IN Carmel

 The Michigan Russell's left for home this morning.  That is always a sad day for them as well as Doug and I.  Even the dog is sad.   All good things come to an end at some point but Lord willing and the creeks don't rise...we'll be back together again next year.  Jacob is 16 so that means 16 years of family camping fun.  Kayaks on top, 4 bikes on the back of the trailer, 1 bike on back of the car.  It works.  There could be a different arrangement next year when the hope is that the canoe comes along.  We had rain We had a touch of rain last night. The rain on the tent is just the best sound.  The rest of our time here should be warmer and sunny.  As usual, my chair is in the sun which is keeping me warm.  Reading and sleeping continue.  This afternoon we made another stop at the Jam Pot.  Father Basil was busy with customers and our conversation was with one on the other monks who discussed all the round-a-bout...

 It's 7 PM and 66 degrees maybe with a breeze off the lake.  Changed to long pants and a better jacket.  It's cloudy right now with a chance of rain tonight.  Most rains are not predicted so it's maybe yes and maybe no.  So what was today like.  Check what was posted for yesterday with  kayaking deleted. Read, slept, walked and played cards once again.  We had icecream at the Fort Store.  That was a first.   We played a couple of games of Kubb.  It's a great yard game that one can become proficient in quickly.  The WiFi is really slow for picture up loads so one will need to do.   Tonight the JB family will begin packing for home.  The camp kitchen will come down and tomorrow morning the tent will be next.  The hope is that they will leave the campground no later than 10 after their last pancake breakfast at our dining fly.  It's always a sad time but the plan is to do this all over again next year...

 The day started as it has started for all the days we have been camping.  Usually, the sky is really blue but it seems that the Canadian smoke was with us as well as a cool morning.  By the way, tonight is to be in the mid 50's.  The morning was spent with a book again and that went on into the early afternoon when our friends Judy and Gary stopped to see us.  We met them years ago while camping.  Judy is a green stone hunter.  She enjoys the hunt, has many unpolished stones and said that probably will stay that way.  They are from Sterling Heights, Michigan and we missed them last year.  They have a house her but are back and forth during the summer months.  We will have supper with them Sunday evening at their house.  The sun came out in the late afternoon and staying warm meant that one sat in the sun to read which I did. The different thing was to have fun in a kayak which I did.  Here's the proof.   Grandson Ada...

 Jared said I'm going to go kayaking. Their kayaks are  very stable.  I have yet to try although Wyatt saw them kayaking yesterday, jumped in the water and then into Jared's the boat, and loved every minute of the ride.  Wish I had a picture.  Today was one of those cloudy cool windy days with a little sun now and then.  It's a long pants day. with a jacket.  And then add books and you have the picture.  Adam Russell saw Kubb being played at some camp site a few years ago and received it as a birthday gift.  The kids set it up and they are playing it some evenings.  Looks like fun.  Google it.   Posting is not as easy as one would wish.  The WiFi is very slow and involves getting all the equipment moved to where it will work.  For some reason I posted but the account two nights ago ended in a draft position.  The weather tonight promises to be a rainy one.  Should be interesting if I'm awake. ...

 Today was more of the same.  By this time in the two weeks, we feel like simple and easy is the best.  The car didn't move and it was breakfast, book reading, and sleeping and then walking a bit and then lunch, and the same thing repeated.  Finished Simon the Fiddler, a story of south Texas just after the Civil war.  Interesting setting and the window into that time was very interesting.  The next three books are set in the early 1900s with Norwegian immigrants coming to America.  Doug is reading as well.  Evenings are spent at the JB Russell campsite with a fire until 10 and then it's to bed.  A bit of rain last night...just a bit. I'm posting two Fanny Hoe Lake pictures.  Fort Wilkins is between Fanny Hoe and Lake Superior.  There is almost always a lake breeze between these two lakes.   The next picture is of three of the Russells in their boats just leaving Fannny Hoe.   I don't expect much more to happen ot...

