Grazing Basket full of goodies & Meals Prepared - On The Road Again!!!!

Tomorrow Bonnie and I will be heading to Iowa to spend a couple of days with Jean and Jerry. I decided I needed to do something to serve my sister so I have fixed food for a lunch meal, and two dinner meals and of course snacks in between ..... as we talk and laugh and "remember when."
Jean has told me many times that as the oldest (she was nine when I was born) she was elected to give me my Saturday Night bath, which, by the way was the only bath we got every week. Mom heated the water on the wood burning stove, poured in into a big galvinized tub in the middle of the kitchen floor and - wa la - we all got a bath. Jean also made sure that I got dressed every morning and got my p.j.'s on every night - soooooooo - it's probably time for me to do something to serve her, don't you think?
Darn I wish I could post some pictures of the goodies I have fixed! Oh well trust me we'll devour them all I'm sure!

Continue to be Frustrated!!!!

Haven't figured out the new way to post pictures yet. I'm thinking I have to download a whole new program and I'm not about to try that on my own so will be enlisting Judy's help when she and Jeff come up later this month to take the docks up and service the boats. In the mean time I will post without pictures from time to time - boring I know - it's all about the pictures, right?
Trees are starting to turn already and Fall is in the air. Have a trip planned with "Aunt Bonnie" - and you know what that means, great traveling fun eating and laughing all way. More later from CampGrams

Hiccup in Blogging

Okay - You gotta know I am FRUSTRATED today with my blog - can't get it to work right so I am waiting till my "blogging expert" i.e. Judiann gets home from school today so she can advise me as to what I am doing wrong (her's is set up like mine and she was the one that taught me how to work this thing) - for some reason I can't get it to post the pictures that I have selected. And if she can't help me - YIKES!!!!! Good thing you can't see a picture of my face because it would clearly show me as an "angry ole gam gam" - hope to be up and running soon so I can finish up the Daniels week at the lake!!!!!

More Beautiful Pictures taken by JoEllen

I simply love these pictures - I think I will print these and frame them ..... now I know you are asking ...... where are the pictures of the water sports and fishing trips that took place.    Be patient the best is yet to come.......

                                                   beautiful  lily pad in bloom on the lake.....

                                          nothing more beautiful than a rainbow over the lake...

                                                well, maybe the sunset over the lake ......

What do you think?  Sign in and vote on the picture you like the most......thanks JoEllen for the great pictures.......coming up are some hilarious ones taken by Rebekah and Luke.......they will make you laugh.......

More potential "Best Friends" caught on camera by the Daniels!!!!

I love it when grandkids come to the lake and take great pictures while out in the boat.....below are more potential "Best Friends"......continue checking my blog - more pictures to come.....thanks to Rebekah and JoEllen's eye for great picture taking......

                                                              I love these pictures!
               Oh....by the way - the lake house is way to empty :)  You all can come back now!!!!!!!

Birthday Party In Heaven!!!!!

I guess every day must be a birthday party in heaven - however today is a very special one.  We can only imagine how fun it must be for Grandpa Bergie to be celebrating his 73rd birthday today!!! 

On his birthday in 2008 we spent a couple of days in one of our favorite places, (Two Harbors) along Lake Superior.  The scenery is beautiful and so peaceful to sit by the lake and admire God's creation.  Thought you would enjoy some pictures of the "cutest birthday boy" ever!!!!

Gotta love that guy!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Summer? Saturday - and Fun Friday!!!

For those of you who are suffering from high temps in Ks and Mo - don't be jealous ..... and for those of you who have yet to come to the lake - I've ordered warmer weather than what I am having today.....we'll see what happens.....hopefully it will be at least in the 70's.......

Friday was a fun day at Cook's annual Sidewalk Days Sales - I spent the whole day at the Flower Shop helping Sara and we were pleased with the amount of last years Fall and Christmas merchandise that went home with the many customers that came through the tent......here are a couple of pictures.....

Notice the green umbrella in the background of this picture......the people that own the building across the street sold Chicago Hotdogs - anyone ever heard of them?  Oh My Gosh - they are the best I have ever eaten - and they DO NOT offer Catsup or Mustard to put on them.  But they have many other surprisingly different delicious condements that they use - I am on a mission to find a place that carries the hot dogs up here in the northwoods.  Wish me luck - all I can say about a Chicago Hot Dog is YUM YUM!!!  And by the way they had more business than any other vendor and they were sold out by 3 pm!!!!

