Live from Tormville!

Whiting Forest/Dow Gardens

School may have started already, but I give ourselves until Labor Day to work on our summer manifestos. 

Today's adventure came from mine. We've actually tried to get to the Whiting Forest Canopy Walk a couple times, and each time - something else came up. Today I was determined. Because tomorrow IS Labor Day.  We left early enough that I felt confident I'd make it back home in time to pick up my mom for this evening's wedding. 

Note: This place was WAY bigger than we thought. We pulled in our driveway just five minutes before the wedding started, and while we were at the Forest and Gardens for over three hours, we don't feel like we saw everything. We wished we'd packed a lunch. I also packed the wrong lenses - I brought my fixed 50mm and my zoom lens, and then spent most of the time wishing I'd brought my wider angle. I resorted to my phone quite a bit. 

So glad we went. Very cool. The boys are hoping that someday we'll see something like this closer to home, like at Kensington. 

Greg is always learning and studying how things are made and put together. Inspirational for sure. 

Both the net and the glass bottom floor are 40 feet up if I read the brochure correctly. (Correct me if I'm wrong. They are up there) 

After the canopy walk, we took the walk over to the Dow Gardens. I put over 4.5 miles on my fitbit on this outing. 

There was a paved path that went everywhere, but there were also man meandering woodchip paths that went through the woods. So much exploring to be done. 

I have to remember to get on the photo side of the camera every now and then.  Here we are - 27 years this month. 

The bubbles were an interactive part of the children's garden area. 

We ended on an 'OM'

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And yes, we got Mark's swim in this morning - Day 84, 58 degrees and raining, and he was out there swimming laps while I was snug in the van with the heat on, sipping my coffee. I'm starting to feel like I have to plan something for Day 100. 

It's been a busy four day weekend. We had a garage sale Friday evening and Saturday morning. Lots of laughs, and much stuff went. 

Friday evening was our Goddaughter's wedding. The boys are dog sitting this weekend, so we left them home and just enjoyed the wedding and visiting on our own. 

I have CPR training this coming week, which means that after this post - I need to sit myself down and do the pre-class work online. 

Tomorrow is a project, house cleaning, bill paying, lawn mowing day. 

And maybe ballooning. 

HAPPY SEPTEMBER! 

 

Tommy's Good-bye Flight

I'm in catch-up mode! 

This flight was a few weeks ago. August 7th to be precise. It was the day the boys and I got home from Boyne. Two days before our out of town guests arrived. We had meandered our way home from Boyne - checking out at 10am, but I didn't land in my recliner until nearly 5pm. 

I hadn't sat for more than a minute when I got a text from Denny asking if I was available to crew. In 40 minutes. 'It's important', he added. 

But
But
But 

I said. I JUST got home. 

Oh good, you're home. He responded. We're meeting at.... 

HOLD UP. I said. I seriously JUST got home! 

I insisted on a few more details of why the last minute notice before I committed. All he had to say was that it was Tommy's good-bye flight and I was all in. A few days after this flight, Tommy up and left us and moved to Florida. I don't know why. He's never going to find a bunch like us down there. 

....

OOOOoooooooOOOOOh. Huh. 

Four balloons launched this night. The goal was to fly over our town's Rock the Block event. When we picked our spot - the winds were spot on. By the time we set up?  Not so much. They could see us - but it wasn't a flyover by any means. We do our best. 

These two go way back. 

They weren't up there but a couple minutes when we were radioing them that we had rain on our windshield. That was a first. We do NOT fly in rain. All the pilots had double-checked the radar immediately before inflating, and while there was a weird cloud nearby, there was NO rain in the forecast, but there was most definitely rain where we were. It never lasted long, but it wasn't a good feeling. That balloon would get mighty heavy really fast if it were to get wet. 

At this point, we were driving from the Hutchings driveway, over to Bigelow and around again. On the radio we asked, uh, where can we access you? 

The response? "You're going to have to park in the school driveway and come walk us out" 

Sigh. 

