Did Ya Think.....

Did ya think I moved....did ya think my computer broke....did ya think maybe I passed on to wherever I might be headed??  Well, no to all of the above.  I just got lazy, spent a lot of time enjoying the back porch, took a mighty fine trip to Michigan, and my sweetie was back in the hospital.  Can't seem to get thru a summer now without at least one trip to the hospital.  And every single (insert 4 letter word here) time it has been a UTI.  Nasty things they are and it really wrecks havoc on my sweetie.  Another 5 days in the hospital, but he is back at the nursing home and doing OK.

I have also been busy this summer with family photography, not my family, other families.  Altho I did take quite a few pics at my granddaughter-in-law's baby shower....and btw, she is due at any time.  OMG me, a great-grandmother and a new baby in the family....sigh!!  Here is just a tiny clue has to who we are expecting....

There will definitely be more about this later (unless I fall into my "no blog" mode again)  I don't like that mode, I miss you all.

Anyhow, one of the adventures that happened since I last blogged was a wonderful trip to Michigan to meet up with a couple of bloggers who I am sure many of you know....Patti on the left from My Happy Place and Sarah from Paisley Rain Boots.  I stayed with Patti and her husband, Dream Boy for two nights and what wonderful hosts they were and ofcourse Wonder Dog was there as well. Then on Friday we met up with Sarah in Holland, MI and wandered thru Holland, Windmill Island where my grandson was married 4 years ago, and Saugatuck where my sweetie and I spent almost 20 years there each summer.  I must admit that when seeing the bench where we always sat watching the boats wind up and down the river tears rolled down my cheek.  It really tugged at my heart seeing these spots again, knowing that I will never enjoy them with my sweetie.....only in my memories.

Since I haven't blogged for awhile (understatement) I wanted to highlight some of my trip to Michigan, of which I have probably a gazillion pics, but I decided to focus on the color red.  That couldn't possibly be because that is one of my favorite colors.  Note, even the pic above of the lovely ladies has red in the background....

The lighthouse, lovingly referred to as "Big Red" resides along the shores of Lake Michigan in Holland.

Notice the red doors and shutters at the little village on Windmill Island....

This fine looking gentleman is a guide at Windmill Island who, with his Dutch dialect, gave us the history and played the Amsterdam street organ.  Note the red kerchief around his neck....I am really stretching this red thing.

This lovely young lady along with others performed in their Dutch klogs outside of the windmill.
They wear up to 10 pairs of socks to protect their feet while performing or participating as travel guides thru the windmill.  I will stick to my flip flops, thank you very much.  Pretty costumes and definitely red.

And ofcourse I couldn't visit Michigan without capturing some of the local barns.  Isn't she a beauty, so red against that beautiful blue sky, along with a white fence...perfect!!

And, a Red Tail Hawk...what a gorgeous bird.  So regal and if you hop on over to my collaborative blog, Focusing On Life, I wrote a little post on the Red Tail Hawk.

On Thursday, the day I arrived Patti and I took a walk to downtown Kalamazoo.  They have been busy updating and renovating the downtown area and I must say I was impressed.  Lovely parks, beautiful plantings, new buildings....whoever their city planners are, kudos to them.  Not only do they have beautiful parks etc. they have an area filled with beautiful churches.  Couldn't pass up these beauties with their stunning red doors.

So there you have it...just a brief tour of part of why I have been MIA lately.  I am truly going to try and do better, but with the prediction of the same kind of winter we had last year looming, my back porch needs my undivided attention while I can still enjoy.

Until next time.....