The Bunk House

Quite a while back, I eluded to the bunk house that our dad built for my brother and me waaaaay back in the fifties.  Now, I can’t, for the life of me, remember the circumstances that led to Darry and Mickey getting this neat little piece of Heaven on earth, but it was the summer of 1957 when dad built it for us - I was 10 and Mickey was 6.  This little bunk house was to become the center of our existence for years to come.  It still stands on the very spot that “we” built it those many years ago as a memorial to our happy, happy childhood.

Whenever the weather warmed up enough in the spring you’d find Darry and Mickey “bunking” out in their little palace on the weekends.  Once school turned us loose, we’d move into the bunk house for the rest of the summer.  It sure beat “camping out” in a tent and sleeping on the ground.  Come fall, it would be back to weekends until temperatures plummeted to below tolerable, at which time we would retreat back to our bedrooms. 

Although it wasn’t very big it seemed like a mansion to us kids.  Somewhere dad had come up with two Army cots that were our beds.  We had a couple of old desks where we built our models or did whatever.  For games, we used a card table set between the two bunks.  Mickey and I built shelves between the studs to put our model cars and other precious items on.  We had pictures up here and there.  Other necessities of life, such as baseball bats, footballs, badminton rackets, etc., were stowed under the bunks.

The bunk house was in use all day long during the summertime, especially on rainy days.  We would play games “out there” or build model airplanes and cars “out there”.  We’d host our neighborhood friends in the bunk house and would conceive many a neighborhood reconnaissance mission from the “command center”.  I might add here that the neighbors weren’t always thrilled with the reconnaissance missions that were hatched in that little bunk house.  “Glory, glory, hallelujah.  Us brats go marching on.”  Life was good.

Today, I can sit back with a smile on my face and reflect on all the fun that Darry and Mickey had in that little bunk house.  What fond memories.  I recommend that every child have their own little bastion where they can retreat from the adult population and live out their fantasies.  The neighborhood may never be the same after the reconnaissance missions have been completed but, “Mission complete!”

After searching all of our pictures, this is the only picture that I have of our bunk house.  It’s actually in the background of a picture but, with the help of Picasa, I was able to crop it enough to show just the bunk house.

 

BBFN And May God Bless  - - - - - - - -

We Never Get Done

I was talking with an old workmate one day about retirement.  He said, “Oh, I could never retire.  I don’t know what I would do with myself.  What do you find to do all day?”  I told him that I didn’t know what I do all day, but that I never get done.  Well, yesterday was that kind of day.

We can’t tell you what exactly we did all day, but we stayed busy.  Before we knew it, it was time for bed.  Where did the day go?  It went by so quickly and we didn’t get done!!  There are some people who retire to a rocking chair.  That may give them something to do, but it doesn’t get them anywhere.  Although there are days that a rocking chair is very appealing, we have more than enough on our plates to do.

For instance, Judy has some sewing that she’s been wanting to get to and I have two bicycles that need tune ups and tires.  We didn’t get around to either of those things.  We did get a nice walk around the parks accomplished.  We did get the bed made and the dishes done.  We did get some laundry done.  Judy did get a hair cut and pick up some items at Uncle Wally’s.  We did get a pizza for dinner.  We did get some computer time.  We did play a game of Sequence.  We did watch some West Wing.  We did talk with the neighbors.  We did get the tanks dumped and the water tank filled.  We did trim the katts claws.  Oh yes, we did get our showers taken.  And I’m sure there’s a half dozen other items that I’ve forgotten, but there’s still things “left on our plates” that we didn’t get done.

So, I don’t know what we do all day, but I can tell you that “we never get done”.  We’re worn out just thinking about it, maybe we should “stood” in bed today.  Nah, that dawg won’t hunt!!  There’s too much to do.

May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -

The Farmer In The Dell

Yesterday we drove over to Harbor Springs to the Farmer’s Market which is held right downtown.  Harbor Springs is just around the bay from Petoskey and is the town where we lived and w*rked at the turn of the century.  That sounds funny, to think that we lived at the turn of the century.  When we were kids and heard that phase it meant a long, long time ago.  Anyway here are some pictures taken around Harbor Springs.    

After walking the streets for a bit, we stopped by our old “watering hole” – Out To Lunch for breakfast.  Rosie’s Big Breakfast was still on the menu so we just had to have that for nostalgia’s sake.  It was as good as ever.

Then we did a drive through the Wequetonsing area.  Wequetonsing is an old subdivision of summer residences in Harbor Springs where the rich and famous hang out.  Most of the homes that you see in the next couple of pictures are not winterized.

This is a picture looking from Wequetonsing back to Harbor Springs.

