Tennessee Thanksgiving

Talk about Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for Aunt Nancy, Em, Gary, Angie, Scott and Lisa, Aunt Jo, Aunt Suzanne and Aunt Patsy for their warm Southern hospitality that we enjoyed in Franklin, Tennessee! After a 10 hour drive from Michigan, we arrived at the log house, decked out with pumpkins and flowers. Lots of hugs inside and wonderful aromas from many dishes being prepared for the weekend.

The grand children's excitement of seeing their cousins after several months added to the fun. My favorite moment was all the hugs and kisses as they lined up to say goodnight before Dan read them a story.

Aunt Nancy opened her house for all of us. Beds for seven children and six adults in the main house and Tom and I had our own little "potting shed." This little cottage is nothing like my garden shed! Very comfortable and super cute with bedroom, kitchen, bath and living area.

We spent Thanksgiving Day at Scott & Lisa's home with a backyard like a park. Lots of action and things to do for the children and 70F. Got to love the south!

Here are the ladies that made this meal happen (Angie, Lisa, Patsy, Suzanne and Jo) and what a meal it was! I can't remember a dinner with more choices.

Did you think three of those ladies looked related? well here they are with their brother, Gary, Angie's dad.

Lions fans all enjoyed most of the game but they have come to expect to be disappointed on this day. I've got to hand it to them, they are not "fair weather fans."

On the other hand, Kim, Natalie and Joy are enjoying the the fair weather of Tennessee.

The next morning we enjoyed a big breakfast of country ham, tomato gravy, biscuits, quiche, cheezy potatoes and fruit before heading off to tour Opry Land Hotel. I sure wasn't prepared for the beauty and magnitude of the gardens.

Now, that is a beautiful tree but I think those little ones in front of it are the most precious. Oh, just in case you are counting and wondering, Natalie is not in the picture and the two children on the left are Zane and Hazel, cousins to Dan's children. It was pretty busy in there and watching nine children among the crowds was a bit of a challenge, but Cooper helped us out with Natalie.

After another meal of left over turkey and dressing (YUM) we gather the children, bathe and tuck them into bed. How can a much anticipated visit go by so fast! Saturday is a day of travel to Georgia, Illinois and Michigan. We are thankful for these family times and the freedom we have to drive throughout our country, the abundance of food and beautiful places and those who have shared their gift of hospitality with us.

These three, Emily, Angie and Nancy our hostesses. Angie sure resembles her mother and her Aunt Nancy in physical appearance and spirit. Thank you.

Autumn's Splendor

My favorite time of year!!! I love the cooler temperatures, the blueness of the sky and the contrasting colors of the foliage. After a very hot summer, I expected the stressed trees to drop their leaves early and give us a short and maybe not so vibrant autumn. I was so wrong! This has been one of the most beautiful years I can remember. I just can't get enough of it.

These are photos of the perennials in our yard. The hydrangeas are deepening in color and the grasses are raising up feathering stalks. A few hardy plants are giving us a second bloom and the most striking plant is this beauty bush.

Even on a cloudy day, the tree branches that arch across the road are bright yellow and gives a sense of sunshine.

It would be wonderful to enjoy this beauty for weeks on end, but alas, the leaves do fall. I was reminded of this when I went out to the garden shed after a few days and discovered and invader.

I must admit that we truly need this lawn tractor and leaf vacuum when the leaves are the size of my head.

So here is Tom on his 3rd round in two days. It sure beats the back pack leaf blowers, tarps and rakes that Tom, Mike, Chris and Dan worked with for years. Autumn is glorious, a season of harvest. A harvest of color and fruits of our labor. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

Summer

I don't ever remember a summer that has been so warm. We traveled "up north" and "down south" and the weather remained hot and humid. I'm not so energetic in hot weather and my flowers and our yard suffered. I would water the annuals near the house and the recently transplanted but some of the grass died from heat exhaustion and drought. The summer will be remembered by the heat but my pictures reflect other memories. A quick trip to Alpena to see my sister, Kathy and pick up my home made Adirondack chairs, made by her friend.

Tom and I and our electrician and builder spent many hours creating a garden shed.

The beauty of the Atlantic Ocean is enhanced by the sea grass and sand of North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Our grand weekend and the innocence and joy of Natalie pushing Jack on a swing.

A short visit with my niece and her children who came all the way from Bainbridge Island. Cousins enjoying cousins.

A fun weekend with our great friends, enjoying their beautiful boat and lounging in Torch Lake.

Always a fun visit is the birthday celebration of Hudson and Claire,now a beach day on Tybee Island.

