Olivia and Rose visit Kentucky

Hello family of ours! We are writing to let you know that Olivia and Rose came down to visit and we are having a wonderful time. We have done so much we are worn right out! They arrived on Thursday night the 18th. We just chilled that evening and then on Friday we went to the Lost Cave. Olivia panned for gold and found some wonderful stones. Then she and Rose took the boat tour into the cave. It was exciting. After that we hit the candy store to see what kind of haul Livvie could make. It was fun. She also got to ride the carousel. Saturday Ed, Rose Olivia and I went to Park City and hit the jackpot! All the rides and stuff were $2.00!!! So lets see, she rode the bumper boats with Uncle Ed and loved it. Then her and I rode the sky lift up where the Alpine slide starts but decided we wouldnt go down the slide, just ride the lift back. It was really high. Then she jumped in the harnessed trampoline, rode the bumper cars against Uncle Ed again and to top off the rides, her and Ed did the go-carts. She drove her own and ended up with the fastest one and flew around that track. It was quite exciting. Rose treated us to a wonderful lunch and we came home with plans to veg a bit, but ended up in a big water fight and got drenched. It was great. That night we watched a good movie called Alvin and the Chipmunks. Was funny. Today which is Sunday we went to the Flea Market to see what goodies we could find. Olivia has decided to collect fans so she started her collection. We walked and walked all over and now are home and waiting to eat a wonderful dinner of roast beef that Rose is making. Yum....... While we are writing this Olivia is outside with the metal detector seeing if she can find some treasures. So its been a fun and exciting visit and Olivia has been just wonderful. She hit is off big with my dogs and they just love her. She has thrown the ball and loved them up good. Tomorrow they go back to the airport and we will be doing lunch at the Aquarium restaurant before we leave. Whew.......Im worn out but loving every minute of it. Now Ed and I will prepare for our next big visit at Christmas. Love to everyone, Cindy ps....i have posted a couple of pictures.

Lake Charlevoix camping!

Hello my sisters!
This summer is going fast! Here we are at Augusts end almost and still trying to cram in as much as we can before the snow flies. Just got back from an overnight in Mt. Pleasant at the casino...yes...you heard right! Larry's sister and brother-in-law (they are avid gamblers) racked up points and treated us to a reserved room, bought dinner and all we had to do was spend a little gambling money. We lost but Sue won over a grand. It was great fun!
Two days before that we were up in Boyne City on Lake Charlevoix camping with the kids for 5 days. It was BEAUTIFUL!!!! We swam every day, water was warm, clean, clear. It would be a great place for a reunion if everyone would enjoy camping. Kids rode bikes all day, they had a park on campgrounds, we went exploring in town, climbed Avalanch Hill (an old ski hill) which gave a spectacular view of the lake. We had great fun, kids were great and was a nice 5 days. We are lucky to have such beautiful places in Michigan.
Next month Kathy and Jeff come to visit, a week later Miss Olivia and I fly to Ky. to visit Aunt Cindy, in Oct Larry and I fly to Calif. for harvest (I hope) and maybe we can get in one more campout before it gets too cold. Then this winter we will work on our bathroom. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I am soooo sorry about Lucy, Es, my heart aches for you. I really liked the little bugger too! We will miss her.
Well, I need to go now. Am going to help Vera can tomatoes. I love you all and will leave you with another lovely thought.....I enjoy this one because I believe it is so true.

"As we grow older and realize more clearly the limitations of human happiness, we come to see that the only real and abiding pleasure in life is to give pleasure to other people."...... P.G.Woodhouse, Something New

A view of summer!

Hello my sisters!
It is a beautiful day! We have been very fortunate to have had such nice weather this summer! Enough rain to make the gardners/farmers happy but not enough to keep everything soaked too long. The temps are warm and cool breezes keep us from complaining. This season suggests a good harvest for fall. All is well here with us. Have a BBQ planned for friends, camping trips, air trips in Sept. and Oct. will finish off the good weather season for us northerners. Looking forward to some fun days before we pull out our fall coats again. Hope everyone is doing okay. I am including a thought for you all...one that I think is beautiful and true. Till later.....