And this is a “zoomed in” picture from Wequetonsing looking across the bay to our campground in Petoskey.  The campground is right on the waterfront and you can see a couple of RVs almost in the middle of the picture.

As you can tell from our stories and pictures from around Bay Harbor, Petoskey, Bay View, Harbor Springs, and Hearthside Grove, this area is just saturated with “big money”.  And, this is not the end of the “money trail”.  There’s still more “high dollar rent districts” left to explore along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Hope the sun is shinning where you live.  May God Bless  - - - - - - - -

Writing About Nothing

Here I sit wiping the sleep out of my eyes.  Just barely awake and half the day has already rolled by – well, maybe not half as it’s only seven thirty-two in the morning, but that’s sleeping in for me.  Even the early bird, Judy J., slept in until quarter till seven.  Wow, this staying up until midnight sure causes one to “stood” in bed in the morning.  Norm says that early to rise is for sissies and birds.  I ain’t no sissy and I guess this proves it!!!!!

Okay, so yesterday was pretty much chores and w*rk.  Today will be another story as our game plan is to keep up with our chores during the w*rk week so we can play on our weekend and this is our weekend.  So, what’s up for today?  I’m not telling, but we do have a little outing with a “photo op” planned.  Other than that, “mums the word”.

I just realized that an unbelievable moment is quickly approaching – half of 2012 is just about gone.  Inconceivable!!!!  I’m hardly ready for Y2K to begin.  Where does the time go?  "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”  I sure wish it would slow down just a tad so I could catch up.

Katie and Alex are “pooped pussies”.  They’ve been on squirrel watch ever since we arrived at Magnus Park.  There are black squirrels running loose all over the park and that keeps the guard katts on duty all day long.  Especially when they get on the roof and start scurrying back and forth.  That little trick sends the katts into a frenzy of giving chase from inside the coach.  At least they are getting some exercise.

Well, the title told you that this blog entry was about nothing.  Now that you’ve had your coffee and spent time with the Pattersons, you can get your day started.  I hope it is a good one and that you take time to hug your katts, we did.

May God Bless  - - - - - - -

Late To Bed, Late To Rise

I can’t believe it.  All these years we’ve been “early to bed, early to rise” kind of people.  But all of a sudden we’ve become night owls and sleep in addicts.  Our adopted family member, Norm Payne, used to w*rk the night shift and sleep in the mornings so when he and Linda first began fulltime RVing they tended to stay up late and sleep in.  After they built their home in Rainbow Plantation, he flip flopped.  Now it appears that the Pattersons and the Paynes have swapped lifestyles.

Norm, haven’t you ever heard it said, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man’s girl go out with other guys.”  Or something like that.  Anyhow, I guess Judy and I are as healthy, wealthy, and wise as we’ll ever be, so it’s late to bed and late to rise for us – at least while we’re doing this w*rking gig.

Yesterday morning Judy had a dentist appointment and while she was gone to get her fangs sharpened, I “stood” to home and did some of the household chores.  I had thought that once we hit the road fulltime that we’d leave all the household chores behind, but they followed us.  How could that be? 

We w*rked the “two to nine” shift yesterday.  It’s nice having the morning to ourselves, but after we get home at around twenty after nine we tend to stay up for another hour and a half (or so) making it around eleven before our heads hits the pillow thereby causing us to “sleep in” in the morning.

Today is our Friday, Yay!  We haven’t decided what we’re going to do this weekend, but Judy wants to do some sewing on new grandbaby’s play mat and get the fabric for the baby’s quilt ordered.  Outside of that, we’ll need to make up the rules as we go.  The katts want us to stay at home and play with them for a little while plus they need to be groomed and have their claws trimmed again, so it sounds like a “busy” weekend with more chores.

Take Care and May God Bless  - - - - - - - -  

A Tour Of Bay Harbor

In the early 1900’s Petoskey Portland Cement Incorporated occupied about five miles of waterfront on Little Traverse Bay just west of Petoskey.  For over 80 years they mined limestone and operated a massive cement plant.  Operations ceased in the 1980’s leaving a huge quarry scarring the shoreline.

In 1993, several parties joined together to undertake what would become the largest reclamation in North America. In 1994, simultaneous explosions demolished the cement plant smokestacks. Eight months later, the barrier between Bay Harbor and Little Traverse Bay was removed, and water rushed in forming Bay Harbor Lake.

And, up from the ashes the Village at Bay Harbor was born with its boutiques and restaurants where the former cement plant once stood. The Village is the center of the community, featuring such public elements as a marina, public observation platform and walking trails. Nearly one mile of Michigan shoreline and 70 acres of prime land were donated as public parks by Bay Harbor Company and are connected by five miles of non-motorized public nature trails.

