The good ol' summer time!

 Love the Michigan summer skies!

 Appreciate the clouds even more when they bring rain...and we have had 2 rain storms in the last few weeks...you can tell by our yard!

 Evening cuddles after a busy day!

 And late night escapades!  We got to help Sean and Becky with a project...well...transporting logistics for their project!

 Fun memories...in the dark...with power tools...and mosquitos!

 Fun treats for the girls as they get ready for their senior night out together...

 one last meeting...before the final last meetings at open houses...and then everyone is off on future endeavors!

 Date night for Dad and Mom!

 Helping with projects at the the rental houses!

 Realizing that we only have about a month left to do girlie stuff...and take pictures.

 Oh my!  A new fun treat from Aldi...stroopwaffles!  I have seen them on the baking show...and they are delicious with vanilla ice cream which then hardens the caramel inside...with a cup of coffee...oh my!

 Another treat for us...we finally have a Chik-Fil-A in town!!!   And cousin Allison works there!  How fun to go see her and eat yummy food...in the car...of course!

 And score...finding a gift card for the Cheesecake Factory in your purse!!

 It is not all fun and games.  We are still doing work to finish up some painting projects!   Almost officially done...I am adding some decorative stenciling to the deck to tone down the glare of the white...but not when it is so stinking hot!!!

 Our little watch dogs!  They are so cute and sure fill our days with lots of licks and cuddles!

 Summer time is a great time to try new recipes for family suppers!  Pioneer Woman's hot corn dip is a YUMMY one!

 Counting and rolling tip money!

Baking for our second to last graduation hurrah...Alisa's open house is Saturday, July 18.  We are doing cupcakes and water bottles...keeping it simple for the coronation chaos that keeps all of us off-kilter...even now!  Uff da!  Our last graduation related fun activity...girls trip to Grand Haven for two days on the beach...and we can't wait!

Aaannnnddd...because I didn't want to forget...this picture!  I took it because I liked the red, white, and blue flower!  "I can make that!"  But this was at our HOA annual meeting...and we just needed to remember this...because...well...yeah.  I should have taken another picture of the board members area but truth be told...I was a little nervous how the evening would go and was very guarded (you may read that as not overly friendly and welcoming).  Our summer has been shrouded by the crazy that abounds in our HOA.  If you have seen the Geico commercial about the HOA lady...you have the general picture of how our HOA has functioned this summer.  Ted and I were pleasantly surprised at how things went.  He asked a couple questions and one of our nemesis (our backyard neighbor, coincidentally, showed her disdain and disgust in front of everyone)...the other neighborhood guys spoke up and pushed topics and Ted was off the hook.  Interesting...we are not the only ones who think things through and have an understanding of issues. WOW!  Who would have thought?

My conclusion...if you want to be in charge and assert authority and nastiness...you had better know your stuff...otherwise you look like and sound like a bafoon...IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.  The book of Proverbs talks about those kind of people...and I don't want to be one of them!  So I sit and watch and listen...many people could learn to do that better...just saying.  With a couple of new people voted in on the board...the tide will change a little this year...and then next year...I'm thinking a tsunami will take place...but we shall see!  We saw some verbiage change and an official form get made for those residents who want to do work on their property...say like...change the color of the house!  Yep...everyone knew we were the people who live in the blue house...several have told us how pretty it is!  It was the proverbial blue elephant in the lawn that no one mentioned!  Ted says, "I will never do another house project again...oh wait...we will have to do the shingles on the roof...but that is not even mentioned in the bylaws...and we are keeping the same color!"

It's July...and it is hot!

 We saw the completion of the painting of our house.  We will forever be known as the people with the blue house in our neighborhood.  It looks so nice!

 We have enjoyed the days that are nice enough to eat out on the deck!  We have been doing a lot of cooking on the grill!

 The two amigos spent 4th of July at the sand drags in Mears!

