Nolan's Have Been Busy

The Traverse City Nolans have had a busy few months.  I do not know where the summer has gone and it is now October!  The summer was cooler than usual and we did not get very many of those 90 degree days with 90 % humidity.  I am not complaining as I am not a warm weather fan but it made the summer different.  Part of the Nolan clan gathered in TC in September...Fran and Harry as well as Bonnie and Jim.  It has been five and a half years since they were in TC...after Mike had his hear surgery.  It was a wonderful to have them back for a visit.

 We spent the first few days in Traverse City and then came out to the cabin.  The weather was ok for part of the time but we did have two days of rain.  There was lots of card playing...hand and foot card game..for those in the know.  Bonnie and Jim sat on Marks Bench for a view of the river...Jim looks like a wild west cool dude.

 We had several family dinners with the kids and grand kids.  They all came to the cabin on one of the rainy days so we had to eat inside...cosy but  lots of fun.

Finnley turned two years old at the end of August.  We went camping for her Birthday weekend with Patrick, Heather and other friends and family.  It was great fun and Grandpa and Finnley enjoyed being together in the Big Bad Boy.

Timothy and Casey are still at our house in TC.  They have a house lined up to rent and will be able to move in soon.  They are both working and Seamus is enjoying to being with Grandma and Finnley for lots of play time.  It is so great to have my two grandchildren here and to see them so often.
 I feel so blessed.

I have mastered the selfie this summer.  Friends Cathy and Mike  came for a weekend in August.  Cathy is a friend from college and sang a few songs in our wedding.  She is blind and a very inspiring and fun person.  She is up for anything and we kayaked for 3 days in a double kayak..no tip overs and lots of laughing.  We played scrabble, had campfires, sand songs and had a great weekend.  They also spent time in TC and updated us on the winery situation as they visited quite a few.

Grandma and Seamus with the selfie...he loves the stroller and we go on lots of walks.  The selfie below was on the beach on a warm evening..what is wrong with that guy in the back!!  It is such fun to have Seamus in TC and we are glad he brought his parents.  We are at the cabin this weekend and have been enjoying the colors of the trees.  Mike is very busy with his plans for expanding his business to include a cigar bar.  It is slowly progressing and should be open by Thanksgiving.  I will update with pics in the next blog. Love to everyone and we hope you are having a healthy and happy fall season.  Kathy and Michael

July of 2014 Cousins Together

 So here they are...the two adorable grandchildren who are delighting Mike and I on a daily basis.
Timothy and Casey arrived in Traverse City mid July and are looking for jobs and a place to live.   They are staying  with us right now and we are really loving having them here.  Finnley and Seamus are getting to know each other and sure look like they are related!!
They are both busy toddlers but so much fun that I can hardly stand it.

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                              We have taken some wagon trips in the neighborhood and to the playgrounds.

                        Seamus is very social and to quote something my dad used to say  "bright as a new penny"!!!

                       We took a trip to the beach on the one hot humid day ...Clinch Park and the splash pad.

                                         Love this picture of these Nolans...it is a Cherry Festival picture!

       We took Seamus for his first canoe ride on Boardman Lake and had to mark it with a selfie.

   This is Seamus after his two day car ride to Michigan,sort of grumpy and tired and not too sure whats up.

 The boys...at Lake Ann checking out the water...not easy to keep Seamus out of it.

           

 Kathy and  Della went to the Art Fair in Ann Arbor ...our 30th year of going together.  We each missed one year due to surgeries or travel.  So we celebrated with a drink and dinner at Seva's...our traditional restaurant.  As some of you know I have been collecting ceramic vegetables for many years from one artist who comes from the Grand Rapids area.  She only shows in Ann Arbor so it is fun to see what the new vegetable is for each year.        

She let Dellla take a picture of us with her display.I splurged this year and got two to add to my wall..the celery and the adorable olives in the picture below.     

Here is the future Cherry Festival Queen...she is practicing her joyful look when she hears the news.  She also has the wave down perfect.  It was her first year to enjoy the parades and what kid doesn't enjoy them.  Popcorn, candy, sweet drinks and marching bands!!

