May Garden

Welcome. . .

English Cucumbers

Pinks (a miniature form of carnation)

Looking north to my deck (mini deck really)

My dirty legs

Pale pink cosmopolitan and lavender buds

More of the peonies

I sprayed myself with SPF 30 but I think I may have missed a spot

My version of row planting.  Trying to keep the weeding down to a minimum.

Simple Things

Sometimes I don't appreciate the simple things until they are gone.  Right now, for me, it is ice.  It's simple - just water at or below 0 degrees Celsius and yet I can't wait to have it all the time.  It is a simple pleasure to have ice in my cup on a hot day of gardening.  I rode my bike down to Jim's Ice Cream today just to buy a cherry slush laden with little bits and pieces of ice.  It was delicious and refreshing.  In Haiti this past February I remember feeling the same way; what a pleasure it would be to have ice.  The street vendors sold glace (ice) at a few of the market places but not knowing where the water had come from I refrained.  Even in Haiti, just a month after a devastating earthquake, people understood the simple pleasure.  So this afternoon I rifled through my kitchen boxes in the basement and found an ice cube tray (I have an ice maker in my old fridge in the garage but the water hose isn't hooked up) and I filled it with water so that tomorrow I can indulge in this simple wonder. 

Memorial Weekend in Indianapolis

(Alaina's monkey cupcake) 

This just in from the news desk.  Pete, Emily Ann, Alaina, and Addison are having a great time this weekend in Indianapolis with Emily's Parents.  Pete and Paul (Donnelson) are at the races and the ladies are at home whipping up some of their own fun.  Here are some pictures of the girls!

New Hardware

And you all thought I was a crazy Knitter

Thought I would share this bus I found with you all. Paul says I am a knitting machine but I think I found someone who out does me on a grand scale. Magda Sayeg has knitted a cover over a bus in Mexico City! What to see more click here
Hmmm what shall I knit next?????????????? Suggestions?????!!!!!

Love the warm weather!!

Faith playing with her camper in the camper! (thanks joy)

1,2,3 GO

Playing in the pool at nanas

In Faith's class at school they learned about growing things and they planted grass now she "cuts it's hair" to keep it maintained. Its so cute!

We have a busy few weeks and i'm sure there will be some more great pictures to show everyone! Love to see more pictures and stories on here! Hope everyone will come up for the 4th this year! Who remembers the water balloon launcher?? What was/is your fav 4th of july experience??

Happy Birthday, Isaac

We met for Isaac's 12th birthday in Green Bay. The birthday boy............ and

his brother were treated with a hot fudge sundaes.

What a fine young man you are Isaac. Your infectious smile will always win my heart. Happy Birthday!

We remember you . . .

on this Memorial Weekend

Marvin Nadeau, Pilot and 2nd Lieutentant, Army Air Corp, World War II

Joseph Apap, US Navy, World War II

Peter Ulrickson, Corporal, Marine Corp, Vietnam War (killed in the line of duty July 9, 1969 in Vietnam)

Charles Apap, PFC, U.S. Army, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division (killed in the line of duty July 15, 1944 in Normandy, France), awarded the purple heart.

The pool is open!

We knew beautiful weather was headed our way this week so we set up our pool on Sunday. By Monday morning it was full and the solar cover on. Yesterday the boys took their first plunge ... into the chilly 68 degree water!

Adam was the 1st one in!

Isaac was next!

We've been loving the warm summerlike days here! Today when they got home from school they headed straight to the pool (now with balmy 74 degree water!) to cool off after track & field day at school. The pool is open for the summer and you're all invited to take a dip!

Love, Joy

Getting Closer

The kitchen was a buzz on Monday. Lots of "little" things took place including the installation of all of the lighting and the ceiling fan. I ended up finding a reasonably priced brushed nickle fan at Lowes. It is definitely the right fit. As I type right now, the faucet, garbage disposal, and dishwasher are being installed. Yippee. The stove and microwave will follow sometime this week. On June 7th my refrigerator arrives. I am very excited to have the appliances arriving. It makes it feel like we are getting close.

Enjoying our visit with Sara

We stopped for a cone to cool off in our travels with Sara. Oh we had lots of fun together. If only she could stay longer.

I think you should petition . . .

I was going to write a post today about my favorite microwavable meal.  It's what I had for lunch today:  Trader Joe's Chicken Tikka Masala.  Oh was it good.  It's not just me who thinks so, there are tons of reviews out there on the deliciousness of this fine frozen feast.  I thought that after reading the post you might make your way to your local Trader Joe's and pick up this delicacy that can be whipped up in less than 5 minutes and perhaps even grab a bag of frozen naan.  Mmmmm!  After I indulged and before I wrote the post I did a little research to find out where your nearest store is and well . . . you might have to come visit Pete & Emily in Chicago or myself here in Detroit.  Oh the tragedy - no Trader Joe's for you.  Oh my heart is breaking.  Mom and Dad in Atlanta drive nearly an hour in order to stock up on their favorites.  So I'm not sure if I should mention that Trader Joe's is so fabulous.  That they have a good $3.00 bottle of wine (three buck chuck), chocolate covered everything (sunflower seeds are my favorite), tomato bisque soup, frozen salmon roulette's, pretzel loafs, nuts of every kind, organic vegetables and fruit, should I go on?