THIS is why we always wear long pants and given the choice between tennies and boots, I wear my hiking boots. This was ankle twisting terrain followed by a thorough tic check when I got home. Always good for a laugh and a 'remember when' when we recall some of our more adventurous landings. Tommy was all about making this good-bye flight as memorable as possible. Rain, terrain, what else could we possible want to make it even more interesting? 

 

Oh, sure - let's throw in some vehicle issues as well. Who needs power steering in a trailer pulling chase vehicle anyway? 

You're going to miss us, Tommy! 

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Click here for another one of our more adventurous crewing memories, coincidentally (or not) also one of Tommy's flights. 

 

Learning, Learning, Crewing and More Learning

As I mentioned in the previous post, I went back to work almost two weeks ago. 

I can't remember if I ever mentioned it here, but I began a new position this year. After spending the last seven years carrying titles of general aide, special needs aide, and sometimes teacher aide - this year I shortened up my signature line a bit and am simply, clerk. 

Being clerk means that I go back to school two weeks before the boys, and it means that my brain has been on overload this past two weeks. I have learned SO much, and have loved every single minute of it, but when I get home, my brain is done. My file folder of notes is overflowing with scribbles and print outs of how to adjust homerooms, how to transfer kids in, how to transfer kids out, print class rosters, create co-teachers, the list goes on. Also in the last two weeks I've had multiple hours of training: mandatory annual training on Epipens, Glucagon, Narcan, and Diastat. I had training on how to use the new Raptor system for parent sign-in. Yesterday I had a three hour annual meeting at the health department to go over communicative diseases and immunizations. Today I have a meeting in regards to absenteeism guidelines. The list goes on. 

But why the balloon crew picture with this post? 

Yesterday, at our health department meeting, we did the whole go around the room and introduce yourself, where you're from and share one fun fact thing. 

When it came to my turn, I did my bit and shared my fun fact: If you see hot air balloons around, I'm probably somewhere close by as I've been crewing for 9 years now.  And then I added, because sometimes people mistakenly think I'm the pilot: I am not the pilot, BUT, I have been trained on what to do if the pilot bounces out of the balloon. 

And everyone laughed. 

But really. We had training. During this crazy past two weeks (note: Denny's crew always wears long pants. It's we two exhausted school employees who were all - we'll come to training, but we are WAY to tired to actually crew/fly tonight) we had for real crew training. I now know what to do if I'm unexpectedly flying solo. I don't think my health class peers thought I was serious. Or maybe I just inadvertently took 'hot air balloon ride' off of a few bucket lists. 

Happy Friday! 

Oh. And yes. Only Denny's crew all plots and schemes to show up to crew training wearing another balloon's shirt and see how many show up before Denny catches on. That's how we roll fly. 

The proof is in the caller ID

I went back to work a couple weeks ago, and have been putting in some long hours in preparation for the first day of school quickly approaching this coming Monday. 

My cell phone doesn't work in our office, so I use my desk phone to call home on when I need to remind the boys of their chores, appointments, or to tell them that I'm coming home late....again. In scrolling through our caller ID tonight to see who the two missed calls were, I had an instant reminder of where I spent the last two weeks as I scrolled through..... 

Howell Public Schools
Howell Public Schools
Howell Public Schools
Howell Public Schools
Howell Public Schools
Howell Public Schools

with the occasional Kalamazoo or other robocall number mixed in. We really do need to get rid of the landline already (it won't survive election year - this I guarantee)

Anyway, I mentioned out loud how funny it was to see Howell Public Schools so frequently on the caller ID when 1. It's not yet winter and 2. It's just me calling home. 

Brian: Oh! Wait! One really WAS Howell Public Schools. Check the bus schedules - it said there have been changes! 

Cousin Lovin'

I'm at least three big blog posts behind these days. With school around the corner, let's just say that things are picking up speed. I'm doing my very best to keep all the balls in the air. 

