Having been playing for the past several days, it is time to travel back to Ann Arbor and finish our many projects. We hope to complete our parts of these projects, and then the kids will put their house on the market. It has been a busy two months, and yet we can see the progress and hope that our efforts will pay off when the house is sold.
My mom is having some health problems, and so we will travel back to New York and spend some time with her and see what her next steps may be. This is a difficult time for her, but she is strong-willed and will make good decisions. Happy travels.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
We have a break
At our kids' house they had a man, Kevin, come in to redo the parquet floors in the entry way and kitchen area. He had done work for them in the past, and they had liked what he had done. Kim and the boys went to Albuquerque where the boys would spend a week with their other grandparents, and Kim would go on to other places to do clarinet work. That left us, the dogs and Chuck at the house, but Kevin needed all of us out of the house for several days while the redone floors cured.
We decided to go to Chicago for a couple of days and then on to Springfield, IL. In Chicago we managed to spend a lovely day at the Art Institute which had an extensive collection of Impressionist art. We also got to see Grant Wood's famous picture, American Gothic. Best of all was Marc Chagall's art glass panels. They are so different from typical art glass. The next day we went to Oak Park to the restored home of Frank Lloyd Wright for a thorough tour. He was very unconventional and eccentric but clearly a genius in architecture. We also drove by several houses he had designed in his neighborhood. What a treat!
Of course we managed several restaurants: Greek food at The Greek Islands, Italian food at The Rosebud, and a fun lunch at Bergoffs. It was a quick visit but very full of fun things to do.
Then we drove southwest to Springfield to visit the new Lincoln Presidential Library, home, and this morning the First Presbyterian Church where the Lincoln family worshiped. It also has Tiffany stained glass windows, another treat. Happy travels.
We decided to go to Chicago for a couple of days and then on to Springfield, IL. In Chicago we managed to spend a lovely day at the Art Institute which had an extensive collection of Impressionist art. We also got to see Grant Wood's famous picture, American Gothic. Best of all was Marc Chagall's art glass panels. They are so different from typical art glass. The next day we went to Oak Park to the restored home of Frank Lloyd Wright for a thorough tour. He was very unconventional and eccentric but clearly a genius in architecture. We also drove by several houses he had designed in his neighborhood. What a treat!
Of course we managed several restaurants: Greek food at The Greek Islands, Italian food at The Rosebud, and a fun lunch at Bergoffs. It was a quick visit but very full of fun things to do.
Then we drove southwest to Springfield to visit the new Lincoln Presidential Library, home, and this morning the First Presbyterian Church where the Lincoln family worshiped. It also has Tiffany stained glass windows, another treat. Happy travels.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Fairies
We have a friend Lois who has a blond hair fairy that visits on occasion and makes her hair blond of course. We discovered there are snow plow fairies here in Ann Arbor, another category of fairies to add to my list. Last night the snow plow fairies finally got to our neighborhood and worked on the neighborhood streets. This was good timing since Kim got stuck three times trying to get into the neighborhood and Chuck got stuck at least once trying to get out. We decided to stay put and not try to get our car either in or out.
Today after the streets got plowed by the snow plow fairies we decided to take the grands and venture forth. We took them first to Red Robin for a delightful lunch where we split hamburgers and had onion strings, a favorite of mine. Then we went to Borders because the corporation had declared bankruptcy and is closing one third of their stores. All of us got books to read and then we headed back home where we continued with our house projects. Happy travels and watch out for the fairies that seem to come attached to various activities.
Today after the streets got plowed by the snow plow fairies we decided to take the grands and venture forth. We took them first to Red Robin for a delightful lunch where we split hamburgers and had onion strings, a favorite of mine. Then we went to Borders because the corporation had declared bankruptcy and is closing one third of their stores. All of us got books to read and then we headed back home where we continued with our house projects. Happy travels and watch out for the fairies that seem to come attached to various activities.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Snow time in February
We recently had a spring thaw, and this gave us a chance to see green grass and take down Christmas lights and pick up after the dogs. The grands and I got 18 pounds and their dad about the same, so we think that we picked up about 40 pounds of dog fertilizer otherwise known as poop around here. We had not been able to pick up since early in December, so it was quite a job, so to speak. My mom used to say, when we were kids, "Did you do your job?" Another euphemism for poop. Now why did I come up with that?