 We have been spending A LOT of time at the pool...special thanks to Brad and Mari who needed someone to keep an eye on things while they were up north!

 The crazy dogs tear around the house messing all the rugs up and then crash...trying to find a cool spot to lay.  We...Ted and I...are enjoying the lazy days of summer.  Our chair fillers are working multiple hours each day...often in the heat.  We are thankful for a cool place to rest...whether it is the pool or our home.

 Everything is going to change in the fall...with both girls going off to college.  We are thankful for the time together as a family as we get ready for another new phase of life!

Some neighbors are very nosey...

                                    others just mind their own business and keep walking!

It is done and it is beautiful!

 Two painters came yesterday (Monday) and finished the second story painting for us!

 It is really high up there!

 This guy...the one on the ground...worked hard to make all this happen!  He deserves an award for husband of the year.  You see...the paint color choice of mine caused quite a problem with our HOA board members.  Let's just say...there will be some changes made to clear up thirty year old wording to bylaws at this year's annual meeting.

 The neighbors on our street like the color and have expressed it to us as we have worked on projects these last four months.  It blends nicely with the earth tones of our state of Michigan!  It is a blessing to see a job accomplished.  Thank you, dearest Ted, for making it happen!  Thank you, Mom, for helping with this big project!  Thank you, kiddos, for helping here and there and supplying coffee drinks!

Summer 2020 at our house

 I have girls who will do the grocery shopping or who will go with me!  And it is fun to have that kind of help...and encouragement to enjoy a new little treat!  Lemonade popsicles...YUMMO!

 They make me laugh!  Our guard dogs!

 Thankful for cool days sprinkled in the middle of hot days...to catch up on some baking!

                                 And on the hot days...yummy meals cooked on the grill!

I tried fresh kale...just me tried it...I don't care for it.  It is not bad...just not a favorite!

Everything is just off-kilter

 and I am trying my best to reasonably handle things as they come up...but the insanity of other people who are living in fear is enough to make me lose it!  People...we are standing OUTSIDE!  People are distanced.  Appointments for everything everywhere.  Long lines inside and outside.
New normals?  UGH!?!
This whole mask thing is getting ridiculous...and I think it adds to people's craziness because of the lack of oxygen!  I have witnessed several nasty exchanges between people who wear or don't wear masks.  When you are driving in a vehicle, DON'T wear a mask.  When you are working in your yard BY YOURSELF, don't wear a mask.  When you are exercising, DON'T wear a mask.  DON'T fuss at other people who don't wear a mask...YOU DON'T KNOW their story.  Uff da!

Everyone has a choice...and some people should choose to just stay home if they are that scared!  There have always been gross germs around us everywhere we go...why now are we crazy about them?  The general population is just gross!  Just watch people when you are out and about.  I work with children.  I am a mother.  I have always been surrounded by slimy, sticky, dirty, smelly, little humans.  If parents don't teach them...they grow up to be big humans.  Hence the trouble today...parents didn't think it was worth the fight.  UgH...that is another post!
WASH YOUR HANDS!  DON'T TOUCH EVERYTHING YOU SEE!  KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR FACE WHEN YOU ARE OUT!  Use your hand sanitizer that you have hopefully ALWAYS carried in your purse or car before the government told you to do so.
EAT HEALTHY TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.  DRINK WATER.  TAKE YOUR VITAMINS. DON'T LIVE IN FEAR!!! And don't expect me to be fearful.
God has already numbered our days...you living crazily and being nasty is not going to change that!  The agenda makers have accomplished what they set out to do...and it is a little scary to see what lengths people will go to as they are controlled by fear.  I made it through the line at the Secretary of State safely...my license is now good and ready for another four years...and you can bet I will be using it to prove I am a valid voter in Michigan!

Sisters picking strawberries at Spicers!

                                                    My strawberry cutter upper helper!

 Fresh strawberry freezer jam on toast...fresh cut strawberries...strawberries over vanilla ice cream...