Joy = Pool, Bike and Friends

Friday, September 30, 2016
What a wonderful three days we've enjoyed back here at Hillcrest RV Resort.  Ken and I went for a walk early on Thursday morning and ended up chatting with several of the residents who live here year round.  It was so nice to be able to stop and chat with friends as we worked to get in our steps.  I had wanted him to see the new drive that the Cooks had put in plus see how the shed we'd moved in May had fit by their house once the cement was in.  While looking, Emma Jean came out eager to share and then have us see what she has been working on in her house - lots of quilting stuff including a wall hanging she had made for us - beautiful!!!!!

I had given her the pattern which was on a birthday card I received last January never dreaming we'd end up with such a beautiful gift.

Dave and Joan invited us to a party at their place next week when we stopped to admire the garden that Dave has put in alongside their 5th wheel.  They have decided to stay still now so are getting all settled in.

Both Bill was just setting off to cut grass on several of the lots in his golf cart pulling a trailer with the equipment on it so we caught up with him.  Then Dale came by and gave us a key he'd found outside our place - one for the back door.  So glad he found it and not a stranger!!!!

Emma Jean had mentioned that some of the ladies were meeting at the pool to do water aerobics at 10:00 so we tried to quicken our steps and just wave to a few others so I could get home and put on my suit and join them.  Heaven!!!!! I love being in the water and so enjoy the water aerobics tape that we use.  It was wonderful to get in and join Harriett, Marie and Pat along with Emma Jean and get a little exercise while chatting and keeping cool.  We watched the blue sky fill with white and then dark clouds and were lucky enough to make it home just before the storm hit.

Then on today we set off even earlier for our walk, had breakfast and again was able to join the ladies for another round of aerobics before heading over to our park model to do some work in preparation for the arrival of Jan and Lucy Visscher from Ontario.  They are coming for most of the month of October so we offered our place for their use while they are here.  They have a little 17 foot trailer but we knew this would give them lots more space to enjoy themselves and they've always been so good to us. We sure are looking forward to their arrival.

While at the house, Ken got our bikes out of the storage shed and blew up the tires so we can now use them to get around.  Heaven again!!!!! I just love getting on that bike and speeding along the roads with my hair whipping in the wind.  I've missed it so much while we've been away.  So I was off for a couple of short rides in between rain drops because we had another day of off and on showers.

I managed to get some of the weeds pulled in the garden and cleaned out cupboards so there will be plenty of space for Jan and Lucy to put their things.  We put together our little garden lights with a butterfly, hummingbird and and bird on them and "planted" them to add a bit of light at night near the front door.  I even got out the little wind chimes that Emma Jean left us when we bought their place and hung them off the front window awning.  We really are looking a bit more settled.

While working in the yard I got a phone call from Fran Rogers telling me that Jack died yesterday morning.  What a loss!!!!!  He has had alzheimers for quite awhile but really took a turn for the worst a week or so ago.  I had called her in fact, the day that hospice had come in to help get him settled after he'd been in the hospital for pneumonia.  We've been friends since we first moved unto Fairwood in Pleasant Ridge back in 1965.  Fran's oldest two girls, April and Jill, were our babysitters for several years.  Since they moved to Concord, NC back around the time we moved to Waterford, we've been able to continue to see them when down in North Carolina visiting Sue, Tim and the family since they were so close by.

On a happier note, today was Jackson's 20th birthday.  It is so hard to believe that we have a grandson who is no longer a teen!!!  When we visited this past weekend he'd mentioned that he was going to have to work on his birthday so there was much discussion of what to do.  Sue got him to agree that it would be alright for the family to stop in at Jersey Mike's with a birthday cake and sing happy birthday and then share with the other employees.  Here is a picture of them!!

We Have Arrived!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Yesterday we left the parking lot at Freightliner around 8:00 am and headed South with just a short stop for some lunch in the RV at a rest stop and then a stop to fill the fuel tank in Brunswick, Georgia before pulling into the Golden Isles RV Park a few blocks away for the night.  Since we were able to get a pull through spot we were able to easily get back on the road again this morning and continue on down I95 to 301 and ultimately arrive at the Hillcrest RV Resort shortly after noon.

