Memorial Day Potluck 2009

We had a sunny Memorial Day weekend, temps in the low 70s and 60s. Potluck picnic on Pete and Brenda's deck. Lots of great food, as usual. And the usual hockey playoff game going on too.

Hooded Mergansers Are Out of the Box

Early Monday morning seven tiny downy Hooded Mergansers jumped out of the nesting box into the lake with Mommy duck. They spooked when Paul walked down to get a picture, you can see them hurrying to catch Mommy as she lead them across the lake.

This is the first time we have seen the babies from the nesting box. We have had Wood Ducks in the past.

Our lake is full of pike and big turtles, good luck little duckies.

Cookbook News

We have been pretty cool here in Michigan and I have been enjoying baking and cooking, so much easier to do in the house than in the motor home. Yesterday I wanted to make muffins for breakfast. Couldn't find a recipe I liked, had several cookbooks spread out in the kitchen and chose one from my old Better Homes and Garden's Cookbook. In fact, it might have been Aunt Katie's book. Anyhow, when comparing recipes I noticed that for a dozen muffins in the old book I needed 2 tablespoons of sugar while the newer books called for a half cup of sugar for a dozen.

They were good, not overly sweet but when you add butter and jelly, who can complain? Later I saw an article in a woman's magazine that you cut calories if you use cookbooks from before the 1970s. Newer cookbooks have up to 63% more calories. Older cookbooks use real full fat butter, meat and eggs, but smaller amounts and have smaller servings. They used the Joy of Cooking to do this comparison. My version is 1974 and had the lesser amount of sugar.

Ha! the conspiracy to make America fat continues.

A Happy Mother's Day

Steff came up for Mother's Day Weekend, and we had a lot of fun. First, on Saturday, my dear neighbor Marty and I went to Clare to mosey around. Went through some shops and had lunch at Herrick House. We both chose sloppy joes for lunch. They were excellent, home made and tasted like 12 hours in the crock pot. Also homemade potato salad. Then we split a Chocolate Silk piece of pie. Very yummy. Then to the grocery store. A very successful lady's day out.

When I got home Steff was watching TV with Dad. We had a nice afternoon and then we went to Ruckles for dinner. Philly Cheese steak subs. Roger stopped in and ate our leftovers on his way home to Grayling. Had been working at son Chris's house in Shepherd. Then on Sunday I made Steff a loaf of bread and also made Roma's Carrot Cake. Very easy and dark brown yummy, I made a half recipe. Why tempt myself into a coma? Then we went to Bob's Bar for dinner. I had the fresh lake perch, Steff had chicken and Paul a cheeseburger. Everyone was happy. There was quite a crowd in Bob's. Guess word of the Mom's Broasted Chicken special had spread! It was Half price for moms.

Steff loves to kayak and took two rides in Brenda's kayak. It was only in the 50s but she had to get out on the lake. Said there were a dozen little, bitty burger sized turtles sunning at the end of the lake.

I had nice talks with my older daughters on the phone too. Everyone was having a nice day. Katie keeps me updated about her husband's fight with poison ivy. Vodka is the new cure for that rash. New York is full of poison ivy. Andrea has cute stories about Julia and Charlie, who just turned four on Friday. Julie's 5 year old daughter, Anna, had news that her mommy is having another baby in November, for her birthday! So pretty much a perfect Mother's Day for me.

Serenity of Swans

So beautiful this morning on the lake, warm and quiet with swans floating across the lake. And this is a great year for garden bulbs. We have ducks in both nesting boxes.

Weekend In Grayling

On Saturday we drove up to Grayling, about 60 miles, to see Roger's new home. It is on three acres next to the National Guard. This area is Jack Pine forest. This type of pine tree is rare, it only sends out seeds if the tree is burnt in a fire. It is also the only tree that the Kirkland Warbler will nest in. All the trees around there are Jack Pine. The pine cones seem to be made of cement. I can see why it needs a fire to open up. Paul and Roger cut down a dead pine and cut it up for camp fires. Pics are Roger and Rambo, Roger and Bev, and me and Paul.