Bay Harbor has over 1,200 acres with 25 neighborhoods occupying the five miles of Lake Michigan waterfront where the cement company once stood. There is 90 acres of sheltered harborage offering protection for 120 public boat docks along with 128 private residences which they refer to as "dockominiums".  Bay Harbor is a four-season luxury resort community which has a world-class deep water harbor, the Olympic caliber Bay Harbor Equestrian Club, and a 27-hole golf club designed by Arthur Hills which is hailed as “The Pebble Beach of the Midwest.”

(You can place your cursor over the pictures for descriptions.  Also, you can make the pictures larger by “double clicking” on them.)

     

“The Inn at Bay Harbor, a Renaissance Golf Resort, opened for guests in 1998 and is a magnificent lakeside retreat within the resort community of Bay Harbor.  The Inn at Bay Harbor affords guests the finest accommodations and services with 134 luxurious hotel rooms and suites, several cottages, an outdoor pool complex with a cabana bar, beach access to Lake Michigan, and one of the finest Michigan spa's.  There is, also, 45 breathtaking holes of championship golf, between the Bay Harbor Golf Club and the Crooked Tree Golf Club, along with award-winning restaurants and shopping in the Village of Bay Harbor.” (taken from their literature) 

     

We didn’t visit the Equestrian Club or any of the Golf Courses, maybe another time, but we did enjoy just strolling around both The Village At Bay Harbor and The Inn At Bay Harbor.  Our next stop will be Harbor Springs which is where we lived “back in the day”.  So be looking forward to some more pictures from around Little Traverse Bay on the Michigan shoreline. 

May God Bless  - - - - - - - - - -

Such Silliness

Our good friend, Ray Faber, forwarded this to us.  It gave us a good laugh so we pass it on.

IMPOSSIBILITIES IN THE WORLD

1. U can't count your hair
2. U can't wash your eyes with soap
3. U can't breathe when your tongue is out

Put your tongue back in fool.

10 Things I know about you...

1) U are reading this
2) U are human
3) U can't say the letter ''P'' without separating your lips
4) U just attempted to do it
6) U are laughing at yourself
7) U have a smile on your face and you skipped No. 5
8) U just checked to see if there is a No. 5
9) U laugh at this because you are an idiot & everyone does it too
10) U are probably going to send this to see who else falls for it

You have received this e-mail because I didn't want to be alone in the “Idiot” category.

Oh well, hope you got a little chuckle out of it, at least.  Today is Sunday so you know what that means.  We go and worship the Lord with our friends at Stutsmanville Chapel.  God set aside one day a week as a gift to us for a day of rest.  He, being the Creator, knew the balance of things; therefore, He knew that we needed a day to “come apart before we come apart”!!  For the Jewish people that day is called the Sabbath and is traditionally Saturday.  We Christians worship on Sunday because that is the day Christ arose from the grave.  No matter which day of the week we “come apart”, we need a time of rest, reflection, and worship.

May God Bless  - - - - - - - - 

A Promise Of Things To Come

We w*rk the early shift today.  It’s Saturday which means it’s breakfast day and Judy and I are going to assist with the set up, preparation, and serving.  Of course that means that we’re up with the crows this morning.

Yesterday, after w*rk, we took a short drive over to Bay Harbor and walked the streets snapping all sorts of pictures.  We’ll get through the pictures and give you the Bay Harbor story within the next couple days.  It’s a unique little place to say the least.

Well, I’m off to wash behind my ears, throw on my glad rags, and go punch the clock so y’all come back, ya hear?

And In The Meantime, May God Bless  - - - - - - - -

How Did Our Weekend Slip By?

Well, here we sit.  Getting our mindset ready to go to w*rk.  We’ve just had two days off and didn’t do a dang thing – how did the weekend slip by?  We’d planned an outing for Wednesday, but ended up fixing the A/C leak and doing chores.  Yesterday started off overcast with rain showers so we made a run to JoAnn Fabrics and Walmart then came home and grabbed our Nooks for some reading time. 

Today will be a short w*rk day so maybe we’ll muster up some energy this afternoon and go do something.  But, I wouldn’t count on it.  We really enjoy the beauty of the campground and sitting outside on the waterfront or just going for a stroll around the neighborhood/bike trail. 

Which reminds me, we need to unload the bikes off the back of the rig, get four new tires, and do a tune up on them so we can do some riding.  It’s always one more thing Ta Do, ya know? 

