Mr. Handsome

We are hanging around GRR while many of our friends are off galavanting around the country on Spring Break. Ever since moving to GRR, we have been confused by spring breaks. There are at least three spring breaks around here.  Right now, it's Spring Break #1.

We are helping to care for a friend's dogs. As it starts to warm up, my camera gear is dusted off and charged up.

It's a lugubrious day, we have lost an hour, and we all feel a little out of sorts.



With a face like his suggesting that a puppy treat, how can I refuse?



We are inching closer to the vernal equinox. And Memorial Day.  And of course, EOTE.

Cheers!

the rhythm of the fourth

the 4th of July is such a special holiday.  Given that PLK served for 22 years, we are always grateful to those fore-parents for their work and sacrifice to see the potential in this great country.  if you haven't in a while, read our Constitution.  seriously, read it.  It's so cool.



we take a long holiday here.  we start with crazy menu planning, wood splitting and fire making, big fireworks, and quiet time on the beach. every year, our BFF joins us.

it's amazing and so wonderful and all kinds of great fun.

we had a gorgeous moon.



and abundant sunshine.



and tired dogs resting and napping.




tonight, we have ribs on the barbie and will celebrate a friend's birthday.  we hope to soak in the sun, read good books, and enjoy another day #EOTE.

cheers!

Summer time

There is something about the beach.  I don't know if it's the air, the water, the sun, the walks on the beach, or just the fact that we have no watch; the beach is a perfect place for naps.



The day started serenely.



Then the ESE wind picked up.  The sound of pounding surf has been constant and there is nothing more beautiful to my ears.

In between books, walks, and naps, the freighter Buffalo passed by.

While the majority of the day was sunny, we have some clouds.  The fire pit is ready for our after-dinner gloaming.  Samson is crashed on the tile. We are loving the start of what promises to be a magnificent summer.

Cheers from EOTE.

April in the C

C.  C stands for cone.

Our sweet little guy had another aural hematoma and is stuck in the cone. He is so good about it. And we just don't know how to prevent them from happening.  Hopefully there is enough scar tissue in the second ear to prevent another event like this again.

For another few weeks, he looks like this.





Poor little guy.

Earlier in the month, we had a lovely trip north to check on our little slice of heaven and check out some wine.   There was a bit more snow around but the water and the sky was magnificent.





We went wine tasting sponsored by the uber cool Brew Krew and came home with quite a haul.  This will provide us with wonderful wine through the summer.



Looking forward to opening up the cottage.  Soon but not soon enough.

winter

Another brutal winter but the worst days are in the rear view mirror.  We have sprung forward. We are looking at 50s next week.  50s!!!!

Samson had a nice weekend and while the time changed for us, he was non-plussed.



We have color in the house ... store bought for now, but spring is coming.



We just can't wait for the weather to turn.  Cheers to another week.  Come on Spring!

Samson's busy day

Well, here we are. North again, watching the last remnants of summer turn to fall.

This is what winter starts to look like.





Out of the water. Temporary storage on the beach. Snow fences.  Sigh.

There was a chipmunk torturing Samson most of Friday.







It didn't end well for the chipmunk.  I will leave it at that.



After the hunt, he was ready for a swim.



It's beautiful here. Like the summer we didn't quite have.





One more night here.  Dinner, a fire in the fire ring, beautiful stars, and full hearts.  Cheers from EOTE.

vacation

I love this place.  I love our neighbors. I love the beach. It makes retirement look all kinds of appealing.

Here we are, practicing for retirement.




Samson will still need a job. Chasing Chuck-it is a good one.







Bella has retired.  She is a smart cookie.







A couple noteworthy sunrises.





We had days and nights and more days and more nights of fabulous food, good friends, and great laughs.  I love this place.  Cheers from EOTE.

sunday life

Life throws some us a curveball every once in a while.  We are grateful to be relaxing on the eastern shores of the Enchanted Mitten, taking it all in.

Saturday was spectacular.  It was busy overhead.









Then this guy flew by twice.  I imagine that it was a gorgeous view from the cockpit.





I watched the eagle shake - much like Samson does when he is wet - and it looked like the eagle was trying to disco dance.  The pictures are a hoot!





Samson had a joyful time.





