HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY BELOVED DAD IN LAW, MR. PAUL GRISMER, TO MY BROTHERS IN THE PHILS. MY BROTHERS IN LAW, MY UNCLES AND COUSINS, FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES, AND TO ALL THE DAD, TATAY, ITAY, PAPA IN THE WORLDGOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL

    HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MY BELOVED MOM IN LAW, JOANNE GRISMER, MY SISTERS IN LAW IN THE PHILS. AND HERE IN MI MY AUNTS AND COUSINS, DEAR FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES, AND TO ALL THE MOMS IN THE WORLD I SALUTE YOUMAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ALL

      Thank you my friends for visiting here even you did not get any news from me as i was not just lazy but my own little way of fasting or abstinence also aside from not eating too much(especially meat) during the Lenten Season Well, i think, avoiding too much sitting infront of pc is good for me also because i notice i lose a couple of pounds and now i am really watching my diet here (except when i am having lunch or party at lanie's) plus exercise. I just thought that it would be nice and great to get back to my previous weight again and this is my inspiration right now, the new pretty and sexy swimsuit that hubby got me during our shoppingwhat do you think?

    I am thinking to do some walking also around the subd. but the weather here in MI is not that stable yet. It's just weird and crazy, sometimes nice or very hot and the following hrs or day, it's raining and cold again 

I repot my mini rose, yes the mini rose is still alive and blooming and so i put the pot outside but it was raining and windy this morning so i put back indoor again this afternoon we're getting some sunshine so i took it outside again I will just take it back inside again before dark tonight, just in case there is frost night and morning again

at least it's not snowing anymore, unlike the holy week before Easter Sunday, (Palm Sunday to Wednesday)we had pretty serious snow

       But it was a nice spring day that Easter Sunday the snow completely melted after couple days of hot sunshine. Hubby and I spent the day at my parents in law's together with my other family inlaws and it was just nice to eat outside(backyard garden)again after the long cold weather and played with my lovely and makulit niece-in-law Bailey

more pics here

hmm.. i was able to hunt for Easter baskets again that bunny hubby hidHe hid it hard this time, but it was fun anyway, hubby said that i was more excited of hunting than eating the chocolates, and he's right(just avoiding too much calories)mom gave us some sweets too

      Hubby and I also attended a party a day before Easter at Lanie's. The kids with their mothers enjoyed the egg hunting at the huge yard We did not stay longer because we were thinking to attend the anticipated mass but we found out that there was no mass scheduled that Saturday, instead there would be an Easter Vigil mass at 9pm, so we catched the 9pm Vigil mass and because it was my first time to attend, never thought for it to be that beautiful, ended over 11pmThere was also a Passion Play reading during the Palm Sunday mass and we thought of watching the Passion Of Christ on dvd again but we were not able to do it for some reasons So that's my Lenten story here, of course i was thinking also about the Holy week in the Phils., especially that we have San Pedro statue in our care(from our grandparents) and the Pabasa or Reading the Passion of Christ. Anyway, i know my siblings there did a good job even without me

   Right now, we are preparing for filing my 2 yr Removal of Condition(for 10 yr greencard). I know it will just be easy because as you all know that our relationship is real and trueSo happy together and forever will be

   Have a good day everyoneStay happy too and have fun!

      I am doing a recap again, which obviously means that i got lazy again of blogging for several weeks or maybe almost a month. Anyway, Hubby and I are just doing fine, so happy together! and last Valentine's day, we just stayed at home, just like last year's Valentine after attending the Saturday Holy Mass(our regular anticipated mass since we couldn't catch up with the Sunday morning schedule for some reasons) we took dinner and had champagne(almost finished the bottle), ate the valentine cupcakes and of course exchanged I loveyous while watching tv and dvds

     I got red hearty soft/warm slippers and a fresh miniature roses in a pot from hubbythe mini roses were pretty and cute until the other day, they're beggining to die. Once again, it just proves that i really do not have a green thumb at allanyway, we found out that it's not that easy to grow a mini rose especially on winter, it needs  a lot of sunshineand i think i water it a lot so more water and no sunshine is bad for mini rose

      cheers to our endless love and happiness!!!

     and these are my personal and special requests for valentine goodies from my hubbythe sweet and funny MARK&CLEO CHEEK TO CHEEK  Fancy Pals ; I LOVE CLEO  Plush toythat arrived more than a week after the valentine, along with the Speaker for my Ipod that he ordered also

  If you think that i just named it after us, you may want to check this out and this one, how cool is that?It was Tonya who found and informed me about it and i thought why not get a souvenir but hubby found other site with lower price/on discount salewhile browsing the site, i also found this Cleo Plush toys,so i asked him to get one too You might wonder why i chose the frog, it's because i already have cute bears and bunnies, so for a change tooand i also like frogs for some reasons

and this dvd, A Very Special Love that hubby and I enjoyed to watch

     I was just curious about Sarah Geronimo who is a Pop Princess in the Phils. (who is actually the singer of my background song hereher own version of this song,"The Gift")and can actually act, particularly in romantic comedy, and became a box office queen of 2008. This is her first movie and her team up with John Lloyd Cruz was just great. I like the message of the movie also so i am not surprise if this has sequel shown last Feb., the "You Changed My Life

