Friday, 7/17/26, Hailey, Evan and Lydia came in the morning. Hailey had to go home and make cookies, Melissa and Jack came and brought Wookie, Kimmy, Eli and Isaac came and brought Arnie, Bill picked up to really large pizza’s at Sam’s Club, Eli and Isaac swam again, I picked Peyton up at her friend Morgan’s, Vikki couldn’t come because she was babysitting Thomas and Abigail,

 

I remembered to take pictures!  Hailey

Evan and Lydia

Jack

Peyton

Eli and Isaac

Slept in til 8:45.  Slept really good last night.  It was 12:30 a.m before I got to bed.  Bill and I took the sheets off and I put them in the washer.  I went outside and rolled the front hose up.  Then I hauled a few things out to the camper.  I came in and ate breakfast and then we read our Bibles and did our devotional.  

Hailey, Evan and Lydia came over to visit.  Hailey took them out to Starbucks for a drink because Lydia did an awesome job on some artwork Hailey needed for a reveal party.  I was happy they wanted to come visit.  Hailey didn’t get to stay too long, because she had to get home to make cookies for the reveal party for her friend.  Melissa and Jack got here righty after Hailey left.  I was happy they could come today.  We had fun hanging out.  Kimmy, Eli and Isaac came later because the boys had to wait for their bikes to dry after painting them.  Kimmy brought the bikes here for the boys to put together, but Eli forgot his bag of screws to do it.  Bill picked up a few things from Sam’s club and then brought 2 large pizza’s home for all of us.  They were very large pizzas.  They were really good and were only $9 each. Peyton needed a ride here because her mom was babysitting and her dad was working, so I went to her friend, Morgan's house by our church and picked her up.  I took her an individual package of Oreo’s.  She had already ate lunch and was happy to have a snack.

We girls stayed inside pretty much all day here except for when we had to do something quick outside.  Eli and Isaac swam again today.  They said the water was a great temperature.  They uncovered the pool before they got in and covered it back up for me when they got out.  Love that they are big enough to be such great helpers now.  

Melissa and her family had to leave, so we all said goodbye.  

Kimmy left.  She and Jared are going on a date tonight and are dropping the screws to Eli’s bike off at Vikki’s for them.  Vikki came and picked up Peyton and the boys.  She had to leave right away.  

I put the cushions outside on the outdoor furniture away because there is a chance of rain tonight.  I hope we get some as it is needed badly here. 

Finished my blog.  I am going to bed earlier tonight.  It sure was a fun day!  We missed having Vikki with us.  I love my family!  They are the best!

Thursday, 7/16/26, Vikki and Peyton came over, Kimmy, Eli and Isaac came over, We went to two Estate Sales and one garage sale, the boys swam for a long time, Peyton hung out with us in the house, dead headed some plants, put Seven Dust on my Hibiscus, sprayed rose bug killer on my roses, had a zoom meeting

Melissa and I at Starbucks

Isaac and Eli spent lots of time in the pool.  Air Quality here was better today, but still not good.  

Moved my plants in the shade when it started getting so hot out.  They sure like it in the shade.

A vole or mole tilled up the dirt around my fish pond and plants.  

Peyton next to our milkweed by the ditch.  It is coming out soon.

The sun looks pretty small again and not very visible.  Air was much better and it smelled much better out this afternoon.

I got up at 5:45 this morning.  Got ready, then left at 6:45 to go pick up Jack and Melissa.  I stopped at Starbuck’s and went through the drive through so Jack could get his favorite drink and drink it on the way to work.  He is helping Christine with dog training at her company.  I treated him for his birthday.  He was happy!  We drove him to work and waited in the parking lot for Christine and her daughter to get there.  He loaded water bottles in her van and helped her load other stuff.  They aren’t working outside with the dogs today, but going to the mall and training them there to be out of the smoke.  Melissa and I left and went back to Starbucks.  She ordered the drink Hailey likes on her phone.  Then we just went in and it was ready.  We sat in there and enjoyed it and also enjoyed visiting.  I am blessed with such wonderful daughters to spend time with.  We went through Panera and I got a large lemonade with no ice and she got Max a Diet Pepsi.  I shared the lemonade with Kimmy later.  I got home and watered my plants out at the end of our driveway by the brick pillars.  They are much happier now.  

