A Great Day!

Today, Carol and I celebrate 30 years of marriage. On this date in 1980, we were married and joined our families. I gained three beautiful daughters and Carol gained a daughter and a son. Carol had been widowed and I divorced and we talked what seemed like forever before we were wed. We discovered that we not only loved each other very much, but also really liked each other! What a concept, eh? The more we communicated, the better it got and the deeper the feelings became. Like life itself, it has not always been easy but always has been good. The right thing always happens. We now have nine grandchildren that fill our home and Montana with photographs and drawings. Our refrigerators are full of their art. The good times make us happy wondering how they will just get better and the difficult times teach us that nothing that is good is free - we have to work for it. Thank you, Carol, for the last 30 years and I can only smile as I wonder what the next 30 will bring.

What a great three weeks it has been with family and friends!

Starting out, we spent several days with Richelle and her family in NW Indiana at the Indiana Dunes on Lake Michigan. A week or so later, they joined us here in Hartland, MI in our Montana for a great day of swimming and fun. Jim and Bev came by a few days ago and we burned some hamburgs and hot dogs and talked for hours and yesterday Brandon and Meagon spent the day with us and swam and fished. Seeing and playing with four of our wonderful grandchildren, ages from 5 to 16, is something that makes life truly beautiful. Now, we can't wait to see them again soon and the rest of the "mob of nine" grandkids. Carol and I are truly cheap dates - give us our kids, grandkids and friends and we are truly satisfied.

Thunderboomer time!

We just had a relatively short but severe thunderstorm pass through. The Montana was rocking and rolling in the wind and the thunderclaps were loud and booming and the lightning flashing but Sunshine just went into the bedroom, lay down between the bed and cabinets and appeared to be doing well. There were reports of hail and the wind was quite strong but all is now well. It "cooled off" to 75 and is very comfortable outside now. We had heard many stories of fearful Greyhounds in thunderstorms but Sunshine was a champ during this one. I see on The Weather Bug another is coming soon, just a few miles away.

Indiana and Hartland, MI

Carol is surrounded by love in Indiana, being surrounded by Sarah, Ryan and Rocco. Of course, Sunshine had to show us that she could sleep in any position in our daughter's family cottage. We set up Saturday in Waldenwoods, in Hartland. Yesterday, the weather became dark, to add to the heat and humidity leaving us with the question - was this a tornado or a water spout we saw, just north of the campground? Musta been water spout because we heard no reports of touchdowns around here. I am surrounded by the best of all worlds here - my dog, by Monty. my truck and the photo was taken by my best friend, my wife. I feel that I have it all. Been doing some modifications to the Monty. The table would meet us when we first came into the rig and closed up tight to the counter when the slides were in, barring access to the refrigerator when we were on the road. Also, the reclining, swivel rockers had their backs to beautiful rear picture window. We moved the table to the window, one rocker to the area that the table had been in, and got rid of two of the table's chairs and a rocker. Now the Monty feels more "homey" and we have full use of the picture window. The rocker is now at a large side window and has a great view with good light. We are going to replace the table chairs with two more comfortable ones in the near future. Sunshine's couch will remain in its original location. The small chest freezer we just got and the ice maker should fit nicely at the end of the counter near the table. Now that this is done, we have some other ideas for mods and will start on them soon. "So much to do and so little time to do it!"

'twas a great day!

Yesterday we "puppy sat" with daughter Richelle's dog Rocko and Sunshine and Rocko had a great time together. Rocko is probably a little smaller now because Sunshine kept nibbling at his food dish. Sunshine wolfs her food down and Rocko nibbles - ergo the difference in who eats Rocko's food. It was another very hot day, so after Rocko returned home, we went to Bubbles Ice Cream and Pie Parlor in Michigan City, IN and had some wonderful, handmade ice cream. The place is pet friendly and they even gave Sunshine her own small dish of vanilla ice cream to eat on their shaded porch. Gotta try their home made pies next time - unless it is stifling again and then ice cream will be in order again then. Took another spin to Lake Michigan and really enjoyed the sights. Next trip I hope that we remember to bring the cable to upload the photos from the camera to the computer.

Whew!!! It's Hot!!!

Yesterday, with the high temperatures and humidity, we did NOTHING! We did pick up Richelle's dog and puppy sat but that was a pleasure and not a chore. We all stayed inside and let the air conditioner do its thing. I have a list of modifications to do on the Monty and did not a one. When I got up this morning it was raining. Does that mean that this vicious heat will be abating? Hope so. Hopefully today will see the dropping of temperatures and the completion of some of our mods - nothing drastic but desired because, once done, we will have an even more comfortable Montana.

We're now in Indiana

Yesterday, we moved the Montana from storage to our Home Park in Davison and spent the 92+ degree day hauling "stuff" from our condo to the "Condo on Wheels." We were so hot and tired that a shower and bed came early. Today we moved to La Porte, IN. Soon after we set up we went to Richelle's vacation cabin on Lake Michigan in the Indiana Dunes Park. It may have been hot and humid but at least there was not much breeze! The company, though, more than made up for the lack of coolnativitynessability. Now I discovered that I can not locate the cord that lets me upload the photos from the camera to the computer. Must still be safe and secure in the condo. Oh, well - next time! The dunes and Lake Michigan bring back great memories of a thousand years ago when I was growing up in Muskegon Heights, on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan.

Tomorrow we're outa here!!!

We take the Montana out of storage in the morning and set it up in our home park in Davison, MI. Here we will load it up from home and then Tuesday morning off to The Indiana Dunes in NW Indiana, on Lake Michigan. COMEONMONDAY!!!!!!!