Birthday, Boating and Basking

Wednesday, September 30, 2015  
It hardly seems possible but it was 19 years ago today that our first grandchild was born - Jackson MacRae Guilfoyle.  I had just arrived in Florida and gone to the care center where my mother had just been moved following a stroke. when the phone rang in her room.  It was Sue calling to say he had been born.  What joy at the same time as sadness.  It was my mom's first great grandchild and the prognosis was not wonderful.  I wondered if she would even live to meet this little guy.  She did get to see him once when Sue made the trip down for my Dad's funeral four years later.  It put a smile on her face despite all the sorrow and her poor physical condition.  Happy Birthday, Jackson!!!!  (here he is with his mom)

Meanwhile, Ken and I enjoyed a boat trip on Lake Arthur at the Moraine State Park here in Pennsylvania.  We joined thirty 55 and up members of the Over the Speed Limit group at Dan's church, Westminster Presbyterian, for the two hour tour of the lake that included lunch and a running commentary about the vicinity and things we were seeing. (Dan enjoyed the afternoon with all of us)

It was a gray day after two days of continuous rain.  The temperatures had taken a bit of drop but it didn't dampen our enthusiasm!  This lake was created back in 1969 when a dam was built allowing five creeks to flow in and fill a huge area that had once been farms and the small town of Isle.  (Below is the earthen dam with a spillway going into Muddy Creek)

The buildings were removed except for the church on a hill that still stands today and is the only piece of private property in what is now the 5th largest state park in Pennsylvania.  The lake itself is seven miles long with arms stretching in a variety of directions creating 42 miles of shoreline.

A couple of people on our trip remember when it was being created and watching the old 422 highway slowly being covered over by water as well as land they had grown up traveling on.  There was alot of controversy over this partially because of the loss of farms that had been in families for many years. The guide told us about a couple that had been on this same trip awhile back when celebrating their wedding anniversary.  They had been married in the church that remains and had traveled the road that was slowly being covered by water to get to their reception.  The pastor who left well after the rest of the party got stuck in the water and had to be rescued.

There are now several marinas, a couple of beaches, and miles of bicycle paths plus lots and lots of trees attracting all kinds of wild life life including a variety of birds.  A pair of eagles have made their home here along with lots of ospry, heron, turkey vultures, ducks and geese.  Corcomants use this as a stopping point as they travel south in the fall and return north in the spring. Below is a blue heron heading for shore.

The colors of fall were just beginning to pop up in a variety of spots adding to the beauty of the landscape

Ken and Noelle went to the church in the evening for choir practice while I stayed home and played a game of Qwirkle with Rachel.  Then when they returned the girls again enjoyed watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune with us before heading back into the house for bed.  What fun it has been having the girls come for visits - we truly are basking in the joy of being so close so we can spend time with them like this.  Abbi is starting to feel a little bit better so we hope we'll be able to get in some good visit time with her too before we leave.

Apple Picking and Super Moon Lunar Eclipse

Sunday, September 27, 2015
After worship and Sunday School we enjoyed a pork roast dinner with purple potatoes and tossed salad as we discussed the sermon and Sunday School experiences.   Then after an early afternoon rest, Jen, Rachel and Noelle went to a neighbors home to pick apples from his five loaded trees.

I walked over, took pictures and got some of the apples that the girls dropped in the process of picking them. Here is Rachel in her favorite spot right up into the tree reaching out with a picker.

While Noelle was reaching them from the ground

The goal is to make lots of fresh sugar free applesauce that we can all enjoy mixing the different varieties that they picked.

After the evening worship service we set up our chairs in the backyard where we could get a clear view of the sky and watch the lunar eclipse.  Unfortunately there were lots of clouds so it was a bit of a challenge but we did get to see the full moon

before it all started and several times clouds moved out of the way

so we could see the full eclipse progress.

About the time it was fully covered the dark clouds began to drop rain so we came back in pleased we'd at least seen part of the big show in the sky.  It is not due to happen again for another 18 years.

This particular moon is referred to as the blood moon and the lunar eclipse is better described in this clip I found:

A total lunar eclipse will share the stage with a so-called supermoon Sunday night or early Monday, depending where you are. That combination hasn’t been seen since 1982 and won’t happen again until 2033.

When a full or new moon makes its closest approach to Earth, that’s a supermoon. Although still about 354,056 kilometres away, this full moon will look bigger and brighter than usual. In fact, it will be the closest full moon of the year, about 48,000 kilometres closer than the average distance. (The moon’s orbit is far from a perfect circle.)

And this tells more about a lunar eclipse:
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth into its umbra (shadow). This can occur only when the sun, Earth and moon are aligned (in "syzygy") exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, a lunar eclipse can occur only the night of a full moon. The type and length of aneclipse depend upon the Moon's location relative to its orbital nodes.

Unlike a solar eclipse, which can be viewed only from a certain relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth. A lunar eclipse lasts for a few hours, whereas a total solar eclipse lasts for only a few minutes at any given place, due to the smaller size of the Moon's shadow. Also unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view without any eye protection or special precautions, as they are dimmer than the full moon.