We were hit by several short showers over the last 20 miles of our journey but able to get into our RV spot and hook up before the next one hit.  Everything is so green because of all the rain they have been getting.  In fact, when we drove by the Zephyrhills Park we notice the little lake/pond was very full - far more water than we've ever seen in it.

We stopped just briefly to let the office know we were in and ended up talking with Christy (manager), Dale and Barb for quite awhile.  Christy was especially anxious to show us some of the work they've done including pouring cement and moving the shed for shuffleboard so there is now room to make 2 more courts which will be poured shortly.  The old horseshoe courts are now gone and fully grassed in.  Work is bring done on the porch roofs of both clubhouses and the roof has finally been fixed in CH2. (no more leaks!!!!)

After lunch and another brief rain storm, we drove over to the house to check it out, turn on the water, lower the temperature on the air conditioning, removed the boards covering the windows and raise all the awnings.  Just as we arrived at the house Frank and Bette pulled in.  How wonderful it was to see them!!  Frank helped Ken with a couple of the awnings but then they quit as we hadn't brought the right tools for completing the job.  Bette helped me remove all the sheets on furniture and get them folded and I cleared all the newspaper out of the fridge and turned it on as well as lowered the temp on the a/c.  But mostly we just sat and chatted catching up on all our activities over the summer.

By 5:00 we agreed a Sergio pizza would taste mighty good so we drove over to enjoy it and more chit chat with our friends.

We returned to the RV for the proper tools and a few items to put in the fridge and freezer to help it cool down and then went back to the house to finish getting it up and running before calling it a night. Everything is in far better shape than we anticipated.  There are very few weeks, there was NO dust on the furniture or floors so we can start the process of removing items from the RV tomorrow and moving back into the house.

Tonight though, we chose to sleep in the motorhome after watching Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and the Tiger ballgame which went into a rain delay after the 6th inning with them leading 6 to 1 over Cleveland.

Yearly Check-Up

Monday, September 26, 2016
We were up quite early this morning so as to be ready for a technician to come and take our motor home into the garage at 7:45.  In actuality it ended up being 8:15 but we had no idea we'd be waiting like that.  Ah well, it gave us time to chat with another couple also waiting outside their motor home for the same reason.  They, too, are headed for Florida but further down as they will be working at a national fish and wildlife park near Naples.

While waiting, a tiny kitty with a collar kept rubbing up against us and meowing obviously wanting a little love.  We'd notice it last night and several people remarked on how loving it was.  I'm guessing someone has lost their kitten and what a shame as it is very very loving.  If we wanted a cat, I'd take this one in a minute.  But we've agreed not to have another animal for a variety of reasons including the fact we like to be free to travel about and go on cruises.  If we had a pet we'd need to arrange for care whenever we're gone.

Did you know that today is the Autumnal Equinox and that both the  sunrise and sunset are at 7:24 - am and pm that is?  We are sure noticing that it is fall as we have less and less daylight.  Gone are the long summer days.  We especially notice it when we are traveling long distances as we must be up and on our way by 7:30 or 8:00 if we are to have the time to make the distance and get parked again before it gets dark.  Tomorrow is another close to 400 mile day - a good 8 hours of driving along with at least an hour or two of stops to stretch the legs and enjoy some lunch.

While the Freightliner technician was working on our motor home, we decided to check out some things in the area starting with the Visitor Center in town where we could get information on things to do as well as see their exhibit about the history of Gaffney and also enjoy the posters and maps describing the Revolutionary War Overmountain Victory Trail.  South Carolina is one of four states that the trail runs through that ultimately ended up in Virginia with the surrender of Cornwallis.  The turning point took place at two battles in the area when the British were badly defeated ruining their chances of bringing the South under the control of England and thus splitting the states.

We chose to visit the Cowpens National Battlefield which is just a few miles out of Gaffney.  We arrived at the Visitor Center

just as the movie was starting so slipped in to see it immediately upon arriving.  Through a "grandpa" sharing the story of the battle with his "grandson," (that he had fought in) we learned a bit about how this militia came together and how the battle was fought and won against a far superior trained army.  Basically they drew in the British using a line of sharp shooters but hiding the rest of the fighters in a swale so they couldn't be seen.  The result was pulling them forward till they were cut off and surrounded.  Only 20 patriots were killed while several hundred British fell.

