Our Trip To The Island

Earlier in the month,

 Bob and I decided to go to

one of the islands near us.

Most are only accessible by boat,

some with homes and others just wildlife.

Some folks even own their own island...

again only accessible by boat

One by car ferry.

The one we visited is called Harsen's Island. 

From our house to the ferry is a 6 minute drive.

This is the island where I had taken my grandkids

on a yearly trip over to have lunch until

covid hit.

The restaurant just re-opened this year.

The grands were too busy to join us this year.

It is a short ferry ride.

5 minutes across the North channel.

Here we are sitting outside

the restaurant on the South Channel

on the island.

This is the channel where the lake freighters travel

from Lake St Clair to the St Clair River

where we live by.

Across the channel is Wapole Island.

It is a Canadian Island which starts just to

the north of our dock at home and continues

along the islands in the channel.

Here comes the first freighter we saw that day

coming from the lake.

I forgot which one this was but from the 

Canadian Algoma line.

The second one also came from the lake.

This was the Innovator.

This is not a freighter,

but a reticulated barge.

It is in normal words, a tug boat attached

to which once was a freighter.

They cut the freighter in the back to insert

 a permanent tug boat.

The third and final freighter

coming from the St Clair River.

This was the Calumet.

Another Canadian freighter.

Loaded tater tots for an appetizer.

Then we ordered a meat lovers pizza.

With a pitcher of beer.

We spent 2 hours at the restaurant.

Just enjoying the weather and peacefulness.

Leaving the restaurant I drove to

 the southern end of the island.

The 2 objects on the right in the lake are the

lighthouses that use to aid the freighters

into the channel.

The one black object to the left of the lighthouses

is the GM center in Detroit.

On a clear day you can see it.

By car this would take us an hour to get to

in Detroit.

Getting ready to go back home.

The ferry is coming in to dock.

Its the red ramp.

Going back now.

With another ferry heading to the island.

On holiday weekends, they use 3 or 4

ferries to transport cars.

That day they had two going.

I could not afford living on this island.

The ferry ride is $15 round trip.

This is why we only go once a year.

Residents pay $13.

In other news,

my vacation is over. UGH

Back to the grind.

Hope everyone enjoys their week.

Island Blessings To All!

Janice

We All Need To Be Patriotic

Good morning friends.

Today is the last of my patriotic displays.

At this time we all need to be more patriotic.

We should be proud of our flag.

The color red represents valor and bravery.

Blue perseverance, justice and vigilance.

White for purity and innocence.

The 13 stripes for the original 13 colonies.

The 50 stars for the 50 states.

My father and his brother both fought in 

the Korean War.

Both were shot.

My dad was a Democrat.

My uncle was a Republican. 

Both were proud to be an American.

Both gave their views of their political party 

without fighting. 

Both flew the flag each and every day except

when it rained.

I saddens me that most folks are turning

away from our flag.

Why is it we no longer care about our flag?

George Washington and his fellow patriots

fought for this country to be free.

I fear for our country now.

 

This last pic is the display in the guest room.

I always set something up for my mom

next to the bed. 

In other news,

Today is or wedding anniversary.

Bob and I have been married for 15 years now.

This is both our second marriage.

We are planning on going out for dinner tonight 

to our favorite chicken and rib joint.

We know the meal will be good.

My vacation week is almost over. UGH

Well off to get me a cranberry orange muffin

and some orange juice for breakfast.

I love the muffins that our small town grocery 

store bakes in house. Bob brought them home

yesterday and they were just made.

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.

Any plans for yours?

Anniversary Blessings To All!

Janice  

Sunday Starts

Hello friends!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. 

Am longing for the cooler temps

of Fall to come soon.

Which has me going to Autumn patterns 

for my stitching now.

This pattern by Primrose Cottage

is called Autumn Quaker.  

I decided not to stitch this in the called for orange.

Rather will be using yellow. orange and brown.

The fabric is 36 ct vellum which has a hint of green.

My next stitch is a mini sampler.

I want to keep the pattern a secret for now.

The linen I chose for this one is 

32 ct Moonstone.

It is yellow like this pic I took from the internet.

Could not get the true color anywhere in my house.

UGH

Finally my last new start is this one.

