At Portage, Michigan

63º here in Portage, Michigan at 10:00 am at apartment of Betty LeBlanc.
Click on photo to enlarge.

Betty with Phyllis

My first cousin Betty (French) LeBlanc

Visited a while with Joyce Holder in Battle Creek, MI

On back deck at Joyce's place

Very complicated quilt Joyce has made.

On way from West Branch, MI yesterday we stopped in Houghton Lake, MI
and visited a bit with Ron and Ruth Siegfried (From Kenwood RV)

Ruth Siegfried

We were allowed to pay $2.55 for gas in Kalamazoo yesterday

During the partial sun eclipse Monday, the 21st, we were at
Sugar Barn maple syrup farm north of West Branch, MI

Our last evening at Winslows.  Granddaughter Courtney giving her grandpa Bill
Bailey.  Courtney works in Grand Rapids and had some time off to visit
her parents and grandparents.  Darlene is behind her.

We spent 4 enjoyable days at Winslow's, attending the fair 2 days and spending time with them at their home the last 2 days.  Came down the west side of Michigan on 131 so saw different scenery from when we went north.  Had rained during the early morning hours Tuesday, but quit by the time we had to pack up and hook up the trailer.  Got to Cold Brook County Park in Climax, MI about 3:15 pm and set up and drove to Joyce Holder's place in Battle Creek.  Enjoyed an hour or so visiting with her and then drove to Betty's place in Portage, MI.  Her daughter Cheryl and granddaughter Michelle are here from New Jersey helping her get settled in as she only moved into this apartment complex on July 10th.  We took them out to local Texas Road House for supper last night and then returned to the apartment for a bit.  Returned the 17 miles to Cold Brook County Park and this morning are back at Betty's.  We have no wifi at the park and such a low Verizon signal that couldn't even use the hotspot, so catching up here.  Will either head on east today, or spend more time at Betty's and head out tomorrow.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A Chinese Doctor can't find a job in a Hospital in the US, so he opens his own clinic and puts a sign outside
'GET TREATMENT FOR $20 - IF NOT CURED GET BACK $100.'
An American lawyer thinks this is a great opportunity to earn $100 and goes to the clinic.
Lawyer: 'I have lost my sense of taste.'
Chinese: 'Nurse, bring medicine from box No. 22 and put 3 drops in patient's mouth.'
Lawyer: 'Ugh. this is kerosene.'
Chinese: 'Congrats, your sense of taste is restored. Give me $20.'
The annoyed lawyer goes back after a few days to recover his money.
Lawyer: 'I have lost my memory. I cannot remember anything.'
Chinese: 'Nurse, bring medicine from box no. 22 and put 3 drops in his mouth.'
Lawyer (annoyed): 'This is kerosene. You gave this to me last time for restoring my taste.'
Chinese: 'Congrats. You got your memory back. Give me $20.'
The fuming lawyer pays him, and then comes back a week later determined to get back $100.
Lawyer: 'My eyesight has become very weak I can't see at all.'
Chinese: 'Well, I don't have any medicine for that, so take this $100.'
Lawyer (staring at the note): 'But this is $20, not $100!!'
Chinese: 'Congrats, your eyesight is restored. Give me $20'
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After the revival had concluded, the three pastors were discussing the results with one another.  The Methodist minister said, "The revival worked out great for us! We gained 4 new families."  The Baptist preacher said, "We did better than that! We gained 6 new families."  The Presbyterian pastor said, "Well, we did even better than that! We got rid of our 10 biggest trouble makers!"
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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Robin!
Robin who?
Robin your house so don’t call the cops!!

More later, Lynn

Solar eclipse - heading south from West Branch, MI

68º here near West Branch, Michigan at 8:00 am Tuesday as I start this.  Nice shower over the last couple hours, but looks like it is moving out.  After breakfasting with Bill & Darlene we will hook up the trailer and head south to Climax, MI where will stay overnight in a County Park.  From there we will visit both Joyce Holder in Battle Creek, who winters in Texas a couple doors from us, and my cousin Betty LeBlanc who just moved to an assisted living unit in Portage, MI which is on the south side of Kalamazoo, MI.