After the film we went into another room that used a couple of maps and lasers to fully describe and visually layout the positions of the men and what happened.  It was all quite an eye opener since neither of us had ever read anything about what some southern mountain men had accomplished really bringing the war to an end.

After our visit, we drove the circular rode around the battlefield area and made several stops to see the field itself

and visualize it better.  And also stopped at an early 1800s cabin owned by Robert Scruggs

and built just a short distance from the actual battlefield.  It was representative of rural middleclass farmers resided in at that time.

 And this particular one, because it was so close to the battlefield became a spot that historians would visit to ask Scruggs exactly where the battlefield was.  As a result it really became the unofficial first Visitor Center since he and then members of his family lived in it till the 1970's when the National Park Service purchased it.

We then returned to Gaffney for a late lunch at the Olive Garden before returning to the Freightliner office and waiting room where we spent some time on our computer taking advantage of their WiFi service.  Once they were done working on the motor home, they returned it to our parking spot and we hooked back up to the electricity so we could stay again tonight and then go out on the road in the morning.

North Carolina Visit

Friday-Sunday, September 23-25, 2016
Ken and I enjoyed a quiet Friday.  I did some wash and he handled a couple of things that needed to be done around the motorhome but otherwise we just enjoyed reading.  Once Sue and Tim were home from their schools (Jackson did homework and then went to work and Reilly slept most of the day) around 6:00 we went over to their place and enjoyed pizza and chatting with them.  They were both very tired so we didn't spend alot of time there.

Saturday we didn't go over until they were done exercising at their fitness center and had showers. Reilly still was just sleeping primarily (and had found out that his cousin Rachel also had the same symptoms via Twitter).  But Jackson, Sue and I had a great time chatting and enjoying the fresh air in their backyard.  She has put up many bird houses and feeders so we were entertained too by all the birds flying in for a bite and sitting in the trees chirping.  Meanwhile Ken and Tim watched football games.

Tim did the grocery shopping while we continued to chat and then Sue and I cleaned potatoes and got them in the oven, made a salad, got the chicken on the grill and peeled and  sliced apples for an apple crisp dessert.  The family had been to an apple orchard a couple of weeks ago and we were using the last of the apples they had picked (when she posted pictures of them at the orchard I'd asked if that meant we could have her famous apple crisp while we were there).

After dinner, she and I began working on a Shutterfly book documenting Reilly's first year on the Junior Varsity football team.  A neighhor had taken some wonderful photos showing him in action in a variety of games so those were uploaded along with several that Sue had taken.  Then we began the challenge of selecting backgrounds, format, and little extras to make the pages interesting.  Needless to say the time slipped by quickly and before we knew it, it was time for us to leave and get some rest.  So we bid farewell and told them we'd see them in church the next day.

Sunday morning we not only got ready for church but also did alot of prep for closing up the RV so we could leave as soon as we got back.  The service was excellent.  They have a new pastor who really was encouraging the congregation to pull together as one body taking advantage of all the "parts" (members) to encourage not only one another but those in the community as well.  The awful rioting taking place was certainly a focal point.

We then drove back to the campground, quickly changed and got on the road for Gaffney, South Carolina where we planned to spend the night at the Freightliner garages so we could easily get up in the morning and pass the motor home on to the technicians for its yearly check up.  Once we were parked and plugged in, we jumped in the car and drove back to Sue and Tim's where we spent the afternoon and early evening.  The main focus was on the Panthers game (but what a downer, they lost) and just enjoying some time together.  They love to put on a "tail gateing meal" to enjoy while watching the game so that was what we all enjoyed.  And of course, they both had gobs of school papers to grade so did that in between watching and chatting. Reilly started to perk up a bit toward the end of the day so he too had to tackle school work that he'd missed on Friday.

The sun began to fade and we said our farewells so we could again drive back to Gaffney and they could prepare for a new week.  It was great to see them and we were able to leave behind gifts and cards for Jackson who will leave the teens behind and turn 20 on Friday.