    A week after the Valentine, i thought of having a haircut and because hubby offered that i could also have some other treatment like straightening or whatever, and i thought, "why not"so i had highlights also. I know, doing it by yourself is a lot cheaper but sometimes it's just great to be pampered once in a while and how can i resist my husband's treat I met Ida at the parlor, an indonesian who treated my hair and said that there are many who mistaken her for a filipinai also thought that she might be a filipina. I have been to that parlor several times but she was always busy with other customers and so this time i got to talk with her, chika while she's doing my hair. She told me that she stayed in CA for years, met many filipinas there and i found out that among the Filipino dish, she likes the Egg roll or Lumpia so i told her i could make Lumpia for her, she was excited and said she's willing to pay if ever i cook LumpiaSo i think i will try this small business In fairness, she's very nice

    I did not have straightening at the parlor but i got flat iron hair straightener so i can just style and straight whenever i want and i don't use it if i want my curl hair back so nice and better than straightening treatment because it's not permanent,  yes, i still love my natural curly hairbut it's shorter than i expectedanyway, i can save some shampoo, conditioner, etc.

note:highlights are more visible in person than in the photos

        On the other note, hubby and I also attended the Holy Mass during the Ash Wednesday and had the crossed ash on our foreheads, means it's the time for fasting and abstinence again in the Catholic Church. Time to reflect and repent for what we are,to assess not only our spiritual life but the whole conceptYou might want to visit again this entry here in my journal that i thought it's the most inspiring and meaningful post that i've ever made

     This Lenten season reminds me of this teleserye on TFC abs-cbn, "May Bukas Pa" (There's Still Tomorrow), which is one of my favorites tv series now. It is about faith and hope that every problem has a solution, everything is gonna be alright as long as you believe, that there will always be hope amidst trials and difficulties. Miracles don’t just fall from heaven but comes to those who keep their faith

     So girlfriends, watch na! i am sure you will like this show also  

     Off topicFinally, i am glad that i already able to send the balikbayan box that i was preparing since January and after an ultimate stroll at the mall with friend LanieIt's my 3rd box that i sent in my 2 and half yrs here in the U.S, not bad!of course, i am always very grateful to my hubby love for making this possible

        That's all for now! Thank you friends and bloggers for hopping by, will visit you tooKumusta man dyan sa mga tugang, pinsan saka mga amigas ko dyan sa BicolHave a nice day everyone

      I have been lazy nowadays of updating here but since this month is a love month and love topics are in the air, on tv and on the internet, so i am just inspired to make this post. I thought that this is the time to brag about my beloved husband also. Girls and gals you can also post your reasons why you love your very own husbands and let's exchange or share notes. Now, I can think of 100 reasons why i love him but here's just a few to share;These may be simple little things but big deal for me

      1. He's the same guy that i met 4 yrs ago, kind and gentle, thoughtful, sweet and sensitively loving

      2. He cares for my family

      3. His family(my inlaws) are nice to me, i love them too

      4. His dancing makes me laugh(i know, he just want to make me laugh)

      5. He likes to sing karaoke(which most americans won't dare to do)

      6. He insists(always)to me that his wife is maganda and sexy(and say, "talaga and no bola") makes my heart big

      7. anyway, he's got guapo face(for me) that sometimes he would ask me, "what?" whenever he catch me watching him

      8.  He makes me feel smart, eventhough he is far smarter

      9. He constanly reminds me how much he cares and how lucky he is to have me and said Life is wonderful since we're together  

     10. He's cool and calm, never heard him whining, swear or say "bad" words

     11. I love and admire him for religiously going to church with me and so we pray together

     12. He wakes me up with his kisses and i loveyous in the morning just to say goodbye(to work), and kiss/hug me whenever he's back

     13. He cuddle, rub, hug-kiss me while watching our favorite shows on tv or when he gets a chance

     14. He opens the car for me and close it when i'm safe inside

     15. I hear no complains eventhough it takes me time to shop,(we shop together) and patiently wait until i am done

     16. He's supportive in everything that i do, gives me anything that i need and want, makes me happy and comfortable in my new home/country. Among any other things, he assures that i have rice and ricecooker(yes he knows that, i can't live without rice) he got me new and bigger ricecooker when we found out that the old one is broken(even i also know how to cook rice using the stove)

     17. He respect and understand my Filipino culture and traditions as i respect his

     18. He is trying his best to learn and speak the Tagalog language In fact, he knows a lot now, he got new tagalog audio lessons aside from the Rosetta StoneI find him cute when he say, " HINDI KO NAIINTINDIHAN; PAKIULIT NGA; AYOS LANG; GUSTO MO BA?; SINONG KUMANTA NG KANTANG ITO?( from wowowee show)and many more

