Tues., 5/25/21, Dusted the house, did laundry, cleaned off cushions outside, Went to Hailey's concert and it was amazing

Hailey with her trumpet she played also

Peyton and Isaac's last spelling list for the year!!!

Evan, Jack, Melissa and Bruce up on the hill watching

Bill and I down by the pavilion so we could take the pictures and videos

Hailey is in the last row, second from the right in the video

Hailey with her French Horn she played

 Hailey in her Symphonic Band Concert

She played the French Horn since she injured her right wrist.  She usually plays Trumpet

Got up early to read and worship.  Peyton and Isaac came and we started doing the words on their last list for the year.  We did our reading and then they had some free time.  Ate Chicklit chops (chocolate chip) for a snack.  Did some cleaning in the house and out on the deck.  Got the tables washed off and the cushions cleaned.  Lots of stuff blowing from the trees with the strong winds we had today!  Great weather for Hailey's concert though.  The wind died down by then, but there was a nice breeze.  It was warm, but nice.  The school concert was an absolutely wonderful concert.  The first since Covid.  Nice to see people we haven't seen in a long time.  Hailey was so happy to finally have a concert, and we sure were excited to be able to go.  

Mon., 5/24/21, Rained in the morning, Walked on treadmill, 100+ Irises that were Grandma Schmidts started to bloom,Vacuumed the house, cleaned kernel burner, weeded around plants

My egg roll Vikki made me.  I got some sweet and sour sauce and it sure tastes good on it.  I made another one after this one.  They sure are delicious Vikki

 My Irises that were Grandma Schmidt's are starting to bloom.  Our sister, Angie,
mailed them to me from Kansas last Fall.  They are 100+ years old.  I shared with Kimmy so she would have some too!

Azalea plant Melissa and Bruce gave me back in 2004.  It gets bigger and more beautiful every year.

Lilacs are starting to open up and smell so wonderful

It was raining out when we got up.  It is great for all the plants and flowers, and grass.  Bill went to coffee with Charlie to encourage him.  I walked on the treadmill and listened to worship music.  After my 2 miles, I came up, had my coffee and oatmeal, then read my Bible and prayed.  Refilled my bird feeders and enjoyed being back home to watch my birds.  Kenzie showed me a picture of the cat she is giving me that is so nice and catches mice.  Hopefully she catches moles too.  She is cute and Kenzie and Travis say she has a great personality.  Kenzie's tiny kitten she took home is doing great and her big cat like her, is bonding with her.  They are so cute laying by each other in the pictures Kenzie sent me.  Bill got home and mowed the grass and picked it up because it was so long.  I vacuumed the house while he did that.  I cleaned the kernel burner too.  I went outside for a while and when I looked on the pool deck, I saw a pile of helicopter things from the tree.  It was windy yesterday, and the pool cover kept blowing up from the wind and all those things were on the cover.  Today when I looked, they were all in a neat pile by the boards where the steps go in.  I picked them up and put them in a trash can.  That sure was easier than trying to scoop them from the water on the pool cover.  I walked around the yard for a while and enjoyed looking at the plants.  Lettuce and Zinnias are coming up along the edge of the garden where I planted them.  Blueberry bushes have a few blueberries on them now. Vikki posted a picture of Isaac riding his little motorcycle.  He sure rides it good, but it sure made me nervous watching him.  Looks like he might be carrying on the motorcycle tradition.  Bill had an Elder's Meeting, so while he was gone, I dug up some weeds and transplanted some hosta's.  Snowball tree is just beautiful now too!  Nothing as beautiful as God's creation. 

Sunday, 5/23/21 Came home from comping trip, celebrated Jacob and Adam’s birthdays

 

Adam and Kenzie with their kittens

Adam and Jacob ready to open their gifts from us

Kenzie with her kitten

Jacob and Adam with their cake...doing candles Covid style

Isaac

 Peyton, Mykenzie and Peyton

Kenzie with the "You Rock" rock she found at Tim Horton's a few years ago.  She gave it to me then and told me I rock.  It is a special memory from a special granddaughter

Jacob practicing with his new air gun.  He did pretty good!  At least my window didn't get any holes in it lol.

