Saturday, 5/13/23, Went on long motorcycle ride, than had potluck, campfire after that.

We went to a bike blessing in Kalkaska and some from 4 of our CMA chapters up north helped with praying over bikes and bikers.  

Singing our National Anthem after saying the pledge of Allegiance 

Lots of people wanted their bikes blessed and prayer for when they are riding.

Beautiful 77 degree day for our long ride

Riding into Petosky 

The lake was so beautiful and peaceful 

Stopped for a snack

Beautiful Charlevoix

Bill and I

Bev and Ron

Ron, Bev, Jeff and Bill

The rest of our group ahead of us

The Trout in Kalkaska

Potluck

 Had our coffee and I had my oatmeal.  Bill worked more on what he’s sharing with everyone at our meeting after the potluck.  Then we went to sit and visit outside until it was time to leave for the bike blessing and our ride.  It was 65 when we left, but sunny.  Didn’t take long to warm up to 77.  We’ve had such great weather.  We got to the church parking lot where the bike blessing was going to be.  We walked around talking to people. Some we knew and some we didn’t.  Everything was so nice.  We had our bike blessed for 2023 and had prayer over us for safety. 

Our group left to go on our ride.  It was a long ride (188 miles) but so relaxing and enjoyable.  We had six bikes and 9 people.  We went through so many beautiful towns.  We had to stop a couple times because Art got a cramp in his hip.  We got back to the campground at 4:15.  We loaded the bike in the camper which didn’t take long.  Then I put cool whip on the banana cream pudding dessert I made, then heated up the spaghetti sauce and spaghetti and mixed them together.  All the food was delicious.  We all sat around the campfire after that.   

Friday, 5/12/23, Happy 44th Anniversary to Debbieand Tom, Went on motorcycle ride to get ice cream, went to dinner, hung out at campfire at Jeff and Kathy’s

Happy Anniversary to Debbie and Tom! Their first granddaughter is 7 month now.  She’s so cute!

Beautiful swan we saw on our walk around the campground this morning.

The beach

   The Beach…..beach playground is below 

Selfie on the beach

Our ride to Lake City!  Riding along Missaukee. Beautiful day today and. 77 degrees out

Great Day for ice. Cream at Tastie Freeze

Missing Ziggy, our camping buddy.  He is taking care of his 96 year old mom and being a blessing.

Got up at 7:30 and made our coffees.  I had oatmeal and Bill had Life cereal.  We read our Bibles and then walked over to Sue and Doug’s camper and sat outside with them, Jeff and Lisa and Chrissy.  After that we walked around the campground.  We watched a beautiful swan for a long time. It was eating and swimming. Then we walked up and down a couple of roads and looked at campers.  Then we walked down by the beach, checked out the pavilion we are going to have our potluck in tomorrow and then finished walking around the campground.  Then we had chicken salad sandwiches for lunch.  After that, we all met and rode our motorcycles to McBain to get ice cream at the Twisted Cow, but it was closed and for sale.  We went to Lake City and got ice cream at the Tastee Freeze.  We came back to the campground and went through a few campers that friend got that were new and we hadn’t seen.  At 4:45 we went to dinner at the Cast Iron Skillet in Manton. There were 18 of us.  We came back and all sat around the campfire until 11:00. Came back to the camper and made my banana cream pudding dessert for the potluck. 

Texted with Melissa and then went to bed.

 

Thursday, 5/11/23, Camping in Cadillac, beautiful 78 degree day, lots of outside visiting and a campfire in the evening at Jeff and Kathy’s campsite

Bill by our camper

                  Me by at the edge of our campsite 

View from our window 

Selfie of us

Bill, Dave, Chrissy, Sue and Doug

Kathy and Jeff

Kathy, Jeff, Jeff A., Lisa , me and then the group listed above next to where Bill was sitting.

Brielle on the dolphin at the zoo.  Lots of our kids and grandkids have hat their picture taken on the zoo dolphin. So happy Maddy sent this to me.

 Got up super early so I could shower before going on our camping trip.  I think I’m allergic to our electric blanket and that’s what’s causing my horrible rash.  I pushed it aside last night in the middle of the night because I started thinking that we just got it before I got the rash.  I went to sleep after itching really awful and washing my back with warm water.  I slept better and wasn’t itchy in the morning.  I looked up on Amazon and we got the new electric blanket on 1/31/23, my rash started 2/1/23.  It was 3 weeks before my wellness check with my dr.  I wondered why it was worse at night and even got rid of a pillow because I thought it might be what I was allergic to.  Today we took that blanket off for good.  I’m praying that’s what it is.  I almost sent the blanket back when it came because it felt like wool even though it said 100% polyester.

We left at 10:15 and headed to Cadillac.  I made sure I told Kit Kat goodbye outside.   Don’t want her locked in anywhere lol. Staying at Billings Lake Campground.  It’s really nice here.  We had a tiny corner spot but even with Angling our camper it didn’t fit right.  It was very uneven ground too.  Kathy took us to the office on her golf cart.  Chrissy came too.  The office girl gave us a list of available spots we could move to.  We moved to a beautiful grassy big lot so we’re very happy about that.

