Batchawana Tree, Decorated

Batchawana Christmas Trees

A quiet walk on the beach at Batchawana Bay Park after cutting a couple of little trees across the road.  We'll decorate them for Erich's home when I come back on the 18th.

Mobility!

I'm getting acquainted with my first laptop computer! I expect to be back to my blog a little more because of it, we'll see...

Busy, Busy, Busy

I've neglected my blog for several months now. Someone has been keeping me otherwise occupied...meet Erich. I'll be back again soon...

Oh, Deer!

Remember this adorable photo of the deer in my backyard from last year? Well, I'm rethinking my affection for the wide-eyed innocent looking creatures who visit me so often. Half my green beans were munched the other day and look what they did to my hostas! Now, I'm willing to share, but did they have to take the whole barrel full?

Rewards

Busy day: I mowed the lawn, cleaned the garage, weeded the garden, baked, and went to a dental appointment.

Reward: Relaxing with a nice cold Mojito made with fresh mint from my garden.

Aaahhhh. It was a good day!

Lions and Tigers and Bears....

My son's fiance, Linda is an environmental engineer and has been working on a project in the Western Upper Peninsula. They have a motion sensor camera set up on the property and these are some of the shots they have captured. Cool! I love the bobcat ~ we know they're out there but I've never seen one in the wild. She said the bear is a sow with cubs.

Greetings from Cuba!

It took 7 weeks, but I got a postcard from Cuba from my friend Erich who vacationed there! What's the big deal you say? Have YOU ever received a postcard from Cuba? There is such a climate of political change in the world, we may be packing our bags for a trip to Havana before you know it. Bring your sunscreen and your humidor...

Happy Birthday, Kevin!

I remember when we were growing up the pink climbing roses on the back fence used to start to bloom on your birthday! Now the yellow evening primrose in my garden blooms on your birthday. Enough about flowers ~ have a great day! I'll see you in a month at the Wild Reunion!

Very early or a little eight?

Sorry, Meaghan, I'm just a "little eight" with this birthday message. I hope it was happy!

I Found Marie!

Marie's Deli was my favorite place in Houghton back when I was just getting to know the town in the early 2000's. On one trip up there I was disappointed to find Marie's was gone along with her heavenly Mediterranean food. Fast forward almost a decade to last weekend in Grand Rapids. Mark, Mary, and I spent an enjoyable morning downtown checking out Matt's new house and browsing through shops and the farmer's market. Mary suggested a good spot for lunch called Marie Catrib's. The menu was eclectic with a wide variety of Mediterranean and other dishes ~ everything sounded delightful. As I read the back of the menu it all came together...Marie moved to Michigan from Lebanon...first restaurant was in Houghton, Mi.....worked at the Biltmore Estate in N.C.....pastry chef....dreamed of being her own boss...followed her heart back to Michigan!! I found Marie!

Goodbye, Icons of the 1970's

We lost 2 major icons of the 70's today, Michael Jackson, "King of Pop", and Farrah Fawcett, one of Charlie's Angels, and sexy poster girl. You provided entertainment in my teens and twenties and you both came to define the years of your popularity. For that, I say thank you and farewell.

"Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night"
Lyrics from
"Gone Too Soon", Michael Jackson

Happy Birthday, Dave!

To a brother who is smart, funny, talented, adventurous, thoughtful, and calls me more than my kids do. Happy Day, David John! See you later today..

Dad

Happy Birthday, Dad. You would have been 92 today. I will always miss you. Love, MaryDad, Mary (me) Summer of 1955

Jack Rocco Wild

June

Sister Helen Wild

My Aunt, Sister Helen Wild turned 95 today. She is a smart, loving, devoted woman who gave her life for the service of God and those less fortunate around the world. She entered the Maryknoll Missionary Sisters in her 20's and remains the spiritual, giving person she always was. The thing I remember most about her from my childhood was her sweet, gentle voice and quiet laughter that seemed to open a window to the breeze of her pure heart. I visited her at the Maryknoll Retirememt Center in New York last summer and her voice brought all the memories sailing back. Aunt Helen, I wish you a day of comfort, peace, and memories to cherish. May God bless you today and every day.

Dave..I mean, Erik! Brian..I mean, Jim!

I occasionally call my sons by my younger brothers' names and vice versa. Can you blame me??David and Brian - 1967 Erik and Jim - 1985

Company! Family!

I am looking forward to seeing my family this weekend. Dave, Heather, Zach, Maddie, Brooke, and Erik and Linda will all be here. Erik and Linda will be discussing details of the wedding photography as Dave is the photographer. I just get to play with everybody!

