Saturday, 6/7/25, went on ride to Empire at 10, potluck at 6, campfire at Doug and Sue’s

Getting ready to pray at the campground before leaving

Leaving the campground

Fife Lake

Scenic lookout over Lake Michigan. It was so beautiful

Me and Bill

Wes and Gayla

Group Pictures

Rior and Sue...she was trying to figure out how to set the camera to take a group selfie

Pauletta, Jeff and Marsha

Wes walking, Betty on the trike

It was busy in town in Empire, but we found a Nice little side road across from the restaurant to park at

Stopped at Shipwreck Cafe in Empire...great sandwiches

Nice day for eating outside


Below are pictures of our evening potluck. Sue and Doug made sloppy joes and also a broccoli salad.  All of the food was delicious!

Ate breakfast and drank our coffee.  Read our Bibles outside because it was sunny and warm out. Russ and Marsha got here at 10. They visited with us outside our camper and we talked to them about what they need to do as area reps for CMA.  Katie and Ray came and visited too.  

At 10, we went on a group ride.  There were 10 bikes today. and 18 people.  It was a great ride with lots of hills and curves and also lots of beautiful lakes to see.  We went through Arcadia and saw lots of swans on Portage Lake.  Then we stopped at a beautiful scenic lookout by Lake Michigan.  There were three swans in Lake Michigan that were pretty far out.  We talked to a girl by a motorcycle and ended up doing a bike blessing for her and her boyfriend’s bike and them.  She also wanted us to pray for her friend Corky who was with them,  but was up on the top lookout.  We prayed with her for him.  Prayer is appreciated for him for God to heal him.  We drove by Cristalia Lake after that.  Then we rode to Empire for lunch.  We went to a really good sandwich shop called Moose and Stella’s.  We got chicken salad sandwiches that were huge and delicious.  We left there and rode back to the campground in more amazing roads. Doug and Sue did a great job planning the rides and activities for our weekend.  Russ, Marsha, Katie and Ray hung out with us for the afternoon.  Gayla brought us drumsticks she had brought along.  We had a fun time visiting and talking about the great things the Lord has done!!!   I made chicken noodle casserole to take to the potluck along with the banana cream pudding dessert.  It disappeared and so did over half of the chicken noodle casserole.  I had everything done but the noodles had to be drained.  I had Bill do that for me.  I had cooked lots of noodles because we had people come who didn’t bring a dish to pass.  We had plenty to share.  I looked as Bill said these aren’t going to all fit in the crockpot.  He had it heaping.  I told him not to put the rest in, because we would just make buttered noodles with the extra.  He had to go to the bathroom, so Russ said he would stir the noodles in for me while I went to the pavilion and helped put tablecloths on.  We visited in the camper until it was time to eat at 6. Everyone helped carry stuff over with us.  We ate and sat talking for a long time, then cleaned everything up and went to the campfire. More fun hanging out. Wes was voted best marshmallow roaster.  Everyone had s’mores but I was too full to eat any more.  Bill and I played 3-13 and dice. He was the big winner of both!

Friday, 6/6/25, Russ came for the day, Group ride to Fulmouth and Tustin, nice ride back to campground seeing some buffalo on our way

I took this out the camper window of Bill reading his Bible

Kimmy took this picture of the cherry tree Bill, Jacob and Adam planted which replaced our Cleveland Pear tree

Riding to Falmouth to go to Lunch at Duane’s Restaurant and walk around Eber’s gift shop and the hardware shop

Group pic in the parking lot at Falmouth

Wes and Bill in the hardware shop

Wes had to try this zero turn out...just sitting on it not using it lol

At Yoder’s Amish Store in Tustin.  We bought cookies and I got another loaf of yummy cheese bread.  Bill got homemade wheat bread.

Buffalo in the water on the side of the road. Below they are moving out of the water 

I made our coffee and I had a bowl of granola cereal and Bill drank a protein drink.  We read our Bibles in the morning, then Russ got here so I made him a coffee and he, Bill and Wes visited outside.  I got my layers of clothes on for our 10 am ride.  11 of us went with 8 bikes total.  It warmed up to 73 degrees and felt good. We got to Fulmouth and ate at Duane’s restaurant.  Gayla and I split a Ruben sandwich and the guys had a burger.  Then we went to Eber’s gift shop and market.  I bought a cute necklace/earring set and a cute Angel to give to Gayla for her birthday. I asked them about the pepper shaker I had gotten from there that the metal lid had a crack in and she gave me the information to contact the company.

We rode to Tustin next and went to Yoder’s Amish store. I bought more cheese bread to put in the freezer so I can make sandwiches when the girls come over again.  

Bill and I both got a pack of homemade cookies too!  We saw buffalos on our way back to the camper.  Some were in the water and moved out of it quickly when they saw us.