Here we were enjoying our spring thaw, when yesterday afternoon about 2:00 pm it started to snow. We have had enough of the white stuff. Well it got quite enthusiastic and snowed the rest of the day. I think we have 8-10 inches of the stuff. Max went out to do his business and help start a new wave of "fertilizing," and the snow was just too deep for him. It was a bit too close for his comfort zone. We have this lovely blanket of snow here, and there is shoveling ahead for this household. Happy travels.
Here we were enjoying our spring thaw, when yesterday afternoon about 2:00 pm it started to snow. We have had enough of the white stuff. Well it got quite enthusiastic and snowed the rest of the day. I think we have 8-10 inches of the stuff. Max went out to do his business and help start a new wave of "fertilizing," and the snow was just too deep for him. It was a bit too close for his comfort zone. We have this lovely blanket of snow here, and there is shoveling ahead for this household. Happy travels.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Winding down
Our projects here are getting finished. Yesterday we got some trim painted and the stairway to the basement as well. There is a bit more trim to go here and there. Apparently, Violet scraped along the freshly painted wall and has more white accents than she did. Violet is a Husky Shepard mix and getting to be an old dog who finds it very difficult to get around.
We are supposed to hear about the kitchen counter top tomorrow as to when it will be delivered. Then on Thursday a man comes to redo the kitchen floors, the dogs have to go to the kennel, and we get a break for 4-5 days. We are planning to travel to Chicago and then in a few days onward to Springfield, IL to see Lincoln memorabilia, including the new Lincoln Library located there. Since we like to visit Presidential libraries, this will be a treat.
The boys go to Albuquerque to stay for a week with their other grandparents. Then when we all return, we will put the finishing touches on and then head south to Texas. Happy travels.
We are supposed to hear about the kitchen counter top tomorrow as to when it will be delivered. Then on Thursday a man comes to redo the kitchen floors, the dogs have to go to the kennel, and we get a break for 4-5 days. We are planning to travel to Chicago and then in a few days onward to Springfield, IL to see Lincoln memorabilia, including the new Lincoln Library located there. Since we like to visit Presidential libraries, this will be a treat.
The boys go to Albuquerque to stay for a week with their other grandparents. Then when we all return, we will put the finishing touches on and then head south to Texas. Happy travels.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday night local
On Friday nights we usually escape to our "local," which is an Appleby's and near to the house. Tonight after the final basketball games for the grands, we let them go their way with their dad, and we left for our local. At least four of the wait staff stopped by and made comments like, "I will not be here next week as I am leaving to have my baby." Another came by and said, "You are actually eating dinner tonight and not just drinks and dessert." One of the waiters wanted to know if we had heard his quartet sing last weekend, and once he learned that we had, invited us to their next concert in mid March. Another guest shows up on Friday, and he was there tonight as well. We have enjoyed escaping and getting to know the personnel well enough to be greeted. The bartender, a lady, explained how she makes gin martinis. Foxy likes them, too. Happy travels.
We aimlessly wander
Chuck suggested that we aimlessly wander today. We had a few errands to do and then decided to do exactly that. We visited several places that claimed to be antique malls. One was locked, the next might better be described as a junk store, and that was pushing it considerably. The third was a barn and did have antiques and collectibles, but we did not find anything there. Finally we found the mall we had set out to find, and it had nice stuff, but we resisted and merely looked. We then wandered aimlessly home, and now we have to go to school to get the kids. They have the next week off for spring break so will want to stay up late and do other stuff not allowed on school days. Happy travels. P.S. It was 50 degrees here today. A spring thaw! Lovely!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Another milestone
Today we finished painting rooms downstairs. This certainly seems like a milestone to us. We have some trim and shutters still, but the next job is the stairs that go down to the basement. We are not planning to paint the basement, but there is stuff to be sorted and packed off to storage or tossed. This job mostly belongs to Kim and Chuck. Our target date is to get the house listed by mid March, and then our job here is done, and we head South to home and friends.
I guess having another birthday can be construed as a milestone as well. It was nice to hear from family and friends. Good wishes are always appreciated. Happy travels.
I guess having another birthday can be construed as a milestone as well. It was nice to hear from family and friends. Good wishes are always appreciated. Happy travels.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Funny stuff
I try to find things that are funny to write about, but since we have been helping Kim and Chuck with fixing up their house, not very many things in this category have occurred. We also have been tired at the end of each day, and this blog gets forgotten.
