Saturday, 5/15/21, Went to memorial for Paul, went to Jocelynn's college grad. party, went to Vikki's for dinner, Bill tilled Vikki's garden

Jocelyn walking in to her surprise party.  She was super surprised!

Peyton, Isaac and Lucy

 Papa Bill fixing the swing so it's level.  Isaac and Peyton watching

 Peyton Helping Papa

Rody, Peyton and Isaac

 Bill tilling Vikki's garden for her

Isaac and Peyton

Our old house in Hemlock.  They tore the barn next door completely down now

It was a beautiful warm morning, so I sat on the deck and did my reading, and prayer time.   I made a big garden salad to take to Jocelynn’s college graduation today.  Bill rode his motorcycle with Don and Wes to a bike blessing in Hemlock.  When he got home, he warmed a bowl of soup up.  I practiced my ukulele out on the deck.  We went to Paul Currry’s pre memorial service to show our love and support for his beautiful family.  We couldn't stay for the service, because we had to be at the graduation party before it started to have the salad there.  We had a nice time at the graduation party and the food was delicious.  Pastor went to the memorial and Joan had made baked beans so she came to the graduation.  She sat with us and we had a good visit.  We drove by our old houses on the way home.   Vikki invited us to dinner so we loaded up the tiller and went there.  She made yummy bean dip and her delicious salsa.  It was so good! YUM!  I made sure I didn't eat too much at the graduation so I would be sure to have room for her good food.  Bill tilled her garden when we were done eating.  Vikki and I sat outside watching for a while, then came in and put some stuff away and she packed us up some food to take home.  Thank you Vikki!  We visited on the front porch for quite a while.  Bill went and talked to their new neighbor next door who is a veteran too.  Vikki and I walked over and checked out the back yard of the house for sale across the street from her.  Bill worked on fixing the swing so it would be level.  Vikki and I played our ukulele's for a while too.  We came home, and unloaded things, then relaxed in our recliners.  It got super windy here, and I asked Bill if there were wind warnings.  Just then Vikki called and said it was super windy there and sirens were going off.  She said it was supposed to rain too.  I checked the weather where Melissa is and it said rain until 8 tomorrow morning.  We prayed for Bruce, Melissa and kiddos, who are camping, that they wouldn't get strong winds and would be safe. I texted Melissa and she texted that it was raining.  She called me, and I told her Vikki and I prayed which she was happy about.  Hailey and Bruce were still out by the fire making cinnamon rolls, as it was just misting out.  

Fri., 5/14/2, Got some groceries at Jacks and Aldi...everyone was wearing masks except 1 person, Melissa and family went on camping trip, We went to Wes and Gayla's for dinner and campfire

 

Bill tilling up the garden for the second time

Joel waiting for the food to come out

Wes opening his birthday gift from us

Wes, Bill, Joel and Gayla by the fire

Nice campfire at Wes and Gayla's

Bill drained all the water off the cover of the pool except this spot with leaves in the center

I got up at 7:30 and Bill slept in.  I walked a couple of miles on the treadmill while I listened to worship music.  Bill was in the shower when I came up.  I made coffee for us.  He left to take the go cart he gave up on fixing to deliver to a person from Zilwaukee who bought it.  He sold it for $50, so he got the money back he put in to it.  He drained the water off the pool cover too.  Can't wait to be able to open it!  Melissa called before she left for her camping trip.  We had prayed specifically for a few things the night before, God answered specifically too!  She was so happy and so was I.  Bill mowed the grass and tilled the garden.  I washed the bird poo off the deck and railings and rinsed it good.  I did my Bible reading, devotions and prayer time on the deck too.  I was in the 70's and beautiful with no wind.  I dug up some plants that were spreading where I didn't want them, and replanted some.  I also watered all my plants as it has been dry and there isn't rain in the forecast until Wed.  I made a caramel apple salad to take to Gayla's.  Melissa let me know they made it to the campground safely.  I took Bill to pick up my car at 5:30. It wasn't quite ready, so I texted Wes and Gayla to let them know we would be a little late.  Bill only had to wait another 5 minutes and it was done.  We ate outside on their deck and had hotdogs, burgers and brats, with a salad and cornbread.  We had strawberry shortcake with ice cream on top for dessert.  We sat around the campfire and had a nice two hour visit.

They are friends who are like family, so we call them "framily".  

Thurs., 5/13/21, Peyton and Isaac came, My first Hummingbird of the year was here,

Isaac watching Papa push the trailer back. We would have helped him if he would have let us know he was doing it.

Yay, Kimmy and Jared got a new and brighter spot which is right by the door of the shop.  Their stuff is so beautiful and so enjoyable to use!