Vikki and Peyton came over.  Kimmy, Eli and Isaac got here a while after them.  We all went to 2 estate sales and 1 garage sale.  We found good stuff at the last Estate sale.  I found weights for Eli’s bench for $13, a small Hoover Porta Power Vacuum like my dad gave me.  It was listed at $50, but was half off day.  Kimmy opened the end with the foam filter in it and the filter fell apart, then we tried it, but it was dirty with lots of stuff in the bag.  Vikki told the lady told her it didn’t have much suction because it was dirty.  She asked if I cold have it for $5.  The lady said yes.  That was a real blessing because it had all of the attachments and I only have one attachment that goes with my dad's.  The attachments were worth the $5.  I cleaned it out and washed it when I got home and now it has great suction power.  I also got two nice pairs of scissors.  My scissors downstairs were pretty bad.  I saved my good ones for cutting material.  Scissors were one dollar each.  Got a Rada knife and a tomato can opener for 25 cents each.  Eli took my knife home to sharpen and bring back to me tomorrow.  He does a great job sharpening my knives.  We girls all got stuff there and Eli did too.

We came back home and ate lunch.  The boys went swimming.  We girls stayed in and had fun hanging out together.  Kimmy cut of some of Peyton’s pants and made them into long shorts.  They looked cute on her.  Arnie was a good dog like always.  He is so well behaved and so cute.  

I ordered 3 small fold up tables for Kimmy for the boys for their camping trip.  She tried to order them, but they wouldn’t come until after they got home.  I ordered them and they said they would arrive today.  We watched the tracking, but it was close to delivery, but didn’t move.  

Everyone left for home.  Issac went home with Kimmy again to paint his bike while Eli painted his.  I got a message on amazon that my order wouldn’t arrive until July 21st.  I called Kimmy because that’s after they leave for their trip.  We were bummed, but Kimmy said it was ok.  They would have them for next year.  I prayed for God to please help them get here sooner so they could take them this year.  

We read our Bibles and I read our devotion for the day.  It was a really good one again.

Worked on my blog, but got tired when it was midnight, so will finish tomorrow.  

     

Wed. 7/15/26, Happy Birthday Jack!! Happy Birthday Pam! We love you both! Caught a raccoon in the live trap, went to get water, went to Jacks, went to Sam’s Club, Kimmy called and said gas prices are going up lots Vikki told her, went back to Sam’s and both got gas, Kimmy was at our house with Vikki when we got home, sat out by the pool with Kimmy, swam with Eli, Isaac, Vikki, Rehvyn and Peyton dipped in now and then,

Happy Birthday Jack!  We love you so much!

Happy Birthday Pam!

Rehvyn giving me a big hug.  He is the sweetest little great grandson.  What a gift from the Lord to our family!  My sweet Peyton next to me too.  She is so sweet and so much fun.

Rehvyn giving Papa a really big hug goodbye.

Our group picture!

Ha Ha!  These two love peppers! This was on their way home after going to Kenzie’s to drop Rehvyn off.

It got so smokey outside today from the Canadian wild fires.  If you zoom in you can see how the sun looked weird from it.

I got up early and turned the pool filter on, then went out in the camper and took the filters out of the air conditioner vent and washed them off with the hose, then brought them in and washed them good.  I noticed I caught a raccoon, so I woke Bill up and he took care of it.  It was too hot to leave him in the cage too long. 

 

I put jelly in the jelly feeders and watered some plants.  Then I came in and read my Bible and Bill and I did our daily devotion.  We started the Book Wisdom for Each Day by Billy Graham.  Kimmy and Jared got one for Jacob and then Bill ordered one for us.  It is really good.  I drank a protein drink.   At 11, Bill and I left to go pick up water jugs from Shays.  Then Bill took my car through the car wash for me.  We went to Jack’s after that and got some meat and some bird food.  I put it in a cold bag from Aldi, then put it in the compartment in the trunk of my car.  I had the worker put the 50 lb. birdseed bag on top of it.  We went to Sam’s Club and got 10 things we needed as quickly as we could.  Then we came home.  On the way home, Kimmy called to tell me Vikki said gas was going up over 30 cents.  We came home and dropped the stuff we had bought off and put it away, then we both drove to Sam’s Club where gas was still $3.61.  We each filled our vehicles, then headed home.  Kimmy called me to tell me she was at my house.  We were almost home so I told her I would be there in a few minutes.  Yay!  I was happy she and Eli were there.  Vikki, Peyton and Isaac were there too.  Kimmy was taking Isaac home with her so the boys could paint their bikes.  She only had a short time to stay because they had to be home to watch the soccer game.  Vikki, Rehvyn and the other kids were swimming.  I sat on the deck with Kimmy and visited.  Then I went in the pool to cool off.  Rehvyn learned how to go down the pool steps backwards and turn at the bottom and jump in.  I forgot to get a picture of all the kids in.  

