Midwest Meanderings

     Sunday evening, Glenn opened our windows to allow the summer breezes and cool air to permeate the house.     When we woke up early Monday, it was 51 degrees inside.  It occurs to me that September begins in eight days, we're experiencing an unusual cold front, and as always, I'm behind in my tasks!  In addition, I realized this past weekend that we've now lived in this house long enough that my closets need cleaning and cupboards reorganizing.  Quite obviously, taking time away for a visit back 'home' didn't advance the cause of 'keeping up' here at all!  But the 18-day road trip was well worth the effort in seeing familiar faces and places and accomplishing some much needed work at the DDR.

(07/31/2010) Layne Hillesland (age 15 and soon-to-be sophomore) poses after the second evening's performance of the production There's Always Tomorrow. . .

      The timing of our trip allowed us the serendipitious opportunity to attend one of niece Layne's activities, the final performance of her theatre group's production There's Always Tomorrow.  The premise of the event was that each team in the troupe wrote, staged and presented 30 skits in 60 minutes.  All of us (Glenn, Brenda, Eric and myself) agreed . . . it's been years since we laughed so hard for so long.  We were especially proud of Layne -- not only did she write three of the scripts used, she was the youngest member of the entire troupe!

     As it always seems, our time at Chez Hillesland sped by quickly and on Monday morning, August 2 we were off to Michigan, our initial destination Rita's apartment where we also met up with sister Vicki.   The four of us went out for dinner in celebration of Rita's 81st birthday which was the day prior.  After that short respite, we left West Branch, garden tractor in tow, and beelined it for the DDR where several days of hard work and wet rewards awaited us. 

(08/04/2010)  Glenn stands in the water of Sand Lake at the public beach access site.  Except for the summers of 2008 and 2009, Glenn has swum in this little lake every year of his life . . . we presume Rita dunked his toes in as a wee babe that first summer.  For over 60 years, until Rita moved to West Branch in 2007, members of Glenn's family vacationed here and owned property. 

     Our work at the Davis Deer Ranch was pretty much routine maintenance in nature.  The fields, lawn and roads needed mowing; an unusually wet summer in Iosco County meant everything was green, lush and overgrown.  My first assigned job as the "lovely assistant" involved tens of hours on the ol' Troybuilt mowing.  While I bounced along cutting grass, Glenn worked up a sweat weedwhacking and using the chain saw to clear downed or drooping branches.  The weather cooperated to a certain extent. . . the first two days back at our little cabin (read, no electricity = no a/c or even fans). . .the temps soared to above 90 degrees with about 95% humidity.  Our rewards at the end of each work day were both wet:  lake swimming and cold beer!

     In addition to the lawn work, we also disced up portions of several of the clover food plots and replanted them.  My jobs then were discing and cultipacking.  My, this gal knows how to have a good time!  Fortunately, the day after we planted the new clover, the area was blessed with a beautiful shower -- straight down, gently raining and no wind.  Perfect in combination with the warm temps to germinate our crop!  Glenn and I did note how nice it was to hear rain hitting leaves again.

     Prior to our Idaho departure, I packed eight trial packets of shampoo/conditioner that I'd collected over the past few months.  These little babies are perfect for washing my hair in my favorite venue -- a lake!  During our stay at the cabin, I managed to use five of them; two in Sand Lake and three in Lake Huron at Tawas Point State Park.  The water in Lake Huron was absolutely glorious -- so clear and warm due to summer highs.  We both realized how much we miss the lakes in our new home state.  Nothing compares to a warm summer day on the beach of any of the Great Lakes!

     In addition to our trips to the "point" we stopped once at Chum's for burgers and draft beer; my, but does that slide down easily on a hot day after a few hours of physical labor and a swim!  We also made it a point to pop into Marian's Dairy Bar, a family summertime favorite for four generations. 

(08/07/2010)  A family gathering in West Branch, MI:  Nephew Rorik Robelli, Brother-in-Law Neil Robelli, Siser Vicki Vogel Robelli, Mom Rita Vogel, me, Glenn, Nephew Erik Robelli, Jennifer Hughes and Baby Celia Grace Robelli.

     We took a respite from our labors on Saturday, August 7 to spend the day with the Robelli branch of the family in West Branch.  Nephew Rorik, a social studies teacher now living in Grand Blanc and Nephew Erik and family, now living in Belmont (near Grand Rapids) both made the trip 'home' that weekend.  We spent time with them and seeing a portion of Erik's softball tournament,  but the highlight of the day was getting to meet our Great-Niece Celia for the first time.  What a doll and charmer she is!

     Monday, August 9, our last day at the DDR until, well, maybe never again. . . we spent cleaning.  A trip to the laundromat in Tawas with bedding, towels and curtains gave Glenn the opportunity for an oil change in the pickup.  Back at the cabin, we mopped the floor, washed the windows and furniture and generally made it as presentable to a potential buyer as is possible in such  short period of time.  Tuesday as we left I'm sure both of us wondered if we'd ever see it again. . . Michigan's economy remains in turmoil but who knows?  A stop in West Branch for breakfast with Rita and Vicki and we were off to reprise another tradition, even if briefly.