Patrick is the proud owner of a tractor and the kids loved it...all three of them.  We are having a great summer with weather that so far has not been too hot.  Some cabin time with the kids and getting together with friends.  Mike just got back from the trade show in Las Vagas and is adjusting to the time change.  He had a busy time but  got to see his sister Fran and husband Harry which was great.  Hope all of you are having a great summer.  Love and hugs from Kathy and Michael

June 2014

June in Michigan is my favorite time of year.
The days are warm, but not too warm, and the nights are cool with great sleeping temps.  This  year has been a little off...a little cooler, a little more rainy than usual and then just to keep us on our toes a hot mid 80 humid day.  However it was still a very pleasant month.  Finnley now knows all about umbrellas and the pointy ends that can go in your eyes.  She loved playing with this umbrella in the light rain.
Mike and I have been busy cleaning the house and garage in preparation for Casey, Timothy and Seamus coming in mid July.  They are moving back to Michigan and he is applying for jobs like crazy. Patrick will be flying out to VT and driving the U Haul back to Michigan...what a great big brother!    We are confident Timothy  will get a special ed job and hope  that they will settle down close to Traverse City.  It is going to be wonderful to have them back in Michigan.
Seamus, Seamus, Seamus is all that Finnley can talk about.

A walk down memory lane for some of you...Huggy Bear (Patricks favorite) and the two Henry's from the Jackson clan.  One Henry has gone home with Finnley and the other is waiting for Seamus.

 Finnley and I kayaked on Fathers Day and of course Riggs had to come along two...best buddies

                                        A golf card ride with Grandpa and his horn...she loves it..and so does he!

                                     Ice Cream cone with Daddy...it must have got messier as they ate it.

 We went to a wedding in the New Orleans area (Dave and Karen Purvis  from TC who have been in NO for several years but still come back to TC and have a cabin on the Manistee River)  It was at a plantation which was beautiful.   It was a true southern wedding...  Erin and Richard( Karen and Dave's son) were on the way in for dinner to the music of The Saints Come Marching In...Lots of laughs and fun.  However it was VERY hot and humid!!!

 We visited with another family from TC who are transplants to the NO area..  Cathy (husband Kevin was gone on a brothers trip to Ireland) , Their kids Ryan( one daughter) and Leslie (four daughters).  We spent the afternoon enjoying all the girl play and catching up.  Two hot babes below, Cathy and Kathy...fun to be together with old friends and share good memories.  Lots of laughs!

 The second June wedding was Alex who used to work for Mike...and his bride Emily.  Fun to catch up at a pre wedding party at the Filling Station.

 Finnley had a chance to sit on Uncle Marks Bench and watch Grandpa fish.  We miss you Mark!!!!

                           Finnley and I have our vests and hat on and are ready for the Hex to Hatch.

We have had lots of rain and the grass and flowers are thriving.  The Iris and petunias are beautiful.  We have been at the cabin as much as possible as the Hex Hatch has been delayed due to the cold weather.  It should peak this weekend and the weather should be good.
I do not have any fresh Seamus pictures but will have lots to share soon.  We are so excited to have the whole family together.
 Happy Fourth of July to everyone...we are so lucky to live in this country.  I feel so blessed to have friends, family, freedom  and health.  I treasure every day.   Love to all  Kathy and Michael

Summer is here already!!

 My last post was about spring and here I am talking about summer!!  Those of you who live or have lived in Michigan know that this is something that happens many years in Michigan.  Little to no spring before summer starts full tilt.  We are just grateful for some warm temps, sunny days and cool nights to sleep.  We are easy to please!!
Breakfast with Grandpa is in full swing with our first trip in the stroller after breakfast to walk Mike to the store.  Finnley is a sponge with words and colors and continues to amaze us with her grasp of everything.    She is such fun!

 First picnic on the deck complete with sidewalk chalk which she has discovered marks on everything including Grandma's pants!!  Mike and I are not the most handy of people but we did manage to hang two swings on the tree house/sandbox/picnic deck/swing set that Patrick and Duane put together for the cabin.  We were very proud of ourselves...now all we need is the grandchildren to push in the swings!!  We hope to have both in Michigan soon...more on that later.  Seamus is walking, running and climbing according to Timothy and is a handful to keep up with is only fair...right???

                                     The Lilacs are in bloom and smell just wonderful

 Mike and I drove up to Burt Lake last Friday to meet visiting cousin Eileen from California and cousin Sharon from Michigan.  It was lots of fun with many stories told and lots of laughter.