Before going to back to work, I was able to enjoy some family time with Greg's sister and family. They came in on a Friday evening, and the boys all bailed out to the backyard tent, aka:guest room. It was an IDEAL weekend for backyard camping. 

Wendy also had an out of town guest for the weekend, which meant she wasn't around much to hang out with Penny. It's so hard to nail down time with those older teenagers. 

I don't think the hammocks were ever empty over the course of those three days. 

There's always one car or another getting poked at around here. This weekend had two of them getting looked over and diagnosed. It's our normal. 

While the guys worked on cars and took the boys swimming, we girls headed over to meet the newest member of the Tormanen family.  I can't resist a pouty face. 

An evening in the backyard: Uncle Johnie doing his duty and teaching some bad tricks. It all goes around. 

It was a good night for some music sharing. One of the cousins is also going to play the sax this year, so a few pop tunes from the 9th grader fired him up to get started. 

Mark had auntie Renee in tears with his playing. I told him that's a notch in his belt when he can bring a tear to his listener's eyes. His fiddle teacher agrees. 

I got a text saying the Kaleidoscope would be flying over shortly. I am spoiled. If I'm not crewing, they still like to make me feel like I'm involved. 

Lots in common, these two - but one is pulling a bit ahead. I'm curious where they'll fall in their back to back next year. 

Sunday morning 18 and under church crew.

After church, we headed out to enjoy the Potter Park Zoo. I decided to haul the zoom lens. 

Grandpa Tormanen would have loved this one. 
Random fact: I used to milk the goats when Greg's mom and dad would go out of town. 

I think Penny looks so much like her Aunt Teresa in this photo. 

And that was that. Until next time. 

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Still to come: 

Tommy's good-bye flight
Boyne 

And stuff. 

The days are getting busier. 

Crossroads Village

Yesterday, we hit the ground running. 
I had promised the boys a day off from the purging and cleaning, and we'd long planned to hit Crossroads Village on a Wednesday. The weather yesterday was absolutely perfect. 

First - we had a few must do's before we drove out of town as I didn't want to be rushed to get back home. We stopped and paid the taxes, I ran into the hardware and got a drop cloth in preparation for today's wall painting, and we threw Mark into the lake for Day 51. He changed in the van afterwards and we headed out. 

Oh hey, it's Mark's fiddle teacher! We had told him at Tuesday's lesson that we planned to be at the Village on Wednesday, so he chose his instrument of the day accordingly - bringing his fiddle rather than his banjo. The park was so quiet yesterday, that we enjoyed being able to hear him play from nearly everywhere we were. 

We arrived just 20 minutes before the Huckleberry Railroad's next boarding, so we went ahead and got tickets for that train. The boys chose to ride in one of the interior cars. We were fine not pre-buying tickets online for this Wednesday, but I imagine it does fill up on the event weekends. If we were in town this coming weekend, we would have planned to attend. This coming weekend is the Railfans Weekend - complete with a Hobo Camp. It's been years and years since they've had the Hobo Camp at Greenfield Village. I miss that event.  We're making a note to catch it at Crossroads Village next year. 

The purser that was taking pictures saw my camera (with the big lens attached) and shared that he used to take pictures for the Michigan State Police and that he could take our picture. I told him with that lens on it, he'd have to go WAY back. He did. 

The toymaker had all sorts of neat toys in his shop. Greg has made quite a few old fashioned toys over the years, but this collection had a few that I'd not seen. I came home with full descriptions. 

Oh look, there's Neil again. 

The boys were asking me, before we went, what this place was like as they'd never been. I described it as a relaxed Greenfield Village. I remember when Greenfield Village had dirt roads. I asked the boys afterwards if my description made sense. They both agreed it did. There are demonstrations all throughout Crossroads: toymaking, the print shop, blacksmith, broom shop, a magician's show, grist mill, etc.....  and it's smaller than Greenfield, and yet we stayed all day and didn't quite catch everything. We did ride both the train and the ferry, enjoyed the most delicious burger ever back by the carousel, and visited with Neil a couple times. It was the most relaxing day. 