One evening Christian was upset and commented to his mother, "You have emptied my bucket!" Now he has just turned seven years old, and this was quite a philosophical statement to make. I do not know where he learned such a thing, but he knew if bad things happened, his bucket would get lower and finally empty if it kept happening. When good things happen, his bucket would fill. Several days later he came home from school in a very good mood, and I suggested to him that his bucket might be quite full, and he grinned all over.
A couple days back we had taken some boxes to storage and had to dig out the garage door of the unit from snow and finally were putting the boxes inside. Foxy tried to close the trunk and since the keys were on part of the trunk, the car key got bent. I tried to bend it back, and it broke. I have never broken a car key ever. Here we are at the storage unit with our car, and no ignition key to get it started. It was very cold, about ten degrees and wind to make it feel like a few degrees below zero. We walked to the office of the storage unit and found it did not open until ten o'clock. We hurried across the street to another business that was open, borrowed a phone book and called a cab.
About fifteen minutes later the cab showed up, and we had him drive us to the kids' house where we could get another car key. He then drove us back and got a ticket for turning the wrong way on a street which you could not see because of all of the snow. Finally back at the storage unit and $50 for the cab ride, we could start the car. His ticket would cost him over $100. We then drove to the Chevrolet dealership to get another key. $50 later and we were good to go. Now when we go out we take both car keys and try not to break either of them. I am planning to think this is funny. Happy travels.
One evening Christian was upset and commented to his mother, "You have emptied my bucket!" Now he has just turned seven years old, and this was quite a philosophical statement to make. I do not know where he learned such a thing, but he knew if bad things happened, his bucket would get lower and finally empty if it kept happening. When good things happen, his bucket would fill. Several days later he came home from school in a very good mood, and I suggested to him that his bucket might be quite full, and he grinned all over.
A couple days back we had taken some boxes to storage and had to dig out the garage door of the unit from snow and finally were putting the boxes inside. Foxy tried to close the trunk and since the keys were on part of the trunk, the car key got bent. I tried to bend it back, and it broke. I have never broken a car key ever. Here we are at the storage unit with our car, and no ignition key to get it started. It was very cold, about ten degrees and wind to make it feel like a few degrees below zero. We walked to the office of the storage unit and found it did not open until ten o'clock. We hurried across the street to another business that was open, borrowed a phone book and called a cab.
About fifteen minutes later the cab showed up, and we had him drive us to the kids' house where we could get another car key. He then drove us back and got a ticket for turning the wrong way on a street which you could not see because of all of the snow. Finally back at the storage unit and $50 for the cab ride, we could start the car. His ticket would cost him over $100. We then drove to the Chevrolet dealership to get another key. $50 later and we were good to go. Now when we go out we take both car keys and try not to break either of them. I am planning to think this is funny. Happy travels.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Cleveland Orchestra and a snow storm
We had tickets to watch the Cleveland Orchestra play at the University of Michigan last night. Chuck took us and picked us up after the program since it was so snowy. He went to the YMCA to exercise while we went to the program. It was so nice of him to do that for us.
The program was wonderful. They played Wagner's "Overture to Tannhauser," a Schumann piano concerto, and Bartok's "Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta" after the intermission. We loved all of them. The French pianist performing the Schumann piece was superb. It was a lovely night out and a treasure to hear them play in person. The first chair in the flute section was Josh Smith, a student of mine in middle school. Now that is a treat. He is very talented and showed this way back then. It would have been fun to meet with him afterwards, but we knew we had to get home.
The blizzard of 2011 is something. We had maybe six inches of new snow this morning. The roads are very tricky, and we plan to stay in. Kim's university has closed, and the grands have a snow day as well. They are so excited!!!!!! I expect some outside play for them today and maybe shoveling the walks or a snowball fight or ...... I will leave it up to their imaginations. Happy travels.
The program was wonderful. They played Wagner's "Overture to Tannhauser," a Schumann piano concerto, and Bartok's "Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta" after the intermission. We loved all of them. The French pianist performing the Schumann piece was superb. It was a lovely night out and a treasure to hear them play in person. The first chair in the flute section was Josh Smith, a student of mine in middle school. Now that is a treat. He is very talented and showed this way back then. It would have been fun to meet with him afterwards, but we knew we had to get home.
The blizzard of 2011 is something. We had maybe six inches of new snow this morning. The roads are very tricky, and we plan to stay in. Kim's university has closed, and the grands have a snow day as well. They are so excited!!!!!! I expect some outside play for them today and maybe shoveling the walks or a snowball fight or ...... I will leave it up to their imaginations. Happy travels.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)