Jeff and Dave helped Bill set up the outside stuff.  We went and hung out at Dave and Chrissy’s campsite when we had everything done.  Kathy and Jeff came later, then Doug and Sue came.

Everyone when to their campers to eat. We ate spaghetti in our camper.  Then we all went to Jeff and Kathy’s for a campfire.  We came back and played 3-13.  Bill won, -7 to 11.  It was a close game.  For a long time I was behind by 50 points so I at least made a good comeback.  

Wed., 5/10/23, Went grocery shopping, Cleaned and finished loading camper, went to give Wes his birthday present, put Preen down, watered plants

 

Kit Kat sleeping next to me while I red my Bible outside

She sure wasn't bird watching lol.  She never moved when I got up.

Maddy sent me these cute pictures today

I got up early and got my shower taken.  Bill need in the bathroom to get ready to go with Charlie for breakfast and to Flint to pick up the State Rally flyers and post cards he had printed up.  I had a nice talk with Sue on the phone.  

I went to Meijer and Aldi to get groceries for our trip.  Bill was home by the time I got home.I drove back and put the groceries in the camper.  Last night we loaded the motorcycle in the camper so that was a big thing done.  I did some cleaning today, then packed my clothes and Bill packed his.  Only last minute stuff left now.  

I made spaghetti for dinner.  I also made a white cake with frosting which is Bill's favorite.  We went to get a Mooney's gift certificate and then took Wes's birthday card and the gift certificate over to Wes.  We had to drop off some of the flyers and postcards for them to take the Faith Rider meeting on Sat. since we won't be here for it.  

When we got home, I put Preen around the plants by the shed, around the house, in the new flower garden, and around the tree with bricks around it.  Then I watered everything.  Bill had CMA stuff to work on.  He had to do the agenda and will lead the discussions and give a devotion.  He works hard and does a great job being State Coordinator.  It was after nine when I got inside.  I frosted the cake, then we had a piece.  It sure felt good to sit down.  Too busy to bird watch today.  Vikki called and talked to me for a while.  I am really tired, so will be going to bed by 10:30 hopefully.   

Tues., 5/9/23, Went for coffee and a sandwich with Hailey and Melissa, Packed more stuff in the camper, Vikki, Peyton and Lilly came over

Birds waiting in line for suet

Bill mowing the lawn

Hailey, me and Melissa

A 5 point picture Hailey took of us

Grass is growing nicely around the brick by the tree.  Last year it was all dirt.  Planted grass then and put more seed on this year

All of our trees are getting so big

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Oriole picture of the day

Pulled all the little weeds in the brick walkway

 Bill took the garbage out in the morning.  I put worship music on.  Just ate Honey Bunches of Oats with almonds for breakfast this morning.  Had my coffee with Almond Milk French Vanilla Creamer.  It warmed up outside pretty fast, so I read my Bible out on the deck.  Kit Kat joined me.  Relaxed and did some bird watching after that.  Then came in and started getting things on my camping list put in clothes baskets to take out to the camper. Bill started mowing the grass.  It has been growing really fast.  

Melissa called so I headed over to pick her and Hailey up to go to Cafe 476.  Melissa and I had Mochas and a cranberry chicken salad croissant.  Hailey just wanted an iced Latte'.  She had eaten right before she left home. We had fun visiting and laughing.  I'm so glad we have her home for 3 weeks before she goes off to work.  

When I got home, I loaded my car up and took two loads out.  There's always more to pack the first time camping after bringing stuff in for the winter.  I turned the refrigerator on while I was out there.  I came in and FaceTimed Vikki back.  I didn't have my phone in the camper when she FaceTimed me.  While I talked with her, I sat out and watched the birds for a while.  She got a new Oriole feeder that's really cute.  Her other one started leaking.  The house next to her went up for sale.  We are praying for good neighbors to buy it.  She, Peyton and Lilly stopped over to drop off some wire Vikki picked up for me.  She hung my red bird house Kenze made me when she was in high school.  It's so pretty.  The wrens like making a nest in it.  Hope they do again this year.  I was so thankful for her help.  After they left, I loaded stuff in the camper refrigerator.  Then I came in and Bill and I watched the movie, Guided By the Word.  It was a good one.  I love how he always takes the decorative pillows off the bed, and asks me if I want my electric blanket turned on.  Once in a while I do it, but not very often.  Eli sent me more songs today.  This time I had heard this album already.  It's one of my favorites and I listen to it all the time.  He is so special how he picks out such good ones.  I texted with him for a while.

