What I did on my summer (Vacation? )

So some of you have asked me… besides the epic Wallpaper & Painting adventure….. What the heck Have you been up to?

So… I thought I’d give a not so brief synopsis in pictures..

dabbed with just a smidge of my usual eloquent satire.

Earlier in the summer my sister in law and future brother in law were in from the UK

So we arranged for a morning of Eastern Market fun…

Sunflowers…

What started out as an inside joke…

has now become a sentimental favorite.

The sights sounds and smells there are wonderful !

at the very least…

interesting

(NO GRUMPY PEOPLE )

I think a good time was had by all..

But the guys were ready for phase II

GOLF !

On the way out of the area…

We took a wrong turn and ended up at a dead end..

there were abandoned building everywhere..

but as we turned the corner

This… is what we found..

The picture doesn’t really do it justice..

Someone took the time to paint this incredible picture in a spot almost no one would see it.

While the guys played golf…. the girls (and by the girls I mean Maria joined us)

visited for a bit before heading off to the Plymouth Art in the Park Fest.

(This poor beast looked like it had mange.. until we got close and realized.. it’s owner did this on purpose..)

Oh look even the Beatles showed up

I found a Hat for Mr R

Mamma felt obliged to try it on…

Quality Control I guess.

Ironically… she worked it.

That evening we all went out for some

Japanese Cuisine

Next on the summer fun tour was the annual

Pre-Golf Outing Party

You can’t really see them well here but…

in the bowl are CHOCOLATE

Golf Balls !!

Made by one of our wonderful hosts… the lovely..

Susan

Her partner in crime and in life..

John

and last but not least a furry hostess with the mostess

Lucy

I think Susan was telling us about the danger involved in making CHOCOLATE

Golf Balls…

It kinda scared some of the ladies.

Meanwhile…

The guys just chillaxed

Don’t let the calm sweet demeanor in the photos fool you

They can get “Salty” if you know what I mean…

Lucy knows what I mean..

Mamma had a fun thing happen this summer..

She got to see a childhood friend from Italy,who now lives in New York.

Her cousin lives here in Michigan and drove her here to see Mamma !!

It was a really nice afternoon listening to stories of way back when… in the old country.

In the month of August..

Mr R Turned

52 !!

I know… It’s shocking

Because.. let’s face it.. He looks so young!

After a lovely Brunch.. everyone came back to the house

to help him celebrate!!

Such a good guy !!!

Mamma kinda hit the Jack Pot O Visitors

Here she was visiting with her lovely friend Vanda..

Who happens to be the mother of my lovely friend

Grazia or ( Aunt Ya Ya )

This is her “Hey you’re not going to take my picture are you?”

pose

“OK wait… here let me fix my hair….”

This is her sexy pose

This is her “OK STOP ALREADY with the camera pose”

The elders sat and chatted…

We hit Home Goods and Hobby Lobby..

We have our priorities.

As a gift for my husband’s affor mentioned Birthday,

I was lucky enough to score some tickets to

Kid Rock

(Thanks Again Mike…You da man )

Here we we see my little brother and his childhood friend /like Bro

Carrying some liquid libations to the Party Bus, the night of the concert.

Nancy …. ready to party hardy..

(* AND SHE DID !!!! )

12 or was it 14

over 21year olds…

Waaaay over 21year olds….

enjoyed the atmosphere of the ride.

Once at the concert… The skies started to look pretty menacing.

As the rough weather approached.. security at Comerica Park made everyone enter the concourse for safety.

Do you know what 30 thousand fans leaving their seats and heading for the concourse looks like?…

It looks like this.

It was CRAZY… and even a little scary..

It wasn’t too long before they were able to have folks back in their seats..

after all … The Show must go on.

I have to be honest here and say.. I am not a huge Kid Rock fan..(Remember the tickets were for the hubby) but..

I must admit the show was pretty amazing.

His unabashed love of Michigan and in particular Detroit is so cool. Kid… You put on a great show.

I got major brownie points with THIS gift!!

In the long… LONG …..LONG...

arduous process of removing the wallpaper, some of the chemicals used in stripping the paper are pretty toxic.

So Mamma would have to move to different area’s of the house to try to get away from the stank.

(She finally had to abandon ship and spend the night at my sisters’)

In the mean time I was able to snap a couple “Interesting”

Pictures of Mamma in the laundry room..

At first she wasn’t having it..

Resistance if futile…

So.. Instead she became America’s Next Top Model !

Work it baby… work it.

The next great thing that happened this summer was a visit from our son and daughter in law !!!!

It was just wonderful having them here…

EVERYONE

was so happy to see them.

It was time to catch up on all things the little ones are into.

and of course hugs..

They decided a nice afternoon of Zap Zone would be in order..

You know… it all starts out so cute and sweet..

Next thing you know… it’s all out war !!

And it’s basically every man for themself !!

Which is helpful… because

SOME

people have pent up frustrations that need some sort of outlet…

Ahemmmm.

In the end.. it was all cool… everyone left as friends…and cousins.

Back at the house while the warriors had a little

R & R

My sister and the girls broke out some gifts

This head massager was a BIG hit !!

Petoskey Stones

To remind them of home

and thought as they are… even a gift for the cats back home in North Carolina !!

It meant a lot to the kids…

Mr R enjoyed watching it all.

The day was far from over…

That evening we all gathered to celebrate my son in law’s

Birthday…

at one of hisf favorite restaurants

Beaver Creek.

THIS… was the view above me..

(Dinner? )

I have to explain the 2 7 1

You see I didn’t have a 8 so….

27+1 = 28

Viola

28

Since we had everyone was in town…

we took the opportunity to snap a couple of pictures of the family all together.

Nice Face Gino…hey !… Where’s Lina?

Ok.. she’s there.. but barely.

Much better !!

And of course Mamma and her grandchildren.

It was a great day !!

The Next day

Detroit

The kids asked us to join them on a boat trip along the

Detroit River on the Diamond Queen.

The Riverwalk area was so nice

Here is some of the modern art displayed along the way…

if you look closely.. you may see items like

children's jeans… string… drumsticks…gloves.. and a hold lot of other oddities

Near the boat landing had a nautical themed merry go round.

The boat ride was really nice..

it gave us some pretty nice photo ops

It was a wonderful afternoon with our kids..

One I know I won’t forget.

The following morning..

The morning of the

“BIG GAME”

I found my son in the family room engrossed in tying flys.

This… is his “FAKE” surprised look..

I still like it.

That afternoon at my father in law’s home.

“THE BIG GAME !!!”

MICHIGAN !

By the looks of things… It was turning out just they way they wanted…

How do I know this?

It’s comes from the different levels of crazy that I

witnessed.

In the end… after
they won.. everyone posed nice for the picture..

Grandson.. Grandfather.. and Father.

A dad with his “Boys”

All the guys

And… A Great day of memories !!!

A great summer of memories..

There you have it… a little glimpse ( A very little glimpse) into what’s been going on around here.

That’s how I spent my summer vacation….