Monday the stitches come out!  And hopefully the last of the cone for a while.  It sure is wonderful to see the sun and blue waters of Lake Huron.  Cheers to the coming week.

another week in the books

we ate food.  we took care of the Handsome One.  we watched it snow.

ugh.

I love green beans.



Saturday night was the first night in a very, very, very long time that we grilled.  Good steaks on the barbie.  And this delight in the glass.



Exquisite.

+Paul made some wonderful homemade chicken wings for dinner.  The secret is to boil them, dry them, coat them, and let them sit before baking.  Soooo good.



His ear continues to heal.  I love his face. I could look at his beautiful face forever.



He is greying. We are greying. Time flies by. Isn't it amazing how quickly life goes?  Cheers to the week!

post-olympics and post-cone

The cone is gone; the Olympics are over.   We spent the last weekend with the stitches in the Handsome One's ear.



And on Tuesday, we went to see Rick and Jen and Cindy.  Along with a host full of shots, out came the stitches. He didn't even flinch.



He was back to his regular self, destroying tennis balls and expecting treats.



We had a glorious beef and broccoli stir fry.  +Paul Kratochwill is going crazy with the wok and there are no complaints on this end.



It was so delicious.

-----------------------

This winter has been brutal - even for those of us who love winter.   Add the cone to the mix and it's been beyond rough.  While I don't anticipate an early spring, pictures of the sun and moon and sand and water and neighbors East of the Equator keep me going when it's the darkest.  This is Bella, gazing at her mom, Margaret.



Soon.

Next week, we are expecting more record cold.  Resisting the urge to hop in the car and drive south.  One day closer to spring.

weekends

We had a wonderful weekend. After such a busy week, it was fabulous to kick back and chill.

Paul made a beef tenderloin with a roasted shallot and port reduction sauce.  It was magnificent.  There are no pictures of the beef; we were busy entertaining and didn't need to pull out the camera.  I did pull it out to take pictures of the wine.  Empty of course.



Samson had a good weekend.  His stitches come out on Tuesday.  We are so hopeful.





The snow continues to fall.  More is coming tomorrow.



Tomorrow we are back at it.  One day closer to Spring!

well, it happened again

Samson had another one.  Another aural hematoma.

Not sure why.  And I don't think that we will ever get a good answer because there may not be a good answer.  There may not be any answer.  It makes me mutter bad words under my breath.

I love this dog and I so hate to see him suffer.   With a bloody ear.  An ugly cone. No real way to get comfortable.  No running, chasing, or playing with his friends.

5 weeks.

We often say that his ailments are more difficult on us than on him.







Bless his heart, he is such a trooper.  He takes his meds like a champ (with a little peanut butter).  He doesn't try and take off the cone.  He lets me clean his ear.  He lets me take pictures.  He doesn't complain.

He gets awesome puppy treats.

Thank God he only has two ears.  Because we are not going through this again.

weekend

it's a cold and miserable in these parts.  and it's only December.  

but we had a good weekend with lots of fires in the fireplace, good books, excellent TED talks, and of course, some really good wine. 

oh, and food.  Paul made Tenderloin Deluxe.  it was divine. 



we put up some Christmas decorations.  we are minimalists.  it suits us.



Mr. Handsome has enjoyed his weekend.  I love how he loves life.  he sets a fine example. 




he naps a lot.


we should all nap more.  :)  it's December.  it's 2013.  that's crazy.  CRAZY.  where does our time go?    the snow is starting to fall, football on TV, and a wonderful roast in the crockpot.   Enjoy what's left of the weekend. 

the handsome one

writing this weekend, trying not to think about the time we are missing EOTE.  I got a note from friends that it was a "beach day" on the enchanted Oscoda shores; and while fighting a miserable cold/allergy/combo/whateverisgoingon, I would rather be there.

so hoping to fight off whatever is filling up my nose and head, I slept intermittently and enjoyed the company of our velcro dog. 

seriously, this dog is like velcro.  never leaves our side. 

the is the blue ball.  there are all kinds of funniness around the blue ball.  but this is a G rated blog so I won't mention anything.  and it smells like blueberries.  pretty sweet.







he loves to roll around on his back.





loving here.  wishing that I was there.



happy weekend, wherever you are!