Quaker Block Print.

Not really a Fall pattern, 

but one I wanted to stitch.

I liked the letters.

I started this yesterday.

Am also not using the called for floss,

which was just one color.

Again like the other quaker pattern,

I decided to use 3 floss colors

 in shades of black and gray.

In other news,

I will be on vacation this week.

Bob and I are planning some short day trips.

We wanted to spend a few days down in Ohio,

however our doggie sitter had to go to

Florida at the last minute...so we cannot leave

Tundra by himself for a long time.

The Lebanese restaurant was Americanized

as Bob said.

Not one lamb item on the menu.

Lamb is the traditional meat his family ate.

According to Bob a  true Lebanese restaurant

 would have lamb.

The salad was the way I make,

 minus the radishes so that was good.

The hummus was good too.

Bob and I ended up getting the beef Kabob.

Our friends ordered Chicken Shawarma and

Chicken Kabobs.

The chicken Kabobs were very dry.

She told our waitress that they were like

trying to eat a donkeys ass.

I laughed because I had never 

heard this saying before.

The owner ended up giving our friend 

a chicken Shawarma to go.

For anyone who would like the salad recipe,

here it is.

Lebanese Salad

Romaine lettuce

Cucumber

Radishes

Dried Mint Leaves

Garlic Powder

Kraft Lemon Herb Dressing

(I use to make the dressing from scratch,

but Bob said this was like his grammas,

so why re-invent the wheel)

Chop the romaine into a bowl.

Cut the cucumber & radishes into pieces,

and add to bowl.

I only use about a third of a cucumber

and 3-4 radishes for 2 salads.

Pour the dressing to your liking.

I dont have the measurements for the spices.

I shake to taste. (so sorry)

We eat lots of salads in the Summer months.

I made a crab pasta salad last night for dinner.

Tonight this Lebanese salad with grilled hamburgers.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Sunday Start Blessings To All!

Janice

Whippy Wednesday

Hello friends!

Today I have some progress on a few things.

Starting with Little Quakeresque.

I finished al of the letters now.

Added in my last great fathers name and info.

Started on the last two rows.

This heart has been giving me the worst time.

I cannot tell you how many times I have frogged

this now, and it still needs to be re-worked.

I needed to back away from it for a bit.

More progress on Blueskin.

As you can see started the second row of cherries.

The cherry to the left did

not look like the others.

The pattern called for it to be this way.

However looking at the picture, it was

the same as the others.

 

So I fixed it.

Much better.

Next up is Turkey Trot.

Am really getting in the mood to stitch

more Autumn.

Call me crazy I know.

I finished the annex part of the house to the right.

Am using all the called for flosses.

Oh how the photo looks so different.

Added three lil acorns and started the turkey.

Realized I did not stitch the star,

so moved to this side now and started this.

Will then go back to the turkey.

Halloween at Hawk Run Hollow.

I started this project last October 27th.

My goal was to complete a block

each month and it would take me a year

to finish this huge piece.

I am coming to the finish line.

The finish line being the final block of four.

Block 9 is now complete.

Three more to go.

I actually enjoyed stitching this one.

Although I did change up the mummy's eyes, 

nose and mouth though.

The pattern called for orange.

I chose a gray.

Outlined Frankie's arms and head.

I loved even the border around this one.

Unlike the block above,

I really loved stitching on this one every night.

Did not have to force myself to stitch this time.

Like block 6 where I just had to change up the pumpkins.

This is a Halloween piece, not Fall.

The next block is going to be once again a rough one.

Don't see a Halloween theme in this one either.

I will continue on though as the finish is near.

In other news,

Yesterday morning was a rough one.

20 minutes into my 1  hour drive,

all hell broke loose as I drove into a heavy rainstorm.

Standing water everywhere and still dark outside.

I had to continue slowly and it rained the rest of

my way into the office.

Tonight we are going out to dinner with friends.

A new Lebenese restaurant recently opened

two towns North of us.

We all want to try it.

Bob is half Lebenese, so he will be our judge 

as to if it will be good or not.

Will let you know what he thinks.

Well have to get to work.

At least no rain this morning to contend with.

Whippy Wednesday Blessings To All!

Janice