Vikki dropped Peyton and Isaac off.  She went through McDonald’s on the way here, and the person in the car ahead of her paid for her food.  Blessing from the Lord!  She got here early so we had lots of time to visit and drink our coffee.  We talked to Kimmy while she was here too, which was an extra blessing.  Had my first hummingbird today. Yay! The kiddos did great on the spelling test I gave them.  They wanted to read out in the camper so we did that. Then we played some more on our game we started of 3-13 out there too.  We have to finish the Ace hand, but I’m losing pretty bad.  Vikki came after work, and we ate some vegetable soup.  Then we sat outside and watched the birds and visited.  The hummingbird came back and the orioles were here.  We had a wren today too. I went to visit Sue and Charlie for a little while.  When I got home I put Preen down to keep weeds from coming around my plants.  I relaxed more on the deck and the went to our Faith Riders Chapter meeting.  The meeting was a really good one.   

Wed., 5/12/21, Vikki brought the kiddos over, We played cards in the camper, went to discipleship/class, walked on the treadmill

 

The ukulele case Bill ordered from came in.  It's nice to have a safe place for it

Beautiful pink blossoms on this tree

Isaac, Peyton and I played 3-13 in the camper.  We stopped at Jacks and will have to finish tomorrow.  The kids are beating me, but it's a close game

I stayed up really late last night, so I didn't get up as early as I wanted.  I took a shower and did my hair, made coffee and oatmeal for Bill and I and by that time Vikki was hear with the kids.  She played my ukulele some and sounded really good.  She left for work and we started spelling.  Isaac only missed 1 and Peyton missed 6.  They are new words and end in le or al.  They did great for only looking them over quick and then taking the test.  We read Isaac's book his teacher gave him, and then read the Picture Bible.  I made mac and cheese for the kids.  We went out in the 5th wheel to play 3-13.  We took a snack out with us.  We quit and came in the house when Vikki was supposed to be here.  I warmed up vegetable soup for Vikki and I, and made us each a ground bologna sandwich.  Bill was out in the shed and wasn't hungry.  He picked me up a hose holder for our post and put it on, and an organizer for our Honda motorcycle came, so he put that in.  After we finished eating, Vikki had to get the kids home to do assessments with the kids teachers.  I put more grape jelly in the feeders, I was excited when my ukulele case came.  I have been trying to be very careful with it, but this will make it easy.  The battery operated sweeper for the camper came today too.  I sat out in the sunshine (63 degrees) and read my paper that Pastor passed out for our class. Prayed and relaxed in the nice warm sun.  We went to our discipleship meetings.  Then I went to my last class Pastor is teaching on "Asking the Hard Questions".  Tonight's lesson was amazing.  Came home and walked on the treadmill and got my two miles in. Practiced my ukulele, then Melissa called and wanted me to watch a video of how bad things are in India with the Covid now.  Our church just had a dear Missionary die from it there.  She was such a special lady.  Texted lots with Adam.  Eli, Peyton and Isaac texted me too.   Our friend, Dara Clark, passed away and her funeral was yesterday.  I watched it online today.  At the end her grandkids and great grandkids (who are all musical like she was) sang "The Blessing".  I can't even imagine having this many grandkids.  She had six children and one was Melissa's best friend.  The grandkids did an amazing job singing.

Tues., 5/11/21, Went to Vikki's and Melissa's, Practiced playing my ukulele, Made Vegetable soup, watched The Chosen

 

Made yummy vegetable soup today

Isaac and Peyton

Jack...three fingers is for 3rd day in a row that we've seen each other

Evan

 Max

Melissa in her pink and grey chair her daddy picked up for her today.

My Orioles have to share their feeder and grape jelly with purple finches and chickadees this year.  They've never had to share here before.  Love how bright the orioles are and their beautiful song

 