Had enjoyable day with the Winslows yesterday.  Watched the partial eclipse of the sun with some glasses our son, Cameron, had given us; went north a few miles to a Maple Sugar farm and got some fresh Michigan syrup.  Ate, ate, and ate, it seems like - Darlene really putting on the feed-bag.
Last night we even got Bill to play Pegs & Jokers with us.  Before we were done I think he even enjoyed himself.  Pegs & Jokers is not his favorite game.

Have had no cell phone service here at Winslows for last 4 days.  Can pick up a little Verizon when we go into West Branch, but don't know if we have missed any calls while here.  Will have it again as we go down the road.

Interesting foods CLICK HERE 

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Two bees ran into each other. The first bee asked the other how things were going.  "Really bad," said the second bee. "The weather has been really wet and damp and there aren't any flowers or pollen, so I can't make any honey."  "No problem," said the first bee. "Just fly down five blocks and turn left. Keep going until you see all the cars. There's a Bar Mitzvah going on and there are all kinds of fresh flowers and fruit."  "Thanks for the tip," said the second bee, and he flew away.  A few hours later, the two bees ran into each other again. The first bee asked, "How'd it go?""Great!" said the second bee. "It was everything you said it would be."  "Uh, what's that thing on your head?" asked the first bee.  "That's my yarmulke," said the second bee. "I didn't want them to think I was a wasp."

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Coach Frank Layden of the Utah Jazz asked forward Jeff Wilkins, "Is your bad play due to ignorance or apathy?" Wilkins replied, "I don't know and I don't care!"

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Little Johnny was caught swearing by his teacher. "Johnny," she said, "you shouldn't use that kind of language. Where did you hear such talk, anyway?" "My daddy said it," he responded. "Well, that doesn't matter," explained the teacher. "You don't even know what it means." "I do, too!" Little Johnny retorted. "It means the car won't start."

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Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Kenya.
Kenya who?
Kenya feel the love tonight?

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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it. 

- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot) 

- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
-

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now....

- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something.....

Later, Lynn

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West Branch, Michigan - the Omegaw County Fair

83º here 5 miles east of West Branch, Michigan at 12:45 pm on Sunday.

We spent 2 days of the 5-day Ogemaw County Fair near West Branch, Michigan

Sign in the restaurant part of one of the buildings on the Omegawa County Fairground buildings
"Man - Despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his many accomplishments, he owes his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains."

"Sneaky Pete" 

Sneaky's wife and daughter

Sneaky's son

Sneaky Pete and The Forever Family Band

20 year-old You-Tube on Sneaky Pete   Click on that link to watch some of history on his family.   He and various of the family have been at the Ogemaw County Fair for 27 years. We must have watched at least 5 if not 6 of the 45 minute sets during the two days we were at the fair.

at Antique Village on Ogemaw County Fairground

Antique Village on Ogemaw County Fairground

Antique Village on Ogemaw County Fairground

Power set-up which ran several things.

A "walking" rotation device which pulled power cables/rods.
Weights on over-center pivots pulled the cables/rods back.

Foot-pedaled jig-saw at work

Local chapter of the National Sweet Adeline's sang some great close barbershop harmony.

We got to ride on this horse-drawn wagon.

Young lady driving the horses.  Man on the right owns the wagon and the team of 4-year-olds.
At a rest-stop he told about his horses over the years.  These young horses will completely respond to his voice commands.
The driver had only started driving this team a few hours before we got on the wagon; he said she has the reins, but he
was doing the actual driving.  He has had horses for many years, and this is his best team ever; raised as foals on his farm.

Darlene is showing us her office and the hundreds of ribbons that she is in charge of for all the 4-H and other events
where ribbons are awarded.  She has done this for 27 years now.

Eating at one of the Fair Sponsored eating places.
BBQ Pork Ribs, beans and potato salad.  Tasty and we brought back some left-overs.

Phyllis & I ate at the same place the day before - shared a BBQ'd Chicken -- half of chicken

You see this as you leave the fairgrounds.

You see this as you enter the fairgrounds (Took the photo
as was leaving, so not best view)

Antique Village on Ogemaw County Fairgrounds

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Tiger show - 6 tigers, all of different breeds.

The ringman gave history on each species and
brought up the fact that many tigers are only in captivity now as they have been killed off in the wild.

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Thursday, as we drove from Harrison Lake State Park in northern Ohio we stopped at
Dexter, Michigan and visited several hours with one of Phyllis' classmates
Rebecca Sperry Zaharas

Flowers Becca had just bought, on her 2nd story lania.

Phyllis and Becca graduated from Clarinda, Iowa High School
in 1962.  Becca cannot make it to the 55th reunion on September 22-23.

Interesting - on the 4-lane highway in Michigan.  We were driving
real slow in a construction area at the time.

These two photos are to the south out the windows of Bill & Darlene Winslow's living room here east of West Branch, Michigan.  This is a pretty good sized pond on Bill's property that he has caught fish from in years past.

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GROANER’S CORNER:((  On the first day of college, the Dean addressed the students: "The female dormitory is out-of-bounds for all male students, and the male dormitory to the female students. Anybody caught breaking this rule will be fined $20 the first time. The second time you will be fined $60. A third time will cost you a fine of $180. Are there any questions?" A male student inquired, "How much for a season pass?"

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The math teacher saw that Daphne wasn't paying attention in class.  She called on her and said, 'Daphne! What are 7 and 2, and 28 and 44?'
Daphne quickly replied, 'ABC, CBS, HBO and the Cartoon Network!'

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A visitor to a certain college paused to admire the new Hemingway Hall that had been built on campus. "It's a pleasure to see a building named for Ernest Hemingway," he said. "Actually," said his guide, "it's named for Joshua Hemingway. No relation." The visitor was astonished. "Was Joshua Hemingway a writer, also?" "Yes, indeed," said his guide. "He wrote a check."

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Knock knock.

Who’s there?

Canoe.

Canoe who?

Canoe come out to play or what?

Later, Lynn

Kenwood RV Park "Ohio" summer get together

78º here in Dexter, Michigan at 11:45 am as I start this.  We arrived at Rebecca Sperry Zaharis's place about 11:20 am after coming from Harrison State Park near Fayette, Ohio where we stayed overnight.

The group at the "Ohio" Kenwood RV Gathering.  Left to right - Jerry Witt, Janine Houke, Don Unger, Jan Engle, Roger Houke, Lillian Witt, Jean and Ralph Snyder, Harold Williams, Dave Engle, Eigmie Williams, Anna Mae Thomas,
Marion Finken, Judy Comringer, Ardel Finken, Phyllis Miles, Lynn Miles, and Maxine Koch-

We drove north the 40 miles or so from Anna Mae Thomas's place and set up in the park and walked to the shelter about 11:30 in time for the sharing meal at noon.

Ralph Snyder, seated, is just over 100.5 years old, and  his wife, Jean, is 90 years old.

 After eating, and taking the group photo when Ralph and Jean Snyder left (he is only 100 years old and pretended to need to go home to take a nap - they live only 25 miles or so from the park) many of us sat around and visited.

Most left by about 4 pm and we went back and finished setting up our trailer next to Jerry and Lillian Witt's trailer.  They had arrived Tuesday afternoon.

Near New Baveria, Ohio

67º here near New Batavia, Ohio at 8:30 am as I start this.  To be 87º later in the day.  We got here at Anna Mae Thomas' place about 5:45 pm last night.  Left Columbus around 3:pm and drove most of the way on 4-lane highway.  Last 20 miles we went across country on county road.

Country Catholic Church near New Bavaria, Ohio

Narrow County Road Y in Ohio - corn and corn

Ohio country

With Anna Mae at supper

Discussing "Sew and Share" where the ladies work on quilts at our Kenwood RV Park
in the winter and that Anna Mae might not come down this winter and Phyllis says she will be missed.

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 Yesterday afternoon Michelle drove us around some of the area - this was one of the area's parks.

Stopped at this large yard sale - ladies bought some things.

We ate lunch at a Panera Bread Restaurant and then drove around a bit.  Did some shopping in a Japanese Market.

Some food at the Japanese Market

Heading north to the Kenwood RV Ohio get together for noon at a State park near the Michigan state line.

Later, Lynn