The flowers were eye-catching. 

They were the only ones on the Superior Wheel (not a Ferris Wheel, as it was built, not by Ferris, but by Charles Parker) and one article I read afterwards states that both the carousel and wheel go 'unusually fast.  They went around many many times as there was nobody else waiting to get on. SO glad I chose to sit that one out. 

I had to resort to my phone to capture the full ride. Big Lens Problems. 

It was 3 tickets for $1.50 each, or 4 for $5. 

Each ride was one ticket - so the boys each chose 2 rides. I love that they chose this one. The gal running it challenged them to hit the trees and was surprised with how long they lasted. She pegged them for pooping out after 3 minutes - the normal amount of time they allow, but with no line - she let them run it - and they went well over 9 minutes. Brian did 'fess that his hands hurt a bit after all that, but they had a blast. 

Another visit with Neil while enjoying some ice cream, and then we headed out and over to Frankenmuth - just an 18 minute jaunt down the road. Mark had heard about the sock store, and couldn't believe that he didn't get there when we went in the fall.  I left my camera in the car, and we enjoyed a leisurely stroll around town, and then headed over to Bronners. Our last adventure to Bronners was a quick wall to wall visit to prove we'd done it, but this trip we took our time and puttered through. I picked up one more piece for our Nativity, we replaced the glass pickle ornament that was broken this past year, and I picked up some socks for one of the 9 5K's I'm signed up for this year.  !!!! 

Now time to get off my duff and finish prepping that wall for painting. 
And do laundry. And eat breakfast. And balance the checkbook. And get packed for our next adventure. And and and and and.....

I miss yesterday already. 

An evening concert and a chance meeting with an old friend

After a hard day's work, I thoroughly enjoyed my evening walk to town to listen to the Livingston County Concert Band. The first two of their three Howell performances had been canceled due to bad weather. Tonight was gorgeous. 

Immediately after the last round of toe tapping and hand clapping, I headed out quickly, with a goal of getting to the Family Dollar before their 9pm closing. My hope being that they'd have what I need, thereby avoiding a late night trip to Meijer. 

I was walking along at a pretty good clip, when out of my good ear I heard, "Mrs. Tormanen!  Mrs. Tormanen!" 

I've said many times, it's a good thing that we all have soft spots for different kids because that way they all get some lovin'. Hollering my name from a good thirty yards away was my soft spot: the one that I've wondered about since he left elementary, the one that I've spent hours going over choices with, the one that I've asked about when anyone goes to his middle school, the one that I used to see everywhere - the beach, on my walks, etc - but I'd not seen in a year. The one that once showed up to school wearing my husband's ball cap. 

My goal to get to the store by nine no longer mattered. I got my big bear hug, and settled in for some long overdue conversation. 

Our relationship is such, that we can quickly catch up - how's summer, what are you doing for fun these days - and then cut to the chase: Are you making good choices? 
Response: Well - most of the time. 

At least he's honest. 

We went back to talking about video games for a bit before I reminded him that I know more people at the school he's switching to, I might pop in some day, and that it's a great time for a fresh start and more good choices, and then we hugged it out again before heading our separate ways. I still made it to Family Dollar, but they didn't have what I needed anyway. Meijer did. 

