10 Fun Things I Did This Summer

10. Rafting down the East Race
9. Saw the Clydesdales
8. Fridays by the Fountain
7. Elkhart Garden Walk
6. Weko Beach
5. Tubing on Pine Lake
4. Boating on Lake Wawasee
3. Creating new veggie garden
2. Hanging out with friends and family
1. Patoka Lake Summit

10 Things I Didn't Get Around To This Summer

10. Renting a canoe and paddling down Baugo Creek
9. Wine Tasting at Tabor Hill
8. Visiting Fernwood Botanical Garden
7. Aqua Aerobics @ Potawatomi Pool
6. Golf
5. Chicago Air and Water Show
4. Cedar Point
3. Riding my bike
2. Painting the garage door
1. Indiana Beach

Mexican Food for Butterflies

A gift of Mexican sunflower seeds, from sis-in-law Gretchen, has grown into a tasty feast for the butterflies.

Saturday Morning @ the Farmers Market

I've finally snapped out of my two-week slump and got up, dressed and out of the house early this morning. Not sure why I've been so lazy lately -- maybe I'm just sad that the summer of fun has come to an end. I guess I came to that realization last weekend while I was getting dressed to go to an outdoor wedding. I had on a cute and fairly dressy pair of black crop pants with even cuter sandals. Hubby nixed the outfit, reminding me that summer is over! OH NO! I really wasn't ready to hear that.

Anyway... this morning we went to the Farmers Market looking for mums to put out in front of the house. I finally weeded the front of the woods and now the clearing is crying out for fall color. The farm in Mishawaka that sells mums, pumpkins, corn stalks and hay bales must be behind schedule this year as they don't have their signs out yet. So, now I have mums (ended up getting them from Lowe's instead of the FM), but still need the pumpkins, corn stalks and hay bales to make my usual fall display.

Finally, the Elusive Hummingbird Photographed

While standing in the garden this morning, mourning the faded blooms and dying vines, I felt the buzzing fly-by of a hummingbird.

I slowly turned toward the zinnias, and to my delight the hummingbird, that I've been trying to photograph all summer, took time out of his busy schedule to pose for a picture.

Dancing in the Rain - AJ and Gretchen's Wedding

As Notre Dame was getting beat @ Penn State Saturday evening, we joined a few hundred well-wishers at the wedding of AJ and Gretchen at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown South Bend.

The ceremony was set to begin at 6:30pm, but there was a bit of a rain delay. The CFHOF giftshop quickly broke out their stash of umbrellas and many of us huddled under them and waited out the rain on the gridiron.

The ceremony got underway a couple of hours later, when the rain slowed to a light sprinkle. And magically, as soon as the vows were exchanged, the rain stopped.



I know that Cheryl would have wished for better weather for her son's wedding, but even with the rain, it was a beautiful event.

Art Beat in South Bend

While strolling through downtown South Bend's Art Beat Thusday night, we saw a one-man steel drum band, flaminco dancers, violinists and many artists selling their work.

Stretched between the Morris Civic plaza and Wayne Street were thousands of people enjoying a pleasant summer evening of performing, visual and culinary art.