The Big Apple

Finally...FINALLY...I got our latest vacation pics uploaded (or is it downloaded?) from our cell phones. We celebrated Keaton's college graduation with a trip to New York City. 

We stayed at this new hotel near Times Square.  It was fabulous!  The view from our room was of the Empire State Building.  Gorgeous...and patriotic!!

We hopped on the subway to visit the American Museum of Natural History and saw Dum-Dum. (It's the museum from the movie, 'Night at the Museum'.)  We discovered that Matt & Keaton were definitely taller than ancient man.

We visited Central Park.

We watched Team USA play Portugal in the World Cup on a big screen TV at Madison Square Park. Maybe you saw us on ESPN...along with the thousands of other spectators. (We were the ones sitting on a pink blanket.)

 We shuffled along with all the other tourists in Times Square.

We did some shopping at all the big department stores.

I'd like to say we did some shopping at Tiffany's, but I couldn't talk Matt into buying me anything.  Darn. 

We walked about 15 miles while we were in midtown Manhattan.  We saw all the usual sights like Union Station, Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, and the Empire State Building. We traveled to some lesser-known sights like the revolving door they used for a scene in the movie, Elf. (Yes, Matt did pretend he was Buddy the Elf and re-enacted the scene from the movie.)  

We visited the Soup Nazi kitchen from Seinfeld.

We took a bus tour and saw One World Trade Center, the Twin Towers Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, and all the sights in between.  We took a stroll through High Line Park and visited Chelsea Market.

We saw Wicked. 

Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head back to the real world. We had a great time and look forward to visiting again.  Although, maybe we won't do as much shopping next time. (But it's highly unlikely.)

Summer Sunday

We spent a lovely, perfect summer day with our friends enjoying the Flat River.  We kayaked for about five miles, enjoyed a delicious alfresco lunch at a nearby restaurant along the river, and then hiked over to the area's covered bridge.  To round out a great adventure (and a reward for all the calories we burned), we stopped for some ice cream on the way home. (Once again, my love of the color pink was noticed...this time at the ice cream shop.  An elderly couple stopped me to ask about my pretty ice cream cone and decided to copy my pretty pink choice of Cotton Candy Confetti. Yum!)

We put our kayaks in the river at Whites Covered Bridge...but unfortunately, it was burned by arsonists last year.
Matt and I had fortunately visited it last year, so we are lucky to have some pictures of the historical bridge.  

Fallasburg Covered Bridge

Another New Sign

I bought a new chalkboard sign and my husband wrote the first message.  I especially like that he wrote it in pink chalk!

My Garden

Sometimes I think I'm Snow White or Cinderella...really any Disney princess who has animals following her around.  I have rabbits, squirrels, birds, tree frogs, ground squirrels, a raccoon, cats, and dogs who all visit my backyard regularly...even when I'm out in it.  (I've named the ones who come to visit me regularly.) Now, I have a turkey that comes to visit me in my backyard. (Disclaimer:  I don't live in the country.  I live in a house in a neighborhood about one mile from the nearest expressway.)  Maybe they visit me because they know I won't harm them.  (I never, ever kill spiders...I relocate them outside.)  Maybe they visit me because I name them. Maybe they visit me because I talk to them.  Maybe they visit me because they know I'd be a vegetarian if I wasn't too lazy to make two meals...one for me and one for meat-loving Matt.  Maybe I should start wearing gowns and sing to them.

Meet Thomas...the latest addition to my backyard brood.

Because of the animal farm I seem to be creating, I didn't want to plant a garden and have it turn into a litter box or a snack bar for the animals.  So, while searching online for some different planting options, I came across this gem:  a vertical herb garden.  Matt built it for me and put in lots of herbs and a few small plants.  I just hope the next animal to join my menagerie isn't a deer or a giraffe...yet.

The Latest Addition

Yesterday, Matt and I headed over to explore St. Joseph.  We stumbled upon an art fair and it was pretty incredible to see what people can create. (I can't even draw a straight line with a ruler.) We enjoyed wandering through the exhibits and then did some shopping in the downtown area. While window shopping, I found a shop with the funny signs I love and couldn't resist this one.  It will go nicely with my collection.

