Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Funny techy stuff

I was walking Augie today and trying to send an email at the same time.  I know the young ones hold their phones with one hand and use the thumb on that same hand to tap out their messages.

I was feeling quite proud of myself because I was mastering the same thing while holding a leash in the other hand.

I was tapping along when my thumb swept across the little microphone icon in the lower right corner (didn't even know it was there) and the screen went blank.

I didn't, at first, notice that there were those squiggly lines at the bottom indicating voice mode when I said a bad word.  

It printed out loud and clear.  Thankfully I rectified the error before hitting send.

Then I realized I could send an email via voice.  I already knew I could do that with a text - see what a smarty-pants I am - but didn't realize the same option goes for emails.

Boy howdy, I'm in business now!!!

On the other side of the block I saw three young boys riding their bikes up the one way street - in the middle of the street - while, obviously, playing Pokemon Go.

Think that's dangerous?

The first time we saw the Pokemon rage in play we were in downtown Holland and saw a group of young people walking down the sidewalk all holding their cell phones in front of their faces.

What the hell was going on?  

I still don't understand what it's all about.  I need to find a 10 year old for a one-on-one tutorial. 

Monday, August 29, 2016

Hats, hats, hats

Allegan hosts a huge fiber fest every year and I usually go with my sister, Lisa, the knitter.  I do not knit.  I tried it once and the results were horrid.

This year my cousin, Barb, also a knitter, came down from Newaygo for it so, once again, I tagged along.

I like the colors.  

I decided to focus on hats this year.  So here ya go.

I'm not one for hats but if I was going to a very, very fancy party, I might don this baby.  It would look ok with jeans, right?

Definitely for an evening out.

Somewhere that has something to do with France, I'm thinkin'.

This one and the two below scream "fall" don't they?



Is this just for people with pony tails?

I see a college kid walking across campus in this one.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

As long as my ears are warm, I'm good.

Didn't want to leave the guys out - cool, eh?

The female spin on the one above.

I know my friend, Donna Nowak, would love this one.

I love the added color here.


Chic.

Fun.

Fun-loving.



I really like the slouchy style.

Fuzzy.


I know a few people that could really rock this hat.



I'll be wearing this one when I graduate from wizard school.


I'm always amazed at the craftsmanship.  They spin, they felt, they knit.  Even if you don't do anything with fiber, check it out next year.  You won't be disappointed.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

The tale of two shorts

So I started the summer with two pair (pairs?) of shorts.
I've always been more of a capri kinda gal but I kept seeing "larger" women walking around in them and also wearing sleeveless shirts so I jumped right on that band wagon.

Back to the shorts:  one pair fit me perfecting in early June.  I looked stunning, believe me.  Darn it, I don't have a picture - you'll just have to take my word.

The other pair was loose around the middle but no biggie because I stopped tucking shirts in a decade or two ago.  A little extra breathing room is always a good thing, right?

Long about the end of July I started to notice a change.

The perfectly fitting shorts must have shrunk in the dryer - damn machine - because they were still rather comfy if I was standing but sitting was a different story.  hmmmm

Then the second phenomenon occurred. 

You guessed it - those loose babies fit like a dream now. hmmmm

So unless I'm going to an event where you stand the whole damn time I'm down to one pair of shorts.

Good thing they wash well . . . and summer's almost over.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The annual trip up north



We hadn't driven Pierce Stocking Drive in several years.  Now it has new pavement which made it even better.

One of the many look-out stops.

Aren't we cute?  It was a little humid while we were making this part of our journey.  That's my excuse, anyway.

Holy exposed roots!

There is no picture that can adequately capture how steep this sand dune is - you'd have to be insane to give it a go.  We saw a handful of crazy people doing just that.

This might help put the dune in perspective.

Hey, how'd he get in there???  This is Ryder, one of our son's best buds.  He's the general manager of our favorite place to eat in Traverse City, Northpeak Brewery.  After our dune drive we were famished.  Thanks for a great lunch, Ryder!

Full moon from Mackinaw City.

Doesn't this remind you of creepy stories told around a camp fire when you were a kid?  The narrator would put a flash light under their chin and scare the crap out of you?  Scared??? 

The light as we took the ferry from Mac City to the island.

This is opposite of the light - a range light?  Petey - is that right?

This is Orville and Wilbur.  They pulled us around the island.  Nice job, boys.

Arch rock where Michael proposed to Rena.  We reenacted the scene.  Not really - too many people around.

The light in Mac City.


The "Mighty Mac" at night.  Handsome, eh?
Just so ya know - I showed uncharacteristic restraint when it came to fudge consumption.  I kept it to a half pound.  You'd be surprised how fast that stuff goes down.