October Summary of Events

OK, sorry about no blog in such a long time! Looks like we're into the once a month mode but anyway, here it is. The month of October started with a weekend visit of the Denjas. Although the weather was not the best we were able to sneak in a corn maze at Hoxie's Farm Market just a few miles from us. We did lots of fun stuff with the grandkids (check out their blog for photos) and we enjoyed the company.

Rose and Bob went on a Breast Cancer walk at the Grand Traverse Resort in the middle of October.

We also traveled several times around the area looking for fall color. It's been a strange fall in that many leaves are still on the trees and fairly green and we have very little bright reds. Coupled with the general gray weather that October brought and we just never got any brilliant shots of color. But, we still enjoyed riding around and scouting out some areas particularly in the tip of the Leelanau peninsula. We visited spots that neither of us had seen before and they are places that we want to return with guests.

Rose has also been busy with crafty things. Not only has she woven several baskets but she has knitted several items and taken up the felting process that she learned about from cousin Laurie when we visited her in Denver.

As the month rolls to an end we will finish with a quick visit to South Carolina to visit Maeve, Aaron, Erin and Kendall. We got some really cheap flights on Spirit Air to Myrtle Beach from Detroit so we are taking Leighanne for her birthday and Grandma Alice, too. We'll take some photos when we visit and it will be our first blog of November.

Carmen looks a little unsure about this maze. But, she did have a great time.

There were several spots in the maze with punches. If we collected all the punches that spelled out Hoxie then we got a free apple. Maria did a great job.

Mikey got a chance to sit in the tractor. The boy does like his machines!

Daddy shares a little treat with Petey. Petey seems to like to pick out the M&Ms.

One of the felted bowls seems to be a good hat for Petey.

The box (emblazened with the words Treasure Chest on top made by a wood burner) on the floor with the small toys in it was hand made by Bob's grandfather or the Denja kids' great-great grandfather. What an artifact for them to be able to touch.

The grandkids are gone and Rose took a little break.

We searched for color all over northern Michigan but none was so brilliant as that in our own backyard. This is the maple tree that we planted to honor Dad's memory. The Coakley family gave us a gift of money and we used it for this memorial tree. Thanks!

The Grand Traverse Resort hosted its own walk for breast cancer. Here are Rose and her friend Mary who was a co-worker when Rose was still in retail there.

Rose even won a little door prize after the walk.

This interesting house is situated in the northern part of the the Leelanau peninsula.

One of the many vistas on the high banks of northwest Leelanau County. The land mass on the left of the water line in the distance is one of the Manitou Islands

We discovered Peterson Park in northwest Leelanau County. This tree has to be most inviting for kids to climb.

The donor of Peterson Park is honored.

A view of Fox Island from Peterson Park. Note the sand dunes on its left.

Another hidden park in northern Leelanau County.

We also made a trip on county road C48 through southern Charlevoix County. I had ridden it a couple times on the Harley and someone has posted signs along the way. The Breezeway is a great name for the ride which winds through valleys and forests.

Can you find the two deer in the photo?

Some of the best color was actually over a gravel pit near Skegamog Lake.

You get an idea of the type of color we have with this photo of part of the Jordan River Valley along C48 in Charlevoix County.

We picked up our Christmas Tree at a nursery between Alden and Bellaire. We'll once again put on the front porch and decorate. If we keep it watered through the winter we should be able to plant in the spring and have another tree in the yard.

This is actually a hat that is yet to be felted. We'll show a photo of the finished product later.

Three roses to be placed on hats that Rose is felting.