Morning Workout

This morning's workout consisted of me pulling out the dryer and washing machine to rescue the dog who decided that hiding behind them would somehow help keep him safe during this morning's thunderstorm. And pulling them out is no easy feat.  They each have to come up and over a wood strip on the floor and have to be pulled out carefully so I don't disconnect the vent hose.  Oh, and it's a tight squeeze because the dryer and washing machine are tucked away in a closet.  It's a good thing he's so darn cute.

This is before he decided to get himself stuck behind the dryer.

Proud Parents!!

Whoo-hoo!  Keaton graduated from Kalamazoo College on Sunday!  I guess our baby boy is all grown up now!!

10 months old.
I swear we blinked and he was all grown up!

22 years old.

The Graduate

The past four years just flew by.  It seems like it's only been a couple of months since we moved him into his dorm for his freshman year...almost the wrong dorm.  (Keaton tends to skim over stuff that he thinks is boring to read.)  We're looking forward to the next chapter in his life and all the wonderful, exciting things to come!

We had a little pre-graduation party on Saturday with some friends and family.

We went out to dinner with family and friends to celebrate Keaton's graduation.
Matt made a nice speech and we all toasted Keaton's success!  Cheers!!

Just Call Me Martha

Last week, I played Martha Stewart and repurposed our old patio cushions into these fabulous ones.  It was so much cheaper than buying new ones and really wasn't very hard at all.  (I'm not a seamstress by any means, but can sew a straight line...well, kind of straight...most of the time.)  I found this cute outdoor fabric online and on sale (because there really isn't any other way to buy anything in my opinion) and studied some online tutorials on how to make removable slipcovers.  Then, I loaded up the sewing machine and kept my foot on the pedal for hours and had a marathon day of sewing. 6 chair slipcovers and 1 chaise lounge slipcover...and I only had to rip out two seams and only pricked my fingers 50 times, so I'm definitely improving on my sewing skills!  The best part is since they're removable, I can throw them in the wash and keep them clean...exactly how I like everything inside AND outside my house.

These cushions are a little faded and outdated, but they're nice and thick.
Believe it or not, they're also 17 years old!

Ta da...fresh, new cushions.
Believe it or not, the patio furniture is 18 years old.
(It's amazing what you can do with soap and water...and a can of spray paint every year!)

I had enough fabric left over to make a cute throw pillow for my rocking chair.
I put a pink flower on the cushion so there's no doubt that this is MY chair.

Lovely Ludington

We enjoyed a lovely weekend up in Ludington...even with all the mosquitoes.  Matt did some fishing, we played some pinball while checking out downtown Ludington, we enjoyed another gorgeous sunset on Lake Michigan, and we went kayaking on Hamlin Lake.  I must be getting better at my paddling because Matt asked if I was mad at him since I was way ahead of him in the lake.  I'm really not a water sport enthusiast. I'm more of a pool girl who likes to just float in the pool...and the water has to be at least 82 degrees.  My idea of kayaking is gracefully stepping in my pretty pink kayak on shore and having Matt gently push me into the water so I don't actually have to touch any water. (Yuck...fish poop.)  Then, the most extreme kayaking I like is a gentle rocking motion while in the water.  I really don't like any rapids or frantic maneuvering where there's a chance I could tip.  (Again, yuck...fish poop.)  Maybe I should just put the kayak in the pool and enjoy both worlds.

South Haven

We enjoyed a beautiful weekend camping in South Haven.  We enjoyed some biking and hanging out with friends.  Matt and his friend enjoyed some more extreme kayaking that we girls chose not to do...luckily. We enjoyed some shopping in the newly renovated downtown shopping district where I found my next funny sign. We enjoyed good food and we girls beat the guys in pinochle...FINALLY!  And not just once, but twice!!  Cyrus enjoyed lots of walks and some sun in his own chair because he doesn't sit on the ground like normal dogs...because he doesn't know he's a dog.