Peyton asked me if I wanted a Root Beer Float.  Yes was my answer.  She made me, her and her mom one.  They were so good and such a good thing to cool down with.  Rehvyn shared with his Grammy and loved it too.  Vikki put Rehvyn down for a nap after that.  He slept for a while, then they had to leave to take him home, so she woke him up.  He came in to the family room and and gave me a sweet hug and kiss.  Then he said, give Papa a hug and headed for the living room.  I went in with him and so did Vikki and Peyton.  He gave Papa a really big hug.  Then he gave me a really big hug too.  We all sure love him.  We took a group picture after that, then they left.

Bill went to the Marine Corps. League meeting.  I was going to make sirloin burgers, but he told me not to because he was going to get a burger at the meeting.  He messaged me when he got there and told me they didn’t have food.  I asked him to pick up a lemonade for us to split at Panera on his way home.  I vacuumed the pool while he was gone.  The smoke was much worse and you could smell it.  I came in and stayed in after that.  Ruby, my Roomba, vacuumed the house while Bill was gone and I was doing the pool.  She did a great job.

He got home and warmed up some pot pie.  

I went down in the basement to make sure the dehumidifier turned off and noticed lots of flies some dead and some barely moving.  There were so many, I had Bill come down.  He used the shop vac and I used a little vacuum I keep in the garage for my car that was my dad’s.  It took us a long time as they were all over the main area.  None were in the rooms so we were thankful for that.  Only a couple had made it upstairs.  We finally got them taken care of.  What a pain.  I looked it up and the smoke can cause them to come in.  We have to find out where they got in down there and seal it off.  

I worked on my blog after that.  It is midnight almost.  Going to bed now.  

 

Tues, 7/14/26, Vikki, Peyton, Isaac, Rehvyn and Kenzie came over today.

Rehvyn’s first time in our pool

It was so fun with Rehvyn in the pool

Peyton, Me, Rehvyn, Isaac and Bill keeping cool in the pool

Isaac and Rehvyn

Peyton and Rehvyb

Rehvyn swimming to his ball

Grammy Vikki and Rehvyn

He had fun playing on his splash pad Vikki brought.

Had fun with Peyton and Isaac in the pool too!  Rehvyn with his Aunt and Uncle.

What a cute fun boy!  He loved swimming in the pool!

 

I got up at 8.  I started a load of laundry, and then went out to the camper and turned the air on.  I emptied the freezer and refrigerator too.  Brought all of the groceries that had to come in the house and a clothes basked full of my clothes too.  I turned the filter on after that so the water would circulate until 10 when the cost for electricity goes up.  I put everything away when I got back in the house.   

I talked to Melissa for a while to find out what Jack wanted for his birthday, and also to find out when they were going to celebrate it.  I told her I could take Jack to his dog training class if she needed me to.  Also set up to take them tomorrow morning which is Jack’s birthday and get him his favorite drink on his way there.  We leave early in the morning, I think around 6 a.m., but Melissa is going to let me know.  Starbuck’s opens at 4:30 a.m. which I was surprised to hear.  

Vikki and Isaac came over and she also had a surprise for me...Rehvyn was with her.  I was so happy to see him.  What a great surprise.   Kenzie and Peyton went shopping and are coming over later.  We all went out to watch Rehvyn get in the pool for the first time.  Papa took some pictures.  Vikki and I swam a long time with Rehvyn.  We put lots of sunscreen on him and on us.  He was so cute and he sure learned how to kick his feet and move his hands fast.  He was all over the pool.  Vikki had him going under water and everything.  She even taught him how to go down the pool steps and jump in.  We got out and went and sat by Rehvyn’s splash pad.  It is so nice.  Has sprinklers and also the ring around it holds water for the sprinkler holes and makes it so you can put some water in it for Rehvyn to sit in and play in.  He loved playing with his cars in it.   Rehvyn and my chair were in the shade, so he was in the sun part time and in the shade part time.  We went back in the pool after that.  