We got back and relaxed for an hour, then went to Club 37 Restaurant to eat dinner as a group.  There ended up being 18 of us. We had the best waitress!  We had cod, a baked potato and salad. Cut was delicious.  We came back to the campground and sat around the campfire.  Wes and Gayla didn’t come, so I went to get them. They had me come in and said they were just going to go to bed early.  We talked for a long time and then I saw Bill looking for me at our camper. He came to see if I was at Wes and Gayla’s camper.  Wes ended up coming to the campfire, but Gayla decided to rest.  We had fun at the campfire, then I came back to make banana cream pudding dessert for our potluck tomorrow night.  Bill always wants me to make it and it always disappears. 

We played 3-13 and dice and Bill won both games.  I didn’t even stay under 100.  I texted with Adam today.  I love my sweet Adam!!!!

Thursday, 6/5/25, Packet last minute things, Bill had a doctor appointment at 10, Left Iron’s RV Campground.

Kimmy and Vikki picked up an ironing board that hangs on the door for me and hung it while we were gone.  So sweet of them.

Our neighbors...Wes and Gayla...our Family

Pool at the campground 

Ride with Wes and Gayla to Manistee

Cute town of Manistee.  We were looking for an ice cream shop

We found a good one with homemade ice cream in lots of flavors

Picture Bill took with his glasses...poor Gayla

I watered my plants inside and outside. I moved the outside ones under the gazebo that rain can get through but keeps sun out.  I filled the bird feeders and jelly jars.  Checked on my plants. Also checked the garden and the corn is coming up.  I got a text from Adam saying his knee popped out at work on his first day.  He had to go to Med Express.  I was in tears and really praying hard for him.  He has gone through so many hard things, always having a great attitude, and now this job he’s wanted for a year might not work out.  I am praying for God’s will though because that’s always best even if we can’t see it at the time.  Vikki called and told me about it too. Kimmy had her root canal done today by a friend of ours from church who does a great job.  Bill got home, and put a few more things in the camper and hooked the trailer up and loaded the trike.  

Bill and I left and drove the motorhome two hours to Irons.  Wes and Gayla talked to us a couple of times on our trip. They greeted us at the entrance when we arrived.  We parked next to them.  We got set up, relaxed and then went on a ride with them to Manistee.  We stoped at a cider mill/ bakery on the way, but didn’t buy anything because we were headed to get ice cream.  We went through the cute beach town and found a homemade ice cream shop. It was delicious.  We sat outside at a cute table.  We drove to the lake a mile away and drove by the beach.  The temperature went from 81 where we were camping to 61 by the water.  

We came back to the campground, ate dinner, then sat around the campfire at Sue and Doug’s with them, Wes and Gayla , and two other couples we just met.  We  came back to our camper and played 3-13 and I won and dice and Bill won.

Wed., 6/4/25, Went shopping for Mason’s birthday gift, picked up something for Brielle to, cooked burger for trip, made hamburger patties for trip, cut up potatoes for scalloped potatoes, started ham in the crockpot, went and watched Brielle and Mason, stopped at Vikki’s dropped off church donation stuff, made scalloped potatoes and ham, dropped some off to Sue, had banana splits later

My Clematis by the shed is in full bloom.  It’s never been so full of blossoms.  Peonies re starting to open

Front view

When Brielle woke up she wanted to come to me right away.  I brought Mason’s 1st  Birthday present because we won’t be here for his party.  I brought Brielle a Waterworld coloring book.  She wanted to try that out right away.  We had fun with it just by filling the paint brush with water.  It’s amazing how colorful they are and also how they are scented now.  She wanted to take everything out of Mason’s bag and look at it.  I read her the books I got him.  They were such cute books.  She loved the poppet one. 

She sure is a happy girl!

Vikki got us these nice razor holders.  They have suction cups and wouldn’t stick to our shower wall because it is rough.  I found the perfect sp                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Sweet Peyton and Isaac let me take a picture so I would have one for my blog

My Owala water bottle.  I forgot Maddy gave me a gift certificate to Target for my birthday.  I went there to get Mason’s gift and they had Owala bottles there in the size I wanted and also had pretty colors.  I used the gift card to get it.  I sure like it

I got home and made up the scalloped potatoes, layering and adding ingredients til all the sliced potatoes were used up.  I baked it for an hour, then browned the ham that had been in the crock pot and added it on top of the potatoes.  I made peas too.  I packed some up and took it to Sue so she could have a good meal.  She hasn’t been making anything so thought she could use a home cooked meal.  She was so thankful.  I came home and ate after I left there.  Cleaned up the dishes, then hauled the last refrigerator stuff out to the camper refrigerator.  Packed other things too.  Last minute things are all that need to be packed tomorrow.  

I was FaceTiming with Kenzie.  I was making our banana splits at first, then sat dow.  I looked out the window and could tell there was a beautiful sunset.

I stepped out the door and took this picture.  It was even prettier in person.