And we enjoyed watching the sun set over Lake Michigan.

And we enjoyed some less-extreme kayaking in the Black River.

And it sure would be nice if weekends lasted longer!

Pinball Showcase

On Saturday, we headed over to play some pinball at the Ann Arbor Pinball Showcase.  200 pinball games in one building.  Matt was in heaven.

Together, Matt and I battled each other on 58 different games of pinball. Then, we played some games separately.  (I only like the newer, flashier games.  Matt enjoys all eras and skill levels of pinball.)  I think I played about 70 games in six hours.  Six.  Hours.  That's a new record I never thought I'd set.  Whew...I may end up with carpal tunnel. We'll have to see if we can set a new record next year!

  

We played:
Playboy
Terminator 3
Batman Dark Knight
Elvis
Simpson's Pinball Party
World Poker Tour
Family Guy
Pirates of the Caribbean
Tron
Guns 'n' Roses
Jurassic Park
Tales from the Crypt
Phantom of the Opera
Time Machine
Revenge from Mars
The Addams Family
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Indiana Jones
Scared Stiff
Champion Pub
White Water
Dracula
Jackbot
Strange Science
Party Zone
Flash Gordon
Kiss
Elektra
Tommy
Lord of the Rings
Apollo 13
Iron Man
Spider-Man
Bride of Pinbot
Funhouse
Goldeneye
Congo
No Fear
Johnny Mnemonic
Corvette
Judge Dredd
Star Trek
Tales of the Arabian Nights
The Getaway
Terminator 2
World Cup Soccer
Monster Bash
Fish Tales
Big Bang Bar
Twilight Zone
Cactus Canyon
Medieval Madness
Banzai Run
Attack from Mars
Safecracker
Joust
Star Trek
Still Crazy

Happy Mother's Day

We enjoyed a busy weekend that included watching a baseball game, a visit with some of Matt's family, a quick stop at Holland's Tulip Festival, and lots of mowing and work around the house.  Since I think Mother's Day is a Hallmark Holiday (because mothers should be thanked and appreciated EVERY day), I chose to stay home and get some stuff done while Matt was around.  His list keeps growing and growing. Matt surprised me with some new deck chairs and Keaton brought me tulips and Snickers.  (Pink of course...the flowers, not the Snickers.)  He and Matt are fabulous cooks and picked up some Chinese for dinner. We ended the night watching Game of Thrones and enjoying some homemade pavlova and berries I whipped up for dessert.  Yummmmm!

I just need a royal blue chair and my set will be complete.
Happy Mother's Day to me!

35 Days and Counting!

35 days until Keaton's college graduation!  Whoo-hoo!!  No, wait...HOLY COW!!!  We're having both sides of the family come for graduation and will host activities during that weekend.  Since we can't move into a nice, shiny, brand-new house before then, that means we have some work to do around here to get our house ready for a lot of people.  That only gives me 34 days to:  finish my spring cleaning (and this means scrubbing everything  upstairs and in the basement with a toothbrush), steam-clean the carpet, wash the upstairs screens and windows, paint the garage and garage cabinets, wash the garage floor, power-wash the pool deck, wash and repaint the patio furniture, plant flowers, change the landscaping in the front of the house, make slipcovers for the patio furniture, make Matt install a new vanity and sink in a bathroom, repaint the bathroom, make a slide show, and make a scrapbook for the graduation party.  Oh, and we're losing some  valuable working days with pre-scheduled camping trips and some other weekend events.  So, I really only have 26 days to complete my to-do list.  I. Can. Do. It.  I think.   Boy, I hope so. 

 

2010 - Freshman

2014 - Senior

 

 

 

$10

What did I do with a $10 sheet from Walmart and a little creativity?  I made three valences for my windows in the living room and kitchen.  To attach them to the top of my pleated shades, I just used a magnet to hold them in place on top of the metal clips.  Voila!  I even have fabric left over and think I may have to try my hand at throw pillows next.