I wonder if Mike and Peggy will be bringing their bikes with them.  This is one of the prettiest bike trails we’ve ever ridden on and it’s fairly level.  They’re coming our way in about a month so we’ll have fun showing them around the area.

Well, enough procrastinating.  It’s time to get going and get ready for another “hard” day at w*rk.  Taking care of rich peoples needs can be “hard” w*rk, ya know?   Just because they slapped down big bucks, they think someone needs to cater to their every whim – well, I guess I’d feel the same way if I’d coughed up the amount of money that they did.  So Hi Ho, Hi Ho . . . . . (with a smile on our faces, none the less).

Hang in there, we’ll get some more pictures around the area – I promise.

May God Bless  - - - - - - - -

The Handyman Can

After yesterday’s blog entry, we received comments and emails from several readers.  Ray Faber emailed and suggested tightening the mounting bolts for the A/C Unit.  Jim Smith recommended cleaning out the drip pan.  And Norm Payne suggested both cleaning out the drip pan and tightening the mounting bolts.

I climbed up on the roof, once again, and removed the shroud.  The drip pan was clean except for a bees nest in one corner, but that wasn’t damming (or damning) any water.  Our unit mounts from the bottom so there was nothing more that could be done on the roof.  So after I replaced the shroud, I headed inside.

But first I decided it would be a good idea to consult the owner’s manual to see exactly how the unit was mounted to the RV.  I’m glad I did because it not only gave me pictures, but instructed that the bolts be torqued to no more than 40 to 50 foot pounds.  I have a torque wrench, but not for that small of a bolt so I just “snugged” up the bolts being careful to not over tighten.

Then it was back up onto the roof again; this time with the hose.  Judy and the katts watched for leaks as I poured water all around the base of the unit.  No dips, no runs, no errors!!  Hooray for our team.

My friend, Charles Henry, forwarded me this email.  I don’t know where it came from or who the people are, but amongst all the the crime that we hear about, all the bickering in Washington, and all the celebrity foolishness that the “Big Three” thinks that we need to know about, this is really a news worthy story.

“Cody Green, a 12-year kid in Indiana, was diagnosed with leukemia at 22 months old. He loved the Marines, and his parents said he drew strength and courage from the Marine Corps as he bravely fought the battle into remission three times. Although he was cancer-free at the time, the chemotherapy had significantly lowered his immune system, and he developed a fungus infection that attacked his brain. As he struggled to fend off that infection in the hospital, a local group of Marines wanted to show how much they respected his will to live, his strength, honor and courage. They presented Cody with Marine navigator wings and named him an honorary member of the United States Marine Corps.

For one Marine, that wasn't enough ... so that night, before Cody Green passed away, he took it upon himself to stand guard at Cody’s hospital door all night long, for 8 hours straight.

Nowhere on the face of this planet is there a country so blessed as the United States to have men and women such as this. I wish I could personally tell this Marine how proud he makes me to be an American. God ... I do so love this country.”

May God Bless America  - - - - - - - -

A Man’s Work Is Never Done

Today is our day off, at least that’s what we thought.  After we did some inside chores yesterday morning, I climbed onto the roof to duct tape up the air conditioner shroud.  Then I took my bride out to Big Boy for brunch.  While we were having breakfast another thunderstorm moved through – yep, you guessed it, more water dripping off the A/C unit onto the bed.

So, as I said, today was supposed to be our day off but we’ve still got work to do.  I’ll need to remove the shroud to see if the base of the unit is accessible without having to pull out the entire air conditioner.  If so, then I can clean the area around the base and apply some RV Goop to reseal it.  If not, then this job will have just gotten dramatically bigger.  What are my odds?

Signed, Having Fun In Petoskey.  May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -

Water, Water Everywhere . . .

Except in the sink.  We had a “severe” thunderstorm pass through which lasted for a couple of hours.  It dumped a lot of water right dab on top of us.  Remember that I mentioned, a week or so ago, that the shroud on our front air conditioner had disintegrated on the starboard side?  Well, the angle of the rain was just right to get water inside the unit which in turn dripped down onto our bed.  So, when we got home from w*rk last night we had another little chore awaiting us. 

We removed the inside trim and I was able to get a wash cloth up inside the unit just enough to sop up most of the water still dripping from the unit.  This morning I will crawl up onto the RV and duct tape the opening in the shroud (you know, close the barn door now that the horse is gone).  That should hold until the new shroud arrives (ninety-nine bucks from Amazon.com).  Oh yes, we have to reassemble the the trim pieces on the inside of the coach as well.