Portersville Christian School Fall Festival

Saturday, September 26, 2015
I've skipped writing for several days because we've truly fallen into a relaxed state with little special happening.  I did go to the Thursday morning exercise class at the church and Friday Jen and I attended the Presbytery Women's Retreat at the Marriott Hotel in Cranberry after first enjoying a dinner at the local Panera.  And Ken has done some more taxiing of the girls too.  But mostly we've just enjoyed reading and doing some little jobs around the motorhome.   I've even had a chance to play Skip Bo with Noelle and she and Rachel have come over most evenings to watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune with us.

Today, Ken tackled the cleaning of one side of the motorhome (he has done the front and back on other days) and I began putting together the hardanger placemats I stitched.  This being a first attempt at iron on heat bond and spray glue I've been a bit slow in the process feeling my way along.  Now I need to cut binding and stitch it on to finish the edges.

This is our "campground" with the beautiful shady area for our chairs where we've been able to sit and read and simply enjoy the gorgeous weather and temperatures we've been experiencing with low 50s at night and highs around 80 in the day.

This afternoon we drove out to the Portersville Christian School where Noelle attends 7th grade classes.  They were having their fall festival and fundraiser so we spent time checking out the vendors selling their wares as well as all the donated baskets in the Chinese auction.

We each bought tickets to drop in bags by various donated prizes with the dream of winning and the girls enjoyed a hot dog and drink.

Ken put every one of his 25 tickets into the bag for a couple of Red Wing tickets for the end of the month game but alas he didn't win them.  However, Jen did win an hour of heating and cooling service and Noelle won a 5 pound Hershey chocolate bar as well as some French pastries.

This evening we enjoyed a pizza supper with the family before Dan got back to work polishing off the two sermons he needs to deliver tomorrow and Jen spent time surfing the net trying to find a refrigerator by taking advantage of a Sears sale that ends at midnight.  The girls came over to watch the two game shows with us - we had two nights worth to watch since we missed both Thursday and Friday.

Settling In

Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Last night our son told me that a new aerobic and stretching class for seniors was starting at his church today, so this morning after doing some wash and taking care of a few other little items I took off into town to check out the class.  It was great!!!! But it did challenge me a bit.  Just a reminder I haven't been so good about regular exercise.  But now with this and the other senior classes they have on Monday and Wednesday I will be able to get myself back in shape - ready for all the stuff we do in Florida.

Ken got the front of the motorhome all polished up again as there are always lots of bugs to clean up after a trip.  Then he helped out a bit getting Abbi to a babysitting job and picking up Rachel from her swim team practice.  Our taxi service is back in swing :-)

Jen and I discussed some possible plans for the couple of weeks while we are here and then did a bit of shopping at the local Farmer's Market before she created one of her delicious soups for dinner. Meal planning is a bit more of a challenge now that Abbi is on the very very strict diet to try and get her Hashimodo's (an autoimmune disease involving the thyroid and her body's inability to absorb many of the vitamins and minerals it needs)  So we were especially checking out a variety of vegetables that she can have including kale, parsnips, collard greens, cauliflower, and broccoli. There are many she cannot have such as tomatoes, peppers, peas, corn, and white potatoes.  In addition, she is limited on fruits that she can have - they must be low on the glycemic scale and be limited to one a day.  And she can't have eggs, diary, seeds, nuts, grains, sugar or beans.  Life is truly a challenge but she is doing a super job and learning to create a variety of things.  I'm eager to spend a little time with her checking out some of her recipes.  Since Ken and I have been trying to eliminate all grains, sugar, and white potatoes from our diet we too have been challenged with variety and coming up with some interesting foods to take the place of those we have always loved.  It has really made a difference though as Ken is off all but one of his diabetes medications now and hoping to get rid of it and I've eliminated a lot of my pain.  And of course we've lost a lot of weight and are finding keeping it off a lot easier.

Both Rachel and Noelle came over to our place after finishing their homework to watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune with us before heading to bed.  Ken is already there and I'm headed there shortly.

It's been a good day!!!

On the Road Again

Monday, September 21, 2015
Yesterday we enjoyed a day with Beth and her family who first sat with me in church (Ken was singing in the choir).  Then Beth and Scott joined us on a shopping trip to COSTCO taking advantage of our membership to get items they needed for home.  Then we were all off to Scott's School of Rock Concert Beastie Boys vs Beck.  For us it was a day of saying goodbye to our friends at the church and our daughter and her family.  Our time in Michigan came to an end.

Today was spent traveling to our son's home in Butler, Pennsylvania where we will now stay in their drive for three weeks.  We arrived about 6:00 PM just in time for a delicious dinner of chicken, vegetables and salad and lots of conversation.  It was great to see them and we look forward to participating in a variety of activities with them and friends in this area.

