Day One of Our Trip to Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan

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Good Afternoon!
Casey and I left last week, heading to The Soo.
We made it to St. Ignace that first day- Her tummy and my back refusing to travel that last hour, and knowing we had already pushed it for the day...

We would have stayed at the Kewadin Hotel, but they had recently changed their pet~friendly policy. So... on down the road. We stayed at a little motel- (Can't even remember the name of it right now), but the gal that ran it is one in a million! 
Punk~friendly too!

AND, a mere 20 steps or so away from this...
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Lake Huron, Sunrise.
Can you feel it? Hear it? Smell it?

Neither Casey nor myself had really eaten anything- Casey had a sandwich for lunch, but it was time to eat a bit more...

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Casey- enjoying her steak!
(Sorry, obviously I didn't have the flash on)...
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Only one little wrench in the works came when I had an anxiety attack smack dab in the middle of supper-
We asked for some doggie bags and finished our meal at the motel..

After a night of relaxation, and listening to the beach, I woke about 7 to let Punk out.
We walked down on the beach... But it wasn't time to go in yet.
She had to investigate a bit...
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She adored the smells of the campfire!
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And also loved going through the tall grasses

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She found one little patch that she loved the most...

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By then it was high time to take off the leash and the collar...
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And she ran and ran through the waves...

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And the other way too!

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But this would be even MORE fun when Casey got a stick...
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A few tosses nearer to the shore, and then she flung it out really far...
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Heart attack central--- That darn dog even went under a few times.
(I remember thinking that I would rescue her with a cane and a back brace on).




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Guess Punk was just finding that stick!

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And back she came for more and more!

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Tiring her out, and now having a chance to slow my heart rate, we went back to the table outside the room and dried her off with the doggie towels the lady had given us.
Time to do her ears also.

Right next door to us was another couple of travelers from down Cadillac way.
They had their dog too.
Her name is "Babe".
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Such a nice reminder of Miss Milly too.

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Especially when she looked right at me...
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Please do not think that amiable dog posture lasted long.
Not sure who touched who, but of a sudden there were many growling noises.
(I didn't know that Casey could move that fast either)! hehehe

But all's well that ends well.
The pups made up, and we three were off to The Soo!
(Much more later)...

Love to all

XOXO
Me

Very Important Question

Posting this while my pics are uploading...

--------- If you saw me in a police car what would you think I got arrested for?

XOXO
Me

Cool Prayer!

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Just received this in my email. (Thank you Duane).

XOXO,
Anne

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DEAR GOD:

I want to thank you for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards,
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better,
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or
until they stop talking about me,
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears,
I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves,
I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and
the house is quiet,
I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or
until I get the job,
I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every
experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief,
I am going thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or
the challenges are removed.
I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive,
so I may continue being your vessel
I am thanking you because
I made it through the day's difficulties.
I am thanking you because
I have walked around the obstacles.

I am thanking you because I have the ability
and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I am thanking you because
You have not given up on me.

I am home... But for now must go mow a few weeds. Love to all. XOXO, Me

Oh-Bla-Di ~ Oh-Bla-Dah

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Good Afternoon;
Methinks I am almost caught up with my blogs for a while.
We were to be headed to Sault Ste. Marie today. (Didn't work out that way though).

I am sitting here after trying to get all of my wash done before leaving.  Little things that I just want clean for when we get back. 

Randy came out yesterday-
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Punk needs this rough and tumble play so badly

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He also said he would finish up my drains today.
And here I am, just cooling my heels, and waiting.  Grrr...   MEN!
Oh well.
To know we wanted to leave though- (Just p*sses me off, big~time).


We had court last week on Master Gabriel's behalf. 
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Casey arriving at the courthouse...

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Same as last month when Chuck was given all rights to Baby Sam, Roberta chose to not even show up.
While it helps everyone's cause (especially Gabriel's), that she didn't show, I am still astounded how parents can just leave a child...
I do believe there is a special place in hell for those with the "out of sight, out of mind" thought process.

She has given birth 3 times. 
She has had her parental rights terminated with all three, deservedly so.
Is it right for a grandmother to feel this way? Probably not; but I am actually happy for the boys.

