  Bill was extra sore today from cutting all the limbs off the trees and trimming all of our shrubs.

He had to have an X-Ray of his neck, so while he went to have that done, I walked through the gift shop and bought some of their yummy freshly made popcorn for $2 for our 2 bags of popcorn.  Vikki showed me how good their popcorn was when Kimmy had her colonoscopy.

We picked up my prescription, then went to Panera and got 2 large lemonades and 2 muffeys.   We came home and both put the stuff away in the camper.  Then we loaded the trike up quickly since it looked like rain.  It sprinkled a tiny bit, but not much.  I put a feeder in the fish pond, filled the bird feeders, watered my plants, made sure Kit Kat had lots of food and told her goodbye, then we left.  We prayed before we took off of course.  

When we were in West Branch we stopped at a gas station to wash off the two big splots of bird poo, one on the motorhome window, and one on the passenger side of the motorhome.

Bill cleaned the window and I cleaned the side.  It looked much better when we were done.

We got to St. Helen’s and Doug and Sue had just parked and were setting up, we were going to back into our spot and Julie and Phil pulled in right then and started backing into their spot.  Set up was quick.  However,  I had set my lemonade in the cup holder in the table so it would be safe and out of the way.  I came out of the hallway to hear Bill gasp as he dropped my large lemonade from Panera that was almost full and his almost gone lemonade.  It went all over the bench cover, the side of the bench and all over the floor.  What a mess. I had just turned on the hot water heater and didn’t think it would be hot yet, the water was very hot.  Bill and I soaked up the spilled lemonade, then I washed everything with warm soapy water. After that I washed the cover to the bench seat.  Bill set up the clothes outdoor rack and I hung the bench cover out on it in the sun.  

After that, we went and sat over at Doug and Sue’s campsite and visited with them and Phil and Julie.  It was a nice relaxing day, other than there were deer flies biting everyone.  I put my socks and tennis shoes back on and one bit through my sock, but after that no more bites.  Bill and Phil both had shorts on, so they were biting them bad.  Doug and Sue had bug zappers, so they let us all use one.    We all went to our campers to eat, then later met at the campfire at Julie and Phil’s.  Bill ordered some wood for the fire, to add to Doug and Sue’s wood they brought.  We finished eating chili and a cabbage bun, then saw the wood guy delivering the wood.  Bill went over to help show him what campsite to put it on.  We went over and sat by the fire after that.  Bill put jeans on and we didn’t get bit any more after that.

Phil still had shorts on so they were still after him.  This is the first time we’ve seen deer flies here.  Me no like them though.  Julie brought out some homemade chocolate covered nuts out for us to try.  They were really good.  We sat by the campfire talking until 9:30.  Then it was down to 60 degrees and getting colder.  We all went inside our campers.  Bill and I played 3-13 which he won, a new cute little game he bought and showed me how to play- he won 1 game and I won the other, and dice which I won.  We relaxed after that and I worked on my blog.

 

Wednesday, 9/16/26, Packed stuff and put it in camper, Went to Jacks, went to Meijer, Bill and I went to Sam’s Club, went to Vikki’s, Bill went to Marine Corp. League, I stayed at Vikki’s, she brought me home, we got subs at Subway, made chili,

I love FaceTiming with Rehvy this morning.  So sweet to talk to and so cute to watch.  

Vikki and I visited in her sun porch.  It was so good getting to see her and hang out with her after 2 weeks of not being able to because she was sick.  I was so happy to see Peyton too.  She was so sweet and came and gave me a hug when I got there and then hugged me goodbye.   I sure love these two so much!

I sure love this fun and beautiful girl!

I got up early so I could read my Bible before I went to get groceries.  I stopped at McDonald’s to get a $2 Egg McMuffin I had a code for.  Kenzie FaceTimed me, so I parked in the parking lot and talked to her and Rehvyn.  I am so thankful they FaceTime me.  When it was time to hang up because Kenzie’s phone battery needed charging, Rehvyn cried because he wanted to keep talking.  

I left for Jack’s, got burger for chili and packed it in a stay cold bag, and then went to Meijer to get the stuff on my list that I had clipped digital coupons for.   I returned pop cans too.  I did the shop and scan so I could earn 1,000 extra M-Perk points.  

I got home and put the groceries that we are taking in the camper.  Then I came in and packed my stuff, the refrigerator stuff, and the freezer stuff and put it in my car and drove back to the camper to put it inside it.  I came in after that, and Bill was sleeping.  He had mowed the lawn again and also had picked up the stuff he cut down around his shed.  When I was done, I let him know and we went to Panera to get drinks, and then went to Sam’s Club to get a few things.  After that we dropped off Isaac’s card at Vikki’s, and went in to say hi to her and enjoyed seeing her in person.  Bill said we couldn’t stay because he had to get home to go to the Marine Corps League meeting.  Vikki said she would take me home if I stayed and visited with her, so that’s what I did.  It was so nice hanging out with her.  I’ve had two blessed days of hanging out with daughter’s.  I'll have to hang out with Melissa when I get back from my camping trip.  I am blessed with wonderful and caring daughters.

Vikki made me a pumpkin spice coffee.  I put creamer in it and it was sure delicious.  We sat out on the swing in the sun room.  She hasn’t heard the woodchuck digging since they pulled the rug back and found the hole it chewed in the floor.  Hopefully, it never comes back.  We sure had a nice time sitting out there and visiting.  It was sure nice to see Peyton too.  She was so sweet.  She always is.  Isaac was riding his bike to church.  It was nice getting to see Rody too.  At around 7, Vikki and I went to Subway and got $4 BLT subs, then came to my house and ate them.  They were so good.  It was getting dark, so before she left we went out and I picked a couple of green peppers for her and a few tomatoes.  She left after that.  

I started making the chili for our camping trip chili cookout.  I used a quart of the stewed tomatoes I did the other night.  Bill tried the chili and said it was really good.  I did a last minute load of laundry.