On the left side of the mitten (the side without the thumb) see that thing that looks like a pinky? Now see where the water comes in there? That is split in two to make the East and West Bays of Grand Traverse. I live right at the tip of those Bays.

I don’t know why I have this obsession with the bays lately. It might be because I’m craving summer.

The kids and I go to the beach almost every day during the summer. We live three minutes from it, so why not? Sometimes we just go for a dip and other times we spend an hour or two digging in the sand making moats and things, or swimming. Sometimes if I’m lucky I get to read my book or do my puzzles. I want summer!

I have BIG plans for this one. We are doing Mackinac Island, maybe as soon as the Lilac festival. I’m going to drag them all to Frankfurt to the pier. I want to do all of the light houses, we have three. I might even take them to my favorite sand dunes beach. I’m not sure I’m up to hiking up a mile and a half tall dune with Cooper on my shoulders like I did with Charlie and Isabelle.  

Ahhh But Ang, How are you going to do ALL of these things? YOU don’t have  a car yet!

I’ve found the car I want. unfortunately it is about 10 thousand dollars more then we wanted to spend.

You wanna see it don’t you… You may as well say yes, cause I’m going to show you anyway..

. http://www.saturn.com/saturn/SaturnIndex.jsp

There she is, now anyone have any ideas on where I can get 10K? No… Prostitution isn’t an option, I’m pretty sure Ben wouldn’t be too keen on selling himself no matter how you begged.

My kids are so cool… Isabelles night mask… She sleeps with it over her eyes, but she insists on having the light on in her room.  Kids, who really understands them?

I think Isabelle is a punk rocker waiting to happen. Grandma Marty took her to get her hair cut and she came back with no hair. I’m  glad my Mom didn’t let her get it dyed a different color, although it was discussed.

 I want to go when she gets the hot pink or red put in.

To be fair I should have warned my Mom. Charlie was a little upset, You would have thought it was his hair.

“Now everyone will really think we’re twins.” He said with disgust. They are only fifteen months apart and people ask them if they are twins all of the time. He doesn’t like it.

Ben and I went on a date again last night. We went to the Old Mission Tavern.

This is the goat cheese appetizer… mmm yummy.

It’s also my husbands arm waiting patiently to dig in.  You know a man loves you when he waits to dig in to his food so you an take a stupid picture…

BAY WATCH on the way home. This is a point on the Peninsula where you can see both bays. I need to figure out how to do a panoramic piece so I can show you guys what it looks like. It’s so beautiful. Something for me to work on I guess. 

Oh, normally when I show a picture of the Bay, it’s way, way, way on the other side of where this picture is taken.

Hope you all are enjoying all of the little bits of nothing in your lives that really are, as they should be, a whole lot of something. Ang

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See she’s a punker already!

Create Your Own PaloozaHead – Visit Lollapalooza.com

Yeah, yeah… I know everybody’s doing it so…

Today is a better day. I’m trying to make it a better day any way.

So here is a new happy memory.

 My Great Aunt Shirley made a special trip up to see us at Easter time. It was just an over nighter she drove six hours here and six hours back to her home… All to do THIS…

The kids were so happy… you would think she gave them GOLD or Yu-gi-oh cards.

I told them they were lucky, Aunt D and I had to graduate high school before we got our special blankets from Aunt Shirley. 

Aunt Shirley who is in her seventies, although she doesn’t look or act it, said she wanted to give all of the grand babies their blankets before her fingers stopped working and that D and I had always been special to her.

Talk about making some one feel good. I get the warm fuzzies still and I need those today.

I returned the favor  I think when I insisted the kids sit for this picture. Pop printed one out almost immediately and Aunt Shirley was so happy… You would have thought we gave her… gold or lottery tickets?

NOW I feel better. Ang

So I’ve seen these posts lately where the subscribers (you) are given the chance to ask the blogger (me :-b)

to take a picture of something they want to know about in the bloggers life…

I’m considering it. It looks like fun.

I haven’t actually decided I’m crazy enough to try it yet… (sorry Gail and Bek) It’s true though. 

 I have to many deep dark secrets… and dirty laundry, literally, that I’m not sure I want to air on Xanga.

What about you? What would you hate to Show on Xanga?

I don’t want to SEE it… I’m just wondering if there is something out there you wouldn’t want seen…

********************EDIT***Because I wanna, that’s why************************************

 This is the mail ART that I sent to CJ… It’s a two part kaleidoscope. I call it the Wilde O Scope… for those of you who are The Importance of Being Earnest fans you might recognize the eyes. The larger part of the scope where the mirrors are is all papered in black and the white. The gems and doodads in the chamber are all black and white also… so when you look through it… black and white.

The second part of the tube is all papered in colored strips and the things in the chamber are all done in color… when you slip the second tube over the first… you have COLOR…

I really enjoy making kaleidoscopes, they are just too much fun to play with while I’m doing them… The glass ones are usually a little classier though.

I wrapped the instructions around the scope, secured it with rubberbands and off it went.

Now, On to the next batch!

EDIT***************************

I put a frog in everything I do… So when you get your art… look for your frog.

We took the kids to see Meet the Robisons.

It was a great kid movie.

I’m still here, Just busy.

I haven’t done laundry in a week. If my sister doesn’t go home soon my children are going to be running around naked. HEY! That would make for a great blog.  Ang

  Just because it’s something I haven’t seen before. A robin and a snow bank.

More BAY WATCH… it’s still there, it’s still beautiful.

A Day out with D.

Started with breakfast. I was starving.

Had my fast last night… got my poke this morning. I didn’t cry.

We met an old friend with a new baby. A beautiful baby, but I was just thinking thank goodness mine are getting older. I wouldn’t go back if you paid me.

Sam and Cooper, just checking out the scene.

I bet this guy LOVES his job.

Micheal Moore owns a house very near here and has started a film festival that seems to be going VERY well. I think it’s exciting, but a lot of people aren’t too thrilled with him… So these are good sellers at the local gimmick store.

Finally some local vandalism… Some one was being a smart…

Hope all of you are having as nice a day as I am. Ang

Escapism.

 I used to read a book a day. I would consume everything I could find, Romance, mystery, science fiction, fantasy… You name it I would read it. Janet Evonovich and Sue Grafton, Stuart Woods and John Grisham, J.K. Rowling and E.B.Baker, John Irving and Amy Tan, Peirs Anthony and Robert Jordan. The list of authors goes on and on and on.

If I could open a book I was in another world and I was happy.

WHY?

I mean what do I have to escape from. I have a great family. I like my life.

The idea of being somewhere else, someone else, some when else… well it is just too inviting to resist.

My reading has slacked off a bit, I do a book a week now. I have found a different form of escapism… this one caters a bit to the voyeur in me allowing me to peek into others lives, dreams, wishes…

Of course you all know it well… XANGA… Yes, you share this dirty little habit.

 I found myself wondering this weekend though; Where do we draw the line between enjoying our escapism and becoming slaves to it?

I thought this was beautiful. I know this guy is doubting his instincts right about now.