It was windy and cool today.  There was a little sunshine, but not much.  Did our morning routine, then Bill went to Menard's and later I found out he went to Dick's too.  Mikey worked good today when we cooked our oatmeal.  I put raisins, strawberries and blueberries in mine.  Bill just wanted raisins and bananas.  I spent time with the Lord, then practiced my ukulele.  It's so much fun and so relaxing.  I have three notes down.  I checked on the baby robins that are in the camper thing.  They were chirping, so I'm happy they are ok.  A big black bird tried to fly up into where the nest is, but the mother Robin was having none of that and let it know so.  I also saw another big bird farther up our neighbors driveway try to get at a nest, but two small birds were having none of that either and were going after it.  The big bird wasn't giving up and in a minute there were four other small birds that came from the other side of our house and they flew with the two and went after that big bird.  I'm glad I'm not a bird!!!  I enjoyed walking around the yard a couple of times to look at my plants.  I did some watering as we only got a few sprinkles that didn't even wet any much at all.  All the plants that Kimmy and Marie just brought me to plant are doing great, and so are the ferns that Kenzie brought me.  I got the air mattress out that Hailey uses when she camps in our tent at BayShore.  She is going camping with her mom, dad and brothers and wants to use it.  Had to wait until Bill got home so he could hold our bed up in the camper, while I got it out.  He hooked my hoses up for me in three places.  Much more handier for watering now.  When Melissa was here on Sunday, she mentioned that she wished they made camping chairs that had a phone holder that our bigger phones would fit in.  Well, Bill surprised her today and went and found one for her at Dick's.  He took it over to her and she was so happy.  It sure was sweet of him.  He is one thoughtful guy.  I went to Vikki's and we had Frappi's and the kids had shakes I took there.  Lenny and Lucy were super excited to see me and it took them a while to calm down.  They know Nana loves them and want lots of attention.  Vikki and I played our ukuleles and she taught me another note "F".  We had fun. She played a song she's learning on the piano too and it sounded beautiful.  I went to Melissa's after that.  She let me try her new pink chair and it is so comfy.  I'm so happy that Bill did that and made her so happy.  I was walking to my car to leave, and Jack came out to see me.  We talked and I said this was our 3rd day in a row to see each other and he said he was just going to say that too.  I took a cute picture of him.  He went inside and Evan came running out to say hi.  I talked to him for a little while, and he went in and Max came out.  They made my day by running out to see me before I left.  When I got home, I made vegetable soup.  I walked outside while it was simmering.  We didn't get to eat until 7 when it was ready.  I enjoyed watching the oriole, and am glad it comes during the evening too.  It was too cool out, so I didn't sit outside on the deck and watch the birds very long today.  We watched The Chosen.  Love watching it.

Monday, 5/10/21, Had to replace our microwave, Jack and Bruce picked up their camper, had to refill bird feeders, baby robins are still chirping in the nest I replaced

 

Jack....such a handsome and sweet grandson

I walked on the treadmill.  Did two miles and got my heart rate up there.  I'm a little sore from the last time I walked on it still.  I listened to worship music, and then when I was almost done walking, I talked to Vikki.  She was excited because she had an oriole come to her feeder.  I was happy for her, so shared her excitement.  She had an upset stomach, so I prayed for her.   Bill was meeting Charlie for coffee and a drive.  They ended up going to Kenzie's to visit.  Before he left, he noticed the microwave wasn't lit up.  After we checked everything out, we realized it was not going to work any more.  Vikki and I had smelled something burning the other day, and we thought it was coming from the microwave.  It smelled like burning wires.  Guess that's what it was.  I filled all of the bird feeders except the finch food.  By the time I made my coffee, I decided I wouldn't have oatmeal because there was no microwave to heat it up in.  I had a piece of leftover pizza instead and warmed it in my Ninja toaster oven.  It was so good.  I did my Bible reading, devotions and prayer time after that.  I talked to Kimmy and we finally figured out why we can't do the walkie talkie on our watches, can't air drop pictures, and I couldn't see her steps and activities.  I had two accounts in my contacts for her and one was blocked.  I unblocked it and deleted one.  Then everything worked, except we couldn't try air dropping.  Bill got home and we decided to go try to find another microwave.  We went to Menard's, Best Buy, Lowes, and Home Depot and didn't find any we wanted.  Then we went to Sam's Club, and found a Panasonic a lot like our old one and it was only 159.98.  We loved our old one.  It costed 209.00 back when we got it, so I guess we got a deal this time.  We bought "Mikey" home and it works great!  Bruce and Jack came over to pick up their camper.  Melissa was on the phone with me and had told me they were coming.  I went and got an ice cream sandwich to give Jack.  He wasn't going to take it, but I told him I had asked his mom on the phone and she said he could.  He happily did.  We had a nice visit and I told him how much I miss his big hugs he used to give me.  He gave me a big air hug, and I told him when we can hug again, I am going to get one of those big hugs from him.  He told me how he and his dad rode their bikes and visited the Sowatski's and he got to see his friends.  Bruce had Jack check the lights on the trailer when he tried them.  They all worked except the lights didn't stay on when just the vehicle was running.  He just had it wired up at Redmonds, so will be taking it back.  I talked to Melissa again.  They are going camping in Muskegon this weekend, so they can spend time with Bruce's family.  We prayed together, and God is working out all the details.  