With the exception of Master Gabriel, they live with their dads-
These men have stepped up to that proverbial parental plate and have done right by their sons, my grandbabies.
I am very proud of these young men.

Master Gabriels foster parents want so much to adopt him. I pray they succeed.
They are good and decent people, and he has been welcomed into their family, truly loved and cared for, and finally knows what a real family is about. 

We stopped by their home after court by to tell Miss Kristin how everything went.
The next step will be to ensure he stays with them on a forever basis. I believe they have all the proper papers already in order.

Everyone was outside!
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Here she is with their "triplets"  hehehe

.She reminds me of my mom.
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The following day I did something I should not have done-
(But all this "taking it easy" and "complete rest", etc. is driving me freakin' batty).

Casey and I had found some mulberries up here-
(I have 3 trees up here, and more back by the woods). 
There were a few berries that the deer had not touched, the rest for the birds being too high up to reach.
But there were just not enough left from the deer for our watering taste buds.
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So we piled in the car and headed for the woods-  
-(insert sigh)...  The tree back there wasn't even close to being ripe!


So... As long as we were to the woods, and as long as Casey felt well enough to go down the ravines, then by God, so did I.

We have had little rain for a long time. Not only do we need it for the crops, but even the river needs a bath too.  That does TOO make sense!
(Everything, including rivers, kinda gets a little icky with no fresh rain).
Casey found a skeleton to something or another...


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But stinky there too, so she threw it back.

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She played a very cute peek~a~boo too.

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A ton of water spiders...
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Punk feels it her 'duty' to chase them too.
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But she doesn't always get them either...
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HAHAHA

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For obvious reasons, I didn't want to have to go back up either. 
Somehow, Punk knew this.
(If Casey had not been along, there is NO WAY you would even believe what I am going to write next):

Punk went up to the top as I slowly made my way up. Odd because she is generally right at my side. She even left Casey's side to go to the top!

She came back with a stick.
I had no idea what she was doing as she kept forcing that stick in my direction...

But,

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She proceeded to pull me up the rest of the way!

With God as my witness, that is exactly what she did.
I am so blessed by this little dog.
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The weather has been raunchy-
Chilly- and yes we did get a few spots of rain. (We need much more).

Uh-Oh, Randy has just pulled in...

*** WARNING!
All of you with the 100+ temps might want to look away for a moment...
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So that is what we have had in our neck of the woods.
That it feels strange to not be complaining about the heat is an understatement. I am always the 1st to whine about the heat and humidity; and here I am saying it is chilly in July,
(and praying for 100% humidity to fall on our heads for a few days).

I honestly don't remember the last time I mowed the lawns- They are brown, dried, and shriveled, except for the weeds of course. 
And those weeds need mowing.
There is no grass.
....... Not that I care to be on the rider anyway.




I made some stuffed green pepper casserole yesterday...



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(Nope. Didn't use this one)...  

I was completely nauseated when that one slipped out of its bag.
The 'splat' and the splatter just sounded SO gross!.

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Casey stopped at the store on her way out and picked up some fresh green peppers.
Dang. Now I am hungry ~as I hear the leftovers calling my name~
hehehe

Love to all

XOXO
Me

PS
I think I should enclose this picture for my sister-
Sorry Barbara, I kept forgetting...
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Bobbé, at the same age as Big Sam is now.

Written on the back by my mom:
"Bobbé, on her favorite diet!"
hehehe

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Here is Big Sam now
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You might be right!
(I am old and I might have forgotten). 


Do you think they look the same?
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So... Bookcase- check, behind me... Large noise, -check- and big claws scratching noise! ~~The damned cat got stuck behind the bookcase, and I had NO idea how to get him out... ~So first to get the things off the top. ~Then to crawl up on a chair to see him... (Imagine my surprise to find "NOTHING" there). As the dog is growling and the cat comes running from the entrance on the other side of the house... ~YARGGGGG (and wth?)... ~Yes, the gun is loaded...

Brandys 4th of July Party (Lotsa pics)....

Stephanies Toes!

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Maybe I should have entitled this "Better Late Than Never"...