Heading South

Wednesday/Thursday, September 21/22, 2016
We were up and out of Dan's driveway by 9:00 on Wednesday morning, first heading to the local shopping center where we could hook up the car and then off for North Carolina - our next stop.  Our goal on Wednesday was to get to Wytheville, Virginia and the Max Meadows Campground there.  Aside from a stop for some lunch at a rest stop, we drove straight through arriving around 5:00 in the afternoon.  We were pleasantly surprised to find the weather only in the middle 80s with a nice breeze.

Our greatest concern was that we got up in the morning to find out there had been rioting along I85 by the University of North Carolina Charlotte not far from Sue and Tim's home and very close to Jackson's community college.  Our hope was it would not continue but we did look at other ways to get to them if necessary.  The schools were kept open with the hope of encouraging everyone to cool down and allow for dialogue.  Unfortunately, that isn't what happened despite leadership from many of the Christian churches and their pastors holding prayer sessions and making their presence where protests were taking place (the daughter of a black man killed by the police claimed he was sitting in his car waiting for his son and reading a book - the police say he was out of the car with a gun and threatening).  Anyway, there was more rioting especially in the Uptown area on Wednesday night.  A state of emergency was called and the National Guard brought in.  So on Thursday morning we decided to go to the Speedway Campground via Winston-Salem and then south on I85  rather than our usual way which would have taken us right through the area of concern.  We'd been told that a section of I85 was closed there.

We arrived prior to noon and got settled just before the 20% chance of rain decided to show its face :-)  It didn't last long  but of course made it muggier but also kept it cooler because of the cloud cover.

Ken and I enjoyed lunch at the local Panera and then made a quick visit to the local market for a couple of items we needed before returning to the RV.  We had major problems with the computer yesterday and couldn't even get on internet but after some fussing finally could get back on and do some catching up with email, Facebook and this blog.

Jackson came to visit us around 4:30 and we had a wonderful chat with him.  Then took him out for a bite to eat at Jersey Mike's where he works part time (mostly so we could see where he works).  From there we drove to Central High School for the away game that Reilly (#32) was to be playing in with his team from Hickory Ridge High School.  Sadly we didn't arrive till just after the game started so we missed seeing him go out on the field as his team's representative for the coin toss.  But we did get to see him make several great tackles out during the first quarter as one of the linebackers on his team. He really seemed to have a knack for figuring out who had the ball.  (below he is in midst of a tackle)

Then the next time the defense had to go out on the field we noticed he wasn't playing which was not usual since he is a first string player.

Finally Tim went down to chat with him and came back to tell us he pulled himself out of the game as he was feeling dizzy and was running a fever.  So sadly we didn't get to see him play anymore and just felt bad for him as he had to stay on a bench and just watch while his team lost.

We returned to the house for a short time hoping to be able to see him but he was just plain miserable and chose to take a shower and get ready for bed.  Since both Sue and Tim had to teach in the morning, we took off and told them we'd see them Friday evening.

A Busy Week

Week of September 13, 2016
I've not made any entries as our days were filled with fixing meals, driving the girls (Rachel and Noelle), gardening, and creating a cement block "patio" outside our RV door.  The weather remained quiet warm and humid during the days but we finally started getting some cooler nights - how delightful that has been.  It is the first signs that maybe fall is indeed coming though it certainly wasn't any better for those in schools with no air conditioning.  Luckily that wasn't us!!!!

Rachel is in full swing with school classes via computer now and is very occupied with classes and homework.  It was a surprise to  her to hear her mother speaking at the open of her Spanish class one morning.  Jen is staying at her Spanish teacher's home in Portland, Oregan along with Abbi and got up early enough to "attend" the class which is taught from the teacher's home via computer.  "Hola, Coca Cola" is apparently the typical opening of class and Jen said that.  Rachel knew it wasn't the teacher and wasn't expecting her mom so didn't immediately pick up on the voice but eventually she did.  What a surprise for her!!

Rachel also has a homeschoolers gym class at a local church so needed to be taken there on Thursday after lunch. Otherwise her travel needs were basically to the local Butler High School for daily swim practice from 3-5 most days with an additional hour thrown in 2 days a week for weight lifting.  Then on Saturday mornings she also swims for several hours.  She comes home starving so I've been trying to always have dinner available for her and the rest of the family the minute she walks in the door.