Sunday, 5/9/21, Taught S.S., Celebrated Mother's Day, Got a Ukulele from Bill, Kimmy gave me a lesson on it

Mylee, Isaac and Rody

Melissa and Bruce

 The kids having fun on the hover boards, rip sticks, and rollerblades

Adam on the hoverboard

Isaac

Bill and Sue

Sue, Charlie and Melissa.  Charlie is doing so good after having his esophagus removed because of cancer in Nov. the day before he turned 80.  We are so thankful!  He and Sue are great friends!

 We were happy to see an eagle fly over us.  It was pretty low over the deck, but by the time I got my camera focused on it, it was quite a ways away

Max

Me and Vikki

Kenzie, me, Vikki and Peyton

Kenzie and Vikki

Vikki, Isaac, Kenzie and Peyton

Eli rollerblading on the grass

Jacob and Peyton having fun in the apple tree

 Vikki, Kimmy, Melissa and me

 Melissa and me

 Hailey, Evan, Melissa, Jack and Max

Rody, Peyton, Jared peeking behind her, Jacob, Bruce, Adam, and Bill

 Hailey teaching me the note C on the ukulele

Jacob had some pretty good moves with the soccer ball

Kimmy, Bill, Adam, Eli and Jared working on the turntable trying to get it level with the table so cards slide easily from it to the table...they succeeded!

Jared...this is how you end up when you beat me at 3-13.  Under the table looking up!
Actually he is screwing some loose screws in for us.  He did beat me though!  He wouldn't even let me take 38 like Kimmy when I got 52.  I tried though and said I had the same score as she did.  Better than me trying for -10.

Went to prayer at church, then helped with the kids in Kids Church.  After church, we picked up plants for Mother's Day for Kimmy, Melissa, Stacie, and one from the girls for Sue.  We also picked up a a small round patio table at Aldi for Vikki, and two for me for under the gazebo.  They are nice and fold up really easy.  I had two from previous years, so I have been watching for them to get them again.  We got home, and Bill helped me put extra chairs out on the deck and get the cushions on them.  I washed off the tables.  Kenzie and Mylee got here first.  Mylee was super excited to see me and I was happy to see her.  We put a long tie out around the tree and Kenzie hooked her to it.  She ended up breaking her collar and getting loose.  Kenzie got her to come close, then I called her because I had a hot dog.  She came and I gave it to her while Kenzie grabbed her.  She put her down in the basement with a blanket to lay on and she did good.  Kimmy, Jared and the boys got here first.  Vikki and Peyton were next, then Rody and Isaac came.  We all brought pizzas to eat.  Vikki picked up a no cheese for Bill and shared the one she got with banana peppers with Kenzie and I.  It was yummy!  At 2, Charlie and Sue came, then Melissa, Bruce, and their family got here.  Stacie, DJ and Kody were in Yellowstone and just flying home later today.  We missed them lots.  We hung out on the deck visiting most of the time, because it was windy out by the fire pit.  We turned the gas fire pit on that's under the gazebo.  Evan read some funny jokes from his new joke book.  He was so cute and did a very good job.  Bruce, Jared, and Rody hung out by the fire pit though.  The kids had fun with the hover boards, rip sticks and rollerblades in the neighbor's driveway.  We passed out ice cream sandwiches and drumsticks for a snack.  Bill surprised me and got me a ukulele. I am so happy.  Vikki got one and has been learning to play and is going to teach me.  It sounds so good and is so relaxing.  Hailey and Kenzie have ukuleles too.  Hailey taught me how to tune it with an app on my phone.  Kenzie had to leave to get back home because Travis's mom was there.  Charlie and Sue left, and the rest of us hung out outside for a while longer.  Hailey left, then Melissa, Bruce and the boys left.  Jacob and Adam played Mario, while Kimmy, Jared, Bill and I played 3-13.  Bill won, Jared was 2nd, then Kimmy and then me.  Eli was walking around our property trying to get enough steps to beat Jacob.  He was going at a fast pace out there.  I'll have to find out who wins!  Jacob went out and was kicking the soccer ball around after that.  When he came in, Bill, Jared and Jacob played 3-13.  Kimmy gave me a lesson on the ukulele.  It is so much fun, but I must practice.  Kimmy saw the momma bird fly out of the place where I put the nest today. Yay! That makes me so happy.  I heard lots of chirping too.  My orioles were back and lots of other nice birds.  I got such beautiful meaningful cards, and it was such a fun day with family.  Whenever I look at my Pear tree out front from them all, I will think of this special day and all the love God has blessed us with.  I love my family!