11/29/2015

 

We went out to Frankenmuth today with Bob and Peggy,

our favorite adventure companions.

 

This is the line waiting to enter Bronner's Christmas Wonderland.

 

WOW, we were overwhelmed by the crowds.

 

Big balls.

 

After we left the madhouse at Bronner's,

we tried to get into the Bavarian Inn for chicken,

 and then Zender's,

 and ended up at Bob Evans.

 

It was ridiculous !

 

We all agreed that we would never make this trip again!!!

 

Couldn't forget that today would have been my papa's birthday,

 and so I got a Bluejay ornament for my Christmas tree.

 

 

Love you Papa.

Too Old for This...

 

We started to think that the kitchen needed some renovations.

 

We talked about cabinets, and windows, and sinks, and backsplashes...

and we decided after some debating that we would just get a new countertop, sink, and faucet.

 

Our great idea of a butcher block top (when we first did the kitchen), turned out to be a bad idea because the coffee pot caused water damage to the boards, and it always looked dirty.

 

I hated the sink since we moved in, with it's shallow bowls and partition in  the middle,

 

and the faucet we bought was a low rise, which made it difficult to wash any large pot.

 

So... sink, countertop, and faucet.

 

We went to Menard's and bought these three items, and got a really good deal;

faucet for $100, fake granite look countertop for $40, and a $100 one bowl stainless sink.

 

We bought a sink 2 inches smaller than the last one in order to gain some counter space...

 

Sidenote: While we were at the store,

Terry found a "Black Friday" deal and he got his compressor.

Thanks Mom !

 

Nick stopped by with his "wolfhound" Perry. God he is a handful !

 

The side mirror, on the car, got a crack in it, and that had to be dealt with. 

Only five trips to the dealership, and that is taken care of... finally.

 

Well, when you open the can, worms usually come out.

Sink, countertop, and faucet...

 

we might as well redo the tile that we have not been excited about for a while now.

 

Demo...

 

dirt and dust...

 

A little thinset skimcoat and we are ready for new tile on the backsplash.

 

Can't wait to go pick it out.

 

Still need a plan for this dead wall space...

 

Dry fitting the countertop.

 

Terry cutting out the hole for the sink.

 

Terry cutting out the hole for the sink...

 

That's not a typo...

 

on the first try, the laminate cracked,

so we went back to the store and bought another countertop.

 

The second one cracked too.

So, we are going to go with the first one and try to mend the imperfections.

 

We're to old for this crap!

 

Tomorrow, we are going to Frankenmuth for a day trip.

 

Plenty of time to worry about plumbing,

 and wall tiles, and the drawers don't fit under the counter ledge,

 and neither does the dishwasher, and the cabinets need repainting,

 

and..............

 

we're too old for this.

Fall to Winter

 

We have so much nothing going on these days.

We decided that the bathroom redo, this summer,

 kicked our ass and now we are dead inside (for a little while).

 

So, the new Menard's opened up in our neighborhood,

 and we have spent entirely too much time

 and money there on nothing and everything.

 

We decided that birds are the new interest in our drab lives.

Mom gave us a birdbath in the summer,

 and we enjoyed watching one or two birds come to visit now and then.

 

So, when we went to Menard's,

we loaded up on feeders and seed and suet packets,

 and we hung them around the yard,

 and now we have every kind of bird in the world coming to our buffet every day.

 

Woodpeckers, bluejays, robins, sparrows, cardinals, and finches...

they are all amazing, but they are becoming dependent,

 

and they shit alot,

 

and the dogs roll around in it.

 

Real life is never as they portray it on TV.

 

This is our pretty Cleveland Pear tree turning red.

 

It didn't even reach the fence when we planted it last year.

 

There's those pesky birds.

 Love watching them...

 

Oops... today our mild Fall turned to Winter.

 

My pretty red pear tree covered in snow...

 

My baby Willow drooping from the weight of  it...

 

and my baby Crabapple tree looking like something from outer space.

 

Those weird long limbs are going to be trimmed in the spring.

 

Six months and counting...

Playing Catch Up

 

Have not felt much like writing lately,

 although much goes on everyday, just like always.

