Postcards From the Lake: The Quiet Life

Greetings from the lake! It's good to be back. The Little Guy had his party and life at the lake is quiet and happy. By the way, a belated Happy Fourth of July (and really belated Happy Canada Day!)

It was a long day coming up north but there is nothing better than being greeted the second you walk in the door by a four-year old and the Birthday Boy (aka the Party Animal), all excited to show you new things! After dinner (saved for me, thank you!), they opened presents from Rick and me. The big hit was the bubble maker.

Rick got them started and then -- in the ways of boys who are four and newly three (actually, almost three) the older one took over! 

That was just fine with the Little Guy, who was having more fun than anyone chasing the bubbles. I'll tell you, those little legs could move fast!

And every now and then, the Party Animal even could catch them!

He was having the time of his life, chasing bubbles and then swinging with Uncle Greg (aka GooGoo Greg), with a little help from Dad.

It was really a lovely time and while I was exhausted when we left, it was great fun and I was glad to have been there.

Back at the cottage, it has been a little cool but not bad -- and temperatures going up, up, up over the weekend. 

I've taken nice walks. A little rain last week helped fill in the swamp.

And there are lovely lilies growing wild on the edges of the woods.

I took a path through the woods, something I rarely do, and ended up going in a bit of a loop. I wasn't about to blaze a new trail and end up in the swamp! (Two paths diverged in the woods and I took the road most traveled!)

On the home front, I've seen two new duck families. The one below had nine little ones.

I couldn't get a count on the second family but they were a little bit larger than the others.

These are definitely teenagers!

Our good neighbor, Jim (who kindly pulled his tractor through our beach to rid it of weeds) stopped by for snacks and it was good to catch up. He made me a beautiful bird house, which I'll share when I get it painted!

Meanwhile, down the road -- Pave Paradise, Put up a Parking Lot. (cue the music) I do not understand why you build a house in the woods and then tear down the trees and pave it. 

 Bird watching? Not much. I hear a lot of birdsong but they are high in the trees and hard to stop. I think this is a chickadee but it's a little fuzzy.

And windy, too. Which adds to the coolness.

I leave you with a recommendation. For total relaxation, get a bubble machine. (I bought them two -- one was $15. One was $4. The $15 one broke before the first bubble. I don't think you could kill the $4 version! (I gave Molly the receipt and told her to swap it in for two or three of the cheapies!)

I leave you with a last look at the Party Animal.

Some guys know how to have all the fun!

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Paris In July 2021: The Hugh Marston Mysteries

Paris In July is one of my favorite blog parties. Each July a group of bloggers who love Paris (and France) write about books, film, travel, food and all things French or set in France. My first offering for this event are two books set in Paris by Mark Pryor.

Workshop Week

Recently I participated in a series of free online workshops called "Workshop Week" hosted by Becca Courtice of the Happy Ever After Crafter. This was a series of free workshops, all about 30-45 minutes, that I followed online. There were probably about 25-30 classes in everything from calligraphy and mixed media to painting techniques.

The work I share here is work I did in the sessions and I'm the first to admit that most isn't my best work. That wasn't the point. The point was to create art along with the instructor through their videos (some of which were edited for drying time so they were "working" a whole lot faster than I could!) Consequently, you're going for "learning," not perfection. This bright floral watercolor, from the class taught by Jenna Rainey, is FAR from my usual style -- and I love it, even though it is not without flaw! 

So, It Rained

And it is still raining. All week. (Well, we had a surprise day off on Sunday, but thunderstorms are coming again and scheduled through Friday.)

I feel guilty about this -- being snarky about the rain when those out west are in such desperate need of rain. But when it is in your basement or leaking into your family room, you get a little testy. These hydrangeas used to be standing up. Now you can't walk to the back yard without fighting the flowers.

Every Stitch Tells a Story - In Praise of Quilts

I don't know when my love affair with quilts began but I know I was very young. Perhaps it started with my first quilt, a doll blanket made by my grandmother. The stitches were tiny, simple squares, but it was all that Baa or Betsy Wetsy needed to keep cozy in our Michigan winter.  She also made this one, not long after. They are still in use, if for no more than decoration!

Quiche-a-licious

Back some time ago, I mentioned the delicious quiche I cobbled together from a couple of different recipes. So many were interested I promised to post what I did so here goes!

 

Postcards from the Lake -- The First Visit

With Rick in Dallas and my last physical therapy appointment for a few days under my belt, the time was right -- road trip to the lake for the first visit of the season.

There is something exciting about that first visit. Questions run through my mind. What has changed? How does the house look? Will there be neighbors around? What will the weather be like? Did I bring the right clothes? And then you wheel around the corner and there it is. Home.

From Palette to Paper

I haven't done an art post in awhile so I thought I'd catch up with a few things I've been working on. As you know, I'm very fond of doing pet portraits and I've had a couple of lovely models to work with lately.

The Beauty of Spring-Into-Summer

More blooms! My garden and peonies are faded now, but I managed a few pix before the passed their peak.

At Long Last

What could be better than a perfect day in June? A perfect day spent with the Toddler Twosome and their mom and dad!  Rick was leaving for Dallas to meet up with his brothers and help clean out their mom's house before it goes on the market. The airport is close to Kevin and Molly's home so we went a day early to spend the day with the kids. I'm not sure who had more fun at this moment -- the two boys or Rick! They are relentless, but then, so is Rick!