Savannah also has a great breakfast place at Huey's after a quick trip across the river by ferry. Tucker and Cooper add to the fun.

In spite of the heat, we enjoyed the sunshine,landscapes and fellowship with family and friends. Summer's days are past and now the most beautiful season of all is coming to bless us.

Generations

Distance and time separate us but the moments we spend together are precious. Once a year, my niece and her daughters come to Michigan to visit. Whenever possible, we try to get together and this year they traveled here! Mike, Joy and Conley joined us for dinner before Mike had to travel north for the week. It has been almost eight years since Mike had seen his cousin, Maryfrances.

Joy had never met Elise and Jillian but for Conley it had been a little more than a year ago she played with these cousins. They are so tender and kind with her. She has a manicure of many colors, they drew an apartment on the driveway and even let her add her touch to their painting for my garden shed gallery!

Elise and Jillian last visited our home in 2000 but the one thing Elise remembered and wanted to share with her sister was the drive across the fields to see the reindeer. Always sure to please. Our girls day started with sleeping-in then breakfast at Kathy's favorite cinnamon roll, I mean breakfast place, Rykse's. With three antique fans in the party, we headed for Schoolcraft's antique stores. The anticipation quickly dimmed when only one of about six stores was opened. Not to be discouraged, we headed for a place that suits all tastes, TJ Maxx, oh yes. A drive into Kalamazoo and a couple more antique stores then home for a cold drink and dinner. Elise and Jillian are the most talented young women! They were so generous to paint a picture for me on a moment's notice. This is a scene they remember from their Northwest home. Conley added the flowers buds and I smile that they included her art on their picture.

Thanks so much for coming. I love that generations of women and girls from 6 to 60 something can spend time together loving conversation, laughs, good food and pretty things. Enjoy the rest of your visit in Michigan. I think we are way over due for a visit to your beautiful spot!

Garden Shed

Since I retired, I have been wanting to have all my garden tools and supplies in one place. Tom has allowed some space in his barns and of course our garage also had a space but it was always a hunt to locate my stuff. We talked about a garden house for a few years, even measured out a space in the back yard, then last year had a builder give us an estimate on cost. Well we could swing it, but did we really want to? The cost alone for a concrete floor was $2500.! Our property taxes continue to grow even as our property value goes down, I could just see the township assessor's tongue hanging out in anticipation of more tax money. This spring, Tom sold an old truck (remember "She"?) and it opened a space in one of his barns that he said I could use to put my garden stuff. If I am going to spend time in a space, it must have some charm and this space did not. After moving old pieces of wood, a trailer full of hay, tree cables, a table saw and vise, I could see some possibilities. But even seeing was difficult in this dark space with one florescent lamp.

We bought 2 windows for the front corner and it made a world of difference.

We talked about the dirt floor that had been layered with stone. My eyes couldn't rest with all the leaves and hay between the stones and the uneven walking surface. We discussed pavers and concrete but when our son Chris suggested a wood floor I knew that was our answer, after all this is a barn (why didn't I think of that?)

Although the floor only covers the area between my work benches, it is a major improvement. Added another workbench, leveled it off, added shelves above and below and now I have storage. Thanks Dale for all your help and skill. Still not enough charm or light.

Enter John our reliable retired electrician.

I saw canning jar lights when in a cute shop on Mackinaw Island and thought they would be perfect for the space. John took my canning jars and made them into lights. They add the charm I was looking for. He will add another light under the shelf and give me some switches by the workbench and add another light to the back corner.

Tom and I visited the Billy Graham Library a couple weeks ago and they had some walls made of corrugated steel. Tom said I have some that has been laying around in the back woods. We pulled that out and will add a wall at the end of the work bench to hide pails, and tools and those skies on the wall.

I had hoped to have all the grandchildren paint a picture for me when they were here in May but the timing did not work out. Conley did one piece of artwork, thanks Conley.

I did my own simple painting of the hand prints of the grandchildren and some words from the Bible I need to remember.

The art work is simple but colorful and makes me smile. The children's tools were in Tom's barn and I also grab a chair that was being pooped on by the birds. The wooden crate on the wall will house my gardening books. The place is taking on my vision.

The outside is very welcoming with gifts from the grands and their parents.

The old galvanized pan is from Tom's great aunt Seenie.

Thank you all for your contribution to my new respite. Many prayers will be said here for family and friends and praises to God for his blessings and care. Praying also for rain for at least 20 states who are suffering a terrible drought that is affecting crops and putting so many at risk of fire losses. "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14 I'm not saying it is our sin that is causing the drought but I am saying that prayer is powerful and this verse is God's promise to his people.