leder legends

                               H We went for our annual pumpkin haul today!  The goal is to get a variety for the  PERFECT stack!  It takes forever because just when you have a beautiful stack, you see another in the next bin that would make it even better! Six pumpkins, a very nice mum, a few pansies and one white rudbeckia later, we loaded up the car. This is a picture of the first version…. that was the limit of my energy!  I’ll rearrange them after a while. This year’s stack is slightly more muted than previous years but I like it. A calming view from my  kitchen window!

Not being careful when I shopped, I bought a different brand bag of frozen shrimp this time. Three pounds of deveined shrimp with tails and shells on. It easier to buy them ready to eat, as in peeled and no tail. I prepared them the same as before- lemons, peppercorns and bay leaves in a big pot of water. The recipes all seem to call for Old Bay seasoning but I've never had any of that and don't miss it.  The pot boils for 10 minutes before the shrimp get added and while it's boiling I get a large bowl of ice water ready.  Once in the pot, the shrimp cook 3 minutes - set the timer- then into the ice bath to stop the cooking. They get way too tough if you skip this step! Dig in … we did! Cooked and ready to peel. Lots of fun! I’m hungry now! Two spicy sauces… one store- bought and one homemade! Very tasty and satisfying! Two sauces, two bowls with shrimp (one for each) and a bowl each for the peels and tails.  Messy end to deliciousness! Now I need to find a few recipes so...

  Come to our house he said! It’ll be fun!   Good fellowship with former colleagues!  Calm night to sit outside (but bring a chair, please).     Good time to enjoy a burger or a brat ( but bring a side dish to share, please).  Tomatoes from the neighbor! It’ll be hot, so bring a beverage (we have glasses).  Easy peasy , right? I shoppped for wine and mums and he had to get propane. It’s 1:30 and I’m going shopping again for ice, meat and buns, onions, and plates! Easy peasy, right?  We spent the morning cleaning the yard, hanging up lights, putting out tables and chairs, looking for what we had and what we needed to buy, etc, etc, etc.  The house still needs to be vacuumed because you know some people are bound to come inside and the bathroom will get cleaned as well! It’s all so easy! Right? Not sure why we do this sometimes!! But really, don’t listen to me! It really is enjoyable once it all gets going! and… It was fun! The weather was perf...

Started in 1950 as a simple place on the lake where families could come to camp, has morphed into an amazingly beautiful facility where you can still camp but you can also hook up a RV or rent a modern cottage. There is a new bath house, a concert venue and a multi-purpose building. Tennis courts, putt putt golf, softball diamond, hot tub and swimming pool along with trails to walk and enjoy all provide those who come with many activity options. All of this is on the shores of Lake Michigan with a beach second to none! It takes a lot to keep this all running and in tiptop shape.  There is a year-round manager and a full time grounds keeper and a seasonal director. Lots of students are hired to run the summer activities program. What really impressed me were the grounds! Meticulously kept flowerbeds with a wide variety of flowering plants were everywhere. September is late in the year but I have to share the pictures that I took… especially of the great assortment of hydrangeas. The...

  The garden bridge was getting messy. Nathan had some gravel  (he had dumped it on our driveway when we were away) that he thought would be perfect to use to make it more stable and safe.    Large paving stones on both ends gives a much better access to the back and yes, it is more stable! He was right and better yet he did all the work! Much appreciated! Both ends were dug out and this rocky gravel was put in as a base. Large pavers were put on both ends. Now I need to paint the bridge again!  

The church campout is at the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds on Lake Michigan this weekend, about 1 hour from our house.   This place is so much improved since I was last here...  The nice camping areas still exist but the RV section has grown incredibly. They have added lots of "cottages" - 1 bedroom to 4 bedroom units. The cottages are basic, they say, but have heating, AC, fridge, stove, dishwasher  and TV. Perhaps it's basic glamping? I'm here by myself this year and have a 1 bedroom unit. My assigned cottage is named Friendship and I just happened to take along some themed items from home. The sunset last night was lovely. It was raining when I got up. It stopped, the sun is out now and there is a refreshing breeze. I decided to sit here and read my book.but that will depend on how many more ants drop on me from the tree above. They won...

We just got a new desk - a new to us desk!! Not just any desk but a large desk built by an old  high-end furniture company called Sligh started here Grand Rapids. This is a large desk with a massive hutch, drawers and doors and a built in light. It’s quite a statement piece and perhaps a bit much for our humble home. The desk was up for sale on the floor at New2You for quite some time because a desk like this is not for just anyone. It's large and very heavy and difficult to move. The thrift store was eager to get it sold in order to make room on the selling floor so after some time dropped the price considerably but not tempting enough, I suppose. The manager offered it to us and included the delivery!  It was too nice to throw out back into the dumpster! We have been using a "college" style desk for many, many years. A set of wooden filing cabinets served as the base and it was  topped with a long, finished top. Admittedly, a big step.up from cinderblock bookshelves- th...