Winding down from a busy year…
December 7th, 2013 – Naples, FL
This was a busy year, with great adventures and the best of everything – but it’s good to be home for a few weeks and through the holidays, and nice to have the time to put the busy-ness in life on the bottom shelf for awhile.
It’s warm here in Naples, and that makes it all the more enjoyable. There’s a slight chance I’ll find my way to northern Michigan for Christmas, but even that’s on the back burner this year – it’s just nice to have a little time to melt into the landscape.
Wedding Bells were heard…
Sept 3rd, 2013 – Traverse City, Michigan
My lovely Emily married her wonderful Christopher on August 24th. It was a perfect day and the highlight of my year… I’m still “touched” by how lovely a couple they are.
I’ve been in northern Michigan since August 21st and am heading back south to home in Naples in a few days. It’s been a delightful visit all the way around.
Summer in the middle of…
July 10th, 2013
Leelanau in June…
Back in those early years ramblin’ round, I always found my way back home to Leelanau county. I still do. This year’s a little different with daughter Em getting married in August and a little more time on my hands, so I’m out to enjoy my northern life and friends as much as I can this year. I was up for two weeks in June and plan to finish the last week of July camped quiet in the park in Suttons Bay. Then on to Montana in August (10th-17th) and back to Leelanau for the wedding at the end of the month.
Highlights of the June visit included a ruptured hot water tank, a good cleaning and replacing batteries in the motorhome, time with Emmy and grandaughter, and getting the generator working again. Played a couple of sets with Patrick and Chris in Glen Arbor, too.
Oh, and then there was the Super Moon… while I had the motorhome tucked away in a sweet little glen between Suttons Bay and Lake Leelanau, I’d set the tripod up every night practicing low-light shots – I’ll get the hang of it sooner or later…
The skies didn’t fail to impress…
Naples and the Keys, Nashville and back up north by the end of July…
It’s quiet in Naples this summer…in a lot of ways. With all the short trips I’m taking this year, having weeks at a time in Naples feels like a rest. The tourist levels are down to a minimum, not many folks at the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market, and it’s been rainy; it’s just that time of year. Seems like the clouds move in by late afternoon, it rains a bit and then everything moves out over the Gulf at sunset. Even with the slow-down of tourist traffic, there’s no shortage of watchers on the pier when the sun goes down.
Went to Key West over the 4th of July – saw the biggest key lime pie in history be made right off Duval. It’s one for the Guiness Book of WR… 8 feet in diameter. Once it was made, they started selling off one piece at a time for a dollar a piece… it’s was great fun… bad pie!
Nashville : to remember a friend…
We lost one of my best Nashville pals at the end of June and I’ll be going to Nashville on the 14-16th of July for a memorial service… Fred Kewley was a great friend and mentor and I wouldn’t miss being there to bid a proper farewell with his family and friends. I know he’d do the same for me with mine. I’m looking forward to seeing some of my dearest friends there…if only for a day – sure wish it was for a different reason.
Farewell good friend…