So, I have concluded that I think you should petition . . .

Love, T

ps.  new pictures from the garden (antique irises) and the kitchen (new lighting, new fan, and hopefully by tonight some of the new appliances) are on their way!

Commensalism [kə-měn'sə-lĭz'əm]

Commensalism:  A symbiotic relationship in which one organism of one species benefits while the other organism of another species is neither harmed or helped.

Some people dislike the peony flower due to the fact that they have a symbiotic relationship with black ants. In early spring, the peony buds will secret a small amount of nectar, which attracts the ant. The ants will then pull slightly at the peony petals to get to the nectar. This helps to loosen the peony's petals and makes it easier for the flower to open. The ants are not absolutely necessary to helping peonies bloom, but they are helpful and do not harm anything. Most gardening experts advise against trying to kill the ants.  (credit:  http://www.plantingflowerbulbs.com/peonies-and-peony-flowers.htm)

Poppies & Chamomile

Espresso Anyone?

(double click to enlarge this photo)

The cement countertops were installed today along with the sink. I think they turned out just great. The color is perfect (I call it espresso bean) and I love all of the slight variations and imperfections that give it a hand crafted look. I can't wait to see the backsplash installed in the background of these beauties. For the next 30 days we'll have to be careful with the countertops while they do their final curing and once a year I'll need to put on another coat of the finish on top that makes them so shiny (not bad if you ask me). Mr. Franke also took up residence today. He'll have a garbage disposal attached and faucet installed soon. It will be very exciting to have an operation sink again. The laundry tub is not my favorite place to fill up my water bottle. Appliances were ordered this week and I picked out pendant lamps and a fixture for above the sink. The ceiling fan that I picked out (remember I don't actually have or need air conditioning) for the dining area didn't match like I'd hoped so I am still on the quest for that. It's really starting to come together!

Super soccer player

We enjoyed watching Adam in action at his soccer game last Saturday. His team won 5 to 0 with one of the points being Adam's surprise long distance kick. It was fine.

Changes . . .

Hi Everyone,
The blog will be undergoing some aesthetic changes as I am experimenting with the new draft of blogger.  It is not in full form yet so don't be surprised if things often look different over the next couple of weeks.  I'd love your feedback on what you like and what you don't like!

Tracy

Another Great Weekend!!!

This Faith and Chopper

Faiths new sandbox, we made it out of an old tractor tire. Its the perfect size!

Joe and his dad were doing some clean up in the yard and Faith was a "big helper"

Faiths new Four Wheeler! It stinks though becasue the batter i bought doesnt hold a charge and now she has this great 4 wheeler that she can't use untill i find the right battery to order.

Faith and I were practicing adding at our picnic. Its never to early to learn to add!

Another one of Faiths pictures. I can't believe how well she centers us.

So Faith and I had to go to marquette on Friday for DNA testing. We did fine, but faith didnt want to open her mouth for the swab. So i did the only thing i could besides hold her mouth open, Bribe her. I told her she could pick out something at walmart. I was thinking she would pick out a baby or something for playing outside. Oh no, she picks out a dragonfly cupcake cake. It is cute, but oh boy. (FYI it was really good though). So next time i know to be a little more specific when i bribe! LOL

It's Not a Pain - This New Stain

Loving the stain.
Friday they sanded the kitchen floor and the floor in Carrie's bedroom and laid down the first layer of stain. Saturday the floors received a second coat of stain and it matches perfectly with the rest of the floors - so the entire first floor is hardwood stained in the same color. I am so happy with this decision. I believe that the countertops will be installed sometime this week or next - Woot! Woot!

Family Camping

We're all set to go camping July 16-18 at Van Riper State Park! I made the reservations tonight for 3 sites. We'll have 2 pop-up campers (ours and Grandma's/Addy's) and tents. There will be plenty of room for everyone! If anyone wants to start camping earlier or stay longer, let me know and I can send you our site numbers. I'm so looking forward to this and am thrilled we found a weekend for everyone able to go this year! Tracy will win the award for traveling the greatest distance ... I think this may be the first award winner in some kind of game I've yet to complete. There will be prizes!

Can't wait to camp and enjoy some sunny days and smiles together!

Love, Joy

Camping Camping Camping

I'm really looking forward to going camping with everyone in July.  Hopefully we will be able to do this each year, we could start a new tradition, wait a minute, it's not a new tradition - it's a revived tradition.  I remember all of those good times when the cousins went camping together.  Do you remember?

I remember . . .

• being at an art fair and buying a Jacob's Ladder and then sitting next to Aunt Carol when a bird pooped on her - it was shocking.
• going to Yellowstone Park and seeing a bear and making a song up about it.  I also remember visitng one of the falls at the park.  It had a big rock formation jutting out from behind the water.  I was 2 years old (Alaina's age) and I kept thinking to myself that I didn't understand why the rock wouldn't fall.
• making Grandma laugh so hard at the "garage sale" jokes that she, well, umm, how should I put this?, tinkled
• touring Lake Superior
• making forts out of Grandma and Grandpa's lounger chairs that bent in two places to make a teepee shape
• celebrating birthdays on the picnic tables
• riding our bikes at the campgrounds
• building big fires together

We had so much fun and I am so excited to see the tradition is being revived and carried on to the next generation.