Sunny With a Chance of Showers

Even though we had spent a beautiful morning biking it was time to attend the event that had brought us to Coleman. A baby shower for Amy and her soon-to-be-born baby girl. The new mother looked absolutely adorable in her dress and left no doubt that a baby was coming in the near future.




Every good shower includes gifts,




cake,




and of course games. Everyone always says they don't want to play games but it never fails that everyone ends up enjoying playing them. Especially if they win. The first game involved guessing Amy's waist measurement.




I don't want to brag but I won that one. My secret. I measured my waist and added MANY inches.

The next game proved to be a tad bit harder. Small safety pins were mixed in a bowl of rice. Everyone then closed their eyes and tried to find as many pins as possible in one minute. It seemed easy in theory and proved to be much harder in practice.




Even little hands had problems finding the pins.




I don't think Shaelynn found any pins. I found one. Katie and Sarah found two (?) and my not that much younger sister found four. Four was the winning number. We are one talented family. Don't take us on if it involves baby shower games. We will take you down. Well, except for Shaelynn.




The beaming Grandma-to-be.




Then the part that I like best. Gifts. I love baby clothes. Especially girl baby clothes. I don't think there is anything cuter.




How clever is that? I believe there were diapers all wrapped in that gift.




This was my favorite. A quilt made by my very own sister. Not only are we good at games, some of us can even sew. This was so cute. And soft. Soft is good when it comes to babies.




I know she didn't ask me but I do have one piece of advice for the new mother. Don't blink because when you do your little baby girl grows up and isn't a baby any more. Just ask my not that much younger sister.

Jokers To The Right

As if one day of biking wasn't enough we decided to get up and do it again. This time Baby John and Gramps joined the girls.




Ok, it is bad enough you are riding your bike in granny gear but what is up with those socks? Do you realize that with one glance at those socks people are thinking "granny gear rider"? Not to mention the tan lines that are going to result from wearing those socks.




It turned out to be another beautiful day in the middle of the Mitten.




Here is the gang gathered together for a group shot. I'm not sure what my not that much younger sister is up to. She is somewhat unstable and sometimes it is just better not to ask. Even Sarah looks somewhat perplexed by her aunt.




Here they are in action. This pretty much sums up our riding abilities. If you look really close you can see Sarah way out ahead, followed by the one in white socks, Baby John and my somewhat unstable but not that much younger sister.




Of course, this ride included some sightseeing.

This is where John spilled $50.00 worth of paint last summer. This is a scenic spot on the trail that should not be missed.




Barns are always high on my list of things to stop and admire. This was an especially nice one.




Time was an issue for the girls today since we had a baby shower to go to so we headed home early. I rode Sarah's age on this day, 26 miles. Brother not wanting to be outdone by my 53 miles the day before decided to continue on. Poor John decided to join him. When we got back from the shower brother was at the grocery store but the story was he had ridden 53 miles. 53? I had done 53.06. That made no sense. He's a Porter. He wouldn't let .06 miles separate him from outriding me. My world as I had known it made no sense. When he got back to the house my first question to him was his mileage for the day. His much too enthusiastic answer, "53.24!". Ahhh, he is a Porter. Brother, you may have outridden me but I can proudly say I didn't ride my 53.06 miles in white socks.



The rumors are we may be doing a ride in the future called "100 Miles to Nowhere". Who's in? Who's out? It could be a lot of fun. Remember we are Porters.

Clowns To The Left Of Me

First up for the weekend was a short little bike ride Saturday morning. Since brother decided he would rather go to a softball game that left Carla, Sarah and I. But before we left we thought we would take a little joy ride on Gramp's bike.





Why gramps you ask? Because he had that bike set on the lowest gear possible.





Sarah was spinning as fast as she could and getting nowhere. Sheesh, brother, you might want to put a little effort in your biking. After having a laugh at brother's expense we were off. This was our destination.





We decided to head toward Midland. We didn't get far when we realized my not that much younger sister's back tire was a little low. So we turned around and headed for the bike shop to get some air put in the tire. After getting that little job accomplished we had to make another stop.





The reason for the stop was this.





We are finally on our way. Here is my not that much younger sister demonstrating how Gramps rides his bike, in the lowest gear possible of course. Just a little more fun at brother's expense.





Every good bike path needs a tunnel and this one didn't disappoint. Of course, the tunnels I am used to are a tad bit longer, darker and colder. But no matter, it's a tunnel. And really who doesn't like to ride through them no matter how short?





We decided we had ridden long enough, to Sanford, and it was time for a food break.





Because we think all good citizens should follow the rules we decided we should enjoy our favorite ice cream.





We're off!





We enjoyed a little sight seeing on our ride that morning.

Arbutus Bog.





Some wetlands. We obeyed the sign because like I said we always follow the rules.





We even enjoyed some wildlife along the way.





By this time I am starting to feel sorry for my little sister. Her bike isn't made for long miles. I should say for long, comfortable miles with the least amount of effort. I offered to switch bikes for awhile which I am sure my brother-in-law will never forgive me for doing. I think I have heard there is a new bike in her future as a result of that bike switch.





By now I am beginning to think that maybe I should do my age in miles. I did it the summer I turned 50 and had missed it last year. I figured if I rode back to Coleman and then continued on to Clare I would be close. Luckily by now Gramps had shown up and he was willing to continue on with me. The other two headed back home for some rest and relaxation and brother and I continued on.

We did some more sightseeing.









Three quarters of a mile from Carla's house my odometer showed 52 miles. Mission accomplished!





Being a Porter I couldn't leave a partial mile and so rode just enough to add another mile to the odometer. 53.06 miles was my final tally for the day. It was a day well spent.

The plan for the next morning was to get up and ride some more. Would I be able to move the next morning? Would I want to move? And more importantly would brother get his bike off of that granny gear?

to be continued.....

A Sneak Peek

What a weekend!

It was a weekend of family,





including one unnamed member who constantly cracks himself up.





It was also a weekend filled with biking





and go karts.





A weekend of a Memorial Day remembrance honoring those who have died





and a baby shower celebrating one to be born.





It was also a weekend of Throwdown food





and just plain good food.





A weekend of highs





and lows.





Come, follow me. This is going to be fun.

My Garden

Things are blooming everywhere. I am still loving my Bleeding Hearts.





My Lilies of the Valley are still going strong. I wish you could smell their sweet scent. I love just standing by them.




Some lantana in my barrel.




The irises have started blooming.







These alliums are new this year. I planted them in the fall and they made it through the winter. I may have to put more in the garden this fall.




And then there is my sweet buttercup. How could I forget about her?