As noted 2+ weeks ago, we had gone to Brandy and Johns on the 4th of July. This is the first time I have gone to their 4th of July party since Brandy bought the farm- 
It was much easier to go when they lived only 3/4ths of a mile down the road. hehehe


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The back of the farm...

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They keep it so well cared for, even with all their animals-
And how cool to have all those outbuildings too!

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Driving in, to be welcomed so nicely by this little guy...
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Near to the sidewalk to the house-
I think he must light up at nighttime.

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We were also welcomed by this little guy!
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If I remember correctly, this is Timmy!

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I only wore a plain old flag shirt... 
John had the right idea though.

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hehehe
Tracy on far left, then Joe, John, and Brandy
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Another great Tee-shirt  hehehe

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The cooks were very busy!
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Nothing "store bought" on this grill either
Those hot dogs, brats, and burgers, were ALL homegrown!

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Punk wanted out of the car, and after I asked John, she gained her freedom.

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To diminish any hard feelings, she had to meet their dogs first!
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None were too excited about meeting each other).
But no fur flew either!  hehehe

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As Casey and Punk walked toward me, there was an awful noise. (one of those completely unexpected moments that leave you wondering what to do on the spur of the moment).
Overlooked had been the fact that one cat considered the shed "her" home.
Add to that the fact that this cat had just had kittens in that shed.

The 'awful noise' was the cat; only protecting her young- While Punk kept turning in circles to either remove the cat from her face, or to be able to see what the heck was going on?!
Punk has Mr. Sputty here at home. While they play, and on occasion the cat literally hangs from her face, she really has never been attacked by a cat. She had been a "cat~attack" virgin...
She only lost a bit of DNA. No harm. No foul.

Meanwhile, Greg and John, and Johns friend shared a couple of laughs.

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Johns friend actually hails from the same part of Chicago
where Greg was born and raised.

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Add a few more brothers in law, and the conversation was even more animated!
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Inside the shed, Brandy had her hands full serving the kids and making sure everyone had what they needed.

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(I think this was just the 1st time that I was told
where to put my camera)
hehehe

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Over on the west side of the shed was another conversation.
And much relaxation too!
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Miss Ashley, very overwhelmed when Mama Cat had attacked Punk, stayed near to me for a time. Always nice to talk to her and to learn what is happening in her world!

She'd come to me in tears over the cat/dog fiasco.

And looks so much better here!

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Ain't we cute?!

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She even borrowed my camera to take a picture of her mom!
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From around the corner, and through the grapevines!
What a great shot!

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John came out to say hi to Casey- 
For some of them, this was the first time that they have seen Casey since her surgeries.
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John and Casey
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And what does Greg think when another man has his arm around his Casey?
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Yeah. OK. He's kinda cute too.
(I guess).
hehehe

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Miss Brandy had to run to town for a few more supplies. But took a very special few moments out of her busy day to show Isaiah the animals.
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Isaiah's first reaction was the smell in the barn. That is something, having been raised on the farm, that I never give another thought to.
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What a precious reaction though
Isaiah touches a bunny for the 1st time!

For more farm animal pictures, please CLICK HERE.

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He even got to learn where eggs come from!
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Brandy took time to show Isaiah and his Mama the animals in the pasture!
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 I was a long way from them when I snapped this picture..
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Isaiah looked the animals over, and then returned to the party.

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While I was snapping a few pictures from a distance, I was surprised to have this turn up in one of those pictures.

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hehehe
The little flirtman!

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A few moments later to have snapped this picture too!
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And there is Isaiah once again
pushing the object of his affections on the swing!
Jason and Stephanie supervising.

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At one point Brandy had noticed the pastured animals reaching just a little too far under the electric fence... Sure enough the current had been broken.
We walked back up to the barn together.
She pointed out the old wooden silo that has seen better days-

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And only remaining "up" by a few cables at this point...

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From the opposite side
to see where the cattle have rubbed all the paint of the silo too

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A very good time was had by all! Only sorry that I didn't really get as many pictures as I'd wanted- Of all the kids, and grandkids too.
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Miss Britney had come to love The Punk too!

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I did get many, just not of everyone.

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I also knew it was time to get going
when Greg started taking pictures of me taking pictures!
hehehe

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We had a great time!!!!  Thank you Brandy and John!

Love to All;

XOXO
Me