Rays Retreat Ramblings

God's hand

The big news last week in Gaylord was the big apartment fire in Gaylord. 52 people left without homes, and all any of them got out with was the clothes on their back. It was a very intense, fast moving fire started by lightning. Most of these people were either older people with physical disabilities or handicapped. Sad, and difficult to place that many people into shelter so suddenly.

The home where I work my 'day' job took in three of the fire victims. The first day after, one of our workers was home from work when she received a phone call. It was a person thinking they had called the Red Cross. She said, no it wasn't the Red Cross. They asked for their number... she tried finding it without any luck. As she's looking the caller stated he was trying to locate his brother who had been in the fire ... he was worried about him and had no idea where he was. She stated she worked at a 'home' and that we had a few of the fire victims, but she could not give out any names.... He said his name and she said I'll give you the number where I work and you call there asking for him. We had him! What are the odds? It was one of those warm wonderful coicidences that we know God must have had his hand in!

Very sad, one guy had just taken his teeth out before the fire started, so not even his teeth. No medications, all those very necessary things.

http://www.gaylordheraldtimes.com/articles/2009/07/27/news/top_stories/doc4a69e4fc12e5e711858878.txt

Tractors

There's always something to do in Northern Michigan, no matter what the season. These pictures were taken Saturday at the Northern Michigan Angtique Flywheelers 22nd Annual Show held on 131, just north of Boyne Falls.

We were both surprised at just how big this event was!... Of course, there were lots of tractors. Every day at 2 pm, they have The Parade of Power.

There are also threshing, silo filter, hay loader, shingle mill, shingle branding, saw mill, tractor balance, woodworking, hay press, corn chopping, stone crusher, baker fan, blacksmith, veneer mill, basket making, equipment weighing, and of course tractor pulls.

A good sized flea market and petting farm. Concerts daily and every evening. It was an enjoyable outing.

 

The Au Sable Canoe Marathon was also this weekend, starting out of Grayling yesterday morning. It was celebrating its 62nd year, of the longest non stop canoe race in North America as well as North Americas richest canoe race.

http://www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/sub-index.html

Camp Out

We got away Tuesday night and enjoyed an overnight campout along Lake Margarethe west of Grayling. This was our backyard! ... I made friends with ducks. And they taught me to swim! Look at that picture. Even my head is wet. We were playing duck duck dog.............I would chase them out and then they would chase me back in. One time, they lured me out over my head! before I knew it I was swimming. Ann and Mike were so proud! Its the first time I've been over my head in the water.

See that toy? It was a gift from 'My Man'...

Geeze Bobs! I didn't know you guys were so sensitive, guess I forgot to mention you all last time I wrote, but you know I love you!!! I didn't know humans needed so much affirmation. I'm just a dog! I can't keep track who I mention, how many times.............its lucky I can read, write and type! That's pretty amazing for even a Golden!

===============Sparky T. Ray

Grandkids

We enjoyed having our Indiana grandkids last week. They just keep growing!

The first picture is Kaylee, age 8. Isn't she a beauty?

Kaylee, with her Michigan cousin Daylen and Kaylees 3 year old sister Delaney.

This last picture is a blurry fuzzy shot of all five of them squirming around on the couch. From the left, Daylen and Chandler ages 5 and 3 from Lake Leelanau, then the Indiana bunch..Kaylee, Taylor age 13! and Delaney age 3.

Its the 3 year olds that really wore this Grandma out!

I babysat all 5 Thurs/Fri. What was I thinking?

Friends and Kids

Hi There Merril, Linda and Lucky!!! Gosh, its good hearing from you. I know, its been awhile since we've been on the computer. But I had a great  time this past week.

It started out weekend before last, when Good Bob showed up Thurs night! What a great surprise. Then Friday, Dan My Man was here! He is such a riot. Really good with us dogs, but great with kids too ... just ask the grandkids! Oh Laura... we're sure you're going to have a great large family with kids and dogs. Ann should have had her camera out .. we tired him out! Playing frisbee with me and I tugged him circles. He still had energy to play with the grandkids. Even on the playground equipment. We all love him! ...

Grandkids stayed all thru this past week. Wore Ann and Mike out, but I sure had fun with them. They tried wearing me out, but I wore them out every time!  Much quieter around here without them.

I love having friends and kids! .........................................Sparky T. Ray

PRIMITIVE CAMPING AT BEAR LAKE

This is primitive camping at its best! ... Mike and Ann seem sad that the slow summer economy has business slow, but I say... "Yahoo, lets go camping!" .. we get the motorhome around while Ann's at work. She gets home and we jump in it and make the short 12 mile drive to the state forest campground. Right on the water! ..................Sparky

Motorcycles

Hope you enjoyed a great 4th~.

My brother rolled in on his cycle, along with his friend Tim Friday afternoon. They were riding back home after a drive up to the U.P. They had the cool, rainy foggy weather for their riding.

Later Friday friends Bob and Jerry rolled in on their bikes. They were in for the weekend. Mike had a couple of late nights enjoying the campfire with them, and other guests.

It even got Mike to thinking he might need a cycle himself. .... not likely.

I came across a short list of 'Biker Wisdom' ... thought I might share with you riders.

     Never try to race an old geezer, he may have one more gear than you.

     The only good view of a thunderstorm, is from your rear view mirror.

     Riding faster than anyone else only guarantees that you'll ride alone.

     Well trained reflexes are quicker than luck.

     If you ride like there's no tomorrow - there won't be.

     Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out the car window.

Yahoo..............I love the 4th!

I think this is my favorite holiday! .. Lots of people, kids and best friends Dan and Laura!

No one told me Dan and Laura were coming this weekend, and I'm so glad. It was such a fun surprise when he walked in, and with gifts! For me! .. and yeah, Gizzy got some too. But I got balls, fun, bounching tennis balls, new rubbery frisbies... gosh I love my Dan. Last night the two of us went out and played frisbee.

We had a great campfire last night. A great crowd around cooking hot dogs (makes my mouth water now just remembering it), marshmallows, making somemores. We were up to the wee hours.. talking, petting, drinking a few (no not me.. I am totally alcohol free).

Still tired out this morning, and so is everyone else. Its 8 am and still no one down for breakfast. I'd sleep in too, but Ann and Mike always roust me out of bed first thing at 6;45 A.M. for a walk! ... at least I can nap while they're out in the kitchen.

Sparky T. Ray

Happy 4th of July

Good Life

I am stired out!! and Gizzy is zonked out. What a great day, and what a great surprise when Ann got home from work yesterday afternoon we jumped into the motorhome and headed to Petosky to spend the night camping.

A bit cool. Our high in Gaylord yesterday was a cool 55 degrees. Can't believe it was the last day of June. And after a month of no rain, we've had rain nearly every day this week. That' doesn't slow us down any. .. but the raindrops stayed away from us. 

We got the motorhome parked in the state park and supper started in the electric skillet then started out for a walk along the beach. The wind was blowing great big waves up onto the shore. Gizzy and I raced along the shoreline, in and out of the breakers, chased the stick in and out, sneaked Ann's socks off and started burying them and a tennis shoe. HaHa... great fun.

The three of us were wet (Note - Mike was not. He stayed high and dry on the rocks... pansy!), tired, sandy and happy.

Started this morning out with a 2 mile hike through the woods. Smelled lots of critters, didn't see any though. .. Gizzy was slowing down. We ate breakfast outside watching all the campers. Then drove into Petosky and parked along the bay front. More walking.

Then it was home again to start getting ready for the holiday weekend.

I love my life! ...................................Sparky T. Ray