Brian's Day!

Happy Day to a fun and loveable brother!

A Surprise Performance

What I wouldn't give to witness such a fun surprise!

More than 200 dancers performed their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp, Belgium. With just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! Those 4 fantastic minutes took place March 23rd, 2009 at 08:00 AM. It was a promotional stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the lead role in the musical "The Sound of Music".

Happy 50th, Barbie!

I was about 4 when Barbie was born. It wasn't long before I owned one of my own and we became fast friends. Everyone had one, Linda, Shelley, Debbie, Cheryl, all the girls on the block. She came with a black and white striped swim suit, sunglasses, heels and a straw purse. Her wardrobe rather limited the extent of her adventures so I gradually acquired a nice collection of cool clothes for every occasion. Now I could play out all the scenarios of life for Barbie - school, work, marriage, social engagements, anything a 'real gal' would do. Oh, the hours of enjoyment, Barbie and me.

We grew apart, we changed, we aged. This is Barbie's 50th birthday year and I have to say she hasn't taken such good care of herself. In fact I dare say all my friends and myself have withstood the test of time a bit better than Barbie. Too bad. Too, too bad. Hey, Barbie, maybe you could get some running shoes for those tiny little feet! Oh, don't fret Barbs, you're just one of us now.

Happy Birthday to Lindsay!

Happy 10th Birthday, Hector!

A Happy Day to Hector, Brian and Carol celebrating 10 years together!

Fraidy and the Window Birds

More Zoos and Brews

Last weekend was a trip to Detroit for more "zoos and brews"! On Saturday morning we took all the kids to the Detroit Zoo, a very familiar place beginning when I was just a baby animal myself. We got some nice views of the Siberian tigers, polar bears, and gorillas, and they of US! I had lunch at the Black Lotus, a brew pub, with Dave and his family after the zoo. His post about it is here http://worldofwild.blogspot.com/2009/04/haunt.html

Happy Birthday, Mary!!

When I think of Mary I think of a beautiful smile, Dylan, the one who made her "Nana", her family, Lake Michigan, Spartan basketball, relaxing with a glass of wine, impressive creativity, and organization. Have a very happy day, Mary!

For Dawn, Happy Birthday in Ireland!

South American African Butterfly

Do you know how to identify a South American African Butterfly?

Zoos and Brews

I'm a typical backpack wearing, map toting, picture taking, sight seeing tourist! I know, I know, I live in a resort town and make fun of the tourists all the time but when I travel I want to take full advantage of each place I visit. Call me foreigner, rubber necker, hick, fudgie, conie, whatever condescending name you can think of, I'm there to have fun and see new things. My first love is what the outdoors has to offer in my vacation spot. Then, culture, history and food. But for some reason I often gravitate toward breweries and zoos. I've been to so many I can't rememeber them all, but I'll name some cities and you decide if I toured a brewery or a zoo there. Detroit, Detroit, (that's not a mistake, Detroit had both), Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Tampa, San Diego, Washington D.C., Denver, Dublin, Ireland, and Montreal. Then there are countless smaller ones in places like Traverse City and Houghton, Mi. I'm headed for Detroit tomorrow and we're going to the zoo!

Guinness once had an ad that seemed to combine both!

"A zoo is an excellent place to study the habits of human beings." Evan Esar

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Benjamin Franklin

Gifts From the Heart

As a dental hygienist, I don't get tips, bonuses, kick-backs, incentives, etc. It's pretty much a twice monthly paycheck and the occasional free toothbrush. But every now and then a patient will surprise me with a delightful token of their appreciation. Last week I was wowed with two such gifts.

First, Janice S. from Crooked Lake stopped in and gave me a pair of the most beautiful hand knit socks you can imagine. I told my avid knitting friend Barb about it and she stated simply, "Girl, you are loved!" Apparently, socks are quite the challenging project and these are exceptionally intricate in their pattern and stitching, complete with ribbed ankles and form fitted heels and toes. Check out the beautifully blended colors in the photo, too.

Just a few days later, Jim S. from Beaver Island came in and gave me a small cardboard box. We had given him some old dental instruments several years ago to help with his wood carving hobby. He wanted to thank us for that and inside the box was a stunning Santa sculpture hand carved with the help of those dental instruments! It was artistically painted as well.

When my patients are this thoughtful and generous who needs multi-million dollar retention bonuses!? Give me a gift from the heart any time.