Our Backyard Sancutary

This is our front side yard and the four plank fence we put up--(the ground is now fixed, and the fence is now straight back by the bush--this picture was taken right when he initially finished). We feel so much better--the bushes our neighbors chopped down 8 years ago were clearly ours--and little by little every year they were mowing way up into our lawn, to justify their pesticide application (claiming the lawn as theirs). Our kids asked us why we were putting a fence in their yard, and even their dog (who had been leaving her piles in our yard) acted very territorial when my hubby was in our yard. Nobody except us apparently really understood that was our yard. Sadly though the neighbors are really angry with us (they won't even say hi), as they feel we took their yard away, even with a survey done by professional survey engineers, who found all the irons in the ground--the survey is 100% accurate within a couple of inches. I guess we could have said something to them all along when they were doing things to our yard, but we chose not to react in anger or say a word, but to simply put in a decorative fence. By the way, because they were angry with us, for whatever reason, the husband tore down his kids' swing set, and it's just been sitting in piles on the other side of their house. I have no idea why he'd do that to his kids or what he was trying to prove. We even deliberately kept our fence a good 8 inches off the lot line out of respect to the neighbors and their play area. It's just such an odd reaction to me--if I had found out I treated someone else's property as my own, I'd be very apologetic to those neighbors, not angry--I'd feel really bad--so I'm having a great deal of trouble understanding their reaction. So, all in all, they had been working about 12 feet into our yard towards our driveway, and 70 feet up the hill into our yard from the cul-de-sac--it had been getting more and more out of hand every year, so we decided it was time to peacefully resolve the situation with a pretty cedar fence.


We had a wonderful relaxing evening enjoying our new fire ring. We roasted "hotdogs" and made smores--we let the kids stay out til about 9 pm, and J. and I stayed out another half hour enjoying the bright moon and the peaceful sounds of the bugs---when we went inside I was very surprised to see it was only 45 degrees out (and my girls were running around in shorts!) I should mention when I ran an errand last night, I saw two people in ear muffs--it's August!

My little Fairy set up camp tonight--after dark we moved it over next to the camp fire--what fun!


There's our new privacy fence! We have to wait a few weeks for it to "season" before we can stain it--but I can't tell you what a difference it makes for us. The comfort level in having complete privacy is wonderful--and the solitude with the campfire--nice--and looking over at a fence instead of a house--so much prettier--we regret not planting like five more blue spruces when we put the first two in 7 years ago!

And note, for all you Ohio Folks, in WI we don't call this came Corn Hole, we call it Bean Bag Toss (perhaps it depends what you use inside the fabric, corn or beans:)--my parents made this for us last year. We have been playing this since I was a little girl when my grandpa made ours--it's almost as addicting as skee ball:)--(I swear I'm going to buy a skee ball machine someday!)

Old World Wisconsin

We were out picking up paint at our non toxic paint store where we always buy it--it's a beautiful drive and pretty area. I figured since we were out we should take a break from traditional homeschooling and have a field trip--why, because we can! So we went to out to lunch at Culvers, and then I thought I would take them to Elegant Farmer (a wonderful apple and pumpkin farm, with a train and lots to offer). But then I thought, I have never been to Old World Wisconsin, and it's on my list of things I have to do before we move (whenever that may be?). We arrived there, and holy moly, the grounds are so peaceful and beautiful. We didn't pay for the whole tram tour where you can get on and off as you please and see the historic buildings and the interpreters. It's too much for just three hours, and I prefer their daddy be with us when we do that. I just wanted to see where it was and get information. Boy there is so much more going on there than I realized! They have special events planned all year too, so we plan on going back mid October for their fall harvest weekend!
http://oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org/




My girls decided they'd like to be 19th century girls for Halloween to match their new bonnets; we'll have to see if Grandma J would be interested in sewing up some smocks for them:) I'm sure they'll want to be mermaids again tomorrow:)





We came home and made yarn dolls; I have very fond memories of doing this with my Grandma--I'll have to hit grandma J up for any and all yarn scraps she doesn't want!

