Full frontal nude

Here's a photo of our adopted four legged friend and traveling companion, Nasdaq Havasu Cat Page. This is his favorite resting position. He has no shame.





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4th of July

Calumet County Park 4th of July Outing CANCELLED
Made reservations for our annual July 4th celebration at Calumet County Park, at which time I'll be celebrating my 70th birthday. It seems like it was only 20 years or so ago that I was celebrating my 50th. We'll be in site #46 this year on the far end of the park near the ski hill. Everyone is welcome, friends, relatives, and strangers alike. Bring your own drink(s) and something to cook on the grill.
Here's the map. We'll see you there if not before.

Unfortunately this year we won't be able to host our traditional July 4th outing at CCP.
Last week one night I got up to go to the bathroom and my right knee just flat gave out. I couldn't walk at all for about two days but now for the time being I can get around with a cane. Went to the hospital emergency and ultimately to the "Great Lakes Orthopedic Center" here in Traverse City and they want to do a total knee replacement.
Surgery is scheduled for June 12. My thinking was...OK I can still make it to Appleton July 4 but the doctors said, "No way! No traveling for eight weeks" Bummer. Apparently there is a danger of blood clots and stroke unless leg is elevated most of the time. :-(
Sooooo...that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

lep




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Morels

It's Morel time here in northern Lower Michigan and the mushroom hunters are out scouring the woods for these delectable fungi. The serious hunters all have their own theory on the best places to look and guard their locations as if they were top government national security secrets. Teddy and our nephew, Freddy Lawrence found this fine bunch this morning in a secret location right here on the farm. There are hundreds of recipes for cooking morels but we like them just simply fried in butter and lightly salted, as an accompaniment to grilled New York Strip steaks.

Pie

The ruhbarb is up here on the farm and Teddy made this rhubarb/custard pie this morning. We enjoyed a piece tonight after dinner. This is the third one that she has made in the past week as she can't stand to see the rhubarb go to waste. I hope it goes on all summer. ;-)

Blossom time in Leelenau County

We took a Sunday drive yesterday afternoon, ending up in Suttons Bay. The cherry orchards here in Leelanau County are in full bloom. First the sweets bloom and then about 3 or 4 days later the sours come out. They last about a week while the honeybees go about their work pollinating them so that they can set fruit. In about two months they will be red with cherries. While in Suttons Bay we visited some gift shops and took advantage of one of the Ice Cream shops that are now open for the summer visitors. Teddy had a "Black Cherry" cone and I had a "Raspberry Truffle". Yummm!

2nd Year Fulltiming Anniversary

As of May 1 we have now completed our second year of RV Fulltiming.
Here is a map of our travels since May 1, 2005 with year one outlined in blue and year two in green.
Highlights of the year include trading in our older "Fifth Avenue" trailer for a brand new bigger, better and larger home on wheels, a 37 foot Cardinal fifth wheel with three slides. Sadly we lost our two feline travel companions, Minou and Simba both due to advancing age, however in November we adopted a kitten from the Lake Havasu Humane society. Nasdaq is a black & white "Tuxedo" cat. He has grown into a beautiful big guy and totally rules the trailer. His main interests are eating, sleeping and Ornothology.

Comfort Food follow-up

As promise here are some of the comfort foods that others have emailed me.

Rebecca in Michigan says, "My comfort food is "Sweedish Pancakes" Mom or Dad would make them for breakfast on Sunday mornings. It was the BEST way to wake up as a kid."
(She even included a picture of them.) Well, Rebecca, I must admit that "Sweedish Pancakes" are also a favorite of mine. Teddy just made a pan the other morning.

Laurie in Michigan says, "I'm very sorry, but your milktoast and poached eggs look and sound revolting. I almost got the heaves looking at the blog.......For me, I guess stuff like Kraft macaroni and cheese, sandwich spread at the deli with "mystery meat" leftovers, pizza rolls..... the more processed, the better!"
Sorry Laurie! And as for processed cheese...I don't think so! Give me an aged cheddar or some English Stilton.

Pat in Wisconsin says,"...ice cream is a good comfort food."
Agreed! How about a double dip of Leelanau black cherry ice cream on a waffle cone?

And finally Anonymous in Michigan says,"...I've had many a 'milk toast/poached egg'...'Must be our mothers knew each other, huh?"
Hmmmm, maybe!

So apparently it's just "different strokes for different folks."

North for the Summer

Just got an e-mail from our good friend Sallie Majerlie in Traverse City saying that she was concerned for our well being as hadn't seen a blog post since April 16th.
Oops...sorry Sallie but we have been off-line for the last few weeks as have been traveling north to our summer digs here in Michigan. Problem was further complicated by the fact that we only get dial-up internet out here in Cedar; my notebook doesn't have a built in modem and I somehow misplaced my external one...so had to buy a new dial modem which just arrived today by Fed-X. However, we are now firmly ensconced in our usual spot behind Deb's cottage near Sugarloaf and receiving visitors.
We left Lake Havasu on April 17 for an uneventful five-day trip to Appleton, WI. We overnighted along the way in Gallup, NM - Amarillo, TX - Miami, OK & Springfield, IL, arriving in Appleton on Saturday the 21st. On Sunday we visited with Mike & Toni and went out to dinner with them Sunday evening. We had an appointment at Appleton Camping to have a fireplace installed in the Cardinal so were there to greet them when they opened on Monday morning. After retrieving the Cardinal Monday afternoon we parked at the Snug-Inn for three days while making a round of Doctor appointments and visits with all of our Appleton friends & neighbors. We were able to see the Schemms from the old neighborhood, and our dear friend Marilyn Anderson. Had lunch Tuesday with Tony, Becky & Rose Welhouse. Tuesday evening Jen & Dick Orr hosted a special “Martini Group” dinner in our honor so we were able to see Tom & Carol Sykes, Greg & Sue Madson, Wes Evans, and Kate Ewing.
We finally left Appleton Thursday for the final leg of our journey to our summer home here in Cedar, MI (near Traverse City).
After traveling close to 2500 miles without incident, a low hanging branch over our driveway caught the refer vent cover and tore it off. Damage was mostly to my ego, I should have been watching more closely. Oh well, $15.85 for a new cover and all’s well. Needless to say, the branch now resides in the brush pile. My baby brother, Lyle has volunteered to climb up on my roof and install the new one as I don't climb so well anymore. One of the benefits of getting old is you can get other people to do jobs that you would normally have to do yourself. ;-)