Monday, 5/8/23, 4 orioles were here this morning, Went for coffee, recovered chair cushion, finished weeding flower bed, weeded some along the small woods,

I held Brielle at Biggby's this morning and shared my muffin with her.  She loved it, but it sure was messy

Two orioles on the jelly feeder and one on the regular feeder

One oriole on the jelly feeder and two on the regular feeder. l Another one was flying around

Orioles liked the suet today too

.

Brielle while Maddy and I did our Mentoring lesson

 

Material I took off from the seat in the camper

Seat after I redid it

                          Hailey and Brianna having fun! Got these from Hailey's post 

I was happy to look out and see 4 orioles flying around this morning.  Nice seeing them on the feeders when they landed.  

Met Maddy at 8:30 at Biggby.  Had a smoothie this time.  Maddy and I both got muffins.  I shared mine with Brielle.  She sure loved it.  It was so messy, because it crumbled into small pieces.  They didn't have any high chair seats for babies.  We moved to the big meeting room, because no one was using it.  Then we could put Brielle on the floor while we did our lesson.  She was such a good baby.  Brielle had to go to her 9 month check up, so we are finishing our lesson later.  

When I got home, Bill brought the staple gun in from the shed, and I stapled the vinyl on the cover to the seat for the camper.  It turned out really good.  Of course, I prayed lots for God to help me.  I sewed a couple of pair of Jack's jogging pants that had little rips in them.  It will help Melissa to have extra pants for him, so will drop them off tomorrow.

Bill picked up all of my piles from weeding the other day.  I finished the last little section of the flower garden.  Then I weeded some in the little woods on the side of the house.  Nice to see my ferns poking up and false forget me nots blooming.  Purple hyacinths are pretty out there too.  

Vikki sent me pictures and videos of orioles at her house today.  She had Rose Breasted Gross Beaks too.  I am so glad she has lots of birds coming and has such a nice place to sit and watch them.  

I checked off my list of what is in the camper already, and put a couple of things in it from the house.  Made hot dogs on the grill, potatoes with onions and butter on the grill, and corn for dinner.  Then we watched a movie.  Ross who Bill is mentoring gave us the movie Happy Feet to watch and said he is like the penguin who can't sing.  It was a weird movie.

 

Sunday, 5//7/23, Went to prayer, than church, Bill went to Men's Steak and Shoot, Saw first oriole on the feeder today, watched a movie

First oriole of the year. Yay!

Oriole in the Sycamore tree

The Oriole feeder was busy today

I was so happy when I saw an Oriole at the feeder before leaving for church.  Love it when they come and their song fills the air.  

We went to prayer, then church.  Good worship and an awesome life changing message given by pastor.  Lots of people wanting prayer after this great message.  Wonderful message on faith and healing.  So powerful!  The Holy Spirit was moving.

Bill took me to Subway to get me a sub for lunch since he was going to the Men's "Steak and Shoot" some elders at the church were putting on.  So glad Bill went.  

My Kit Kat adventure began on Friday evening around 9, when I took the bedding I had washed out to the camper.  I always try to be careful not to leave the door open so Kit Kat doesn't get in.  I put the bedding back on the bed, then went to go out.  I noticed the sliding glass door to the back garage room of the camper was open, so I closed it.  That must be when Kit Kat snuck in.  Anyway, Saturday morning, I noticed Kit Kat hadn't eaten her food.  She always eats right away in the morning.  We went on our RFS motorcycle ride and when we got home, there was no sign of Kit Kat still.  I called all over for her, but she didn't come, and she always comes running when she hears me.  I worked outside and still didn't see any sign of her.  At about 10 p.m. last night, I decided to try calling her again and walked all over.  I checked again to see if she was in the shed and she wasn't, then I check the small little shed by the garden.  I walked over by the camper and heard the tv playing and saw lights flashing.  Very weird.  I went in the house and got the keys and checked in the camper, and there was Kit Kat.  She sure was happy to see me.  After I put her outside, I looked around for damage.  She had been in there for 24 hours, so I was worried.  After checking all over very thoroughly, ther were no potty messes, and the only two things she did, was scratch up the vinyl covering on a little seat in our bedroom that the cover lifts off of.  It is the same material the chairs in our garage were that she clawed up when she was shut in there for 8 days.  She also slept in the closet on a beach mat and I noticed the two plastic things that keep the door sliding straight were lying on the floor.  They go back on easily.  No damage to the long leather couch, or any screens Praise God!  I sure don't know how the tv was playing as the remotes were all in the top high cupboard which was closed and she couldn't even fit in if she did get up there.  A real mystery.  I am thinking God turned the tv on for me so I would find her before she did really bad damage.  I had prayed to find her all day. 

This is the underneath side of the seat cover.  I didn't think to take one of the ruined side.  Just took one to help me remember what to do

 

Today, I pulled all the staples out of the seat top, and took the old vinyl off and bought new for 6.98 (the same kind we got for the picnic benches in the garage room).  I have it cut out and am just waiting for Bill to put the right size staples in the staple gun and then I will finish this project.  

Bill had a good time at the church outing.  We watched a movie called, Child of the King.