Fourth of July is always a great time in our family, we used to go to various firework shows around town but since they legalized fireworks in Michigan, there is no need, you simply sit on your porch and watch the show being put on by your neighbors.

This year was a gorgeous summer day in Michigan and James Mom went out and bought some fresh 4th of July decorations to help us celebrate. Usually we set off a few fireworks of our own but this was the first time in decades we didn’t do any. Thats because there are so many others doing the fireworks. Continue reading “4th of July 2022” →

With covid going on we have not had many visitors to the house, this kitty being the exception. For as long as we have had kitties they have had visitors. They mostly just stare at each other but their tails are not always in the air (a cat with its tail straight up in the air means that are willing to be sociable with other cats).

We (the humans in the family) also appreciate the visitors since the scent of a cat will keep squirrels away from digging up Moms bulbs in the garden.

Well the covid virus certainly delayed work on this as we had to live with the black top and a mound of dirt for a lawn for nearly 6 months. Upon doing the final work, they broke off a sprinkler head and the cement poured was not straight so we had to complain to DTE and they said someone would come out in about 3 weeks and redo the work so this event may not be over for us for some time. When they seeded the lawn they did try to repair the sprinkler head but they were unable to do so as they were not equipped to handle much more that seeds and dirt.

We will see what happens and hopefully DTE will make it right, remember we just got sod last year and had we known this was going to happen we never would have gotten it. Continue reading “DTE Finishing Up 2020” →

One advantage of the stay at home order, no one is starving.

While going shopping for food is no picnic (you must wear a mask and social distance), there is more time for creativity including cooking items that previously people did not have time to make. Normally James would be in school and Dad at work but because of the shutdown we are enjoying each others company and working on fun projects to keep us busy.

This will go down as a very strange year, plus its an election year so the best is yet to come.

I think this picture of the line waiting to get into Walmart best describes the late winter, early spring of 2020 when everyone was sheltering in place due to the Covid 19 shutdown. Toilet paper shortages, anti bacterial soap shortages, mask shortages, and disinfectant wipe shortages were probably the main things that were being rationed by the stores. If they had any of the afore mentioned items in stock you could only take one or two of them. Social distancing of 6′ was the theme everywhere which limited the number of people who could shop at any one time. Some of the rules implemented by our Governor were considered very controversial as shops and people were defined by being essential or not. This resulted in several protest in Lansing by small businesses who were ordered to stay shut while larger essential business could remain open. All restaurants were carry out or delivery only.

We have been seeing the results of the DTE upgrade throughout the neighborhood and knew our time would be coming. Sure enough it came during the heart of winter as DTE tore up cement and lawns so that they could do an upgrade which would replace some of the piping and and most noticeably bring the meter outside which is better for some purpose (it does mean the meter people can read the meter outside which should help somewhat). Our understanding is this project will be going on for 18 years which by that time will probably need to be upgraded again. DTE plans to come back in the spring and repair the grass and cement. Continue reading “DTE Begins Construction On Tulane 2020” →

We saw this beautiful butterfly on some of Mary’s flowers in the back yard and could not resist taking some pictures of the beast.

Continue reading “Butterflies Are Free To Fly 2019” →

Here is something you don’t see every day in our neighborhood, a bunch of pink flamingo’s in one of our neighbors yard. Last weekend we had a garage sale in this area (not the same house but close) and the flamingos were not there at that time, then Dad spotted them on his way to work and snapped the pic on the way home that day. We do not know the story behind this but it should be interesting. One thing for sure, the pink flamingos certainly brighten up the lawn (although cutting the lawn would certainly be hard with all those wire legs).

James and family attended a graduation party for one of our neighbors, hard to believe not too long ago she was riding a bicycle up and down Tulane and now has graduated High School. The party was outdoors and was cool because the neighbors pulled up the fence making it a 2 yard long graduation party with a swimming pool. A very beautiful event and a great day for everybody. James was so inspired by the party that he has already asked our neighbors to remove their fences in preparation for his graduation 4 years from now.

While watching a Tiger game on TV, James and Dad noticed the blimp floating around Comerica park and James decided he wanted to go “Down Town” and see it in person.

Hopping in a car, we headed down to Comerica Park and navigated so that the car was almost directly under the blimp. It was actually a Direct TV blimp, not Good Year, but regardless we followed the blimp till it made its way down 94 and across the river into international waters.