We talked to Kenzie and Peyton and they were going to come her soon.  I put pizzas in and also made a frozen pot pie.  We went back in the pool after that.  Bill, Peyton, Isaac, Rehvyn, Vikki and I swam.  Kenzie watched Rehvyn swim and jump in.    He reminds me so much of her when she was little.  She had to go home and make more glass, but Rehvyn stayed and is going to spend the night at his grammy’s.  We swam a long time again.  The pool temp is just right for us so we can go right in and go under.  We sat out on the deck under the gazebo and dried off some.  Kit Kat came out but I had to call her by me.  She stayed for a little while, then decided she wanted to be on the deck floor where it was cooler.  It felt good on the deck for us because we had our wet suits on and it is always nice on that corner of the deck even when it is warm out.

We came in side and made PB&J sandwiches and Isaac had his pizza.  He didn’t eat any at lunch time.  Rehvyn played with his cars, then when they were going to go, he picked them all up.  He is such an easy boy to have around.  So fun and well behaved.  

Bill and I ate pot pie for dinner.  No one else ate any of that.  It was really good.  Bill worked on the Rally stuff for the zoom meeting on Thursday and I worked on my blog.

Going to bed early tonight since I have to get up so early.   

 

Monday, 7/13/26, 95 degrees today,

I got up at 8:30 while Bill slept in longer and cleaned the camper.  I need to scrub the floor when I get home, but got everything else done.  Ready for next camping trip to BayShore!

This goes in our pool steps in the pool.  The top came off yesterday when Vikki was here.  She tried to put it back on, but couldn’t.  I stopped on my way home from camping, while Bill filled the motorhome with gas and picked a new one up.  I asked if I could return it, if my husband could get the top on the one we have.  I got home and Bill came out in his swim trunks and got it out right away, got the top on it and put it back in the pool steps where it goes.  I returned the one I got later in the afternoon.  Yay!

Everything is so nice and green still.  Hope it isn’t as long as they say without rain with these hot temperatures

These plants are doing great on the south side of the house.  I hung my hanging plant from Melissa and family on this side and I don’t need to water it near as often as in the front.

Plants all grew so much while I was gone

The Zinnia Plants that came up and were so tiny before my vacation sure grew.  Lela gave me the seeds and I am so happy to have plants now.  I have to look up to see if I can transplant any because they are clumped together.  They sure did grow while I was gone.  

Yarrow looks beautiful and my Hibiscus is getting buds on it.

I slept great in the camper last night.  I didn’t feel like getting up at 8:30, but knew I needed to get things cleaned and ready to go.  It’s so much easier when I am hooked up to water.  I had everything just about done, when Bill got up.  He put his things away where he wanted them, then we went outside and folded the smaller mat we still had down.  He packed it in where it goes.  He went in and pushed the jacks up button and when the Jacks were up, we pulled out the stabilizers underneath them and Bill put them under the storage area they go in.  We talked to our neighbor next door for a while.  They are still camping til the end of July.  They are there for 21 days too.  

We were all ready to leave, so I pulled out in my car and Bill went to pull out with the motorhome.  I saw our neighbor guy running really fast knocking on the side of our motorhome.  Bill stopped and he told him the electrical cord was still plugged in.  I have been telling Bill he needs a check off list.  Now I am making one up for him.  I have one on the refrigerator for what I need to do each time.  I always look at it to make sure I haven’t forgot anything.  It is a handy thing for me to have.   Bill dumped our tanks at the dump station and I put water down in the tanks with some Dawn Dish Soap to clean them on the ride home.  Then we were on our way.  We stopped at Meijer’s when we got back to put 30 gallons of gas in at a dollar off.  That sure helps with gas prices so high.  After I claimed my M’Perks, I let him put the gas in and I drove over to Meijer’s to get some chlorine for the pool.  Then I went to the pool place and got the part we may need for our pool.

I got home and Vikki and the kids were coming swimming.  Yay!  I was going to brush the edges and sides and shock it, but it was so clear and was clean everywhere but on the edges, so decided we could swim right away if I waited.  Vikki got here and was good with that, so she got the air mattresses out and she, Peyton and I swam and got some sun.  We all put sunscreen on with this weather.  Peyton was cute.  She asked me if I had any heart stickers.  I told her to go upstairs and where to get them.  She put a couple on her so she could tan and have the hearts white.  It was amazing how fast she tanned and you could see them.  