Noelle gets a ride to her Portersville Christian School but usually needs a ride home because she has either a volleyball game or practice after school - at least that is what we experienced.  However, apparently there are times when practice is after dinner so she needs to come home and then go back. We were able to attend games twice.  The one on Tuesday, September 21 was far more exciting as it wasn't so one sided with them on the losing side.  This time each team won a game and then the other team pulled ahead at the end and won.  Noelle did quite well with her serving and many of the volleys.  All of the girls are really just beginning to learn the game and skills so each game shows improvement in the play of the girls.(below Abbi has just served)

 Noelle also has piano lessons on Tuesday after dinner.  Luckily she usually gets all of her homework done at the school.

Both girls are in the youth group at church but this past Sunday, Dan was teaching the middle schooler section of the group so he took them and brought them home.  Sundays, we were the "other car" which meant we didn't have to go with Dad who goes fairly early to prepare for the service.  However,  because Ken sang with the choir and Noelle played the keyboard for Praise Team we did still have to go early enough for those practices before the service.

This past Sunday, the Sunday School was for everyone from teens up.  Some baked goods were out to enjoy along with coffee, tea and hot chocolate while we chatted with members before settling down in the Fellowship Hall to hear from a missionary couple the church has been supporting for 25 years. They have just been moved from West Point to the Virginia Military Academy and shared some of their experiences getting acquainted with students and providing not only one on one counseling and support but regular Bible studies.  All of this to try and grow our military leaders in Christian leadership.  They were quick to say it is much harder to do today than it use to be because of the new "rules" and guidelines that keep happening that discourage anything that has to do with Christianity.

Jen and Abbi returned around midnight on Monday, September 19 so we were able to see them for at least a  little bit on Tuesday though they were both very tired - Abbi especially.  They did have a great time though and Abbi was expecially thrilled with a couple of the restaurants they went to that had food she could eat without having to give alot of guidelines and then wonder if there were followed.  One of the restaurants - the Caveman (or something like that) had a menu filled with food she could eat.  What a thrill it was for her to not have to worry about what to choose.

It took us several days of very hard work to dig through the compacted stone outside our RV door so that we could put down leveling sand and then 32 - 16 inch blocks to create our little patio.  But we were thrilled with the results and hope it will survive freeze thaw weather this winter.  It will give us a spot we can sweep and keep weed free and best of all keep us from tracking in the tiny gravel stones that were there.

Roger VanDykes memorial service was held on Saturday and Libby Weber called to fill us in a bit on what all happened.  There was a very big turnout of people and a nice luncheon following the service in Fellowship Hall.

Sadly we learned Tuesday that Lois Ryan died so another long time member and friend has now died. How sad it is for us to know so many that we have known and spent lots of time with through the years is no longer with us but how grateful we are to know she is with her Lord and free of pain.  We had seen her at church while we were there so she was not ill for long.

And They Are Off!

Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Shortly after 11:00 this morning Jen and Abbi loaded their suitcases into the van and were off for Cleveland for their Frontier Airlines flight to Portland, Oregon.  Abbi was invited by her online Spanish teacher to assist with a school event that was to be held in Washington State.  Unfortunately the event was cancelled when not enough people signed up but the trip out was still on. She'll stay with her teacher (Jen too) and have an opportunity to see some of the area as well as not only meet the teacher in person but possibly her biology teacher too as he also lives out in that area.

Ken took Dan to a church friend's home so he could borrow one of their cars for the period of time they will be gone.  The Buick he has been driving gave up the ghost and is sitting in the driveway waiting for a demolition driver (and friend) to come by and cart it away so he can fix it up enough to demolish it in an event. :-)

Abbi had tried to mow the lawn yesterday but their tractor lawn mower wouldn't start no matter what we tried.  With all the rain that has fallen it really needed the cut so today when their next door neighbor, Debbie, came over to chat she volunteered theirs for getting the job done.  Ken went and got it and spent the afternoon mowing.  It takes quite a while to mow an acre and a third!!!!