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

We've had an oddly cool summer up in our neck of the woods this year. August is usually very hot--but not at all this year. So, I've been in the mood for fall. In addition to my upcoming redecorating project in the dining room, I've been in the mood to bake. (And I must admit, I'm procrasting on tearing down the wallpaper, since that's NOT my favorite thing to do. Luckily there's not a whole lot to do. I'm hoping that large strips will just come down easily:) So, I'm making good use of my procrastination and baking. What flavors speak fall more than cranberry and pumpkin, especially combined. So, enjoy...

• 3 cups flour
• 1 Tbsp plus 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1-1/2 tsp salt
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 can pumpkin
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup orange juice or water
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9x5 loaf pans.

COMBINE flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil and juice in large mixer bowl; beat til just blended. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stir just til moistened. Fold in cranberries. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pans.

BAKE for 60-65 minutes. Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes.

Makes two loaves.
For three 8x4 loaf pans: bake 55-60 minutes
For six 5x3 mini loaf pans, bake 50-55 minutes.

Mr. Piper and His Puppy Blankie

This is Piper's blanket that came with him when we adopted him. A woman makes all these blankets for all the dogs and puppies that come into Heavenly Hearts Rescue http://www.heavenlyheartsrescue.org/ . Mr. Piper (as we often call him, so he doesn't receive an identity crisis--as you kind of have to admit he looks like a girl:) LOVES his puppy blankie--he sleeps with it, he runs around with it, he chases it, he plays hide and seek with it---I seriously think it's his best BFF:) (note: 7.5 months old)

Anniversary Flowers---9 years

Nine Years Ago Today...

The Band tours to Mackinac

Home of the green and the gold!

Palms Book State Park U.P. Michigan
Big Spring (Kitch-iti-kipi)

Michigan's Largest Spring.

Named the "Mirror of Heaven" by the early Indians.

I saw him at the state park! I saw him buy his day pass and take the raft out onto the the lake and steer the raft--really, he was there!

Some of the band gang having dinner together in Mackinac City--picture taken with Agnes our waitress from Lithiuania

scenes from Mackinac City

The Grand Hotel, taken from the ferry ride over to the island. It costs $10 just to stand on the porch!

Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island---no cars; truly all horses and bikes--it was very interesting to see store deliveries and restaurant deliveries and luggage transport all done by bike baskets and horse wagons

There are beautiful homes and b&b's all over the island.

The Mackinac Bridge. It's a 15 minute ferry ride from Mackinac City to the island.

So, here's kind of a funny story. Most people bike on the island. From what I heard most don't make it to the state park. Well J. and I decided to circle the island via foot. I thought it was only 8.5 miles around and that is doable. Well, we started walking for what I believe was 5 miles (based on a mile marker, though I don't know where the first one was) and still didn't feel like we had rounded the corner of the island to head back.) We had gotten into the beautiful state park, when we decided it best to turn around. We thought it possible we misunderstood the distance around the island, thinking maybe the island was 8.5 miles long making it 17 miles around--well, I had on walking sandals (Rykas) instead of the walking shoes I brought which were sitting all cozy in my motel room, a ferry ride away; and it looked like rain, and I was hungry. So what did we do? We turned around and went back the direction we came from. Many bikes came our way, but not many walkers--there were a few joggers. Sadly, we really did walk about 8-10 miles (more than the island) but only saw half of it, as it really is only 8.5 miles around:)

This wedding party had just been dropped off from their carriage ride. The waiting list for a Saturday wedding (the one and only each Saturday) is 3 years.

Back in Mackinac City--site of our band concert

Incredible band shell, sound and lights set up--very classy!

the band in concert

Bonfire Beach Party after the concert!

We sat right on the shores of Lake Huron enjoying great food, home-made brew from one of our band members, a view of Mackinac Bridge all lit up, and fire works--boy do we know how to party:)