9/11

Spent the afternoon with mom and her friends at her nursing home singing patriotic songs.  I looked around at all the gray haired women and men singing and they knew all the words to the songs.  I thought how did they learn them?  We don't teach our kids many of these songs anymore unless they're in a school play!  Will this generation grow up knowing these songs?  Most of these people were born during WWII.  Wonder what their memories were as they sang these songs today!  It was fun on this solemn day!

Active Living in the UP

These last two weeks have been fun.  Had my niece and her family here as they enrolled their son in Michigan Tech.  Was fun to see them and discuss college again!  Both of the parents are alumni of this school so they loved it!  Then my sister Roberta and her husband were here  for this past week.  We hiked into Canyon Falls, one of the beautiful waterfalls in Michigan.  Not a sole on the path which is sad in a way.  People are missing out on this natural wonder!  Went kayaking with some former teacher friends.  It's funny how I haven't seen one of my colleagues in 30 years and it's like we saw each other yesterday.  My first time to kayak.  Beautiful sunny day, but around 70 degrees!  You just float out on that kayak on the bay.  You see those beautiful evergreeens all around the lake.  So calm and relaxing.  These ladies meet once a week to do this.  They wave at the school buses as they go by!
I've even sewn my nephew that is going to college a tshirt quilt, so I'm on my way out to the quilter today.  She lives on Otter Lake, so can't wait to see that!  Been on lots of back roads, not always sure where.  There is still plenty of unclaimed land and trees up here.  Lots of logging going on!
The storage units are coming to Texas today, so Bill will be loading them up.  Then we'll decide what we're doing next!  It's nice to have flexibility.

First Week of School

I've got to admit I've been thinking about all the fun things that happen these first weeks of school.  I've always loved the first day with the kids!   So exciting!  I am missing all that, but not the long days, etc.
It's a pretty slow life up here in the UP.  I do appreciate the beauty and the weather.  Most days I walk to see my Mom which is really nice.  Over the week-end we went to a small museum that showed how Finnish people lived when they first settled in the UP in the 1800's.  Went with my sister Kris and her grandsons so it was fun to see it through their eyes.  We watched a cow being milked, and one of the little boys said, "Where's the cheese?"  His mom told him you get cheese from a cow too so he thought that's how it came out!  That's why I miss school.  All those fun young kids!
Working on a tshirt quilt for one of my great nephews who is going to Michigan Tech this fall.  it helps keep me busy.  I never travel without my sewing machine, that way you'll never be bored.
Today I have on my long jeans and sweatshirt.  It was 55 this morning and probably in the 60's now.  Still waiting for my husband to join me so we can do a little traveling in the UP.  Should be the first week in Sept.  right after Labor Day.
Two of my other sisters will be here this week, so it'll be fun to visit with them also.  Lots of family up here!

Well I'm now settled in Michigan for a few months!  It's been beautiful weather-warm during the day and cool at night.  I love visiting with Mom each day.  My sister Kris lives close enough that I can walk to see Mom.  Great exercise and I enjoy the beautiful scenery.Pretty quiet living here, but I love being in this beautiful part of the country.  Kris and I poked our toes in Lake Superior and decided maybe we could brave the cold water (55) and go swimming one day soon!
Memphis and Nashville were so fun!  I met Bill in Memphis and we spent one night there.  Went to a restaurant for barbecue spaghetti that was featured on Diners, Drive ins and Dives.  Really good.  Of course Elvis had eaten there many times and he was there in spirit.  In Nashville there were 17 of us-brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews to celebrate my brother Jeff's 60th  birthday.  We all had t-shirts that had a guitar on them and said "Honky Tonkins!"  (Tonkin is our family name.)  At every bar they sang Happy Birthday to him, and there were plenty.  I couldn't believe how crowded it was.  Evidently it's the Bachelorette Capital of the US.  Saw lots of drunk young ladies and Jeff danced with them all! Was fun to party with four of my five siblings and family!

A regular retirement day

Had a very nice day today!  Got up, played with the two little ones, then had coffee and watched the Today Show.  I've been dreaming of this all the days I worked!  The simple things in life.
Then I went for a walk in the park.  Beautiful morning, (in the low 70's).  Sat outside most of the morning reading a book!  I never cooked much while I was working, so I'm enjoying some of that now.  Have a whole chicken cooking in the crockpot, and made a Mexican casserole last Friday for the neighbors (of Lindsey's) to share while sitting outside!  Doesn't sound like much, but it's so different than my life has been for the past 40 years!  Really relaxing into each day, and take it as it comes.
Speaking of coming, meeting my brothers and sisters in Nashville this Friday celebrating my brother Jeff's 60th birthday!  Should be a wild time.  Then on to Michigan.  I'm not missing the 100 degree days! 
I hope to figure out how to post pictures next time.  Just learning.

Finally got to blogging!!

Well, I've tried a couple of times to get my blog setup, but without my Wyatt peeps to help it's been a challenge.  Anyway here I am.  Hopefully I figure out how you can read it.
Did I miss my first day back to work?  I didn't know it started until my office manager texted me to tell me!  I've lost track of days!  Right now I am at Lindsey's in PA.  Today I spent exploring a small town called Emmaus.  Cute downtown are.  Kind of like downtown Plano, but MUCH older, as is everything here.  Trying to familiarize myself with the area.  Can find my way around Pennsburg, (where Lindsey lives) and Quakertown, a little larger town and more familiar because it has a Target, Ross and other stores!  Everything is very old here!
Went to the Jersey Shore for a week.  Ran into the Effinger family (from Wyatt) on the boardwalk!  Would love to run into other people I know.  The beach and water were wonderful, but very crowded.  It was a balmy 85 degrees and breezy so perfect. Fun playing in the water and sand with a 2 and 3 year old!!
Next week off to Nashville for my brother Jeff's 60th birthday with my other siblings! Should be fun.  Stay tuned.

P.S.  When I went into the store and saw school supplies, I was shocked!  So early, I say to myself.  I'm not missing it yet!  But to all my Wyatt peeps, I do miss you!!