Michigan Challenge Balloonfest 2013

This weekend is the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest in Howell, Mi, near where I live. Yesterday, I took my son and we spend the day there riding the rides in the carnival, playing some games on the midway, checking out the exhibits from the nature center, the airport (they brought a plane for the kids to climb into and mess with), and the Mejiers store, as well as Arts and Crafts.

there was a guy dressed in a tree costume.....

The Windjammers stunt kite team was there as well as a skydiving team which made 3 jumps during the time we were there. After the Windjammers show, they invited anyone who wanted to fly their kites onto the launch field to do so. Trenton had a blast.

And of course, the Balloons. The weather was really iffy this year, between the wind and the rain. Only 3 balloons launched last night, at their pilots discretion, but a bunch inflated. I did notice that there was not nearly as many balloons as there normally is even there....

This is "Junior" flown by Al Warren of Waterford, MI, he was the first Pilot up and out last night.

In this picture is "Sullair" flown by Shawn Raya from Oxford, MI, the "Michigan CAT" flown by Rick Kerber from Wayland, MI, and the local radio station "WHMI" balloon which is flown by Phil Glebe from Howell, MI.

I have to give props to Rick Kerber as well. Each Balloon has a baseball card type card, with its picture and facts about the balloon and it's pilot(s). My son collects these things like other kids collect baseball cards. He was asking the different pilots last night for the cards and when he asked Rick, Rick didn't have any, but told Trenton he would make sure he got one before the launch. A while later, after the Balloons were on the field, and Rick had gotten his balloon prepped, he made a special point to come up into the crowd and find Trenton and give him that card and allowed us to take his picture with Trenton. What a guy! Thanks for making Trenton's night, Rick!

Happy Easter and Good Saturday morning

Happy Easter!!! I'm a little late, I know....

It's the first Saturday in April already. Time has been flying this year. The Robins are back, have been for a while, and the ice is gone from the lakes (around here), and the Freighters are sailing the Great Lakes again.

I have been enjoying hearing about all the wonderful snow in "da Yoop." It seems that they have an overabundance this year.

I took this picture last year in the middle of April.

Marquette Lighthouse, Marquette MI



i am also posting this picture, I am glad spring is here, I have missed fishing the last few months, and while I am headed with my bestie to her sisters next weekend, we won't be fishing, but I thought this fish was a good reminder of the season ahead!!!!

special friends

I have some pretty cool friends....

I have some awesome friends....

I have some very best friends....special best friends....two of them actually, if you want to get specific. One is male, one is female, one is my age, one is much wiser than me.... Lady Friend whom I will call "C" is one of my pals, she is one of those friends that you can call any time, day or night, night or day, and not only will she answer her phone, she is ready to lend an ear, or a shoulder to cry on... Male friend, who shall remain nameless, is also one of those friends. He is kind, caring, compassionate, happy-go-lucky, funny, and just one of those friends that just knows when I need him. It's not uncommon for him to call me and say "hey, are you ok?" "are you sure your ok?" "no, seriously. something told me I needed to call you, are you SURE you are okay?" even at 3 am.

Both of these friends are special friends to me....I have appreciated them so much over these last few months, they have stuck by me in this dark time in my life. Just there, caring about me, listening to me complain about my ex...laughing with me, laughing AT me, (as only a friend can do), telling me to shape up or just GO TO BED!, and just being whatever I needed when I needed it. Thanks for being my friend!!!!

Good Summer

Been a while since I've been on...as I write this I'm sitting at my friend's house in Mecosta, MI...it's my new favorite girl's weekend spot... Done lots of fishing, not much camping (as we have had lots of truck issues this summer), I think this is the least we have camped since we were in tents...but in replacement, I have done a lot more hanging out and fishing at Mecosta. I managed to catch a 17 in largemouth Bass on Lake Mecosta in August. and several smaller ones. My friend has a pontoon which she graciously takes us out on every morning and most evenings when we are here. in exchange, she likes her feet rubbed. we've had a good summer, made lots of memories...as for camping, we will try again next year!! NOTE: I was looking through my blog and discovered this one had never gotten published. I published it today because it really was the end of everything. It was shortly after that vacation that my marriage really ended and I want to remember this one last fun time with him. Because it's over, I don't regret the good memories.

skip spring?

so one of the things I want to make a part of the new me, is to blog more. today, I don't know what to write about. I don't know what to write about, because it's yucky, and cold, and wet, and muddy outside. It's snowing, and while I love the snow, I love winter, this mud that is left after the snow melts just disgusts me. This snow that isn't going to stick that is currently falling will simply make more mud. This kind of snow, I don't like. If we could just skip the months of March and April and jump right from the middle of February into May, I would be a very happy girl. Can we just skip spring? Please? Somebody?

sadness and ramblings

It's been a while since I have posted. Lots of water has gone under the bridge. A new chapter in my life has started, and the old one is closing. I walked out on a verbally and emotionally abusive relationship in December. My son and I have moved in with my Grandmother. My divorce will be final in August, and with that comes the end of my camping in my camper. However, I am looking forward to buying a new tent, or maybe a pop up camper. I will not stop camping. Life is rough right now, but it is looking up. I am a different person, and looking forward to experiencing new things, meeting new people, and seeing where life will take me.

happy turkey day and merry christmas

Just a little note to my blogger friends, I just wanted to say Happy Turkey Day (a little late i know) and Merry Christmas. I don't feel very merry this year, but don't let that bother you. I got a lot going on right now, and don't see it coming to an end anytime before next summer. I wish each of you and all of yours a happy Christmas filled with the ones you love.