Another New "Best Friend" Critter

Once again another little critter showed up when I was out moving the hose to water the roadside yard.  I was taking the hose off the holder and saw a movement down in the window well.  And there looking up at me was this little "rusty" looking frog ...... I quickly ran in and got my camera and took a picture of him  - I'm thinking he can be on the "Best Friend" list ....... only if he stays in the window well  :).      So what do you think?????  And you gotta know I will be checking to see if he is where he belongs each  time I go out to move the hose ...... I told him it's against the rules to take up residence on my porch :)

Shhhh - don't tell him how scarey he looks to me!!!!

The NEW - The OLD - and The ANCIENT

Life is like a refrigerator - what you ask? - Gam Gam is going crazy - or maybe she  already HAS!!!!!  Now wait a minute, let me explain - I just purchased a NEW refrigerator - got rid of the OLD refrigerator - am thankful for the ANCIENT refrigerator (that has lived down in the garage for many years).  For over a week now I have been running up and down the steps to the basement to get things to eat out of my ANCIENT  "friend" which was purchased back in the 80's by my father and mother in law, and was hauled all the way from California to the Lake  House,  AND it works "JUST FINE" - in fact it says to me everytime I open it "I'm Fine" (does that sound familiar to any of you)?   There is nothing wrong with it and it is refusing to "give up the ghost" as the saying goes.  I love the determination of this ANCIENT "friend."  So I am asking you all to look at these three refrigerators and vote on the one which you think I want to be like .......

                                                                   The NEW

                                                                    The OLD

                                                                 The ANCIENT

Two Potential "Best Friends" - Did They Make The List?????

Just before leaving for church on  Sunday morning I was putting on my lipstick in the bathroom in the hallway
and I heard this scratching noise up by the window.  I looked up and - OH MY GOSH - there was a chipmonk sitting on the ledge of the window outside the screen!!!!  Okay I'll admit I almost swallowed my tube of lipstick.  I think he thought he could be one of my new best friends if he got "up close and personal"..... however the verdict is still out on him.  I think he knows that because for the last two days I've tried to get a picture of him and he is no where to be found.  Probably because I stomped my foot when I saw him in the window and he now thinks I am a mean ole lady!!!!!

Now this lovely slim trim gal hiding in the bushes, has been hanging around early in the mornings for some time and I'm sure she too would love to be a best friend, however, I'm thinking I need to have a rule in place  - she needs to wear a diaper because I don't like what she is "dropping" in my front yard everytime she comes to visit. 

Now in saying all that - I can understand why all creatures large and small like hanging out at my house - who wouldn't with an early morning view like this.  So, I've been thinking ........ getting up close and personal and diaper or not - I've put the word out ......they  are invited to be on the "best friends" list!!!!!  Three best friends and counting.......maybe the next candidate will be a BEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIKES

My New Best Friend

This is my new best friend - she is waiting for me almost every morning when I go out on the porch to have my quiet time. She sits there very still for long periods of time.  I'm sure she is having her "quiet time" also!!  Her friends come and go and chase each other  away from the feeder - however she just calmly sits there - all the activity of the other birds does not bother her at all.  I also find her there several times throughout the day and into the evening.  I love how calm she is and I think she is very confident, as she doesn't have to be busy chasing her friends and flying around all the time.  Who would ever have thought that a tiny little hummingbird would set a good example for me.  She  makes me know I don't have to be busy all the time - that it is okay to have periods of "quiet time" (several times during the day), to relax and enjoy the beauty of all that God has created.  How do I know this new friend is a "she" - well in looking in the bird book - all the males are the ones with  bright colored head and neck feathers (go figure) - she is very dull in color - kind of a "Plain Jane" in appearance - but what does that matter - she sets a good example for someone that thinks she has to "busy" all the time!!!!!

"I Can See Clearly Now" ..... song by Jimmy Cliff

I have always liked this song by Jimmy Cliff ....
"I can see clearly now the rain is gone.  I can see all obsticles in my way. Here is that rainbow I've been praying for.  It's gonna be a bright, bright sun shiney day.....it's gonna be a bright, bright sun shiney day.

