Kayaking the lazy river

I've been asking Craig to take me kayaking on the Dowagiac River for several weeks. We finally had the opportunity to go today.
We rented a two person kayak and took the 2 hour trip. It was so peaceful and beautiful. We only passed one house the whole time.

Craig did all the paddling and maneuvering. My paddle barely touched the water.

I just got to sit up front and enjoy the ride!
My feet never even got wet.

We'd like to go back in a few weeks when the colors are in all their glory.

Honey.... I think we should buy a kayak.

Survivor

Sorry I don't have anything interesting to blog about tonight. Ty and I are busy watching the season premier of Survivor. I'm not really a TV junkie and I especially don't like reality shows but I will confess that I like Survivor. It's the only fall show that I was looking forward to. Ty says that I wouldn't last a minute if I was a contestant on the show. He said that I'd have a hard time being away from my blog for that long..... I think he's right.

Mac Review

Well, the macbook arrived yesterday. I love it. I have a lot to learn and a long way to go but I'm proud of the fact that I haven't wanted to throw it or anything yet. I'm finding that is is pretty easy to set up. Craig set up my email on the macbook as well as the ipod touch. Apple was having a special where you got the ipod touch free with the purchase of a macbook. I was fortunate enough to get in on that deal on the last day of the offer. The ipod touch isn't something that I would have purchased by itself but I'm finding that I am fascinated with it! It has wi-fi capabilities so I can get the net and my email when I am away from home. And the hospital just installed wi-fi at work! Perfect timing.

We have been toying with the idea of purchasing a mac for a few years now. Our laptop was on it's last leg so we decided to take the plunge. And we know a lot of people who are mac fans that have steered us in this direction. Another reason I wanted one was for my photography.

I am home sick from work today.... nasty cold... and no I didn't make that up just so I could stay home and play with my new toys. Jordan and Ty are sick as well. Speaking of Ty, he is a wealth of information with the macbook. He can answer almost any question I have. I'm waiting for him to get home from school so he can help me transfer all my contacts.

We've been so busy that I haven't had a lot of time to visit my favorite blogs the last few days. Maybe I can catch up on all the happenings today.

1st Place!

Yesterday was the first competition of the year for the "Hartford Indian Emerald Vanguard". They placed first in percussion and music and placed first overall with 6 band in their division!! It was awesome! Here's Jordan playing her oboe solo. It was beautiful. Hopefully I will be able to video her solo and post it soon.

Marching Ty! Drum Major's Amanda and Jordan

Award ceremony

Jordan being congratulated
Jordan and Ty... The following photos are Jordan's fan club.
Dad
Mom

Shane

Cousin Allen

The sun is shinning

I worked a double yesterday and have today off! I've been cleaning and filling my bird feeders, catching up around the house, doing laundry, cooking.... The kids are at school and I am enjoying the calm. The sun is shinning and it couldn't be any more beautiful outside.

I'm about to head outside again. We live close enough to the school that I can hear the band practicing so I love to be outside for that hour if I am home. The first marching band competition is Saturday in Grand Rapids. Go Hartford!!

It arrives...

... in 3 to 5 business days!!!

Bagheera

Meet Bagheera. She lived with us for 10 years but due to my husbands allergies she went to live with my parents about 5 years ago. She has a very happy home with them. She's the best!
Even though she no longer lives with us she still runs to greet us when we are at my parents house. I know she still remembers and loves us. And if you are wondering where her name came from.... she was named after the black panther from the Disney movie "The Jungle Book".

My Hubby's Cookies

Craig and I compliment each other in the food department. He would rather bake and I would rather cook. It works great for us! He makes the best chocolate chip cookies! Whenever the kids needed cookies for school or some other function he was the one in the kitchen.

Tonight he made a batch just because....
And this is what I am enjoying while I am posting this.

Drowned Rats

Us rats here in Michigan are starting to drown. This is the 3rd day of constant heavy rain. I was talking to a farmer at church this morning and he said this is the most rain in a particular time period that we have seen in many years. I ventured outdoors with the camera a few minutes ago because my cabin fever was really starting to get to me. I tried to cover up the camera as best I could so it wouldn't get totally drenched. Can you see the water mark in the water gauge? It's almost at 3 inches. I emptied the gauge last night at 5 inches so we've gotten almost 8 inches since Friday.... a lot more is on the way today. This is looking south down our street.
These are popping up all over the yard.
The birds are getting lots of fresh rain water. Do you like my bird bath? I made it out of an old antique ceiling lamp shade and put it on an old ashtray stand. The birds love it! I put some rocks in it to give the birds traction. They are in it constantly.
Here I was just trying to be artistic. I still have the hummingbird feeders up. According to my books most all of the hummingbirds have gone south by the middle of September but I still see at least one a day so I'll leave them up until I don't see any for a few weeks.

Hope you are all safe and dry....

weather and my new obsession

I feel that it's really sort of trivial to talk about the weather here in Michigan today knowing what the south is going through with Ike and all. But we are having our own little hurricane. In the last 24 hours we've gotten 5 inches of rain and several tornadoes have made appearances in our area as well. It's been kind of a scary day with the warning sirens going off in town. Plus Craig and Caleb were at an outdoor car show today and got herded into a building to take cover. They are safe and it looks like the tornadoes have died down but it is still pouring rain. Wherever you are I hope that you are safe!