While I’m shopping at Amazon, I might just as well order a new pump.  By adding a second solid carbon water filter to the system we don’t get enough water flow from our “city water” connection so we’ve been filling the water tank and using the pump to augment flow rate.  Our pump is six years old, has seen a lot of use, and it is beginning to weaken.  We currently have a Shurflo Classic water pump with a 2.8 gallon per minute flow rate and a 45 PSI.  The new pump will be a Shurflo Revolution with a 3.0 GPM and a 55 PSI.  Hopefully that will give the water flow rate that we are looking for (What say you, Don?)

Well, that and w*rk pretty much sums up this day in the life.  See ya later alligator.

May God Bless  - - - - - - - -    

We Woke, We Worshipped, We Worked

The title says it all.  We tried the Genesis Church in Petoskey, but we’ll go back to Stutsmanville Chapel from here on out.  We got home last night just in time to witness another of God’s beautiful sunsets.  Petoskey has to be home to the prettiest sunsets in the world and they last for a good forty five minutes.

Oh, here are some pictures from around Magnus Park.  This is our site.

Here is the “front row” which has the best views of the waterfront.

And, of course, here’s the waterfront.

Okay Doakie, Then.  May God Bless  - - - - - - - -

Department Of Redundancy Department

That’s pretty much what our daily entries are becoming – redundant.  We are only w*rking around 32 hours instead of 40, but it still does occupy five days a week.  Our w*rk week runs from Sunday to Saturday and the hours get mixed up each week, so we don’t know exactly what hours we will w*rk.  Craig is going to try to give us the same two days off each week, however, that may not be possible during “Rally Weeks” or when others are taking time off.

The w*rk isn’t hard and we don’t come home totally wiped out like our little stint at Amazon.  Yesterday morning was breakfast at the pool side.  Hearthside puts on a really great breakfast; there were scrambled eggs with sausage bits and cheese in them, pancakes, oatmeal, hash browns with onions in them, and link sausages.  Also, there was cereal and fruit dishes available and, of course, lots of coffee, orange juice, tomato juice, milk, and tea.

We had over a hundred people show up to chow down.  Everyone seemed to have a great time.  It’s a free meal to all members and guests which takes place on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.   They have over two hundred once everyone arrives at the Resort for the summer.  Hearthside is the true meaning of the word “resort”.

Last evening we stir fried some fresh asparagus, red sweet peppers, onions, and some sliced almonds to have along with the fresh haddock that we had bought (and then froze) at Market Basket.  We added some garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the stir fry and the fish was almost as good as the day it was caught.  It was a scrumptious meal.

We spent the rest of the evening watching an episode of West Wing and reading.  It began raining around eleven o’clock and continued on through the night with some thunder and lightning added here and there.  Nothing like “the rhythm of the pouring rain” on the roof top to send one off into “La La Land”.

Well, that’s it for today.   Be Sure To Worship and May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -

Hi Ho, Hi Ho . . .

Norm writes in his email,

“You've heard the song Hi Ho Hi Ho...

Such a depressing song.

Hi Ho Hi Ho, It’s Off To Work We Go...”

He, also, once wrote, “I quit w*rking when I was 54 and I haven’t w*rked a day since!”  Well Norm, our katts have gotten you beat.  They’ve never w*rked a day in their lives.  That means that they are wealthier than most of the residents at Hearthside Grove.  Atlas, it’s not the same for us poor rabbits; we’re still whistling the tune.

So, It’s “Hi Ho, Hi Ho . . .”

May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -

The Squirrels Have Gone Nuts

Hi Y’all.  Alex here.  Beware of the Ides of June ‘cause we have tons of squirrels running loose around here and it could get dangerous.  Katie and I have been on guard duty for days.  There are grey squirrels and black squirrels; we haven’t seen any red squirrels though.  Them darned things go running all around the house, under the house, and over the house.  Yep, you got it – they run on the roof and on the awnings. 

One black squirrel even came up to Mom and Dad and begged for food.  It came right up onto the little table on Dad’s chair.   They tried to shooo it away, but it wouldn’t go far.  Dad told Mom to get the camera but, by the time she came back with it, he’d finally taken off and didn’t come back.  I guess he thought he’d see his picture on the Post Office wall, or something.

If only Dad would let us outside.  Katie and I would “round ‘em up and head ‘em out” in short order.  Darned pests!!!  If they start messing with the truck then maybe Dad will sic us on them.  I want to get out and get at them in the worst way.

Here’s Katie on guard duty.

And here I am being woken from my nap by those dang critters.

