Of Birds and Dogs & Vast Water...

On Monday I talked about what was different about our Lake Erie experience (polka!). Today I’d like to talk about – or rather show you – what was the same. It brings us peace and centers us somehow to go and view that vast water, watch the birds, explore the shore.

As usual, we came home with dozens of pictures of birds. They make us laugh & then just astound us with their beauty. I know that some folks don’t like seagulls, but since I don’t live around them I’ll just admire how pretty they are.

An egret...

Of course it wouldn't be a lake trip without pictures of black ducks.

There are always a few dogs. This one was really eager to get to the water for a drink.

And this one played fetch forever - bounding out for the ball & then practically just floating back with it.

On the first day we were there it was fairly warm (I only got a little chilled). 

We saw flowers & butterflies.

But Monday a cold front moved through & it was really really windy and quite chilly. Thank goodness Dr. M packed a long sleeved shirt for me (he always does). 

And even though it was cold & blustery I really loved the atmospheric sky.

We had such a nice time. I read two books and Dr. M played on his computer and rested. It was a great break.

Monday Miscellany - the Polka Edition

On Friday I emailed Dr. M & said, “I think we should go to Lake Erie this weekend.” So we did. We had a great time & I’m gonna tell you all about it. You have to look at my vacation pictures! Well, I guess technically you don’t have to, but I’m posting them anyway. And I’m going to do it two installments because it was just that much fun. Ha!

So the first thing that happened was that we drove through Yellow Springs, OH (because you kind of have to) & witnessed their weekly “Make Peace Not War” demonstration. There were a few more people than this, but I like the flag.

We decided to stay in a bargain hotel for a change and actually enjoyed it – even though I missed some of the perks of a Comfort Inn level chain. Like a clock in the room and a little lotion in the bathroom. But the beds were pretty comfortable and the rates were reasonable. I loved this sign on the door to the laundry room.

And then there was this. Here’s the view outside one of our windows.

And this is what was happening under that tent.

Yes, we stumbled onto The Perch, Peach, Pierogi & Polka festival. The good news is that we didn’t have to pay to get in to hear the band. The bad news is that we heard “Roll out the Barrel” at least four times. The other good news is that I can testify that the pierogies & peach cobbler were fantastic. Here’s the back deck of our hotel where we ate our bounty last night.

The other bad news is that they played until 10:00 each night. On the other hand it wasn’t all old polka standards. Last night I heard those great new polka songs, “The Electric Slide” and “Play that Funky Music White Boy.”

If you think we were annoyed, think again. We were highly amused and mostly enjoyed the music. And watching all the folks (most of them with snow white hair) dancing around the dance floor. My one regret is that I didn't get a picture of Dr. M dancing around the hotel room. Although he might have been doing a waltz instead of a polka. Heh.

Tomorrow I’ll write about our actual lake experience. Warning: there will be a lot of pictures in that post!

2011 Project 365 – Week Thirty-Six

Oh man we almost had a Tax Time Pig picture this week. Unfortunately I worked through lunch every day & the only opportunity I had to try was Friday after work & there was a car coming so the picture was blurry. He was Elmo most of the week, but then changed into a Labor Day outfit. Maybe he’ll still be wearing it next week when I go back to work. Sigh.

I went back to work this week. The first two days were pretty hard, but then I was all caught up & had a great rest of the week. On Thursday I spontaneously started walking without my cane for short spurts around the house. I’m doing great! Thanks so much for all the prayers & good wishes everyone.

Sunday, August 28^th   

It’s the weekly squirrel! We really could have had a picture every day this week, but I’m only sharing a few.

Dr. M took some pictures of our garden – aren’t they great?

Monday, August 29^th

Dr. M got a picture of the field of sunflowers he passes on his way to work. When Daddy, Amy & I drove by there last week there wasn’t even a hint of yellow.

The State of the Bug (one of, um, three this week). I snapped this when I pulled into the garage after my first day back to work. Whupped. Yep. It was a long day and I worked really hard. In retrospect I wish I had spread some of that work out throughout the week.

Tuesday, August 30^th  

Dr. M & I sat out in the back yard. He took about a gazillion pictures, but I’m only sharing a few. Hummingbird!

Confab at the cement pond.

I think this house finch is a little confused – it’s on the wrong feeder.

Wednesday, August 31^st  

Weekly woodpecker.

State of the Bug, Take 2. MUCH happier today. In this picture I’m taking a break in my car listening to my audio book.

State of the Bug, Take 3. Dr. M surprised me with the camera. It makes him laugh every time he sees this picture so I’m sharing it with you. You’re welcome.

Thursday, September 1^st        

Dr. M got behind this interesting critter today. It’s an attachment for a combine to harvest corn. Looks like a giant stylized cardinal to me.

Our yarrow now has two colors. Interesting! And pretty.

Friday, September 2^nd

I took this picture of the sunrise on my way to work. You can’t really tell in the picture, but the sun was humongous.

Dr. M took these gorgeous flower pictures.

Another squirrel picture – trying to make his great escape. “Is the coast clear?”

Saturday, September 3^rd.

What ho! What's this? ANOTHER squirrel? You guys are so lucky...

Our gorgeous purple petunias – they’ve been so pretty this year.

This silly little goldfinch is on the wrong feeder. I think he & the house finch from Tuesday need a refresher course in appropriate restaurant food. Heh.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Krispy Kreme Jam

Evelyn from Filling a Hole is the jam maker this week & has asked us to write a funny poem. I have other poems that I think are actually funnier, but this memory makes me laugh every time I think about it, & I’ve never written a poem about it. I decided it was high time I did. It might be one of those “you had to be there” things, but I don’t care. Ha! If you want to read other, probably funnier, poems, go here.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

It’s midnight and I’m

sitting in the back seat

holding on for dear life.

“Hey Mom – I’m not too

sure this is a good idea!”

But Lucy & Ethel just

laugh maniacally as we

career through those

dark Charlotte streets

making illegal U-turns

in our quest for the coda

of our concert experience.

I’ll take a half dozen

chocolate covered

kreme filled please

and eat them all by myself

in that back seat cocoon,

ignoring the further

traffic law defying

antics of Lucy and Ethel.

I’m humming Islands in the Stream

and wondering if that cute

lead singer for Sawyer Brown

is really as short as he looks.

Sue and Mom

[Note: My mom & her best friend were absolutely hilarious to hang out with – they truly were Lucy & Ethel to me. I used to go to concerts & shopping with them in Charlotte NC, about an hour from our home. Each trip was a total blast, and always ended with swinging by the doughnut shop on the way home. The fact that you couldn’t really get there without making several illegal u-turns was no impediment to my mother.]