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Other stuffs: 

• My new emergency freezer was delivered today. Emergency in that - I went out to the freezer last week and did a, huh. Seems we need a new freezer. Soon. 
• Only thing is - the cord is to short on the new freezer, meaning it won't fit where the old freezer was. FINALLY a bonafide good reason to clean Greg's garage. I was out there all morning and I loved every minute of it. 
• Today was Mark's 50th day of his Swim Streak. 
• We've been blueberry picking - but I need to go again. Not sure when. 
• I also moved all the furniture to one side of the living room today. I'm DETERMINED to get that wall painted before Friday. I'm not opening the box with my new metal prints until I have a fresh place to put them on the wall. 
• Tomorrow I'm planning to take the boys to Crossroads Village and then Frankenmuth. Mark's fiddle instructor plays at the Village on Wednesdays - so it's been our goal for awhile. Tomorrow. Fingers crossed. 
• Friday, the boys and I are heading to Boyne. Greg and Wendy are not. Too much other stuff going on. I'm looking forward to clearing my head and only working on those things that I bring with me. 
• We've been digging DEEP for our upcoming garage sale. The piles are growing. Yesterday I sat myself down and began pricing before it became too daunting. Still not positive which day the sale will be - have to watch the weather and schedules. 
• The day is catching up with me - time to catch some zzzzzz's. 

be good! 

Treasure Hunting

The original plan was to go backpacking along the Manistee River Trail last week, but then the forecast started looking pretty dire. And hot. 

Plan B. 

We headed out Wednesday afternoon, antique shopping the whole way towards a darling little studio Airbnb I had found in Norton Shores. After we checked in, we kept looking around saying, oh my goodness, this place is darling. We both want to go back - and while we were only able to get it for two nights, I kept checking for cancellations to see if we could extend our stay.  No luck. 

Oh. And I was completely inspired by the metal prints. THAT'S how I want my bird prints done. About the only thing I accomplished yesterday was getting a couple ordered via the Mpix sale that expired last night. I'm going to be doing a lot of  redecorating over the remainder of my vacation. 

I'm also on a mission to find this exact Wind Sled. I checked all the antique stores that we visited, and spent a little time searching online yesterday.  It would go Perfectly in the kid's bathroom. 

Aaaah. The sauna.  A great deal on a place to stay, AND a real sauna?  I snatched this reservation up so quick, it would have made your head spin. I did laugh that I was so excited about sauna on the hottest week of the year, but it was so great. We took one each night, and were lonesome for it the third night. We, both Finns, did enjoy a giggle at the suggestion not to put it over 115 degrees for our own safety.  One: The feels like was supposed to hit 115 in parts of Michigan those few days and Two: 115 would be a disgrace to our Finnish heritage. We thought 150 was perfect. 

Thursday morning we headed out for another full day of antique shopping. We began our route at Depot Antiques, one of my favorite spots. I've picked up a few treasures from here over the years. On this trip, I found a lantern in the main store and then went looking in the barn for a bookshelf. I've been on a mission to find just the right size/look shelf for awhile now. I like having things to hunt for, it helps keep me focused. On this trip, I was mainly searching for the bookshelf, a lantern (found), bookends (very picky - must be heavy, and I must like them), and containers. I'm always looking for containers. The other things that always somehow manage to come home with me are vintage pillowcases (I LOVE the feel of vintage pillowcases), comics and bowls. 

The rain POURED while we were in the above shop, which sounded positively dreamy on the tin roof. 

After a full day of filling the back of my van, we took the Airbnb owner's recommendation and ate dinner at The Deck. Here is my honest review: The food was fantastic. Large portions - we'd forgotten the part where Jessica said that the portions are large we could split an order, but we both managed to take care of our own plates. I got the fish tacos (shocker) and we shared an order of sweet potato waffle fries. I would order both again.  The outside dining was great, but the service was a little wonkish. While the place wasn't full - it took awhile before we were taken care of, they forgot the lemon in both of our waters, and brought MaryKay the wrong tacos (brussel sprouts instead of pulled pork) and weren't apologetic. Nothing huge, but noticeable. Would we go again? Yes. 

Got a few steps in after dinner, enjoying a walk while waiting for sunset, then back to our place for a sauna and some of that ice cream that was put in our freezer by the host. 

The next day, we took the slow road up towards Boyne, eating dinner in Cadillac at Burke's Waterfront Restaurant. Our backpacking adventures have taken us to eat here the last two years, so it seemed fitting. I ordered the special: All you can eat fish and chips. Shocker.  I also left my favorite (lightweight) hoodie here. I've known the inside to be chilly with the air conditioning, so brought it in, but then we chose to eat on the deck - and there I left it. Shoot. 