Here is my verison of Jimmy's song....
"I can see clearly now, windows are done.  There are no fish flies in my way.  Here is that rainbow I am praying for.  It's gonna be a very, very rainy day....it's gonna be a very, very rainy day.

The whole weekend is supposed to be filled with thuderstorms.  However, that really is okay with me.  I have several good books to read  and I'm looking forward to relaxing on the porch in my gliding rocker and reading.....had 40 Prime Timers here last night for a potluck......weather was GREAT.....we had a good time out on the patio with a nice cool breeze blowing.....they all mentioned the significant person that was not here, but loved all the pictures of him that hang above the fireplace.......made them smile.  Have a great day!!! Grams

Things One Should Not Be Doing When They Get Old

Today is sunny and cool with a lovely breeze blowing......so I decided it was a good day to do the windows......I love working outside when the temps are a bit lower, no humidity and a nice breeze because I don't  sweat buckets !!!! Some people think they are too old to do chores like washing their windows or doing yard work.   I don't think of myself that way (well... I'm beginning to recoginize the fact that I am getting old)  however not too old to do windows or yard work........if I were too old the picture below would be something that would have happened!!!!!  So put your minds at ease - it didn't happen!!!!! Loving the
energy that God has given me to accomplish chores like these at the Lake House - now there may be a day when window washing will be on the "to do" list when certain people come on vacation :)  That time is probably coming sooner than I want it to!!!!!

                                           Something that didn't happen!!!!! Yippee

This versus That.......Which One Do I Like The Most

As you all know I am a "neat freak" when it comes to keeping my house all picked up and everything put away in the place where it belongs.  However, as I sit and compare the two pictures below the first one certainly has something missing - although there is a lot of furniture and lots and lots of decorations, pillows, blankets, and yes suitcases (go figure)......there are no live bodies.........

So in saying all that ..... the picture below is definately my favorite ....... now I think we were all supposed to

be watching a movie ....... however if you will observe the bodies in the picture you will see that they are all sleeping ....... for pity sakes (as great grandma Nelson would say) ....... so here's the deal ...... all the Daniels, Sturmans and McMahons are invited to come anytime, as often as you would like ...... cause I am liking the second picture WAY BETTER than the first one ....... no longer important to me to have a neat house with everything in it's place ..... bring on the mess, noise, laughter, fun and fellowship .... oh yes and the food!!!!

Gotta run now cause I'm taking the boat out for a spin - the sun is out and I'm up for a boat ride ....... oh - don't worry - "my" boat is blue and white and it is called a Paddle Boat!!!!!!  Scared ya didn't I - Tee Hee!

Memories on Monday - my birthday

Today I have been thinking about birthdays in my past.  Among my family pictures I have photos of me holding my birthday cake when I am 1, 2, 4 and 10 years old.  I was quite the "pudgy" little girl.   Now, I know you are asking yourselves - why didn't she post those birthday pictures.  Well, it isn't like I didn't try - I laid them on many surfaces throughout the house and took a picture of them - however I couldn't get any "takes" to turn out good enough to post.  Shoot!! Where are all my experts when I need them?   So - I decided to post a picture of my "date" on my 70th birthday.   He took me to a little eating place north of Duluth along the shore of Lake Superior.  It is called "The Lighthouse" and is owned by three sisters.  Gotta say - my "date" is the cutest any 70 year old could ask for - right?

GRAM'S "HOT" BIRTHDAY DATE!!!!!

First post ever - hang on for the ride of a lifetime!!!!!

Shopping at the Comet Theater in Cook - this is the Boat outside that is set up for having coffee

Floating in the water on a hot day

Does the look on their faces tell all - NO FISH

Judiann flying off an inflated sleeping mattress!  FUN!

 Okay - here we go - this is my very first post and I have lots of encouragers here to make sure I am doing everything right.  However, come Monday they will all be gone and I will be on my own!!!!  Can you hear me screaming for help already?   My blog is set up like Judiann's so she will be my teacher/advisor.  If you have checked her blog you know she is a "pro" at it.   It's been a great week with family  (Judy's and Janet's),  doing all the usual things that we do here at the lake.  Looking forward to all of us being together in Lincoln, NE in August  for Ryan and Paula's wedding - and looking forward to having Lori's family coming to the lake for a week.  I won't be posting EVERY day cause you know I do have a life outside of my computer - but keep checking for updates - cause I know you all have SO MUCH FREE time on your hands :)!