IN Carmel

 We were up first with the family sleeping in, slowly emerging from the back of the house.  Little by little the attendance account said all was sort of ready for church.  We followed to the Midland Free Methodist Church.  A church well grounded in a great welcoming tradition.   Kimmy had a pop tart for breakfast.  Wyatt knows the crackle of pop tart wrapping and is asking for a bit by putting his paw on Kimmy's arm. Smart dog..If he wants a good rub down he does the same.                                                   Three pizzas disappeared in almost a wink of the eye.  Back home and the job of packing the car was completed.  Lunch arrived with carried-in Pizza, another well-traveled tradition accompanied by the preferred Tim Allen and Tool Time entertainment while eating.  The kids f...

 The morning started with this beautiful beginning.                                                                 and Tim Horton. It's a 20 year tradition at the Michigan Russell's house.     Jared reminded me that when grocery shopping with two little Russell boys, chocolate-covered doughnut were a part of their growing-up years.  I forgot all about that!   We had a great morning of entertainment with the first soccer game of the fall for Eli.  A heck of a lot of good soccer playing resulted in a 2 and 2-tie game.  Eli although one of the younger kids is one of the taller kids on the team easy to spot doing a whole lot of right plays.    After lunch we played a board game, Ticket to Ride. I've heard a lot of talk about this game of strate...

 Easy start to the day with all the usual routine.  Kimmy was working on painting a shirt again, this time for Eli.  It's a mind-craft character.   Around ten Jared, Doug and I headed for Dow Gardens.  Kimmy had an Adam project.  Wow.  It's a beautiful huge park with lots to look at.  First are the big bugs.  Most are at least 8 ft tall.  I think we found at least 6 while on the walk. We spent time in the children's garden. The plants were at their best and if they weren't they were gone and the ground was being prepared for new plantings.                      This big pig was in the children's garden.  A few other animals were hanging around.                           Beautiful plants were everywhere.                  We walked to...

 Today was a slow starting day.  Slept late and the usual breakfast stuff happened.  Eli was the only morning school guy.  We did a tad of garden stuff.  One of my must-do things was to see Dahlia Hill.  In the spring we saw the ground being prepared and the watering system in.  It was a dirt hill.  Then in August after camping, we saw plants growing with a few in bloom.  Staking was everywhere.  And today we saw the plants all in full bloom.  It's an overwhelming sight.  So much color and so many plants.  A terrace hill in full bloom. There are over 300 varieties and 2700 Tubers   An incredible sight and one that will be remembered for a long time.  I took 52 pictures and could have taken many more.  On Friday we're going to Dow Gardens. Jazz band, high school concert band and Midland Concert Band and a clarinet group of folks fill Jacob's life with music.  Tonight we heard the Midland Concert Ban...

The morning started early with the boys getting ready for school. Eli goes to Meridian Jr. High and Adam to Midland High School Jacob is taking classes online so his day starts with studying at home and then a 1:30 trip to Meridian H. S. for band practice.  Jacob is in a program earning college credits.  It takes a two-car family to get everyone to where they should be.  I'm impressed.                                             A beautiful pink sedum doing it's best to outshine those close by.  Eventually, the parents returned home and we did a lot of talking and planting more plants we brought from our garden.  We fluffed the garden and did some trimming to freshen up the look that was getting out of control. It happens this time of year.                        ...

 Up early and ready to go although the other person living with me wasn't so we didn't.  But after his breakfast and the paper we left the house around 9.  At 3:45 we were pulling into the Michigan Russells driveway.  The drive north was a good one with beautiful weather and lots to see.                                                         Zinnia everywhere doing their best work.  The first eye candy was the flowerbeds that we worked on in the spring.  Woo.  big plants and beautiful colors.  Jared arrived home later in the afternoon and we walked the garden, saw the new tractor, and counted sheep.                                            ...

I'm showing you two Zinnia plants that are way over 5 ft. 1inches tall.  Crazy Zinnias.  It's a little challenging to see the flower when they are way up there but perfectly placed for the butterflies.  Another Zinnia measures 6 feet tall.                       One plant not pictured is at least 6 ft tall. Yes, all that white fuzz is mine.                                                   Reminds me of dacron poly fill.  Ugh!   The day started with the usual routine.  On my walk through the garden, the message was clippers and Artemesia.  Yes.  It's time to start preparing for winter.  The blue cans need to receive an offering every week.  Artemesia is planted at a few places and I cleared the areas leaving a mound of Art...