My Staycation

This Labor Day I had an unexpected staycation. I planned on staying home but not being so darn busy! I busy.

I went to a vintage baseball game. Northville won 6 5. It was pretty exciting. They don't use mitts. Some players played barefoot!

Then I went to the DIA. That was fun. I saw some neat things and was pretty impressed.
When I first saw this I thought the boy was playing with snakes. Then I saw the title, "Boy with Geese" or something and I thought, "How wonderful!" Look how he takes those nasty geese and just gets them! Ha! Take that!

Standing Woman II

Diego Rivera's Mural. I think if you looked at that everyday for a year you would come away with something different every time.

And what is a staycation without a souvenir? I picked this up at Eastern Market for $50.
I asked if he would finish it for me and he said, "That's why I'm selling if to you for $50. I've got too many other things to do!" Then he told me to get some Liquid Gold and Old English for dark wood. Make a 50:50 Mix.

I think it looks great.

A bed frame is next. Thank you!!!

Mom and Dad's Visit with The Wiggles and Henry Ford

Mom and Dad came for a visit and we went to the Wiggles concert. A good time was had by all.


All the girls passed out at this point. Mom was the first one down.





Then we went to Greenfield Village. Again, a good time was had by all.

Look how happy she is!




Mary was a little more difficult to capture on the carousel because she is under 5 and an adult has to stand with her. The death grip she had on me also prevented me from getting far enough away to get a good shot. She seemed happy enough, though.

We went for a ride in the car. Mary Kay had to stay behind and feed Vittoria.

Doesn't she look full???

The jumper being modeled and fitting!

The Power of the Pen (and Police Academy Training)

There was an area of sidewalk by my house that was overgrown with bushes. I could not run on it. So I wrote a letter.

I detailed where the problem was.

And sent examples.
I sent it to my contact at the Police Academy. She the forwarded it to the proper people at the City of Novi.

I avoided the area for about 10 days because I was afraid to go back and be disappointed that it had not been fixed. But finally I did. Behold...


I'd like to think all the Novi Citizens are grateful and the world is a better place. :)


I'm riding my bike here. You can see where I almost fall off.

Face plants

Alina took not one, but two separate face plants today... both on concrete. The first one gave her a nice goose egg on her forehead, and the 2nd one scratched up her nose. Poor little thing! :(

Flood

We were (are) in a big drought this year. We were 7 inches below the average annual rain fall through the end of July. However, in I think 3 days we got 3.5 inches of rain in August. The pond across from our house flooded, here are some pictures.

There is a rock wall border that goes around the pond, but as you can see it's completely under water, as well as the sidewalk that goes around it and a bench that is on the other side of the sidewalk.

The bench across the pond is normally quite a ways up from the pond... but it's also under water.

Deep Creek Lake, 2008

Pictures from our recent trip to Deep Creek Lake.


Feeding the ducks.


Swimming in the cove.


Feeding the ducks, this time at home.


A nice sunset.


A very nice picture of Ryan.




Four generations.


We can be exhausting.







Thanks to Enzo, Eleanora and Andrew for hosting all of us.

Party in Baltimore

We had a party in Baltimore to celebrate our many successes this year (Mary Kay getting tenure, Paul and Andrew graduating, etc.)



Deborah is always a favorite.

Hershey Park

Here are some pictures from our recent trip to Hershey Park.

Katie got a blue icee drink. She then wreaked havoc.


We watched a 3D movie. Mary was not such a big fan once the movie began.


The rides. Oh the rides.


You guess if Katie is our favorite or if Mary did not want to have her picture taken with the Kiss.


Katie enjoyed this at the time, but now she is worried that she hit her head on the ceiling.


Vittoria's first time in the swimming pool.