Another thing that we’ve got is loud seagulls.  They squawk real loudly while walking on the street out front of the house.  Come on, Dad.  You gotta let us out.  This town just ain’t big enough for us katts and them thar critters.  All you readers can help Katie and I by writing to tell Dad and Mom to turn us loose, then we’ll clean up this town.  Barney Fife couldn’t hold a candle to us katts when it comes to law enforcement of the critters.

Alex

An Impromptu Dinner With The Outlaws

Judy’s sister, Shirley, and her husband, Warren, pulled into town around noontime yesterday so an impromptu dinner was arranged with Judy’s brother, John, and his wife, Della.  We picked up some beer brats and our favorite hot dawg rolls (like the ones we can get in Maine) from Tannery Creek and some of Dukes famous baked beans along with a nice macaroni salad from Glen’s supermarket on our way home.

The alternator in Warren and Shirley’s van gave up the ghost while they were buying gas at a local BP right in Petoskey.  Fortunately for them, there is an auto repair facility two doors down from the gas station.  The “guy” came up with a battery pack and they were able to get the van started.  They drove down the back alley to the repair facility and within a couple of hours were on the road again.  Let’s hear it for Independent Tire in Petoskey, Michigan.

So they all converged on our place and we grilled the brats and rolls on our electric grill.  It was a bit chilly but we ate outside none the less.  Sorry Duke, we doctored up your beans with a little molasses, brown sugar, and some bacon.  Everything was ummm, ummm, good.  Here’s a group shot of the all the “outlaws”.  Who are all those old people?

Della, John, Darrell, Judy, Shirley, Warren

Oh, and those beer brats were fantastic.  Tannery Creek was in the process of making them when we showed up so you might say that “they were just freshly squeezed”.  That’s a great place to get all our meats.

May God Bless  - - - - - - - -

How The Other One Percent Live

Michigan weather!  I don’t know!  Monday it was in the low nineties, Tuesday it barely made it to 60.  It thins your blood out and then freezes you to death.  Especially when you’re w*rking outside with a stiff breeze, actually quite windy.  But, today it will return to the 70’s, right where we like it.  I wish Mother Nature would leave the thermostat alone.

W*rk is going along quite nicely, but it’s still w*rk.  Judy and I have come to the conclusion that it is not all that it’s cracked up to be.  Me thinks that in the future we’ll just leave it for someone else to do and just sit on our laurels.

Anyway, speaking of w*rk, here’s some pictures of how the other one percent live (that is until Obama taxes them to death).  This is just one site where I had to make sure that the automatic sprinkling system for the potted plants was working properly.  While I was there I snapped a few pictures.  (By the way, you can double click on any of the pictures for a larger view)

This site has a “Bungalow”,

An Outdoor Kitchen,

Complete with a Waterfall,

And a Patio with a Raised Hearth Fireplace.  Not too shabby, huh?

Oh, and here’s the view from the Patio.

I wonder what the poor rabbits are doing this summer?  Here are a couple of old junker RVs that happen to be littering the campground.  Can you spell N-E-W-E-L-L?  Newells and Prevosts are quite popular here at Hearthside.

Here’s a view back across one of the ponds with the motor coaches pulled in so the owners get a nice view of the pond.

So, whatcha think?  I a little over the top, wouldn’t ya say?  I try to follow these folks around real closely with a bucket just in case money starts dripping off of them.

Oh, just so you know.  I do wear a dress white polo shirt (Sports Authority) with the Hearthside logo on it.  The darned thing feels like silk.  Thank God, no tie!!!  Judy has burgundy pullover blouses with the Hearthside logo on them.  We both have Hearthside jackets for when it is cold outside, like yesterday and this morning.

Well that’s it for today.  Keep Warm and May God Bless  - - - - - - - -  

Work A Little, Lounge A Little

That pretty much sums up our day.  We are “in training” this week.  Everyone knows how to do everything so that there is overlap and backup in case someone can’t make it to w*rk.  This isn’t difficult and, for the most part, requires just plain common sense.  The members are pampered – pampered beyond belief, but that’s what they’re paying the “big money” for.  So most of our training is where things are so we can pamper the members and pamper them quickly.

Yesterday Judy w*rked at the front desk in the Welcome Center while I learned the daily routine for the grounds.  The resort uses the KOA’s reservation system, which Judy is familiar with and I’ll need to learn also, and there is a daily routine for things like pool / hot tub care, trash pick up, newspaper delivery, and scrapping bubble gum off the bottom of the chairs. (just being sarcastic with that one, folks)  However, things are to be “prim and proper” throughout the grounds and facilities.

We ensure that the refrigerators are stocked with plenty of cold drinks, that there are plenty of towels in the exercise and pool rooms, that the clubhouse is picked up (cleaning is outsourced) and orderly, that the grounds are litter free, etc.. 