While he was doing that, I pulled weeds in the front garden and the spot in front of our RV door filling a wheel barrow full.  But things sure do look alot neater now.  There just is never enough time for them to get all those things done as well as work full time outside the home, homeschool the girls, and take people here and there as needed for different sport activities and youth group.

Dan came home to get Rachel and take her to swim practice at the high school while we drove to Noelle's school (she is now attending Portersville Christian)

to watch her play a volleyball game with Hillcrest School.  (we chuckled about that since we live at Hillcrest RV Park when we are in Florida)

The team was formed just two days before their first game last week so they are still struggling with working together so they didn't do so well tonight but Noelle had a few excellent plays and made six points in a row when she was serving.  That was exciting to see.

She is number 14

After the game she cleaned up and we headed back into town to the Butler High School to get her sister Rachel who was at swim team practice.  Since Dan was tied up with a Session meeting a the church, the four of us decided to enjoy supper at Fortune Star, a Chinese buffet restaurant the girls like.

Once we were back they were eager to finish school work, get their chores done and have some relaxation time.  Between us we got the garbage and recyling stuff out to the curb for tomorrow mornings pick up and then Ken enjoyed a Tiger game on TV while I am writing this.

It's been a good day and much nicer too.  The temperatures fell into the 50s overnight but it warmed up to 82 during the day but with fairly low humidity.  Pretty day!!!

Kick Off Sunday

Sunday, September 11, 2016
Today was the kick off for all of the fall programming at our son's church.  Schools started last week, vacations are done, and people are getting into the swing for the coming season.

For Dan and Jen it meant getting lots of things off the ground and all that with only one car as their Buick has died and has rusted out so bad it can't be fixed. So that meant last night we had to set up our plan for transportation to get everyone where they needed to be using our car as the second one to make it all happen.

Noelle plays the keyboard for the Praise Team and Dan sings so they had to get to church to prepare for their part in the worship service.  Dan, of course, had to do all the last minute things to prepare for worship and the after service programming plus a funeral today.  Ken likes to sing with the choir which was singing for the first time this season so he had to be there early for practice.  Jen needed to get last minute things in place for children's worship and the after worship Sunday School programming.  I helped get some of the food ready for the brunch for the entire congregation that was going to follow worship.

It was wonderful to worship at Westminster, to see our 13 year old granddaughter playing the keyboard, enjoy all of the music some of which Dan provided with the worship team and Ken provided as a member of the choir.  And of course it is always special to participate in worship with our son providing the leadership and preaching.  There are some in the congregation who always go out of there way to speak with us and make us feel welcome too.

The brunch was wonderful and provided an opportunity to see slides pictures of so many of the members holding "Westie" - a picture of the church - at various vacation locations this summer and then hear from all the leaders of Sunday School programs, Teen and college programs, Women's and Men's programming sharing what will be happening this year.  The importance of the older generation interacting with the younger generation was emphasized in many ways and there was much encouragement to interact with the community and carry the faith to it by both Word and deed.  It was truly an energizing program!
 
During this brunch program Jen presented Bibles to the 5 1st graders who were in attendance.  Two others were unable to make it.  But it sure shows that the younger generation is alive and well in their church :-)  As a n interesting side light, Sue (our daughter in North Carolina) posted on Facebook tonight that their church gave Bibles to all the first graders today as well and one was given in Aidan's memory (he would have been a first grader this year).  It will be presented to a 1st grade child in the Christian Academy that meets daily at the church.  What a loving a wonderful way to remember our grandchild!!!!!

Ken and I helped with some of the clean up and then brought the girls home.  Jen stayed to finish some of her work, and Dan stayed behind to start working on the funeral that was later in the afternoon.  So we let them all do their thing while Ken and I relaxed in our RV.

