Sunsets

In case you missed it there was a really nice sunset tonight. Here is one picture, for more of my pictures of many different things go to Flickr and do a search for betzspt.

A Normal Week ?

Not much happening this week, on Tuesday we went out to dinner, then Chris went to a movie with his friends. He didn’t get in until 3:00 AM and had to get up at 5 to leave for the airport. There was no problems checking in, both suitcases met the weight restrictions. We got to spend some time chatting, about his year here. What he would do when he got home.

A lot of people asked him if he was excited to go home. I think he has mixed feelings, he wants to go back and see his family and friends but he will also miss he friends and family here. He wants to come back and go to school, perhaps get a football scholarship. Of course when he gets home that may change too, two more years of school, you never knows what might happen.

I went back to the doctor to have the ankle checked, it is coming along fine. I can take the air-cast off when I feel comfortable, at first in the house on flat surfaces. Go back in 3 weeks if I think I need to, but if it feels OK, I can cancel the appointment. He said that what I have is a cross between a break and a sprain (a spracture, a frain? ) When I twisted my ankle. the ligaments pulled on the bone, but did not tear instead they pulled the bone apart. It is probably better as breaks go, because it should heal faster and have no lasting effects.

Charlie started another wood carving, I don’t know what it is, I haven't asked, I think it is better to be surprised. Some of you may remember is first wood working project a few years ago was the huge walking stick with a bird on the top, which he gave away. Then he did a totem pole, that he sold and gave the profit to the FFA. I don't have a picture of the first walking stick but here is the beginning of the current project.

The pheasants have all been moved to the bigger more natural pen and seem to be doing well.

We acquired a new kitten a few days ago it just showed up on the porch one morning. The orange male puts up with it and is pretty protective but it gives the dog a wide birth. The kitten is about one mouthful for Boston.

I took some pictures of the foal today she is 2 months old today. She is changing colors, notice the dark color on her muzzle, around her eyes and the spots on her chest. This is normal for appaloosas They change color a couple of times a year. In the fall/winter when they get their winter coat and in the spring when they shed it. The dame is a dark bay and the sire is a black appaloosa with a white "blanket" over his hips.

This and That

ANKLE UPDATE: I thought about taking a picture of my foot, but I decided that wouldn't be too interesting, I went to the Doctor here on Thursday, the 14th, he said yes it is broken, and showed me where on the X-ray, but I couldn't see it. Told me to keep the air splint on and it is OK to put weight on it if I am comfortable. Come back in 2 weeks, they will take another X-Ray.

We had an Open house for Chris on Saturday. I meant to take pictures but only got one of him with some friends and that one isn't very good but here it is (on the left.) Not a real flattering picture of any of them. On the right is one that I took right after graduation a couple of weeks ago. They look much more capable, don't you think?

Charlie and a friend have some pheasants they are raising. They are now about 3 weeks old and are ready to move the bigger pen. They bought 75 and have lost only 11. I think they plan on releasing part of them at our place and part of them at Jeff's probably sometime in August.

I found a blog the other day: Three Beautiful Things, every day the blogger records three things that have given her pleasure. I got to thinking about that, and realized that I and probably many others don't take time to notice the small things that give them pleasure. I have made a promise to myself to try and notice more.

For Wednesday June 20: The first Day lilies in bloom.
Setting on my deck watching the first lightning bugs of the evening.
Driving home on back country roads listening to a favorite song on the radio.

Today, Thursday, is our anniversary. 21 years. Geeze, where has the time gone. Love you Charlie.

When I came back from vacation last week Ishwar said something about taking a vacation in August and maybe going "up north." I told him several of us could share some great places to see. Please leave a comment and let me know what is your favorite place in Michigan?

Our U. P. vacation

After trying several options, I thought a blog might be a better way to share our news. Not as fancy as Arthur's but here goes. I thought I would let you know how our vacation went last week-end here are some pictures and comments. Click on the pictures to make them larger.