Mainly our J-O-Bs is to keep the member lot owners happy.  We are encouraged to interface with them, get to know them, and become familiar with their likes and dislikes.  Yep, we are servants which is not altogether a bad thing as we are called to be servants by our Lord and Savoir – we would do well to learn how to pamper Him.

We’ll get some pictures around the resort showing how the “rich and famous” are forced to live.  They are truly “roughing it smoothly”. 

Be Sure To Serve God and May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -

A Stroll And Some Pictures

We got some ‘splaining to do.  Petoskey, Michigan sets on the southeastern end of Little Traverse Bay.  It’s location allows for more shore frontage than a city would normally have, therefore, one park sort of, kind of runs into another.  For instance, we made reference to “Life At Sunset Park” a few days ago.  Well, Sunset Park begins just north of downtown and connects to Bayfront Park which is right downtown with Magnus Park being just a stones throw from Bayfront Park (It’s a one mile walk into town from Magnus Park).

To add to the confusion, there are a couple of small shore front communities which are really part of; that being, Bay View and Bay Harbor.  Bay View is an old Methodist Retreat center which is now made up of private summer homes.  Bay Harbor is a new community (within the last 10 years) which is made up of “upscale” homes with it’s own business district (when we say “upscale” we mean “upscale” – very few, if any, of our friends could afford to live there).

As our time here in Petoskey unfolds, we’ll post pictures of the area.  Today here are a few pictures taken from Bayfront Park which is right at the foot of Mitchell Street, the main thoroughfare that runs through the center of town.

When we arrived at the park on Saturday morning, they had a band playing mainly oldies ranging from country to rock and roll.  It was neat to stroll along hand in hand listening to the music in the background.

This picture is from the walking bridge crossing the Bear River with the Marina in the background.

Here is Petoskey’s answer to the Tower of Big Ben.  If you look closely you can see the marina light between the clock tower legs.

And this is the walkway leading to downtown Petoskey.  There’s a tunnel under US 31 so you don’t have to dodge the traffic.

Be patient, there are more pictures to come of downtown, Sunset Park, Magnus Park, Bay View, and Bay Harbor.  We’ll, also, get out and about and get some pictures from Harbor Springs as well as some of the other local towns around the area.

Yesterday we worshipped at Stutsmanville Chapel where we used to attend when we lived in Harbor Springs back in the late nineties and early two thousands.  It was nice to see so many of our old friends, some old and some not so old, from that period in our lives which, also, included people from our working lives too.

The temps were in the early 80’s when we arrived home so we took a nice long walk along the bike trails – up along the old bike trail and back by way of the new bike trail.  The new trail is far and away better than the old one, that’s for sure.

Once we returned home, we were tuckered out so we ended up hitting the hay before it was even dark outside – keep in mind that it doesn’t get dark until after 10 o’clock with the sun setting at close to 9:30.

Today is our first day on the J-O-B.  It’ll be a short day because they, who ever they are, don’t want to wear us old folks out too quickly.  Actually this will be a short week with mostly on the job training.  It’s not too difficult but they do have their procedures that we’ll need to learn.  Maybe we’ll get to drive the Mercedes around for awhile – wouldn’t that be a hoot???

Take Care and May God Bless  - - - - - - - -

A Little Trip Into Town

Yesterday morning, while we were waiting for the rain to clear out, we cleaned the house and got ourselves ready for outdoor play.  Once the weather conditions were right, that is, no more rain, we trudged ourselves uptown.  Petoskey has one of the last remaining downtown J. C. Penney stores in the United States (there are only eight of them left). 

When we lived in Harbor Springs, we did a lot of shopping at the downtown Petoskey J. C. Penney store.  This particular store always (and I emphasize the word always) has something that will fit me.  I needed some new khaki shorts for w*rk and I like the St. Johns Bay cargo shorts.  The only other store we’ve found that carries them is in Queensbury, N. Y. so I generally have to order them.  Nope, not at the Petoskey store.  They carried them and had several different colors of them in my size.  Also, they had some nice tee shirts as well.  To top it all off, both the shorts and the shirts were on sale – $12 for the shorts, $5 for the shirts.  Why, you can’t beat that with a stick.

It was a nice little jaunt along the waterfront, through Bayfront Park, and into town (1.2 miles one way).  As the clouds pushed away and the drier air filtered in, it became a wonderful summer’s day so we did a little walk about the downtown area.  Now hang in there, we are going to snap some pictures around Petoskey just to give you the flavor of the area and will present them in a spread later this week.

