"Exploring the Traverse City Area....."

Many thanks to those of you who sent condolences about my mother's passing. She had advanced Alzheimer's and had not known anyone for a number of years. As sad as it is to lose a loved one, Alzheimer's is a horrible disease. My Mom is now at peace...........

While in Traverse City, Don and I did some exploring. I have been watching this "house" on the real estate site for quite awhile now and find it very interesting. Talk about unique, eh? ;)

Invasion of the space aliens!

Truly unique and interesting looking to me. Unfortunately, we weren't sure if the house has anyone living in it so we didn't go up and peek in the windows. We could have called the realtor and gotten a showing, but since we aren't in the market to buy right now, that would have been rude.

The site shows photos of the interior and it is very spacious....3 bedrooms, 2 baths, plus a great room, etc. Not only does it have all that, but it also has a view of West Bay, too! ;)

This house is across the road from it. They have added on a "room with a view". The heights people go to for a view, eh? ;) We found this very cool, as well.

Michael's mother

This is Don posting for Michael. His mother passed away this morning at the age of 89. I was fortunate to have had a chance to get to know her before Alzheimer's took its toll. She was great fun and still had that mischievous twinkle in her eyes even as her memory began to fade. She will be sorely missed.

"A Man and His Presents......"

I normally don't post on my blog during the weekend, but Blogger was having some issues the past few days, so I thought I would wait and post when all was working correctly again. This was intended to be posted yesterday.

As you may remember, I gave Don a kayak for his birthday, but since that was back in Madison, we certainly couldn't celebrate his birthday and not have any presents for him to open, now could we? ;)

Patrick, Julie, and Abigail gave him a bottle of Grand Traverse Vodka, which we both enjoy. Sean made him his special dinner and Claire gave him play tickets for an upcoming play here in Madison. Seems I made out quite well with his birthdays gifts, too, since they all allow me to enjoy them, as well. ;)

In this photo, he is opening up his new electronic bagpipe chanter. It is battery operated and he has the ability to use ear pieces so he alone can hear his playing, or it also has small speakers that he can turn on and others are allowed to hear the music as well. I think he looks suitably happy, don't you? :)

This shows what the chanter looks like.

The mini-speakers........

Abigail was infatuated with the bubble wrap that was used as packing for the chanter. Her Uncle Sean shows her how to "pop" them.

Don also received a new camera. One which he has been wanting for quite awhile.

We then, of course, let things go back to normal and let it be "all about Abigail" again. ;) I'd forgotten I had bought this little "Easter Bonnet" for her, having packed it away with Don's presents. So that was brought out and given to her.

Grandpa Don put it on his head and Abigail thought that was quite funny, but she thought it more important to show him how to pop the bubbles.......

We did get this great shot of her with the hat and her "surprise" expression. Ah......the fun we had.....and so many photos to embarrass her later when she is a teenager. ;)

"Everything Revolved Around Abigail......"

Oh yes, more photos of Abigail and her admirers. ;)

Snack time so that she wouldn't be too hungry by the time we left for Don's birthday dinner.

Here she is pointing to a photo of Julie holding her as a newborn.

Aunt Claire arrives!!!!

And Uncle Sean!!!!

Poor Abigail just didn't get any attention at all.......

She seems to LOVE shoes and managed to actually get her feet into Claire's shoes and carefully walk!

Uncle Sean helping her put her shoes back on. All of Sean's tattoos are of herbs/vegetables (he is a chef after all), with 1 exception. His mother, Cindy, LOVED yellow sweetheart roses, so he has incorporated a yellow rosebud into one of his tattoos.

Helping Abigail put her shoes back on turned into a "tickle fest". :)

Maybe she'd get better help from Aunt Claire........

Uncle Sean played some song on his phone, so he received one of Abigail's "oh my goodness!" looks. :)

Tomorrows post.....Don opens his birthday presents!

"Grandpa Knits for Abigail......"

Todays post is all about Abigail opening and trying on her new poncho that I knitted for her. I have to admit that the next several posts will be about Abigail, too, but will include others. ;)

Abigail has warmed up to the new surroundings and is now quite interested in her new little puppies. Patrick is helping Abigail by "pre-opening" her gift.............

Now what could be in here?

Too bad we can't have sound effects.........

Here Daddy.........

A new poncho!

As you saw in the previous photo, she has learned this facial expression from her Dad. :)

The knitted poncho......

A little help getting her arms from underneath the material.......

Now she is ready for those "variable temperature" days. :)

More to follow.......

"Patrick and Abigail Are the 1st to Arrive!"

The afternoon of Don's birthday, Patrick and Abigail were the 1st to arrive at the lake house. We'd left Claire up in Petoskey to spend the night with Sean, so they would soon arrive, too. Julie was working (in TC), so she would join us when through with work.

Abigail had just woken up from a nap and it was the first time seeing us since the previous October and December. Shyness was part of her "awakening" period. :) By the way, she is wearing a "hoodie" I knitted for her.

We sat and chatted a bit so that Abigail would get acclimated and get down from Dad's lap on her own.

Boy did she ever get acclimated! Soon she was on her way upstairs to see the master bedroom......

She checked out the view from each window, and made sure the bathroom and walk in closet met her high standards, too. ;)

Don did manage to get her to stand still for a second for this really nice photo of her......of course, I "may" be biased.

Then back down the stairs to the main floor and on to the lowest level.

Ending up outside and sitting looking out over the water. Patrick was quick to point out the geese and ducks, too. She finds everything interesting, but is able to occupy/entertain herself, as well. I find that to be a GREAT trait in a child/person. ;)

Once again, Don got another very nice photo of Abigail.

More from Don's birthday afternoon tomorrow.......

Backing up a bit in time...................when we woke up Sunday morning, Easter, this was our view of the sunrise. I literally ran downstairs to get my camera and begin taking photos. This 1st one was taken from back in the kitchen area.

Obviously, this one was taken as I moved closer to the windows.......

And this one from right at the window. Thankfully, I was able to get the photo without any reflection of myself in the glass. ;)

I used the zoom in hopes that the Loons would be visible in the photo, which, happily, they are. :)

I took this one from right out our front door, while standing on the covered porch.

This was taken later in the day and sort of allows you to see the sandbar (from the left tip of the island) that extends under the water towards the shore.

Another zoom in so that the Swans would show up better........

This house had the most spectacular views......truly a treat for us to be on the lake.