We packed up our camper and said our goodbyes to our wonderful CMA family.  It was a great a fun and relaxing camping trip with an amazing group of friends.  We had a nice drive home and made great time.  Bill did a good job leading the way on the motorcycle.  Originally the weather said rain where we were staying in the morning and rain at home at 11.  I prayed because I didn’t want to drive the camper in the rain.  It changed and there was no rain in the morning when we left and it didn’t start raining at home until 4.  I sure was thanking the Lord.  He’s always so good to me.  We unpacked right away when we got home. Bill hooked the cart up to the tractor and I loaded all the baskets filled with the refrigerator and freezer stuff in it, then piled lots of other stuff in and on top too.  He hauled it up to the house and carried it in for me.  We will be doing that from now on.  After we got things unloaded, Kenzie and Travis got here.  We visited and it sure was good to see them.  Kenzie and I walked around and looked at the ferns she gave me and my other plants.  They went out in the camper with Bill while got some things ready.  Kimmy and family came next.  So nice to celebrate Jacob and Adam's birthdays. They are such great kids and wonderful grandsons.  They brought the kittens.  Kenzie was sure happy to see hers and loved it.  They are so cute.  Kenzie is going to give me a cat she has that is a great outside cat. I started making pizzas.  Kenzie helped me.  Then Vikki, Peyton and Isaac showed up with egg rolls that she made.  They were yummy and she brought 2 apiece.  What a great surprise.  Jacob and Adam helped Papa get the air conditioner in, then they opened their presents.  We sang Happy Birthday and had the delicious birthday cake Kimmy made afterward.  Then they went down in the basement to try out their air guns.  They had fun trying to hit the target.  So did Jared, Kimmy and Bill.  I had fun watching.  Travis and Kenzie wanted to watch the videos I made interviewing her grandpa (my dad)  We enjoyed watching those and had some good laughs, especially when he talked about Kenzie at age 5 in the blueberry patch saying grandpa pooped his pants when he tooted.  Everyone picking blueberries got a good laugh that day.  He also shared about the terrible 300 piece puzzle she got him for Christmas one year and the pieces were so tiny and would fall apart when you touched them.  We got it together with him, but he told Kenzie on the video not to ever get a puzzle like that again.  He sure had a great way of sharing wonderful memories.  I am so glad I did this and have these treasures to watch.  After everyone left, I called Melissa and talked to her for a while.  Bill and I watched The Chosen.

Sat., 5/22/21, Went on 175 mile motorcycle ride, did lots of visiting

 

 Lining up for our 175 mile ride

It was a very scenic ride

Jerry and Judy behind us, Jerry and Sandy behind them

We passed lots of beautiful lakes

Ziggy by the bikes...he always has the joy of the Lord and a great big smile.  

Nancy

Lisa and Wayne, our State Coordinators

Our view at the top....it was so foggy we couldn't see Lake Michigan

Bill and I

Our fearless leader on the ride

Those of us who made it to the top...me, Bill, Jeff,  Wayne, Lisa, Ziggy and Jeff

Group picture at the bottom

We turned and didn't go into Frankfort

 Our get together in the pavilion in the evening

Ate breakfast, read outside,Julie, Phil, Sean and  Paul came for an outside visit. It was another beautiful day!  It rained lots during the night, but it was dry by the time we went outside.  At 10 we went for a group motorcycle ride that Jeff W. lead.  He’s from Cadillac, so knew a great route to take. We saw lots of lakes, trees, hills, curves, sand dunes and much more.  14 of us went on the ride.  We ended up being able to ride with just short sleeved shirts and no jackets.  We relaxed when we got back at 3:30 and then at 6 all ate at the pavilion.  So nice having everyone vaccinated this year and also being so nice outside.  Adam texted and he and Jacob want to celebrate their birthdays here tomorrow because they love coming to our house. I’m super happy because I love having them come.  I talked to Kimmy, Melissa, Kenzie, Peyton And Isaac.  Vikki and the kids had a great day hanging out at Melissa’s and having a cookout!  I love that my girls and their families love each other so much!!!

Friday, 5/21/21, Slept in, walked, went to small camper store, visited,

 

 My view out the window...Bill reading his Bible....I am so thankful for husband who read God's Word

 Bill checking his phone while relaxing

We walked around the pond and I took this picture

 Lots of outside visiting at our camper

I went for a couple of walks with Lisa around the circle drive in the campground.  Her cute little Maltese/Shitzoo walked with us and is so cute.  We sat outside with everyone and visited for a long time in the afternoon.  So much better than last year when the weather was cold.   This time we can actually sit outside and enjoy visiting.  Two couples from Trinity Riders came up.  They come to this little campground lots. When they made their reservations the lady told them there was a Christian motorcycle group here.  Tomorrow Jeff has a nice 120 mile motorcycle ride planned.  

We got food from the Cast Iron Skillet 

to eat.  We all sat around and talked in the evening too.  When we came in, we played 3-13.  Bill beat me!  Talked to Melissa a few times and Vikki a few times.  Texted with Adam 

Thursday, 5/20/21 Watched Peyton and Isaac, Packed Camper, Left for Cadillac for CMA Leadership Camping Trip

 Bill, Mel, Betty and Julie visiting with us

 Camper set up

 Bill beating me at cards

Bill happily writing he winning score

Got up early to shower than finish packing. Vikki brought Peyton and Isaac over.  As  Peyton walked through the door she told me she would help me with getting ready to go camping.  I gave them the spelling words they missed yesterday and they got them right.  They helped me carry things out to the camper.  They also wound up the long double hose I used to water the garden. 

I noticed I have four milkweeds coming in my woods where I’ve been planting things. Last year I only had one, so I am pretty happy.  After Vikki picked up the kids, I drove the truck with the fifth wheel and Bill led the way with the motorcycle.  We ran into some construction but it was a pretty smooth ride.  It was a hot day in the 90’s, so the cool ride was very enjoyable.  We got to the campground and had a nice pull through spot with full hook up.  There are five couples here today so we hung out outside our camper.   Bill and I played 3-13 and I won!  Happy Camper