October 21, 2018 – May 6, 2019

Miles traveled this blog:  0

Total Miles traveled:  5217

While this blog entry is not officially about nor on the Loop, I request editorial license to include these interim reports as continuity to our Looping story.

We arrived  back to 1563 just in time to prepare for and enjoy Halloween, all 8 Grand’s birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family.  What a celebration each and every event turned out to be. 

Thanksgiving and Sixteen Strong

Christmas gift from the family – two folding bikes for doing the Loop with no car!

Mostly we spent the winter (the first one at home since 2014) watching children and teen sporting and music events including girls Raven hockey and Milford HS skiing;  mite Red Wing hockey and Hartland soccer; Steiner volley ball and basketball;  Tae Kwon Do and oboe competition; USA gymnastics; and finally mastering a two wheeled bike without training wheels which we missed because it happened on the day we left town!  What we learned you have to watch hours of beginning and learning to finally get to watch your granddaughter (Ashleigh) compete at the highest levels of hockey and skiing. the Ravens lost in the State semi-finals after 26 minutes of OT and that is a lot! The Milford Lady Mavericks were regional winners and finished fourth in the State.

State Semi-finals – size never a problem!

Regional Finals trophy 2019

     Lee

Klava

Nate

Leonie

Cedar

Oscar

How very proud we are of Lexi with her stellar performance in Engineering at MSU! 

Another highlight was just the right amount of downhill skiing for us –  ten days during Dec, Jan, and Feb with various family groups at Boyne and Crystal mountains.  Fun to be able to still keep up with some of them.

All bones intact for  winter 2018-19!

We spent two weeks in the Florida sun, Naples with Mike & Veta’s family and then Marathon on a VRBO boat while visiting friends onboard Sunset Delight and Daybreak.   The warm weather, family and friends provided a welcome reprieve from the Michigan winter.  Had we really forgotten?   Our local schools broke all records for ice/snow and cold days.

Fun family, lovely time, beautiful Naples Boardwalk

Boating friends, Ev, Clark, Jeanne and Kenny enjoying Key West.  Thanks for the hospitality!

During a particularly cold and wet week in Northern Michigan we shared a Boyne City get-away with boating friends Mike and Nancy of California Lady.   Dan and Jenny Lynn of Melody in Sea stopped by on their various trips back to Deltaville and we visited them in their gorgeous home in White Hall, Michigan.   Everyone reports missing the cruising lifestyle!

Spring brought our newest grandson, Felix James born on March 21^st to Brooke and Curt.  He is a perfect baby, doing all that he is supposed to do and nothing he is not. 

First Family of five Photo

Brand new

Ready to go!

Mike and Veta recently announced that we are expecting Grandchild #10 around Thanksgiving.  Who would have thought?

Family of five, soon to be six!

After some hesitation, Marty (and Sally) took on completing the Victorian dollhouse that my brother, Bill, began years ago in Utah.  In all ways, it was an amazing project and a story only they can tell but the finished product is a treasure.  Her tentative name is “Popps Inn”, after my parent’s Sweezy and Mullett Lake cottages. She belongs to the extended family but will live with me and Jim for now.  My wish is that this exquisite lady becomes a family heirloom belonging to our Grands and their Grands for generations to come.  Or perhaps she eventually becomes every family’s white (or purple) elephant.

Thanks Bill

Thanks Marty

And last but not least, Judy our MSU college friend and my walking buddy of 30+ years married Jon on April 27^th.  It was a fine and festive affair celebrating the hopefulness of two mid-seventy-somethings finding new love!

Congratulations Judy and Jon!!!

Pat, Heather, Lexi, Ash, and Nate all dressed up for Judy’s wedding

All of our very best wishes!

On May 5^th (6 months and 15 days later) we pulled out heading for North Herrington Harbor and the Namaste patiently waiting for us in Deale, MD – about 20 miles south of Annapolis.  It was an uneventful trip unless you count the 5 hours driven in a torrential downpour on the PA turnpike.  As per plan, though, rain slowed to a drizzle as we celebrated with dinner at the Dockside.  In the cold and damp we made the required trips up and down the ladder unloading the car and finally climbing into bed among the chaos of everything piled around us that we just may need, or not, during the next five months.

Good Boat Name:  Pegasus (A Looper boat with whom we corresponded this winter now docked directly behind us – such a small Looping world)

Bad Boat Name:  Big Worm (on a chartreuse green, charter, rock fishing boat)

Quote of the Day:  “The reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day.”_Anne Lamott

Happy Birthday to: Beverly, Aunt Germaine (97!), Georgie, and Archie

Congratulations to:  Bastian (our  94-95 exchange student), Christine and Lisa Bilker on the birth of daughter and sister.

Marlene

Rest in Peace: Juliett/Jidda Murad