On Friday we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes with Charlie's brother, Richard. When we were on the observation deck Chris, our exchange student said Charlie, why don't you walk to the bottom of this dune so I can take a picture, to show people how far away it is. So he did, are any of you surprised? This picture is of him at the bottom of the dunes. Luckily it was only about 75 degrees and breezy.

While we are waiting for him to come back up, tour buses of people are stopping to watch, asking who is that? why did he do that? do you think he'll make it back up? For the record it took him 47 minutes to get back up. This picture shows him about half way. I saw some of those people in the parking lot later and they said something about him making it back up. I offered to sell his autograph, but got no takers. I also asked Chris not to ask Charlie to do something stupid, because he probably would try it.

On Saturday we crossed the bridge and went to the 'Soo'. Then to Whitefish point. We told Chris he had to walk out the pilings in the lake. A couple standing on the observation deck said "Do you know how cold that is, that is just evil" Chris said he would have gone to the pilings but it was too deep. He also said he has been in colder water, lakes in the Alps, this wasn't bad.

On Sunday we headed for pictured rocks and stopped to look at the "Log Slide" on the trail, a nice clear trail, through the woods, to the observation deck I stepped on a twig about the size of a cigar butt. the only twig on the whole trail. It rolled, so did my foot. I went down, got up, brushed myself off and kept going about 200 yards.

This is the log slide. also known as Devil's slide, from the observation deck. Please note: I fell on the way to the observation deck, not going down the slide as according to hospital staff some people do each year. On the way back to the parking lot we saw a sign that said there was a three mile trail to a light house. Charlie asked Chris if he wanted to to walk it, Chris said sure. (This is about 10 AM)

OK, for those of you who know us, you can probably guess the rest of this but I'm going to tell you anyway.

I told them I would drive up to the light house and meet them there (I couldn't walk three miles on a good day.) I drove and and drove and drove, on a two track through woods and sand etc., stopped turned around, went down a track to a Hurricane River Campground. Didn't see a camp ground or a lighthouse. Went back to the information center, (every time I got out the car, my ankle felt worse). There is NO drive to the light house, so I went back to the parking lot at the log slide. and figured they would have to come back that way.

By this time my ankle hurts just sitting there so I tried to elevate and put ice from the cooler on it. I hobbled to the rest room, my ankle is worse, after another 15-20 minutes I thought well I go set at a picnic table. I couldn't put weight on the foot at all.
The finally got back at about 12:30 after walking to the camp ground from the lighthouse then out to the road. probably another 10 -12 miles.
We decided I should probably have the ankle looked at, stopped at the information center and found out the nearest emergency room is in Newberry- which we drove through yesterday afternoon and was 2 hours away. There was a hospital in Munising but their emergency room isn't always open.

By the time we got to the hospital, Charlie stopped at the door, I got out and said something like, uh guys this isn't working, I can't walk, they finally brought a wheel chair to get to the examine room. They X-rayed it and said we don't think it is broken, but it looks like there is an old break that you may have aggravated, (I don't know when that happened, I have NEVER been treated for a broken bone,)put ice on it for 24 hours, elevate it, when you are sitting and keep weight off of it for 1 week, and gave me a pair of crutches. I am not real coordinated to start with, (obviously if I tripped on a twig) you'd get a real laugh to see me on crutches.

Before we left the ER a nurse is trying to teach me how to use the crutches, and says "you look like you're having trouble, would you like me to get you a walker?"
I said jeeze, you are really trying to make me feel old aren't you?"
Another nurse, says, from around the corner, " yeah why don't you just get her some blue hair while your at it."

After that we headed for Palm Book State Park, to see the Big Springs. I decided not to try to make it to the boat because I was still not doing well with crutches. (I had only used them for about 5 minutes) before we got back in the car. It is hard to tell from this picture but Charlie said these trout are about 3 feet long.

The next day Charlie and Chris went to pictured rocks to take some pictures, we decided to skip the boat ride this time. Chris did get to see, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and a few weeks ago, Lake Erie. So at least now he has seen some of Michigan.

Joyce.