 So here are the start to summer pictures...a selfie on the deck with Karen, Barb, Mike, Dave and Geof.   Happy hour in full swing!   Also my pre catching fish picture, just a practice...a friend always holds his fish and puts his rod in his mouth as I have done.  Then you can see how really really really big his fish is in relation to the rod.  No fish for me last night but it was a beautiful night with lots of mosquito action.  We have a bumper crop this year.  We are staying the night and will go to TC early in the am.
Love to all  Kathy and Mike

Will spring ever come???

Soooo will spring ever come to Northern Michigan??
I think it is finally here as I write this on May 21st ... the tulips are in bloom ... the flowering trees and the leaves of the trees popped out on Monday.
About time!!
As you can see we had sooo much snow and the picture of the cabin taken from downstream was taken around May first.  Crazy winter.
I have been kayaking and Mike has done some fishing but not as much as usual for this time of year.
Too cold and every thing is behind schedule.

Finnley and I took a field trip to one of the garden stores to look and all the beautiful flowers.  She loved it but was more interested in the water fountains.  She loves being outside and we take lots of walks and stroller rides...even in the rain as we did the other day!!  I really enjoy my two days with her.. it brings back so many memories of our boys when they were that age...so precious.

We can hardly believe that our other little darling, Seamus, is a year old as of May 7th!!  We sent him a wagon for his Birthday as Timothy demo's in the picture above.  He is just adorable and looks so much like Timothy at the same age.  We hope to see them soon and I cannot wait to hug that guy.

Seamus started walking a few days before his Birthday so  watch out world  he is on the move.  Finnley is ready to go camping in the camper...Patrick sent me this picture and I love it.  They have a older Winibago camper and just got it out of storage for the season.

Easter came and went and all of a sudden it was Mothers Day.  We had a lovely afternoon and brunch with Patrick, Heather, Finnley, Michael, Deb and Duane...It is great to be a Mom.
I have not planted any flowers yet...we had frost last weekend ..and will do that after Memorial Day.
I always think of mom and dad at this time of year.  They were married May 22 1943, just 71 years ago and  they would be in their 90's.  I miss them.
Our summer looks to be a busy one and we will savor every warm and sunny day.
Happy days to come.  Love to everyone

Anniversary Thank You

Mike and I are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary today. March 23 1974 we were married in Jackson Michigan.  As many of you have heard me say it was the wedding that my mother never had as she was married during WWII.  It was a struggle as a young woman for me to allow her to "do it all" but my husband to be gave me the first of many tidbits of good advice...Let her do it if it is going to make her happy..its a gift you can give her.  He was so right.  My parents talked about our wedding with such joy over the years that I am so glad I took Mikes advice.
I remember when Mom and Dad celebrated their 40th...May 22,1983..just after their second grandson, Timothy was born.  They did not want a big party but did want to be with family.  It is a tradition that I was so glad to continue with our week of vacation in Florida with the kids and grand kids.
Mike and I have spent a quiet day together first at the cabin this morning and now in Traverse City.  We are going out to dinner but wanted to send our a blog of thanks.
We could not of lasted for 40 years without the support and love of our family and friends.  We feels so lucky.   Thanks You   Kathy and Michael

St Patricks Day 2014

 St Patricks Day came so fast this year it is hard to believe that Finnley is a year older.  She was a dancing colleen this year as she tried to master the two step.  However she has the twirling down and will twirl  till she falls down.
 The parade was the Saturday before the big day and the crowd was large.  The Nolan Clan marched together on a sunny day... even though it was about 20 degrees with a cold north wind.  It was a fast parade as we could not get back to the warmth soon enough.  We had our gathering for friends of Irish heritage that evening and had a great time as  usual.  We did notice that every one drinks less and goes home earlier than 25 years ago.  It was our 31st year to have these same couples...quite a feat in that we are all still married!!

                                         Patrick and Michael ready to march into the cold.

                                                     Mike and Kathy decked out in green.

                 Heather and Finnley were ready to party.  Finnley was doing lots of people watching.
We returned a few weeks ago from our trip to Florida and the snow and ice is still here.  I think it has been below zero at night for the last 2 weeks.  No warm up in sight as we are to get some snow tomorrow night!!
We spent a few days in New Orleans area with some friends and the weather was great.  I can see the attraction for them at this time of year...not so sure about the summer.  The one nice thing about March in TC is that there is usually lots of sun...today is cold and  sunny.  We plan the weekend at the cabin as Sunday is our anniversary...40 years.  We were so glad to celebrate with the family while in Florida...it was a memorable trip.  I hope my next post has some spring flowers in it!!!!   Kathy and Michael