 Today was another great visit with Leslie and Dennis.  This time the JB Russell family was with us.  We arrived around 11:30...a little later than we expected although one could say it's vacation time. Leslie has her kitty on her lap.  One of two.  A downstairs and an upstairs cat.  The Russell boys are cat-friendly and Eli was entertained by watching the under-the-bed cat upstairs.  The never to come downstairs only by accident. Lots of great talk on the deck and then a lunch with many, many things on the menu.  Woo...not use to that when camping.  So we had a great lunch and more talk and then Jared B and Kimmy started on a project for Leslie.  She was gifted a loom and lots of yarns and the two Russells managed to figure out how to put the loom together relying on the fact that they needed to do the same with their own loom.  Leslie immediately got all of her weaving books out and I'm sure there will be great things to come....

 This morning...nothing different.  Cards and Pancakes with no rain and none promised.  That could change but so what.  A little rain never has stopped us from doing.   The first big bottle of syrup and the first bag of pancake mix is gone but there is more stashed away.  We never run out of breakfast fixings.  The second book is well on the way. I think it's the same for Doug.  I spent the afternoon with Natasha sitting on the deck and visiting with her mother Dorthy.  She is a great storyteller.  Natasha's dad is our potter friend Dennis.  Natasha is also a potter among many other things.  This is a picture of the shop.  A large deck behind the deck is a sweet place to visit and make new friends.   Today our church friends Jeanie and Neal arrived.  They will be here for 3 nights.  We'll do a little visiting later around the Jared Russell campfire giving them some ideas of what they might like to ...

 Vacation weather can be interesting.  And last night was an interesting night for sure.  I slept through it all.  Yes, a huge Lake Superior thunderstorm with lots of lightning so they say.  I knew it was raining really hard when we went to bed.  That's all I knew.  And we stayed extremely dry through it all.  This morning there was a little more rain but not much and this is how one makes pancakes when that happens.   Now for those who have a good look in the skillet you might see eggs.  Eggs are the last thing to come off the griddle.  Those are for me.  There still are eating issues but improvement is happening.  There is always a way to get the pancake job finished even in the rain. This time Doug and the umbrella got food on the table.   The morning was filled with the card game 3/13 and Doug won his first game of the season.  Woo, woo!!  It was lunchtime and then we went into town, maybe a mi...

 Today was almost like yesterday with a few different things.  Cards/Breakfast/Cards.  Finished the first book in the afternoon and started the second one.  Just a short nap this afternoon.  Today the weather was just a little bit of everything with nice temperatures throughout the day.  There was rain for about 4 minutes, clouds, sun and lots of wind with a dark blue sky over the lake.  Just an ordinary camping day in Copper Harbor.  We are camping at Fort Wilkins State Park.  So there are a few pictures of the fort today.   I'm adding pictures taken earlier in the week.  This time the two oldest grandsons are helping to set up the dining fly moving a big table like it was tinker toys.  Jacob is at the far end and Adam is nearest.   And last but never least is our grand and wonderful Wyatt Russell.  The best dog ever, smart as a whip and always showing how much he cares about us.  So life continues at ...

 The morning started the same.  Card game waiting for the Jared/Kimmy tent to be emptied.  Then pancakes and then NOTHING.  Yes, it was a nothing day but maybe not.  I settled down with a book.  Started it...Nap...Read more...Nap and that continued all day.  I can't remember when I slept so much during the day.  Maybe never.  But there was a walk to Pebble Beach and here is the proof.   There really are two pictures sticking together.   Adam and Jacob took a trip to town on their bikes to check out what was happening so Kimmy, Jared , and Eli took the Kayaks out for a spin on Lake Fanny Hoe. Big smile for Eli.   Kimmy is on the left, Eli in the middle and Jared on the right.  It's a new experience this year and one that they all are enjoying.  So that was the nothing day.  There probably will be more.  It's time for the evening fire.  Jared is a bit miffed...just a bit that I'm still conn...