(08/11/2010)  Glenn stands at the top of the staircase leading to the Lake Michigan beach at Orchard Beach State Park near Manistee, MI.  I've used the word 'glorious' already in this post, but it's the most appropriate term for the conditions we experience during this brief sojourn.  How much we both miss the beaches and waters of the Great Lakes!

(08/11/2010)  I had an opportunity to catch up with longtime friends.  Lana Schultz, Jenni Snider, Peggy Kushuba and I stand behind the Kushuba's fifth wheel which bears their personal motto "Always Wonder."  It was great to reconnect with these gals.  The Schultz's, Kushuba's and we had made a camping/fishing/friendship trip on Lake Michigan each summer for over a quarter century before our move to the Gem State.  And Jenni, who still teaches at Birch Run High School, was one of my two best buds there.  The only thing I miss about teaching is solving all the world's problems every morning before school; a fresh cup of coffee in hand, an occasional donut and Jenni's sense of humor coupled with a healthy dose of reality check + cynicism got me through many a bleak and stressful day!

(08/12/2010)  Ray and Lana Schultz, Dan and Peggy Kushuba, me and Glenn at the Orchard Beach State Park overlook.  Just after asking the Kushuba's daughter Kellie to snap this photo, we headed off to Onekama, MI for a favorite dining spot the "Blue Slipper Bistro." 

     Our stop in Manistee was all too short, only three nights camping in our tent -- reminding us of the early years when that's all we had for these trips.  Glenn bought a temporary out-of-stater's fishing license and spent three mornings hunting for Great Lakes salmon with the guys.  Two meals of fresh fish -- mmm, what a treat -- plus, we brought enough home for a few meals.  While Glenn trolled for fish, the gals and I spent the better portion of one day revisiting an old haunt -- Ludington, MI. Breakfast at the European bakery and cafe "Chef John's" was to have been followed by a 3.6 mile round-trip walk to the lighthouse at Ludington State Park.  That part of the plan was cancelled due to a threatening thunder and lightning storm headed inland from across the lake.  We did drive through the park recalling former trips, favorite camping sites and fond memories.  Another morning, Lana, Peggy and I strolled through downtown Manistee just browsing, window shopping and chatting away.  One afternoon the water was so warm and calm and the weather so delightful, we spent two hours just bobbin' around in Lake Michigan catching up with as much news and information possible in such a short period.

     All too soon, our time at Lake Michigan was over -- not before I finished my final three packets of shampoo/conditioner on Friday morning, August 13.  I'd achieved at least one goal -- eight lake baths!

     Leaving another favorite place not knowing if or when we'll ever return was poignant, but we looked forward to piling in again on the Hilleslands.  This time, we stayed only two nights, arriving Friday for pizza, salad and cold beer with the family.  Saturday the three guys, Glenn, Eric and Seth, golfed a round while Brenda and I took in Layne's volleyball meeting and spent a few hours doing a bit of shopping, just us gals.  We also played several requisite games of Scrabble for which both Layne and I have a passion.  Later that day, all six of us tripped over to their development's aquatic center for seven games of pool Volleyball.  This activity was reminiscent of another similar day with the Hills, just in the pool playing a friendly, family round!

     After a dinner of fresh salmon on the grill, corn on the cob and a great bottle of wine, Glenn and I said good bye as we would be up and out very early Sunday morning.  Our destination that day -- as far as we could get in the quest to get home.  Leaving the Hills was also a step to the next phase of our lives; the upcoming Thursday Brenda and Eric would be driving Seth to his next life's adventure, that of college student.  Now, when we fall into the Hills' on a trip to or fro, we'll never be sure if we'll see Seth.

     By Monday, August 16 we pulled into the Jurgens' driveway where our little guy was waiting along with his Ohio grandparents Curt and Marsha Waite and, of course, Meg and Josh.  The 'little' guy, however, turned two the day before . . . while we were plowing our way across I-80 and Nebraska.

    Now, we're back in our 'new' home.  I was asked while in Michigan, "Does it feel like home yet?"  It's hard to say.  "Home is where the heart is" is more than a cliche and since my heart is always with family, yes it feels like home.  That said, though, it was somewhat comforting to be back in familiar surroundings where each blink of the eye saw another memory from another time, where the faces and places have history of which we'd been a part.

    Back into the routine, sort of.  We'll be leaving next Friday, September 3 for our now-annual camping trip to Yellowstone National Park where we'll hike and fish.  This time, we'll be joined for two nights by the Jurgen family and we're looking forward to that family time, too.

    My answer to the question?  As much as I love and miss the Great Lakes, my hometown and friends, extended family and the roots we had there . . .I'd rather miss all of that than Miles, Meghan and Josh.  So, yes, now we're home.