 

I got to go with their mom to get them from day care and let me say, a welcome hug by this one (who has the best laugh ever!) is like a magic tonic!

There was time for Play Doh, playing Sorry and a story or two. And lots of time on the swing!

Kevin is a wonderful cook and dinner couldn't have been better -- grilled chops, a salad to die for and potatoes in the air fryer. 

The paper straws from Dollar Tree were a hit. I need to buy a bunch of those! 

The Oldest Toddler (who is four) was fascinated by the camera so I turned it over to him. I think every toy in the house is photographed, along with our breakfast, coins from the piggy bank and portraits of everyone. I thought he did well with one of me!

And this is my favorite that he took. I'm printing this one out!

All good things come to an end and the next morning Rick was off to Dallas and I was off to physical therapy. 

We'll miss those hugs till next time!

"Quarant-whine!" The Cork Poppers are Back!

The morning of our Cork Popper reunion, with the theme "Quarant-wine," started with an ER trip for Rick and ended with us all tasting seven wines, enjoying a fabulous feast of appetizers and desserts and having a non-stop, "It's been 16 months since I've seen you!" catch up party!

Strawberry Season Redo!

I'm rewriting my "Strawberry Season" post because I accidentally deleted it (UGH!) Things I learned today -- no way to retrieve a deleted blogger post! I'll try to post-date it so it doesn't show in your feeds but who knows if that will work. If you read that one, skip this one!

It's Really Good That I Like to Lick the Batter Bowl

It's really good that I like to lick the batter bowl. Just one of the "real life" things happening in my world!

I decided that since I had all the ingredients I would make Carol's Lemon-Raspberry Muffins. It would be so nice to freeze them (well, most of them) and have them good to go to the cottage for Memorial Weekend. (Yes, I thought of making them with blueberries too, to go with the weekend color theme but I decided not to get that cute.)

A Long Weekend with Little to Show for It!

In an earlier post I mentioned a New York Times article that discussed languishing and flourishing during lockdown times and I mentioned I was flourishing and, for the most part of the past year, felt much the same. No languishing for me! 

So Many Good Things

The erratic weather patterns of spring that have gone from very warm and sunny to blustery and dark have kicked into their gloomy mode. We decided to skip a trip to the lake for the holiday weekend and instead concentrate on some projects around here. It is not really a hardship. I'm rather fond of nesting, no matter where we do it.

 

The Fragrance of Spring

I'm sitting in my office, the windows open. The temperatures have dropped and the breeze coming through is cool -- perhaps a little too cool. But I can't bear to close the windows because along with the breeze comes the most intoxicating fragrance of peony drifting up from the bushes under the window. It is just one of the fragrances of spring.

A Few Changes at Marmelade Gypsy!

Some of you have already noticed a few changes here at Marmelade Gypsy and I have Linda, the Fairy Blogmother and writer of Life and Linda to thank for that! As you can see, I have a new look and mail sign-up (on the right sidebar). There's an important reason for this, which some of you may know.

A Walk in the Hood

Within the past two weeks we have jumped 45 degrees in temperature! From covering the newly purchased and planted plants at night to requiring sunscreen for a walk, it is -- in many ways -- a typical Michigan spring. That is, a day or two of sunny and 70, then 88 and sticky! It also means there is a good deal of action at the ditch, not the least of which was the buzzing of Harry by a red-winged blackbird!

 

Blooming and Beautiful

Earlier this season I took you on a blog walk through Michigan State's Beal Gardens. This is an outdoor botanical garden with a variety of areas -- poison plants, edibles, herbs, and loads of grasses, flowers and what some might call weeds. The university considers it an "outdoor laboratory for the study and appreciation of plants," designed for students in the agricultural/horticultural fields. But it is equally, if not more, popular among the general community.

 

Spring Might really Be Here!

What a crazy time this is! With spring finally showing its warmer side here in Michigan, I find myself feeling overloaded with things to do. Most of them are good things, which is a plus but sometimes I wonder how I'm keeping up with anything! It's seems I'm slow with replies, slow posting, slow with home things. Spring fever? Could be.

So, What Else Is New? Not Much!

Life these days has just been -- well, life. Nothing terribly exciting, nothing awful. So, just a bit of a catch-up. It sort of matches Lizzie's expression.

There has been a bit of painting -- not a lot, but I do have this one to share.

Fluffy Yellow Things and Other Outdoors Sights

The goslings have arrived! I've yet to see the number I suspect are there (and they are keeping pretty far from shore, so I'm glad for zoom!) but they have popped.

And learning to swim!

Forever Young

The other day I was chatting in the yard with my neighbor, Rosie. She's a fabulous gardener -- her yard blooms from early spring to late fall and I am lucky to have a window view. She said she is trying to convert most of it to perennials because gardening is hard work and we aren't getting any younger!

Rosie's Garden

New Neighbors -- and a Question

 I have some new neighbors! 

Aren't they cute? The babies are so tiny, I almost missed them as they plodded through the brush to the water, following their mom for a swimming lesson and a spot of dinner!