Today being Sunday, we are going to attend the church we attended when we lived in Harbor Springs.  It will be nice to see some old familiar faces.  Speaking of church, it’s time for me to go wash behind my ears, brush my teeth, and comb my hair.  Gotta look presentable, ya know!!

Praise The Lord and May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -

What’s New, Pussy Katt?

Yep, that’s the question.  What’s new?  Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan is throwing a party in our honor.  They’ve been experiencing sort of a drought and, true to our lifestyle, we brought rain with us.  It moved in late yesterday afternoon and lasted through the night.  It’s been a nice gentle kind of rain with a few burst of thunder and lightning here and there, just what they’ve been praying for for their gardens and lawns.  So, thanks, Darrell and Judy, for relocating here in Northern Michigan.  The rain is supposed to clear out this morning and bring in nice warm sunny weather once again. 

Yesterday morning we headed out to do our monthly grocery shopping but, first, we had to stop off at Big Boy’s for breakfast.  It was a decent meal at a reasonable price; then it was off to Meijer’s to pick up meat and produce.  Next we made it to Wally World to pick up the staples and other basics.  We hadn’t done any “formal” grocery shopping since Market Basket waaaaaay back when we were in New Hampshire a month ago.

After we stowed our goodies, we drove out to Hearthside Grove to check out our new place of employment.  It’s a nice place, to say the least, with lots and lots of Prevost motor coaches adorning the “driveways”.  Beautifully landscaped lots with coach houses, outdoor kitchens, fancy rockwork decks, flowers and shrubs, etc..  There are man made ponds with fountains all over the place and the lawns are as manicured as an elite golf course fairway.

Hearthside has a free loaner car available to their members whenever a need arises where someone may need another vehicle – it’s a Mercedes, for Pete’s sake.  They also have a Ford pick up truck available for whenever a member needs to pick up something at the Home Depot, Lowes, or some other mercantile.

The members are treated like gold; well, that’s because that’s what they are – gold to Hearthside Grove Luxury Motor Coach Resort.  That’ll be Judy’s and my job – treat the members like gold and keep them happy.  There maybe a lot of “free perks” for them, but they pay for it when they buy the lot and pay the annual membership dues.  We don’t know what the dues are but we can guarantee you that they ain’t cheap.

But, you know what?  All of that and we still like Magnus Park better.  It’s right downtown Petoskey on the waterfront of Little Traverse Bay with one of the best bike trails we’ve ever ridden on running right through the park.  Petoskey is a quintessential little town with several parks scattered throughout the town.  Every week there’s a Farmer’s Market and music in one the parks; it’s everything that we like (and/or want) right in one spot.

Once we returned home, we put out the patio rug and the awning.  Then dug out the grill and grilled up some pork chops which we had along with some fresh asparagus, a baked potato, and the left over cabbage/kielbasa concoction from our German meal.  By then the rains were falling so we “stood” inside for the rest of the evening.

Our site is tucked in under the trees with a great big hill going up behind us so we are unable to get any television signal what so ever.  But we do get a good Verizon signal for out internet and do have plenty of reading material thanks to our Nooks and the Baldwin County library system.  We, also, have plenty of movies on board as well as our West Wing series to watch.  Plus Judy has her quilting to work on and I have my painting that I can play with; therefore, we have enough to keep us busy without watching television.

Well, that’s more than enough rambling.  May God Bless  - - - - - - - -  

Life At Sunset Park

We’re here!!  Now there’s a statement for you.  You can make that statement wherever you are because no matter where you are, you’re “here”.  Try it yourself, say “I’m here” and look around.  Sure enough, you’re right “here”! 

Anywhoo, We’re here!!  It was an uneventful trip from Mecosta to Petoskey; a little under three hours.  However, for some reason, it seemed like an awfully long three hours.  It didn’t take us any time at all to back in and get set up in our new digs for the rest of June.  Here are a couple of pictures from our site.

After getting all set up, we visited Judy’s brother, John, and his wife, Della.  They had invited us for a “travel day” dinner (and they don’t even know of that tradition).  They served us venison burgers, potato salad, and baked beans.  It was good to see them again and we look forward to having a lot of good times with them and their family this summer.

Petoskey is known for it’s sunsets; hence, the name of one of their parks which is along US 31 – Sunset Park.  The sun sat at 9:28 last night which makes it light outside until almost 10:00.  Here’s a picture of the sun setting taken from right out our dining room window.

So I took my bride’s hand and we wandered on down to the beach so we could watch the Sun get Mother Earth ready for bed.  She certainly has one beautiful pair of pajamas in which to adorn herself with, that’s for sure.

Wow!!!!  That’s better than fireworks.  So, It’s Nighty Nite and May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -