Peace and Love Bug 1/2 Marathon

This morning at 7:30 Leslie and I started out our Peace and Love Bug 1/2 Marathon.   It's a virtual race - on line - to benefit MS.

The bib came on line and I printed it off and put clear contact paper on it.  

The bib was personalized and I covered ours with clear contact paper.  

We even had our own start and finish line!!!!!

Thanks to a few sprinklers along the way, the physical therapy place and friends of Leslie we were able to stop and cool off or get fresh cold water to drink and pour over our heads!!!!

We finished in 3:11:16 - with all our stops!!  

FYI - it was 86 at 10:30 when we finished!!!  Plenty HOT!!!

Blogger won't let me go back and edit what I wrote - so you get what you get!!!

Time with Allison

Allison spent some time with us recently.   She came to the library with me for Classroom Critters.

Notice that I am behind the camera for this one.

The little mouse was very friendly - and tickley!!!    There was also a skink, chinchilla, frog, tortoise and some bugs to hold.

We signed up to do a quick race one Friday evening.   Then took in the Jazz Festival in East Lansing.     Saw friends and heard good music.

All too soon it was time for Grandparents University with me.   Our first class was pond study - which we did in the lab due to rain.   Our teachers brought the pond inside!!

Very interesting to compare the 2 ponds which are on the south end of campus. 

We did the Scavenger Hunt - and went to many sites on campus.   This is in front of the Broad Art Museum.  

We also visited the library, Breslin Center, Museum, Childrens' Garden, and many other places to complete the hunt. 

Another class was Firestarter - lots of information about outdoor fires.   And a visit from Smokey Bear!!!!

The rose garden is a favorite for picture taking.

Allison has always enjoyed walking around the gardens - and we got a student to take our picture - priceless!!!!!

We had 4 classes and 2 evening activities.   Those were Abrams Planetarium and her favorite of all - Archery!!!!

Here she is with Katie getting instruction.

They all told her she had good form.    And she wants a bow for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our last class was Evolution.   Great fun making these little birds and then the lesson was on how animals (the birds) adapt to their environment.

After class - look who was in the hall.  

Great to get a picture with Sparty!!!!!!

Hope we have a forever Spartan.

Allison woke the last morning saying she didn't want this to end.   Maybe we can go again next year......

Family

Yes....I do have family.   More than Ashley and her kids - who are the bestest of my family - next to John.

I have 2 brothers and a sister.........none of whom live locally.   My parents live at Burcham Hills - a retirement home in East Lansing.   They recently made the decision to sell their home in East Lansing.  My sibs were here this past weekend to help clean out the house.  

Everyone came to my home on Saturday for dinner together and a photo shoot!!!

My dad is 95 and my mom 93.

On another note, I thought I had hogweed in the back fourty - but the extension agent says it's ambrosia....hope she's right.   It's a HUGE plant with large leaves and stalk.    I am waiting to see whta the flower looks like!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

We went to Ohio on Friday.  

Blogger loaded these pics so out of order that I will just comment on each one.   This first picture is Mike helping Allison with the shot put.   She is doing that as part of her track team.  

Alexander is coaching Andrew on wrestling - on a deck with a step in the middle!!!!!

These goofy kids..............so happy!!!!!

Mike was grilling buffalo burgers on his grill.

Picnic lunch in Ashleys'  back yard.

Back to showing me how the shot put works.  We were at Andrews' baseball practice and she was using a rock.   Showing me the technique.   Maybe that helped because the next day at the track meet she threw a PR and got a medal!!!!!

A boy and his quilt outdoors........

The kids playing after their picnic.

A girl and her quilt....outside.   I made this for her a few years ago.   She loves it!!!   and that makes me feel good!!!

Sunday afternoon we went to Andrews' baseball game.   He got a hit and was on first base.    Paying attention!!!

And when the next up got a hit - off he goes to second base!!!

Alexander is a member of Ventures - a branch of scouting.   His group marched in a parade Sunday morning and again on Monday morning.   The march with rifles - and do salutes with blanks.....at least that is what he said!!!

Back to the picnic.   Ashley and John are reading manuals trying to figure out how to make the buttons in her car open the garage door.   They did!!!!!!!!!

It was good to see everyone.   Monday morning brought rain and we left after breakfast.   Andrew was in the parade with his baseball team, Alexander was marching and Allison was with her dad.    Rain all the way home - and still raining here.  

The lawn is getting long and needs attention - Johns' job.   I need to get plants and seeds in my garden.  

It will all happen in good time..........

Two quilts shows in two days!!!

Friday, Pat and I went to the Sauder Village Quilt Show.   My quilt, Ode to Mickey D won a third place ribbon.  
I got some herbs from the Herb Shop.   Also picked up a few dark chocolate covered malted milk balls for Ruth - but since she moved to Minnesota and I don't think they would last in the mail, I will eat them for her!!!!!!!!!!   And think of her when I enjoy one.

We went to the dinner and award ceremony.   Good speaker, but WAY too traditional for me!!!!!

The Inn at Sauder is a wonderful place to spend the night - especially when you have the best room.   All the way to the end of the third floor - very quiet and view of the fields!!!

This morning we headed back to Lansing and stopped at the Capitol City Quilt Guild show.   LOTS of nice quilts and saw so many people that I know.   I am taking a break from guilds and small groups......NO meetings, etc.   Still quilting lots, tho.  

Spring is here, so did a little yard work then sat on the deck and read.   Also cleaned out my golf bag as we are playing in the morning.   I need to plant my garden as it is finally drying out!!!  

SPRING!!!

The trillium are blooming.....must mean it's finally Spring!!

Got out for an afternoon walk in shorts!!!!

The shooting stars are together, basted and I have started machine quilting............but no home!!!

This and That

One last picture from the Lincoln Race- Leslie and I with Abe and Mary after the race.

This is a thoroughly modern baby quilt for a new little boy to my library family.   I also made one for a new little girl - not quite so modern looking.  Welcome Babies Ray and Willa.   This is something I do for new little ones to the library family - let them know they are loved.

Someone is DYING to go golfing.   He got out his new shoes, cleaned out the bag and clubs.........now if the weather would just cooperate!!!!

My garden looks like it's floating..........no kidding!!!

I would really like to get peas and beans in the ground - but NOT SOON!!!!

The creek is wide and has quite a current flowing.   I expect to see a kayak any minute now - except that the temps are falling and it's only 35 at this moment!!!!   With the wind today I can almost see whitecaps on the water!!!

Where oh where is Spring????????????