SPRING VACATION

Every spring….in April....

we visit a place in Wayne County…
Cabwaylingo State Forest.

We have done this for probably the past fifteen years or so.
Most people vacation in the summer….
going to the beaches….
not me…..too hot!
I prefer cool spring weather….
forests….old log cabins….
old fireplaces….walks and hikes….
wild flowers….wild life….fishing streams….
solitude….peace and quiet.

This is our favorite cabin to stay in.

The date "1936" is engraved

in the stone on the porch.

The view from the front porch…..

I love to sit here and listen to
the running water…..
so peaceful…..soothing……
and relaxing.

I got a shot of Missy on the back porch.

I so, so love a fireplace.....
that was our only source of heat.
John had to get up several times
during the night to tend to the fire.

Each day Missy and I took walks.

We saw deer and squirrel….
they ran before I could snap a picture.
Missy tried to run after them…..
her lease wouldn’t let her.

We saw a lot of wild flowers…..
See that may apple pushing
it’s way right up through
a dead leaf!

white trilliums

don't know what these are called.... Missy exploring.

John did a lot of fishing but only caught
three trout one day and one trout another day.
The stream was stocked the week before….
and the locals had about fished them all out.

I didn't catch any trout....but.....

I caught a snapping turtle….
John had to use the net to get it on the bank…
It was heavy and he was surprised
that I got it in.
Set free……
heading back to the water.

One day we drove to Laurel Lake….
about 20 miles away…..

I thought this was interesting…..
I’d never heard of petroglyphs before.
Go here to read about them and also about the tunnel.

But... same story on the trout there….
but we enjoyed the drive…..
We had to travel through two tunnels.
I don’t like tunnels.
These tunnels were very old….
one was very long……
the date engraved at the top is “1914”.
They were only one lane and you had to
make sure there wasn’t an oncoming vehicle
in the tunnel before entering.

the other was not so long.

Another day took a drive to the top of a hill
where one of the campgrounds is located.

Yea! Cell phone service!
I could call my daughter and check on Huey.
I didn’t like leaving him home alone….
but my daughter was to check on him each evening for me.

We drove on and found an old cemetery….
Ferguson Cemetary.
This old tombstone was hard to read…..
the date looked like in the 1800’s.

I liked this plaque that was placed on another grave.

“I am not gone,
my soul lives on, but in a better place.
Surrounded by the light of God
in all his glory and grace.

Ed Ferguson
6-29-14 11-6-04

We stopped on the way back down at a picnic area
to do some exploring.

Look at that tree holding onto that rock.

John and Missy checking out the “out house”.

Some violets growing right on the rock wall.

Some burgundy trilliums.

Look at that BIG nest!
Don’t know what kind of bird nest that is.

Below is a statue of a conservation worker
located near the group camp area.
The inscription reads……

C.C.C. WORKER

HONORING THE YOUNG MEN
WHO SERVED IN
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS COMPANY
3532 AT CABWAYLINGO STATE PARK

1935 - 1938

USING SHOVEL, TROWEL, HAMMER AND SPADE
THEY MOVED EARTH, PLANTED TREES, CRAFTED STONE,
AND BUILT STRUCTURES THAT REMAN AS A LASTING LEGACY
OF SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND NATION.

DEDICATED IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
AUGUST 27, 2005

That concludes my vacation post.

Did you find it entertaining....interesting.....or boring? lol

I know it sure was a real job getting this all together.

I'd like to hear about your vacations too.

I'M BACK

Hello to you all.... I'm back.

Vacation was great.

But you know how it is

when you get back.

Unpacking, putting away, laundry,

grocery shopping, and etc....busy, busy.

And....a phone call telling me that I have

to teach the Sunday School class in the morning.

I am taking a break right now.....

just to check in with you all.

I've got to catch up on all your new posts

and will get back with you next week

with a post about my vacation.

I missed you guys.

