Cinderella

I took Ashley and Kyla to the dinner theatre on Saturday to see Cinderella. Lots of pretty princesses. Kyla got her face painted and during the play the King's men walked through the audience to try on the glass slipper and they stopped at Kyla. That was a big thrill, of course, it didn't fit. During intermission the children were invited to get up on the stage and get their picture taken.

The red shouldered hawk was in our backyard while I was getting ready on Saturday morning. He was picking up and dropping that stuffed duck of Baxter's. Finally, he took off with it, flew about 50 feet and dropped it. I did the retrieving. I told Baxter the day before to bring his duck inside that it would get all wet if it rained, but he doesn't listen any better than the rest of my children. Rick and I have finally finished the whole right hand side of our backyard fence. It was 24/8' sections. New posts, stringers and 5/8" slats. That fence should last another 20 years or more. We'll do the other side and the back when it cools down a bit.

I'm going to lunch with Ruth Ann Jackson, she used to live across the street from us on Watson. Her husband passed away a couple of months ago and we went to the funeral. We hadn't seen her or Andy in sometime, but she's excited to catch up.

Take care, love, Marilynn

summer family news 2010

Where to start. It's blowing and raining again like crazy. You know those waves you have during labor, well that's about how these squalls come. This is now the second day we have not been able to be outside. We were so lucky weather wise for Nathan and Laura's visit.

Nathan and Bob and the realtor have decided that the best course of action for Nathan is short sale. Priscilla, (realtor) put the house on the market on Friday and he had a showing today. Once the dust settles, he will move to an apartment and has made application to a dive school in FL to be certified to weld underwater on a rig. He'll have to borrow money - approved for $7200 from Feds, the rest I think he will apply to Sallie Mae - Smart Option Student Loan. Know anything about that, Herb? Course is 20 weeks and he is guaranteed a job right after, but will do no diving for 36 more weeks of training on the job. He's so excited, he can't stand it.

Evan is still working at the Farmington downtown theater. The "manager" was dismissed as the new city manager came in to check things out. Evan had been telling us what was going on. He didn't have enough proof to go to the city, so glad they came in. After that, he called the city manager and got an appointment to tell him how Evan thought they could save money and work more efficiently. The city mgr. asked what he knew about what was going on at the theater and Evan told him. Looks like he may get a promotion to asst. mgr. It's a job he can do, without much stress and no heat, so his arms should remain healthy. Bob says it's the first time he's really seen Evan "take it by the balls".

Bob got a job doing a pool deck in STT last week. He has to do samples and should start in a week or so. He's doing a micro topping, not polishing. As I write this, the wind and rain have begun again and the rain is coming at the house completely perpendicular!!

As for me, I'm going to learn to make yogurt from scratch. The yard is looking quite good with all the rain we have had - 10" more that YTD last year and the vegetable garden is fallow and rejuvinating until planting season again.

That's all for now. dinner preparation calls.

luv to you all.

B & B

Grandkids At The Lake Yesterday

Here's a pix of Caleb in the car after they just all came back from a day full of fun and frolicking at Dogwood Valley Resort (lake) that's across the road from our house. I figured I'd better get a pix since he's getting it cut today.

I'll get another pix next time I see him after he's got it cut. Kathy comments how much he looks like his Mom.

Settling In At The New Place

It's been a while since I've written, seems like every day/nite there's some little project to do around the house, but that's starting to settle down a bit.

We had Garrett for a few days while David and Bri went to Kelly's Island for their wedding anniversary and right now we have Abby for a couple nights while the other kids are over at David and Lisa's. It's beautiful weather here although a little hot, we don't have the A/C on and the windows are all wide open at night ... reminds me of sleeping at the cottage at Pirateers Cove or whatever it was called.

In the office today, showed 3 homes this morning, getting a contract in this afternoon and a good closing coming on Friday so it's a good week. Kathy and I are taking a few days at the end of the month and heading up to Lake St. Helen to Pam & Mikes place (near Houghton Lake) so I know we'll take the annual "road trip" and see the old stomping grounds around Kalkaska including Mom & Dad's grave site. I'll be sure to send pix of the old familiar places for ya'

Think that's it for now, I'll try to post a little more often now that the bulk of the work on the new place has slowed down. Thanks,

July news

Here's a picture taken on Fathers Day. We had steak and potatoes from the grill.

We had Kyla, Ashley and Darin up at Dover Bluff for 4th of July. Ryan came by too, but I forgot to take my camera. Ryan has moved in with Traci. That makes it about a 10 minute drive to work instead of 45.

Hope all is well with you guys, it's hotter than hell here.

fun with Nathan and Laura

Hi all,
Really having fun with Laura and Nathan. They go home day after tomorrow. Had many days at the beach and Nathan was very helpful to Bob on the other house.
More later.
Isn't she cute?

Father's Day

It's late, but I hope Herb and Bob both had a nice Father's. Ashley and Kyla came over and Ryan came down. He didn't get back to Dover Bluff from his job bartending until 4 a.m. as they had a beach party at the Rafters complete with sand and bikinis! And it's on a second floor! Rick and I worked on the fence and got another 5 sections done before noon, then went shopping for dinner and they came over about 3:30 p.m. We have had rain everyday this week, but it sure beats paying the watering bill.

Rick and I had a good time in Orlando. We went to the auction and Rick got an i-pad, a golf and lunch for 4 in Tampa, the Peterbrooke basket we took (he thought he would just start the bidding and then no one bid against him!), and a week in Harbor Isle in the Bahamas. We were thinking of going for our 40th wedding anniversary with Debi and Gary and Carol and Denny from Bay City who we went to Alaska with for our 25th, but Gary is gravely ill at Henry Ford Hospital.

I just bought tickets for Kyla, Ashley and I to go to a dinner theater to see Cinderella in July. That should be a good experience for Kyla. I booked a month out and got good seats. We're going up to Dover for the 4th. Ashley and Kyla will come for part of that. She started summer camp at her elementary school yesterday. I hope she likes it.

Betsy, have a great time with Nathan and his girlfriend, Bert, sounds like life is treating you well. love to all,

Marilynn

Rain, rain, go away

Just got back from Skinny's. Went for a burger,w/o bun and to see faces other than our own. We have been holed up here since Friday. the wind has been horrendous, but just now, the rain and wind is beginning to subside. Lots of locals in Skinny's expecially those who live on boats. Need to get to the watering hole to discuss weather and sports. Watched the PGA, guess Tiger is back in full swing - no pun intended.
Was supposed to go with a friend to STT today and just fool around and go to the Farmer's Market. That didn't happen.
With all this rain, the garden is a bloomin' Lemon, lime and passion fruit trees are going crazy. I made lemongrass and ginger tea this morning. Really good on such an icky day.
Tomorrow everything should be back to normal and we go to town to get some plywood for the kitchen counter in the rental unit and bottled water.
nathan and Laura come on the 26th. Another tropical wave threatens for the end of next week. Hope it holds off, although Nathan said he would rather be here in a storm than there working in MI.
Good news is that 2 of our old dealerships have called him to put the film on the front of cars. They buy the kits and he just installs. Then another buddy referred another dealer to Nathan for tint work. So, he is happy as a clam, working on Monday and Thurs and Sat.
Hope all is well with you guys. Herb and Kathy, lets see some "settled" pics.
luv,
b

Out showing a Short Sale in Cardington this morning, now home to do some yard work before Fathers Day party tomorrow.

Downloaded "CompanionLink" to sync Outlook to Google and then to my new PalmPrePlus web-based phone. Taking forever to sync the 1st time.