She played Christian music for us while we swam.  Isaac got my speaker out of the camper.  

I picked up Taco Bell for all of us, since I didn’t use my gift cards I had planned on when we were camping.  I ate my left over Olive Garden fettuccine and broccoli.  It was delicious, but their Taco Bell stuff looked delicious too.  After we ate, Vikki and Peyton went swimming again.  I ran the part for the pool steps I got back and returned it.  I also went and payed our water bill.  

When I got back, I went swimming again.  When Vikki was leaving, I called Kimmy to see if she wanted me to drop my dehydrator off for her to use so she could do more at a time.  I also had some shorts of Eli he needed for camping.  She said Jared was just getting ready to leave and he would meet me at the place the boys took fencing at.  He met me and when I carried the big bag I had put it in, the handle broke.  Weird because it wasn’t even heavy.  I told Jared, then called Kimmy, so she would check it out to make sure it worked.  She called me back later and it did.

When the garden was shaded, I used the mantis to till around 6 rows I needed to do to have the garden done.  That little thing sure works good and is easy.  Bill mowed the lawn while I did the garden.  When I finished, I got back in the pool and brushed the sides and edges of the pool where algae was.  Then I put a gallon of chlorine in to take care of it.  It should be chrystal clear tomorrow.  It felt good to be in that nice water.  I watered my flower garden after that, then watered my new Hydrangeas in the front and put the sprinkler on some of my plants looking very thirsty.  

I read my Bible and we did our prayer/devotion.  I am sure ready for bed now.  It’s 11:33 p.m. and I just finished my blog.    

 

 

Sunday, 7/12/26, went to the 2nd service at church, came home changed and got motorcycle, went to Wrought Iron Grill in Owosso, came home, watered plants, put chemicals in pool, came back to the campground,

Nice Sand Sculptures this year

Vikki asked if she and Peyton could come swimming today.  We were going to be gone, but I told her yes.  She ended up brushing half the pool to stir stuff up and run it through the filter.  I felt bad she couldn’t just swim and relax.  I added some chemicals and will shock it tomorrow.  Needs to be clear for our 90 degree and 100 degree days

Came back to the camper.  Bill’s hat is hanging on the sweatshirt/purse hook and his keys are on the hat hook

Relaxing in the camper

We went to the second service at church.  It was awesome worship and and awesome message. I prayed with Merijo before service and we prayed with people after service.  

We visited some and then left to come home, change, and take the motorcycle to Owosso to the Wrought Iron Grill for lunch with our State Rally Planning Committee.  We got Friday night’s schedule done before our food came.  Then we ate and had a good time visiting.  

The food was great!  We worked on Saturday’s schedule, Sunday’s Schedule and Monday’s schedule.  All went will with great ideas and additions.  What a great group of friends to work with.  We are blessed!

Kenzie video called, but I couldn’t answer while we were meeting.  I thought about calling her to go visit, but we had to go back to the campground, so we can bring the motor home back tomorrow.  Last night of camping!  

After we left the restaurant, Doug and Sue left for home since they had dessert at the restaurant.  Debbie, Paul, Bev, Ron, Bill and I when to the Cone Zone and got ice cream.  Bill and I had hot fudge sundaes.  They were delicious.  We all headed in different directions afterwards.  We got home and I watered some plants that were dry, fed the fish, put more water in the pond, put chemicals in the pool and ran the filter.  Then we loaded the car with what we needed and headed back up north.  

I packed some things away so I don’t have much to pack in the morning.  Bill and I played 3-13 plus the 2 hand.  He was negative most of the game and I was very positive.  In the end I beat him by 2 points.  That was sure close.  We played dice after that and I only needed 150 points to win.  He shook over a thousand points and tied me.  He got the 150 first so was the winner of that game.

I finished drinking my lemonade with froze strawberries while we played.  I took it on the motorcycle ride and then drank some on the way home.  It was in the motorcycle during our restaurant stop and ice cream stop.  I got to the camper and finished it and the strawberries were still frozen.  Pretty amazing.

Our friend, Kim from church, posted a video of firetrucks rushing past her house to a shed where there was an explosion.  That’s pretty close to our house.  I couldn’t see whose shed it was.

Finished my blog and now we are going to bed.