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.

Rainy Day and Memories

Today it is rainy and cold in northern Michigan. My husband, sister, Kathy and I decided to visit the "Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum" in Rogers City, Michigan, a small town 40 miles north of my home town of Alpena on the shores of Lake Huron. When we approached the museum we saw a closed sign on the window. A man was just about to enter the building when I asked him if he was opening the museum, he said he would if we wanted to visit. We were so thankful for his willingness to open the museum for us. We had a personal tour and enjoyed hearing the stories he had to tell about the history of many the ships and the men who sailed them.

Most of you who read this blog know that my father and brother sailed the freighters on the Great Lakes. The sailors lived on the ships 24/7 from March through December. During the winter months, many of them furthered their careers by attending classes to obtain a license for the next season as mates, engineers and captains. Since dad was a captain when I was a child, he could take his family on the ship during the summer months. We spent quite a bit of time in the pilot house with the mates and wheels-men. Dad picked us up to look through the lens piece of the radar, would let us blow the ships whistle to salute another ship and even let us sit on a high stool and turn the wheel of the ship (in open water) while helping us read the compass. We got to know the crew in the pilot house and galley. These men were also close friends of my parents. Our visit today to this maritime museum was in many ways a walk down memory lane. Many of the crew members on the ships that dad sailed have been inducted into the "Great Lakes Hall of Fame." We read their collages and saw pictures and artifacts from the ships. It was a thrill to see both my dad, Captain James M. Burke and my brother, Captain Gordon T. Burke's pictures on the wall of the museum.

Dave Erickson is the director of the museum and fully dedicated to preserving this rich maritime history on the Great Lakes. In the above picture, Dave is sitting in the memorial hall that honors the survivors and crew members who were lost in the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley, SS. Cedarville, Daniel J Morrell and the Edmund Fitzgerald. You may notice that behind Dave is his own collage as a survivor of the sinking of the SS Cedarville when a Norwegian ship rammed the Cedarville in heavy fog in the Straits of Mackinaw in 1965. I remember the sinking of these ships and my own anxiety for my father's safety especially as the gales of November stirred up the lakes. With the exception of the Fitzgerald, the ship's home port was Rogers City. The deep sorrow of so many husbands, fathers, and sons lost to the fury of the Great Lakes within a few short years from this very small town was almost unimaginable. The museum includes many artifacts from the ships including compasses, ships wheels, "chadburns" (a brass communication device mounted on the floor of the pilot house and engine room), dishes, uniforms, life preservers and life rings. The many newspaper accounts bring to life the stories of these men and ships.

These next pictures show two of the Huron Portland ships my father captained in green paint, as I remember them. In later years, National Gypsum Company bought Huron Portland Cement and the ships were painted white.

If you want to visit this unique museum, you won't be disappointed. I regret we didn't take the time last month to stop by when we were on our Pure Michigan tour. Hopefully our grandchildren can return to Michigan when they are a bit older and learn about their maritime family history.

Pure Michigan - Pure Fun

This month we had family come to visit from Arizona, Colorado, Illinois and Tennessee for a Pure Michigan Tour. Of course, what would a visit to Michigan be without a trip to Comerica Park? Tiger Fans, all!

For Gary and Nancy, it was the first time they saw Lake Michigan. As Michiganders, we don't appreciate the magnitude of the Great Lakes until others see them for the first time and are amazed at their size. South Haven beach put on a good show with a sunny, breezy and beautiful day.

Then it was off to the gem of Michigan, Mackinaw Island! A ride through Alpena and lunch with Aunt Kathy gave us time to stretch our legs and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Mackinaw did not disappoint with beautiful accommodations at the Main Street Inn, great meals at different restaurants, great weather for riding bikes and a carriage tour. Did I mention the fudge shops? No pictures, it didn't last that long.

Nancy mentioned that one of the nicest days was sitting around visiting at the homestead. The children played and rode tractor with their grandpa. A highlight for all of us was seeing a 2 hour old reindeer, just learning to stand up.

We also enjoyed the Children's Museum, a pottery shop and Chuckie Cheese in our hometown.

The finished product, my Mother's Day Gift from Hudson, Claire, Cooper & Tucker, I love it!

We are so thankful for a fun and memorable visit. This last picture expresses our sweet sorrow as they drove out the driveway, yes there were a few tears.