Friends and Family and A Fair

The last few weeks have been busy ones.  The countertop in the kitchen was the last item to get finished and it was worth waiting for - it completes the house.

 And we have had lots of company.   It is a joy to be able to welcome friends and family and have a place to entertain; I'm loving this summer!  In between company we have seen the Big Moon,

 

went to a lake association meeting and talked about high water,

 

 

We harvested some crops from the garden,

 

 

sat around admiring the view,

 

 

 

 

and prepared for company!

 

 

 

Oh yea, our new deck also was finished.  Lance did a great job and we look forward to many memorable times on the deck.

 

This crew from Cleveland joined us for a few days

 

and there was much laughter,

some consumption of alcohol,

and a lot of fun!

The bean bag boards and bags were a gift from the group.  We thanked them and quickly had our first tournament.

 

From looking at the next two pictures, can you tell who won and who lost....

The dining room table was stretched out and there was plenty of seating for meals and for cards.

Gosh, I nearly forgot to mention the "dunking".  Shortly after the group arrived, Mike wanted to show the ladies how clear and clean the water was...

They got an up close look when the dock tipped forward and these three all got a bath in that nice clear, clean water...

We did make some memories - I doubt anyone will quickly forget the first trip to Jan and Mike's place up north.  All too soon, it was time to take a group picture

board the motorhome,

and rely on Doug to carefully get them back home.

It was a great visit, even though it was short.  And, after a day of shopping in Perham, some of us have newly near clothes, the kids in Mexico will have new notebooks, and all of us gals have some new flowers for our gardens.

The motorhome parking area was only unoccupied for a short time.

 

 

We checked out the waterlilies.

 

 

 

 

And then Bonnie and Barry arrived.  And would you believe that when Mike and Barry were on the dock... the same think happened.  It tipped forward.  Barry kept hold of his rod while grabbing the pole and Mike scrambled to the top to make it go back down.  Pride was lost in that episode and Barry's cell phone was never to ring again. Even rice couldn't revive it.  The next day (when we returned from the cell phone store in Fargo), it was time to seriously work on the dock. 

Please look carefully at this picture - particularly the position of the jack.  The dock, under which Mike lays, is held up by only 1 inch of pipe.  Barry jacked it up and didn't realize.  I didn't say anything, just prayed it would not collapse.  God does watch out for his children!

At first I tried to stay kinda dry and then decided, what the heck - embrace the moment!

Probably my finest picture ever!

Success, we are at the end of the dock and still dry... well, we aren't dry, but you know what I mean.

The rest of the week with the Lyons was far less exciting.

Bonnie and I trimmed some trees and we must have displaced a little bird - found him on the twigs which were to be burned later that night.

We enjoyed the campfire and each other's company.

and the setting sun.

We went for a boat ride and enjoyed the fauna and wild life.

 

The guys caught some fish.

The Lyons gave us a wonderful, and practical, gift.

We went to the county fair.

and posed for "Green Acres" pictures.

 

John and Glee were selling tickets to win this tractor.  I think it will look great in a front yard at Saddlebrook.

John was compelled to show us his better side...

This could be our Christmas Picture!

We went golfing one day with Diane and Tud.  I do love a golf course that has a relaxing pace.  Lemonade and Vodka's on the third hole and a beer break on the 6th hole - good thing it was only a 9 hole course... took us 3 hours to finish.  But, in our defense, we did walk it...

And all too soon, it was time to say good-bye to Bonnie and Barry.  We had a wonderful week with them and hope they return many times!  Their motorhome looks just fine in the yard.

 

 

 

It was only a few hours before our next guests arrived.  I absolutely love it when kids are around - especially those that are enthusiastic and inquisitive.  Rickey and Stevi have both of those traits.  They are the children of Jim Enter, Mike's Nephew and his wife, Tessa, who we found out in conversation is the niece of one of my high school classmates - small world.

 

 

They spotted an eagle and had to watch it for awhile.

And they went lake swimming - the best swimming of all, in my opinion.  Rickey was hesitant about jumping but not for long.

I caught his second jump mid-air.

Stevi decided the ladder was the best way to get in the water.

A father - son jump.

This was their first camping trip with the pop up camper and declared it a success; I can see many camping adventures in the next few years for this family.

One year old "Sarge" is a little hesitant of the water, but can certainly move when he wants to.

We did get some fishing in - Rickey was not too sure of the little one he caught off the (now sturdy) dock.

Later, out on the boat,  his mom had the same look when she caught one.

Dad and daughter - different story...

or is it...

 

Very proud of Tessa - she took this fish off the hook all by herself - first time she had ever done that.

After fishing, I joined the family for some swimming.  The water was wonderful and Mike is going to be taking me back to the "swimming beach" many times, I predict.

When we got back, the fish were laid out, photographed, and cleaned.  On Sunday, we had fish for lunch and tonight we had the few that were left over - good eating.

It was a pleasure getting to know "Jimmy" and his family.  A joyful family, an amazing weekend.

 

 

All of our friends and family have enriched our lives.  Yes, they have worn us out a bit, but it is a good tired.  We are truly blessed with good people in our life - Thank You and Come Back Soon!