 Last night was one of those bracing nights that made those sleeping want to stay in their sleeping bag meaning a great night to sleep.  This morning brought the sun that made it a pleasant time to wear a sweatshirt for some.  Preceding breakfast was a fast game of 3/13 with more to come.  Finally everyone is up.  Then it was time our first pancake breakfast in the U P.  Yum, yum.   Now you know how every morning will begin.  At least the pancake part.  It's such a great way to see the family and have some time with the grandsons.  There are lots of good stories that get reviewed. This seemed to be a nap day for some reason.  But who needs a reason.  There were morning naps. The UP has flys but for now, they are gentle flies.  The biters are not here so if one wants to nap, this is how one might do it.  At least that was the case this afternoon after what was thought to be a short walk to Lake Superior turned int...

 So far blogging in the evening seems to be easier than morning.  So here goes for today.  We had such a great visit with Leslie and Dennis this morning.  We got up before they did and made our breakfast and then ready to visit again when they appeared.  Leslie made two breakfasts for them with tomatoes from the Farmer's Market at our church.  We were on the road to Copper Harbor around 9:30.   The north route to Copper Harbor takes us along the shore of Lake Superior.  We always use that way coming to and going from C H.  It has gotten to be an expected tradition from the van driver.  We stopped at the monastery bakery run by the monks and a few hired people.  Father Basil greeted us with lots of conversation and a huge smile.   Such a delightful person we have come to love through the years.  Of course, cookies and a huge muffin found it's way to Copper Harbor in the van.  More of that to be bought.  ...

 We left Sun Prairie around 8:30 after a tiny breakfast at the motel.  The sky was hazy with smog which comes from fires happening  in Canada.  Who knew?   Now we all know.  We had that sky with us all day and it still is with us.  Our next destination is with Leslie and Dennis and we arrived late afternoon.  Lots of talking and laughing and catching up on almost everything imaginable. We had a delicious cabbage tomato casserole, smoked fish, red beets, and cucumbers supper with icecream added in the evening.   We walked across to the neighbors to take pictures of beautiful hollyhocks.  Here are a few hollyhock pictures.  .      We took a little car trip to the top of Bumble Hill for an unbelievable view that went on for miles. .  More talk and a little TV watching.  Tues we are on our way to Copper Harbor building our campsite with the help of the Jared Russell family.  More fun coming o...

 We were on the road by 8 am and the van just kept running until we were just south of Rockport Ill. I took some Indiana pictures through the window.  It shows what one sees in northwestern Indiana.  It's much the same but now you know.   Illinois is just full of corn.  There are fields 5 miles long...there is lots of corn.  So no pictures.  Corn looks the same everywhere.  Did I say Illinois is just full of corn.  Then on to Wisconson.  The sign proves it.  We skipped the REST part.   Now Wisconson is another thing.  It's beautiful with long rolling hills covered with trees and grain. .  From the highway, one can see forever.  Tomorrow there will be a whole lot more of Wisconson to see.  That will include big farms with lots of silos, big fields to raise food for all the cows that bring us delicious Wisconsin cheese.   Our overnight stop is once again is at Sun Prairie, a small town east...

 We are ready and the van is set to go.  After two hours of work, the van was loaded.  I wanted to do it early in the day so that we could spend the rest of the day remembering what we forgot.  There were a few things.  At this point, anything forgotten is not a big deal.   Another night in my own bed and now it's Sunday.   Two weeks of fun in Copper Harbor Michigan coming up.  The rest of the day saw the sweeper being used, vegetables being picked, a few gardening chores completed,  the kitchen floor cleaned and bathroom and kitchen counters getting a scrubbing.  I hate to come home to a dirty house.  So Sunday has dawned and soon the murmur of the van will get us on our way north arriving at the campsite Tues afternoon.  The best part of the arrival is seeing the J B family and their contribution to setting up the site.   That's a whole bunch of love coming our way.