Checking the storm reports after we got back home, it seems that we managed to just skirt around the storm system. Barely. We would have been miserable out on the trail with our 45 pound packs. We made the right choice(s).

Besides antique stores, we also hit up thrift shops and garage sales. This one:  "There is more in the basement inside"   I didn't take my hands out of my pockets even once, and REALLY wished that we had a sauna to go back to on this night. 

All the years that I've stayed at Boyne, I never knew that they sometimes host a HOG Rally.  As we were sitting on our balcony the next morning - we made a new friend. When he was washing up his bike, he told us to make sure to tell the other guy that we thought the blue bike was prettier. We did. I know that game well, as we play it when we are ballooning too. 

We checked in too late to get a ride up the ski lift, but we enjoyed watching all the action and MaryKay was sending texts and live videos of the band and other action, saying "Look where Sharyn took me this time"  

We checked out Saturday and meandered our way home - spending more money as we went. We got in a few garage sales before they were rained out, then started hitting Goodwill and Marshall's. Funny story - walking through Marshalls in Petoskey and I bumped into one of my transfer bus kiddos from two years ago. We were both starting at each other like, wait - is that really you?  

We ate lunch at Which Wich.  Neither of us had ever been, and they were super helpful in teaching us the ins and outs of their ordering set up. I got the BLT and I plan to bring the boys back there in a couple weeks when we're back at Boyne.  Really good. 

And that's about it. 

I've got some redecorating to do this week, and I'll share a little more on my treasure finds as I go. Right now - I've got to get Mark off to swim camp for swim streak day #42. 

 

*Happy Sigh*

I almost didn't bring my camera last night. True story. 

Last night was beautiful. As I was standing on the side of the road, I said out loud a few times: THIS is why I have a hard time leaving my camera at home. 

This next week isn't looking too promising for flying, but we flew twice this weekend - and we've already flown more this year than last year. Last year was a record crap weather year for ballooning. 

Always great. 

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We had a good week last week. I felt like we made a real dent in summer projects. I even gave in to the kids one afternoon and decided that - okay - we WILL have a garage sale this year. They've been begging for a few years now, but we've had them before and they are a. LOT. of. work. 

BUT. 

My donations got us absolutely squat on our taxes last year, so that change tipped the scales. Last week was spent on the boy's room and a few other nooks and crannies. We're looking at a one day sale sometime the weekend of Melonfest - so a month away yet. Lots of time to gut some corners

As for this week: 

• Some Rest & Relaxation
• More Purging
• Another week of Swim Camp
• Fiddle Lessons (we only go every few weeks in the summer) 
• More Steps/Walking
• Completion of that new crown in my mouth. 
• Even more purging
• That should do it. 

Happy Monday! 

 

Evening Flight

It was a beautiful night for a flight. 
Problem was, we were short on crew. A few text rejections, and I ended up telling my kids that they'd be crewing tonight. It's been a few years since they've come along. They picked up right where they left off, complete with teasing and bantering. They are now on call to crew again soon. 

I wasn't expecting it to be my turn again tonight - but whooop - there I am. It was a beautiful night for a birds-eye view. 

I now have another photo for graduation cards: Howell High School. 

There are six elementary schools in our town. Here is Challenger. 

And here is Northwest. 

We didn't get quite close enough to Voyager.  I think the only district schools that I don't have photos of, from above, are Voyager, Southwest and Parker.  #Goals 

Wendy and Brian were with me. Greg hadn't gotten home from work yet when we left, but knew that Mark still needed to get his daily swim in  (it was cold when we were at Kensington this morning) I texted him and said if they were still at the lake, I was about to fly over in a few minutes. 

We missed them by about ten minutes. Alas. 

Quieter tonight than it was last night. 

I'm loving summer.