On another note, I thought I would show you my latest obsession. These are "Royal Copley" planters. I found the one on the right at a flea market for $6. The one on the left I got off ebay for $4. The are only about 6 inches tall. I love the colors and the glaze. I did some research on "Royal Copley". They were a pottery company from Sebring Ohio that made pieces from the 1930's to the 1950's that were mostly sold at five and dime stores. I found some other adorable pieces on ebay that I am keeping my eyes on. Of course, they made many other things besides birds but it is the birds that I am interested in.... imagine that.

Home Sweet Home

Seadra is so relieved and happy to be back into the comforts of her home sweet home. She received her 3rd treatment this morning and has now been allowed to stay in the house. And Zoe is so glad to have her sister back. I don't think Zoe could be snuggling any closer to her.
Have you learned your lesson yet Seadra?

Update

OK, so my house isn't smelling like a rose yet but I refused to put another skunk photo on my blog. The good news is that I am a little more encouraged tonight than I was last night. And the smell is VERY much improved, not totally gone but definitely making progress. Thanks to everyone for your sympathy and words of advise. Thanks Shelley for your investigation on the net and the great suggestions. I'm picking up furnace filters tomorrow.

I was very anxious at work today, wishing I could be home addressing the issue and at the same time not wanting to come and address the issue. It was a huge relief when I got home and discovered that it wasn't as bad in the house as I was imagining it was going to be. Best I can tell the issue is around the computer area and I bought some special stuff for carpet and fabrics at the pet store. I will be dousing the area before we head to bed tonight. And I bought 3 more products for Seadra at the pet store as well. She still smells awful and has not been allowed back in the house yet. If these products work tonight then maybe she will be allowed back in tomorrow. I feel bad for her.

I have washed everything washable in the living room... blankets, table covers, pillows. I don't have to be to work until 11:00 tomorrow so maybe I can finish up and start to relax a little.

Thanks again to my blogging buddies... things are looking up and smelling better.

Oh, and one more thing... Caleb and Craig are outside skunk hunting tonight.

I need sympathy

I need sympathy. I cannot tell you the frustration I am feeling at this very moment. I am so disgusted! I made a joke out of this a week ago on one of my postings but I am no longer laughing!

About 2 years ago Seadra got a direct hit from a skunk. It was no picnic and we tried every known de-skunking trick in the book. We managed to get through it but it was a long drawn out process and I NEVER wanted to go through that again.


Well last week BOTH dogs got it but we were much more fortunate in the fact that neither one of them had a direct hit but only got a little over spray on them. We doused them with and enzyme liquid that you let dry and it worked pretty well.



Well, here we are one week later and Craig has the dogs outside, it is almost dark. He hears the dogs barking and spots the skunk. He screams at the dogs and shoos them into the house. Little did he know that Seadra has gotten a direct hit and he opens the door wide and allows her to run into the house.



I am sitting at the computer and before I even know what is happening my eyes start burning from the skunk stench that is over powering the house!! Yes, it's in the house!! I jump up and shoo the dogs out on the front porch. Why me? Why us? Why the dogs?......



Upon further inspection of the dogs we discover that Seadra has a big yellow spot right in the middle of her chest. Zoe was spared. Seadra is drenched in the enzyme liquid again and out in the garage. She will remain in the garage all night until after work tomorrow when I can address her.



We don't know what to do about the house other than we sprayed febreeze everywhere and have every candle burning that we could find and all the windows are open for airing out.



I am now heading up to bed. I'm going to put the covers over my head and try to imagine that I am somewhere else and that this is all a big nightmare.......

To brighten your Monday

Yesterday we had our all church picnic. It is always at the home of one of our church members. They have the most beautiful home!! It is 12 acres of meticulously groomed gardens. The driveway alone looks like you are driving into a botanical garden. They have a Dalia garden that I especially enjoy. To brighten your Monday here are some photos that I took yesterday and a poem to go along.....

"You Gave Me Eyes"
You gave me eyes so I can see
The beautiful things you've created for me.
Help me to see all that is good
And focus my eyes on the things that I should.
You gave me ears so I can hear
The bluebirds morning song of cheer.
Help me to listen to all that is true
And hear only things that bring glory to you.
You gave me lips so I can praise

And worship you in so may ways.

Help me to speak words that are kind

That through my lips your light may shine.

You gave me a mind so I can know

The meaning of life on earth here below.

And my thoughts to be holy and right

And always pleasing in your sight.

You gave me life so I may live

In service to you for the blessings you give.

Help me to honor you every day

To follow your will, to trust and obey.

poem by Crystal Bowman from the book Meditations for Mom's

Friday Night Football and Band.....

The season has begun and our Friday nights are filled with football and band for the next 2 months. And band competitions are on Saturdays also. And we love it! Here's Jordan and Amanda leading the band.

And here's Ty in the center. If you remember, Ty and his brother Josh were our house guests for the last 6 weeks of school when their house burned. Josh is away at college and Ty has returned to our house now that school has started again. He'll be with us until their house is finished around the middle of Nov.

We are cheering on Shane (Jordan's boyfriend). He's the kicker this year.
Jordan and Ty
Jordan, Maleni, & Aly. I think Jordan's mouth was stuck open in these last two photos.