"In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things and happy in small ways." ...Edith Wharton, A Backward Glance

I am personally working on that one! I love you all,
Rose

Family Reunion

Well since no one else is going to write about our week's vacation, I certainly will. What a great week we shared with all of the kids, which of course includes the husbands. The weather was great, the water was cold and a good time was had by all. Thank you Linda and Peter for allowing us to share this time with everyone, it truly is worth waiting for every two years. The house was wonderful, big, roomy and with spaces to get away if you so desired. Even the two dogs enjoyed it, though Lucy is a little chewed up...........................just kidding Lin. Thank goodness we took the boat with us, the kids got to go tubing and were able to watch The Blue Angels fly right over their heads from the boat. (Course they came home alittle crisp from the sun, but loved it). Its always so great to catch up on everyone's busy lives. Ing it was wonderful having you there the whole week and Finny was loving it. Thank you for taking all the kids to the movies, what a treat for them. It was restful, though chaotic as usual, but thats what it is all about. Cindy, we missed you terribly and would have loved to have Maya in the mix, she would have loved it. Hopefully in 2010 you will be there as well. All we needed to complete the picture was Kathy and Erik and Reese and Kelly. Maybe next time everyone can come and it will be the best yet. It is so hard to come home after having such a great time, but alas, all good things must come to an end. I loved every minute of the time we spent together and am already looking forward to the next one. Thanks again for a wonderful time. Es

Just An Update

Well I have returned from Kentucky and had a wonderful trip. Thanks again Ed and Cindy, you are such great hosts, it was fun and lucrative.........(wink!). By the way, we got our grass Cindy and I am planting today, so will keep you posted, how did your flower boxes turn out? Have you made a decision on whether you can make it to Traverse City? I am keeping my fingers crossed. Stan and I went up to Northport yesterday to check out the marina. Didnt want to take the boat up if there wasnt alot of room, but as it turns out, its perfect. No one was staying at the house either, wondered if we couldnt get in early if no one has it this next week............what do you think Linda? The boys left for Calif. Thursday night, had a three hour delay and made it out after 10 p.m., which made a late night for Theresa and I. Called at three a.m. to let us know they arrived and havent heard much since then, must be having a great time. I am looking so forward to our vacation week, it will be so wonderful to see whoever makes it. For those that cant we will be thinking of you and missing you. Well that about sums it up, see everyone soon. Rose and I will be getting together to discuss the food and menu's today and then Tate and I go to Splash Village in Frankenmuth to spend the night and play in the water. Love you all, Es

A poem!

Hi girls! We just got done with a thunderstorm and dime sized hailstorm! Whew! Its a quiet Sunday now so I thought I would write a little note on the blog. Went to church this morning and visited with the regular church folk, had a good sermon. We sure do like our Pastor and admire what he and the church is all about. It makes Sunday very special to us. Went to lunch with my old friend Vera and her 94 year old friend Lena after church. Two absolutly great women. I enjoy their company any time we are together. Larry had a golf skirmish in Saginaw with a bunch of friends...he was itching to play an 18 hole game of golf. Unfortunatly he may be rained out!
Olivia and I are heading for Ky. to visit Aunt Cindy and Uncle Ed in Sept. Looking forward to another visit with my sister and Livey is excited about the plane trip. Then in Oct. we may be heading to Calif. for harvest and a visit with Kathy and Jeff. Looking forward to going West again. Life is good...we are well. Hope the same for all of you. I am including a little poem that I love so I am sharing it with you. It comes out of the book "The Storytellers Daughter"...a very good book about the Middle East. Hope you like it. I love you all, Rose

From every heart is a window to other hearts,
They are not seperated like two bodies
Just as, even tho two lamps are not joined,
Their light is united in a single ray.

Masnavi, Jalaluddin Rumi-author

Heading South

Well no one seems to want to post anymore..............whats up with that? I am heading down to Kentucky for the weekend to spend some time with my little sister. Will be leaving this afternoon and getting there tomorrow afternoon. I am taking my little Lucy with me so it should be quite an adventure for her. When I return the boys will be heading to California and after that we have the Traverse City house so it is going to be a full summer, one of which I am looking forward to. I hope everyone is happy and healthy and enjoying their summer so far, I think of everyone alot and love you all. I will write again when I return, see you tomorrow Cin. Love Es.