FINALLY CLEAN AGAIN

Last week, John decided it was time

to clean the fish pond...it was yucky.

Cleaning the fish pond is a major job.

Since we don't have a drain,

the water must be pumped out

as much as possible....then the

rest is dipped out. John gets in

with his wading boots.

Of course before getting all of the

water out...the fish must be caught.

He catches them in a net and puts

them in a holding tub. That is a job

when the water is dirty....and there

are over 30 fish to be caught.

They are reall packed in the holding tub.

After the pond is cleaned....water

must be carried in five gallon buckets

from the rain water barrels.....that is

a lot of water and a lot of carrying....

which almost fills the pond.

Now it is time to put the fish back in...

a lot easier than taking them out.

In the beginning.....several years ago....

when we first made the pond....we had

only a few fish. We bought them at a

store that sold them for fish bait.

Those fish grew much bigger.....

a few years later....my granddaughter

discovered that we had babies! We

were so excited but also afraid that

they would not survive....but they did...

and grew and grew....we had too many

fish for our small pond and had to

give some of them away.....we still

think that maybe we have too many.

The pump runs year round

so that they will have air in the water.

I get a lot of enjoyment out of the fish.

I love to sit by the pond and watch them.

They are many colors....orange...black....

white....and some are mixed colors.

Do any of you have ponds....

self-built or natural?

LOSING AGAIN

After last week's weigh-in,

I was determined to do better.

Yesterday, I had a loss of 1.5 lbs......

not much....but better than nothing.

It was a good meeting....

I got encouraged.

We have a great leader.....

she is a Christian.....

so are a lot of the members

who meet the same time I do....

several are lifetime members

who have already met their goal.

It is going to be a long road

to reach my goal....

if I can just stick with it.....

GREAT EASTER

I went to church Easter Sunday morning.

The Easter contata was fantastic....

the choir just out did themselves.

God has blessed our church so much....

so much talent and dedication to God.

After church, it was home to prepare dinner.

All of my grandchildren visited......

even my great-grandbaby......

I got to hold her a lot.....

she still sleeps most of the time.

The other grandchildren had an egg hunt.....

it has always been a tradition with us.

They love it....but usually can't find all the eggs.

We took our first five-generation picture.....

I'm the enourmous one in blue.

There were three different people taking

a picture at the same time......

I didn't know which one to look at....

I think we are looking at different ones...lol

I don't allow my picture to be taken....

but for this one I had to give in.....

for the sake of five generations.

APRIL SNOW

I've always heard that

April showers bring May flowers.

Well, what about April snow?

The weather this April

has been more like March weather.

Just look at those big snow flakes!

It was so pretty.

I just had to run out today and get some photos.

Are you getting any snow in April?

WHAT HAPPENED?

After a great loss of 4.5 lbs. last week,

my weigh-in at Weight Watcher's this week

wasn't so good.

I gained 1/2 lb.

I don't know what happened.

But, I know what I must do.

I must do better.

I must start exercising.

I must make it a habit.

We talked about self-control today.

I must practice self-control.

Exercising alone is hard for me.

I must pray for help and commit

myself to do this for my own good.

I'm hoping for a better report next week.

AWARD

Thank you Denise over at Samaritan Women.
It is such an honor to receive this award.....

I feel so undeserving.

Here is what is said about the recipients of this award.

“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.”

Deliver this award to a few bloggers

who must choose a few more bloggers

and include the message.

I pass this on to Becky over at Twisted Fencepost......

and Sharon over at Sit with Me Awhile........
and Linda over at This and That.

These ladies have such uplifting blogs.

Becky loves God's creation and takes nature pictures

around her farm and tells interesting stories.

She is a very loving and caring friend.

Sharon loves the Lord and makes this evident in her posts.

Her blog is so interesting and uplifting.

Linda is a grandma like myself and loves her grandchildren.

God's love in her heart shines in her posts.