A Family Day

Saturday, September 19, 2015
It rained off and on all morning but by 11:30 it looked like it might be over with so we set off for the nearby Springfield Oaks County Park where cross country runners from 98 high schools were gathered for competition.  Races had started at 8:00 this morning but the one we cared about would be at 12:40 --- Junior Varsity boys including the boys team from Berkley High School which our grandson, Jason, is a member.  There were people everywhere yet everything was well coordinated especially evident in the fact that the boys had been told yesterday they would run at 12:40 and they did!! (a new race started every 20 minutes for 6 hours!!!!!!)

As we were coming in from the parking area we saw Jason and even had a few minutes to chat whith him before he headed with his teammates to the start line area for last minute warmups and time with their coach. We found Dean already stationed in a spot where he could get a photo of the start. This is a picture of his team gathered to cheer each other on before lining up for the race.

And then they were off - kids from schools all over lower Michigan

Below Jason is just finishing up the first mile of the run.

And here he is coming out of the woods and up the last of three hills

And finally approaching the finish line.  His time was 23:28 a little slower than last week but this course was a bit tougher with more rolling country road.  

Jason stayed to watch other members of his team compete.  Ken and I decided to get some lunch and then head down to Huntington Woods where we could enjoy some time with our daughter and her husband.  Beth wasn't able to come because she had to take Scott first to a rock band practice and then to the studio where his senior pictures were being taken.

Beth and I enjoyed a walk around the neighborhood and then sat for a bit in the backyard chatting with Dean.  Later the three of us worked together in the kitchen on dinner with Dean as head chef.

We returned after dark to lots of "scary" noises, loads of Halloween lights and blow up figures.  Kids were returning in costume from trick or treating around the park and the island across from us had been turned into a "haunted island".  This is the first of several Halloween weekends that will be held here this year.  Thank goodness the rain had finally stopped so the kids could have loads of fun.

Go Bears!

Friday, September 18, 2015
The early part of our day was dedicated to doing a few more things necessary before we move on to Pennsylvania on Monday.  Hair cuts, cleaning things up, doing a bit of necessary shopping. And through most of it, it rained yet again.   But the best came on its heals. ......

We met Matt and Michelle Reidesel at Peabody's for an early dinner and lots of catching up.  They left their home in Alaska earlier this year and are now trying to get established in the lower 48 after leaving the military life behind them.

Then we raced off to Berkley to arrive at the football stadium just as they were announcing the 125 piece Berkley Bears High School Band that struck up a tune under the stands

 Then marched out onto the field

to honor all of the military with their songs

Play the school fight song as the football team ran onto the field

And then stood at attention while all the military fathers and grandfathers of the football players were introduced and red, white and blue balloons were released.

As they marched off I was able to catch a shot of Jason with his sax

We joined our daughter Beth and her husband Dean in the front and center seats for the game.  And enjoyed also chatting with Tom and Betsy Rice (he just started his new pastor job in Columbus, Ohio this week).  Their son Daniel is a senior this year and playing the trumpet.  I wasn't able to pick him out quickly enough to get a picture of him.

The weather held for the game staying pleasantly warm with a light breeze so a great night to be in the stands.  The band, of course, did a half time show

And by the time we left in the midst of the third quarter the Bears were doing quite well on the field

And by the time we were back home and crawling into beds the rains had again returned.  But the weather once again cooperated when we needed it to for a very enjoyable evening.

Cruising on Michigan Lakes

Thursday, September 17, 2015
Ken and I were blessed to have the opportunity to spend several hours today in our friends pontoon boat cruising several connected lakes by their home in Pinckney.  What a joy on a gorgeous warm blue sky Michigan day!!!!!

This year we have had the opportunity to spend time on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Caribbean Sea along with many rivers and lakes throughout this beautiful country of ours.  And yes, they each have their special offerings and have given us wonderful memories but there really is nothing like the beautiful waters in our old home state of Michigan.  For one thing they are NOT SALTY but fresh and very clear.  They support lots of wonderful wildlife including swans, heron, turtles, fish and much much more.  We were able to see some of them today.

Michigan has over 11,000 lakes, rivers and streams - one statistic says you are never more than 7 miles from a body of water when you are in Michigan.  There are lots of "chains of lakes" like what we are were on today with plenty of opportunities for boaters, fishermen, swimmers, skiers, etc etc etc. Today we could enjoy nature at its best 

We were very close to the Ann Arbor area with lots of U of M supporters like these residents with their special motorhome parked along the river just waiting for the next football game.

And lots of docked boats just waiting to be used by their owners for a delightful day on the water.

But today was OUR day to enjoy all God has created in this beautiful area thanks to our friends Steve and Libby who shared their beautiful lake side home

Their boat and a wonderful light lunch on the water

We ended our day with a trip to a local restaurant for supper before heading back to our RV so Ken could drop me off and head down to Royal Oak to participate in choir practice at our former church. How he loves singing with this group.  This was his last opportunity to spend a couple of hours wrestling with some challenging pieces and preparing for worship on our last Sunday here in Michigan.

Thanks Steve and Libby for a fantastic day.  Time for sharing and enjoying the beauty of your home and the water it sits on.