 

So here's my new toaster oven.

It is the most amazing invention ever.

The door opens upward on a swivel.

What a great idea.

 

Sandy and I went to the pumpkin store.

Got some funky gourds.

 

I added a little "Fall" to the mantle,

with some tiny pumpkins and some orangey flowers.

 

We carved the pumpkins...

 

but for the first year ever...

 

I refused to cook the pumpkin seeds.

(Sick of doing that).

 

Bought a birdfeeder...

 

but have not seen a bird go near it yet.

 

(the squirrels are trying to figure it out though).

 

Hard to see in this picture,

 but my morning glories are still going crazy.

They climbed up this tree

 and they just refuse to quit blooming.

I go out every morning just to look at them.

 

This last weekend,

 we winterized the patio.

Covered the barbeque,

 and wrapped the pergola canvas.

Took the chaise lounge chairs in,

 and fired up the snow blower...

 

Terry got the garage ready for winter...

cleared it out to fit the cars in when needed.

 

All of my pampas grasses are going to seed...

 

They are pretty in the wintertime.

 

Finally finished the vestabule.

This has been a really slow project.

 

We just weren't that into it.

 

But we layed the molding,

 and caulked, and painted,

 and it's finally done.

 

This is just one of four digital antennas.

We are going "off the grid!"

 

The cable company finally pissed me off

 enough to get rid of them.

 

So far, we have two TV's hooked up and

we are just fine with limited viewing.

 

Now we just have to get Sandy on board,

and I can cancel the cable.

 

 

We had Randazzo come out to fix the furnace,

 and it's still screwed up.

 

We bought a new thermostat...

 

still not working right.

 

Terry is pulling his hair out over this stupid furnace.

 

I called Randazzo today,

 and they are sending out a "senior" technician on Friday.

 

Just want this furnace crap to be over.

 

 

Cleaned and rearranged the living room.

 

There's the antenna for the TV...

 

A man who offers to vacuum,

 is a man who is truly appreciated...

 

Tonight, I watch the first game of the World Series...

 

I DON'T NEED CABLE.

 

"We're goin' off the grid !"

Pure Michigan

 

This weekend we took a little trip up north.

 

Me & Terry, and Bob & Peggy went up to Mackinaw

for some end of the season fun.

 

We rented a little cabin right by the Mackinaw Bridge...

 

It was definitely "roughing it" for me.

Tiny little cabin, space heater,

no amenities, and a bed in a shoebox...

 

at least there was a shower.

 

First thing Saturday morning,

we took the ferry over to Mackinaw Island.

 

The ride was cool...

it took us under the bridge.

 

Awesome sight.

 

Peggy and I thought it was fun.

 

We went to the butterfly house...

 

always an amazing thing to see,

just butterflies everywhere.

 

We toured the island church.

It was quite beautiful.

 

We walked and we walked and we walked.

 

We smelled horse crap,

 and we went into every shop,

 and we had a great lunch in a little bar/restaurant,

and we even saw a wedding.

 

We bought some fudge

 and decided to head back to the mainland.

 

It got increasingly colder,

 and very windy as the day wore on,

 and the ferry ride back was a little scary.

 

Actually, me and Bob were white knuckled,

 but Terry and Peggy thought it was great fun.

 

Back in Mackinaw City, we went out for dinner,

 at Nonna Lisa's Italian Restaurant.

 

It was a really cool place;

full of stuffed wild animals, birch trees,

 and white lights everywhere.

 

It sounds weird but it was one of the

coolest places I've ever dined at...

 

and the pizza was awesome.

 

 

When we got back to the cabin,

they were letting off fireworks.

 

(I can never get good pictures of fireworks).

 

Sunday morning...

 

goodbye cabin.

 

It was an adventure,

but we know we'll never do that again...

 

Halfway home,

 we decided to stop at the casino in Mount Pleasant.

 

 

Good fun...

we didn't stay long,

 and we didn't lose much money,

and we decided we would like

 to make an overnite trip here soon.

 

Almost home.

 

It's always happy, but a little sad to get home...