Beach Walk Living

Beachwalk is a very interesting neighborhood. Everything is new and cottage like. Some are very large homes that look like Grandma's farm house, with big screened porches both upstairs and down. Narrow little streets, no sidewalks, yards are wild flowers, lilies and sea grass. Most houses are gay cottage colors. The only grass to be seen anywhere is in one of the parks.

The only thing I dislike about our house is the ceramic tile kitchen floor. It kills my legs and feet. The outside color is a soft burnt orange, and all the inside walls are painted the same, in a darker tint. Very soothling and calm. The granite counter tops are black with burnt orange/brown in it.

It is a good walk to the beach, but not a problem. The problem is walking down, swimming and playing for hours, and then walking up the dune to the board walk. Up the hill to the road. Ugh. Of course, after all that exercise there is no problem if we have ice cream cones and cookies for dessert.

The girls love the lake, Julia really loved kicking and splashing. Lake Michigan is beautiful and clean, no sharks or jelly fish or anything toxic or biting. We all love swimming in it. The first days were wavy, and we really enjoyed that. I suspect that today will be smooth swimming.

On Tuesday, Andrea, Ryan, Charlie and Julia left for a vacation in Wisconsin. Sounds like a fun place. Ryan won it at work. Charlie and Julia woke up early every day, not used to sleeping in the same room with mom and dad. Same for Patrick. Julie and Andrea got some early walks in.

Today Julie and Sean have some friends from med school coming for the last two days. Lots of fun.

Aunt Stephanie has been entertaining the girls very well. She brought lots of clothes for the Amerian Girl dolls. And coloring kits, and games. Patrick is the perfect little brother, loves to chew on the doll shoes. He is walking around the coffee table and getting 4 new teeth on top. He is really a happy baby and easy to entertain, fun to tickle him.

Paul says the bed here is so comfortable, he has never slept so good. Might have something to do with all the swimming, walking and fresh air. Whatever, it is great! This is such a fun vacation, the lake is great, we get tons of grand kids time having fun and playing.

Pictures on Julie's Blog

Julie posted some great photos on her blog. Some of the family, and some of the houses around us.

www.kansaskeenans.blogspot.com

life's a beach

The beach here at Michigan City, Indiana, is perfect. These first three days have been wavy, which is a lot of fun for all of us, like a big wave pool. The water is warm, and it is hot out. Great beach days. The house that Julie and Sean have rented is very nice. It is fun to wake up early and color with Megan and Charlie.

The area we are in has won many awards for being "green" and family friendly. I will get some pictures soon. It is a half mile walk to the beach, but every house has a wagon to fill up and pull.

Off again

Leaving this morning for Michigan City, Indiana, for a week with the kids at the beach. For the first time all of the grand kids will be together! This is my new exercise plan, playing with kids and walking to the beach. Lots of pics to follow.

Crystal Lake Campground and Big Fish

Paul didn't take the camera on the fishing trip, and he was glad because it was so rough on the lake. When they were in between waves all he could see was water. So we have no pictures of the 15 pound king salmon. We do, however, have a pic of the 15 pound king salmon fillets. Big fish sticks.

On Thursday night we ended up at the obscure Crystal Lake Campgound near Ludington. It was on Hackert Lake. The directions in the camping book were totally wrong. Took 2 phone calls to get there. It was a nice little lake, lots of permanent sites at the camp, very quiet.

Driving home on Friday, we stopped and played nine holes of golf near Evert, and then had lunch at the local Moose Club. Very good food.

Good to be home, except for unpacking and that didn't take long. Jeff kept our flowers alive while we were gone.

Beautiful weekend at the lake, 80s and dry with a nice breeze. So good to lose the humidity.

Sunny skies and low humidity

We have had two perfect days here with sunny skies and low humidity. And No Bugs. Plagued with mosquitoes at home this summer, too much rain. I took a walk in the woods yesterday and picked a pint of wild raspberries and blackberries, and blue colored raspberries. Perfect for pancakes. They have primitive camp sites in the woods with big fire pits and lots of privacy. We can pick cherries too, but that requires more effort including walking up a large hill in the sun. Rex and Nellie always get a bushel of apples in the fall before they leave. This is a beautiful park, and half empty, thanks to the Michigan economy. There is a Beaver motor home get-to-gether this weekend and it will be full.

Nellie says it is always low humidity here. Since it is peninsula and there are lakes all around, it is surprising to me. Paul says that the cold lake water keeps the humidity low. It is so cool at night for sleeping, what a treat. They have found a great place to spend the summers.

What You've Been Waiting For

Anyone who knows Rex and Nellie from Port Aransas would be amazed to know that not only does Nellie attend Pot Luck Dinners at the Wild Cherry Park, she organizes them. I asked if she and Rex would eat with us on Wed. and almost dropped my teeth when she told me that they can't, it was pot luck night. Knock me over with a feather. And let me tell you, the food was very, very fine. The park provided spare ribs for the meat course. Nellie made her famous sweet potato casserole and also an excellent broccoli dish. But for me nothing is better than sweet potatoes. There was a lettuce salad with strawberries and almonds that was wonderful. Will have to try to find a recipe like it.

FYI the difference between a pot luck dinner here and in Port A has something to do with cats ....