This evening while the girls were at the youth group meeting, Jen took Abbi shopping for some items she needs for their travel to Oregon so we took Dan out for an ice cream at Mazzanti's giving us a little time to relax with him.  It was fun to go over and see that the ice cream Rachel suggested to the owners has been so popular this summer that it has been added to the regular menu with her name mentioned right there with the description of the flavor.  Below is a picture of the menu - check out the "coffee dough ice cream"

Good bye Michigan - Hello Pennsylvania

Saturday, September 10, 2016
Last night, our across the street neighbor, Charlene,  stopped over to say good bye and exchange contact information since we'll both be in Florida this winter.  Hopefully we'll get a chance to connect with them at their place in Ormond Beach which is near Daytona.  They won't go down till Groveland Oaks closes on Oct 2nd.

It rained all night so when we got up this morning lots of water continued to fall on our RV from the tree branches along with little nuts coming out of it.  Ken had to get up on the roof to sweep the awnings then let me know he was done so I could pull in that slide before more stuff fell on it. But by 9:00 am we were pulling out of our spot and headed to the front of the park where we attached the car before setting off on our journey.

It  remained over cast a good part of our trip and we did drive through areas where it was raining before we got out of Michigan.  The air was very heavy with humidity and quite warm especially once we found sun.  Otherwise, our drive was pretty uneventful.

Libby called me in the morning to tell me that Roger VanDyke died last night.  She had no details as she had just called June to see how things were going and she said he'd died and she was heading to the funeral home.  How we will miss seeing Roger and doing things with he and June.  They were one of the original couples when the church couples bridge group was formed.  Ken and I now are the last ones from that original group.  It is so sad to think of the changes that have taken place this week with his death and Dick Dusenbury's death earlier this spring.  Helen has found a friend to bring with her.  Only time will tell if June will return.  Sadly we won't be able to go to the funeral since we'll be busy here in PA helping out while Jen and Abbi are gone to Oregon.

We enjoyed lunch at Panera at one of the rest stops along the Ohio Turnpike  and stopped briefly at the Flying J in Sharon to refill our diesel tank but other than that just hummed along arriving finally at the shopping center in Butler about 5:00.  There we took off the car and I drove that separately to Dan and Jen's place getting there ahead of Ken so I could guide him as he backed into the driveway - our home for the next week plus.

Abbi came out to visit with us and show us her new laptop computer that we had given her for her graduation.  She has spent the last couple of weeks since getting it becoming familiar with Windows 10 and loading on software like Microsoft Office so it will provide all the support she needs as she experiments with video work and pictures and prepares for the day when she can start college.

At 7:00 we went over to the church and picked up Rachel and Noelle who returned from a fun time of competitive activities with another group.

Dan and Jen were at a wedding returning around 9:00.  After a quick change of clothes, they came over to chat for a short time and lay out the plan for tomorrow, the first day of the fall season programming at the church.  Ken is going to go in with Dan and Noelle so he can practice with the choir while Dan and Noelle practice with the Praise Team.  I'll go later with Jen and Rachel.  After church there is going to be a brunch and time of sharing about various up coming Sunday morning activities.

Since the Buick has totally died, they are down to one car and truly needing our help with transportation for the next week while they try to get some plans in place for transportation till they can get a car.

While we were talking with them the rains began.  Sounds just like it did last night in Michigan.  Guess we must have dragged that storm along with us. :-)

Music, Lakes and Dunes

Thursday, September 8, 2016

What a full but fabulous day! After having breakfast at the Quality Inn in Traverse City and then checking out,  we headed to the Music House Museum just a couple of miles away in Acme.

Before joining the bus group already on the guided tour in the huge barn area, the person collecting the admissions showed us this very unusual piano.  It is called a giraffe piano because of its height. But is sounds like a grand piano and even sort of looks like a tall grand (if you were to raise the back part of a grand upwards that is).  Only four were made.

The guided section is filled with a variety of elaborate and unusual automated musical instruments - many of which our guide played after giving us some history and stories behind them. Two were nickolodean pianos, one with a continuous roll with 15 songs on it.  These play ragtime type music

This next very beautiful instrument played a different type of roll hidden behind cabinet doors providing a beautiful sound.  The keyboard keys did not move.  In fact, the company decided that a cheaper way to build one of these was to just eliminate the "piano look" and just put it in a cabinet.

 So the later offerings looked more like this still giving not only a piano sound but drum and xylophone too.

Another company came up with this musical instrument that provided violin music.  It was intriguing to watch how all the mechanics worked providing all of the string sounds as well as vibrato.

