All framed up

Saturday--the deck takes shape

Bobcat in the backyard

Yup, that's a bobcat coming into the yard.  And it left behind these holes for deck footings.  Since the deck is located so close to a very large tree, digging holes required an augur to get through the roots.

Inquisitive

I had forgotten how curious kittens are.  This one is checking out everything. As you can see by the blurring in the picture, he is on the move!

The new acquisition

Everyone around our house is getting so OLD--my husband and me, our nearly grown boys and our cat, who must be ~100 in cat-years.  So we brought a lively youngster into the house.  He doesn't have a name yet, but belongs to my oldest son (who will take him along when he finally moves out again). We got him from the Animal Humane Society and he is the most extroverted, happy kitten I have ever seen.  However, it is quite difficult to catch a photo of him. He doesn't sit still much! The Resident Cat is still not sure what her role is supposed to be, but with time she will figure it out (I tried to explain to her that she is the Wise Old Great-Grandma now!)

Monday's picture: walk in the neighborhood

I took a walk yesterday morning, admiring the neighbors' gardens.  I had my camera along (hoping for my day's shot) and came upon these two mailboxes that were almost completely hidden by the bushes. (Someone is going to need to do some pruning pretty soon!)

Last night on Mackinac Island

I told you the Grand Hotel was flowery, right? (Each room is wallpapered with big floral designs and there are even flowers in the carpet.)  This was in one of the two bars that are located in the cupola of the building.  There is a great view of the Lake from the surrounding windows.

The hallway leading to the rooms. Not only was it very, very long, but it was incredibly wide! No "modern" hotel would waste so much space on the hallway! (This hotel was built in ~1887).

One unusual hotel...

We are staying at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.  It is known for its long, long porch across the front of it.  It is also notably VERY green and red in its decor (the red geranium is its theme flower).  I could probably spend a day just taking photos of all the quirky things in this hotel. 

There are a number of these odd circular "couches" in various sitting rooms.

A teddy bear ferris wheel

Vacation on Mackinac Island, Michigan

I'm  used to referring to the Great Lakes as "the North Shore" because in Minnesota we all go north to Lake Superior.  But this is Lake Huron/Lake Michigan land--the lakeshore is sandy instead of rocky and the water isn't as cold.  Perfect timing for us to get away from the awful humidity and heat back home.  The Great Lakes don't allow for such extreme heat!

Summer's answer to Jack Frost

I have been absent from here for quite awhile, but I know I will be taking pictures daily again as Dan and I are heading out on a trip to Mackinac Island today--with our bikes.

This is what it looked like when I came downstairs Sunday morning. That's not fog outside--it's condensation on the windows!  It is incredibly humid outside--I can't remember seeing anything like this.  We had so much rain Friday night (4 inches) and the ground is so saturated, that I had standing water in the garden on Saturday.

Finally-the quintessential summer activity

Today was the first day I have gotten out in my kayak all year. Usually I am out in May and throughout the next few months (even as late as October or November if we have a warm day).  But this year, winter went on forever, then it rained almost every day, or was excessively windy on the two days it didn't rain.  Finally today was a perfect day with just enough breeze to make it fun coming back up the lake.  I have numerous work-related projects I need to be doing (even though it is not a clinic day), but decided that if I didn't put them aside and get out on the lake today I would regret it. Two photos today.

4th of July Girl

My niece--who is amazingly cute! (Ok, I'm biased!)

Phalen Lake-Sunday

One of my favorite walking/biking/kayaking spots is Phalen Lake.

Deck Gone. Saturday

I got home on Saturday and the guys had been busy while I was gone. (And yes, the light was too bright on the dirt in this photo...)

Friday, July 1 Wolf

I went to a Starbuck's in Idaho Falls and there was a man who came in with what looked like a HUGE husky.  It was not. It was a wolf.  He said he had had it since it was 3 weeks old (it was 7 years old now) and that "he doesn't know he's a wolf." Yeah--up until the moment he remembers he IS a wolf and the instincts take over and he bites someone! Still, he seemed really docile and well-behaved.