This mechanical organ was used in an amusement park to draw people to its music provided right by the rides.  Of course, those hearing it would then want to get on the rides.  It didn't use a roll but rather what looked like the original computer punch sheets that were continuous and in a rectangular shape.  Several different instrumental sounds came out of this including drums, cymbals, and horns.

A peak behind the facade revealed a better look at all the contraptions that helped provide the music.

This theater organ used to sit in the Cinderella Theater in Detroit providing background music for silent movies.  We were treated to a short silent while this instrument provided the necessary sound affects.  FUN!

But the major treat was hearing this huge "player" organ was used in Belgium to provide music for dancing in a dance hall.  It had a huge variety of instrumental sounds.  WOW, what a sound!! As you can see it just barely fits in the loft of this barn like building.

At this point our original tour guide encouraged the bus group to go visit the other galleries on their own and check out the shop.  Meanwhile all those of us who had come in after that tour started were led by another guide who went back to the beginning of the tour.  This works out as a very well planned continuous led tour for those coming in and various times.

We were then treated to several wonderful old music boxes one of which used a disc that was 15 inches in diameter.  All that size and all you got was 2 minutes of music!!!!!!  How things have changed in the last 100 + years.  

Player pianos, one similar to one that we had and now our youngest daughter has, were also on of a different type and ability to produce music.  This one with its gold leaf trim was in the Fisher Mansion for years.  It had the ability to provide the dynamics of the music and we had an opportunity to hear Rhapsody in Blue as it would have been played by its composer as it was created from a recording made by him.  Beautiful!!!  It took over 5 years for those at the museum to bring it back to its full glory after it had been placed in a college where kids pounded on it at all times of the day and night.

There were displays of a variety of juke boxes,

a great variety of record players

and even roll recorders such as Edison first created.

 In fact, there was even a large display of recording rolls for those machines.

After our long tour along with visiting the other areas with collections of musical machines and plus doing a bit of shopping in the interesting little shop, we drove to Glen Arbor to visit the Cherry Republic Shops (they offer loads of food and drink items all from cherries) and enjoy some lunch.

My chicken salad (with dried cherries mixed in) was on slices of cherry bread and served with cole slaw that had cherries in it.  I had a cherry drink with it. Kens salad also had dried cherries in it and he had a cherry cola.

Just about a mile away is the cottage where Beth, Dean and the boys love to vacation.  It sits on Glen Lake.  From there we drove the short distance to Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore and did the driving tour through the park getting out for some view of the beautiful sand dunes and views of Glen Lake and Lake Michigan.  The sun actually did come out and provide us with a bit of blue color for the water though the high humidity and heat caused a mist to rise off the water so we couldn't see very far out.  Much the same affect as we had yesterday when we were at Mackinac Island.

At this stop we could look out at both Big and Little Glen Lakes

And here was Little Glen Lake in the foreground with Lake Michigan in the background.  The dunes here are covered with vegetation.

But when you look off to the left of this spot you do see exposed sand areas as well

There are many many trails in the area including one you can see here that takes you over the dunes to Lake Michigan.  Most of the dunes now have loads of trees growing on them helping to anchor them in place.  I can remember when I was younger visiting here and seeing mostly sand that was always on the move and known to "swallow" cottages and other buildings as it moved.

Probably the prettiest spot to visit provides a short walk though the woods to a boardwalk that takes you up the hilly dune to some gorgeous lookouts

At this point where I'm standing you can climb another 600 feet up the sand hills for another viewpoint but because of my bad back we chose to just relax and enjoy the view we had over 400 feet above Lake Michigan where the dunes take a huge drop down. In fact, this is the sign at the edge of one dune that drops at a very steep angle.

This is the first time I've ever seen that hill minus people who ignore the sign and make the trek anyway.  I often wonder how many wish they hadn't done it once they get part way down.  We understand it costs hundreds of dollars if rescue is necessary.  

Around 4:30 we finally decided we really must head for home so we waved farewell to the beautiful dunes and Lake Michigan and climbed in the car for the four hour trip back to our RV at Groveland Oaks.

What a beautiful three days of travel!!!!