     19. About 2 or 3 yrs ago, i found out that he's not too tough to cry infront of me(i mean, not the loud cryjust a bit silent teary eyed) which touched my heart

     20. I love him the way he worries about me, especially when i am sick, such a good nurse

        Above all other things, i love him because he brings out the best in meHe is a wonderfully beautiful person inside and we just click together, the chemistry is amazing, we're both positive and openminded, no complains, no fights or serious arguments at all, we trust and respect each other, in for almost 2 and a half yrs of marriage, just simply great! the more that i know my husband, the more that i love him I hope he won't change and i look forward(i know he would also) even for a billion more years with him or i should say to FOREVER

      HAPPY HEART'S DAY TO ALLStay sweet!and to those of you who have not found yet your SO/ Significant Other, just pray and believe that someone out there is meant for you to love and will love you tooMay you get the desires of your heart

      I am just starting to keep our christmas decorsactually i didn't want to keep them yet because it adds glow, light and beauty in the house but Christmas Season is over and yes 2008 is over, time really flies so past and whatever happened in 2008 that affects you, affects the whole world, we just pray and hope that everything will turn out right and great this year, just think positive, have a good aura so that good vibes or good and positive things would come your way and even something worst happened to you, just think that the gift of life or being alive and healthy at this present or moment is worth thankful for, this is why we call the Gift as a Present or the Present as a Gift, the gift of life from God above so Thank you Lord for the past 2008 and Welcome 2009! May we all have a Blessed, Healthy and Prosperous New Year

    Meanwhile, I want to brag also what i received from Santa last christmas Aside from shopping spree before christmas, (of course i only goes for great deals, big discounts get me crazy) hubby got me a new Canon digi camera and an Ipod Touch . I kinda anticipated already about the new camera because we talked about it before that we will send my old camera to my sister in PI and i was really surprised that i got new Ipod Touch also hubby said that since i already know about the camera, he thought of getting me another present (yes he always surprise me) I like it so much, 'coz it's not only could store thousands of songs but it has video and photos features too, so all of our photo albums and videos from our pc (including our recorded karaoke videos) are all in my Ipod now, and we can browse or search the internet, how cool is that? now, I can send also my old Ipod classic

    He said we can upgrade my Ipod touch to Iphone but i think it's not so necessary, i still love my pink razor motorola cellphone that he gave or sent me when i was still in the Phils., more than 2 yrs ago now besides, as long as i have music and photos, i am good

   This is my new Canon camera. I must say,my old one is memorable to me also. Hubby bought it couple of months after i arrived here in MI and before our wedding, so it's like wedding present(altho our wedding present for ourselves then was the digital photo frame) and since then, the camera became my favorite buddy anywhere, anytime i want to take pics, on the snow even i was alone and while hubby was at work Anyway this new cam is pretty much the same with my old one, except that it is color gold and has added features Salamat again my loveand for everything that you gave me and mosts of all, for the love, your love and care is more than enough to be thankful for I love you and God bless

    White Christmas Day, Hubby and I spent the Christmas dinner with the Grismer family held at my sister in law's house am glad again that they like the food that i prepared, the all time favorite Caldereta, Pancit and Beef Lumpia or Egg roll(here) my first time to make the Lumpia and am happy that it was a hit We had exchange gifts too but mom and dad always got present for me and for everybody. I got this pair of comfy red sweat shirt and pants from them,

Isn't this cute nice for next camping outfit but i already wore it last New year's Eve, because it's new and lucky color for new year(and i wore my orange/white polka dots top on New Year's day) Hubby got a pair also but a gray pants mom said she couldn't find red pants for men. Thank you po mom and dad. I'd like you both to know that you guys are one of the reasons why i am happy here in my new home. Thank you for the love and support to my bro in law Peter and family(wife Vicky and son Chris) who always have gifts for us also. I like the crystal bracelet and the pack of beauty products for or from head to toe, nice, and the elegant photo gift set(suede box with matching suede photo albums and frames  plus the glass snowman candleholder and chocolates we got earlier when we invited them for dinner the first weekend of DecThanks again and Thanks to the Grismers, love yah all

     Before and after Christmas, we also attended couple of parties at Lanie's. Dec. 20, Christmas Party with friends and we also had exchange gifts, plus the carolers of SPO or Samahang Pilipino of Oakland were back, it was nice and with new soloist singer and Trish(lanie's daughter) and friend joined the caroling also of course somehow they were lost in tagalog songsbut cute.  Dec. 27 was Garin's Birthday and it was supposed to be a get together party also for the Fil-Am site WOF (World of Filipinas) MI chapter that's why Lanie did not invite anymore lots of friends, but only couple Althea and Erik (Chillipper) came, anyway, we'll plan another party again, maybe summer is the best time, what do you think Lan?

     We spent the New Year's eve at Brad and Tonya. I brought Menudo dish but unfortunately Brad couldn't take liver in Menudo and made him sick, i added calf liver with the pork i feel sorry for him,  i will have to remember, liver is out for them Good that Tonya prepared yummy chilli mac, fruit salad and egg dish. The guys played PS Rockband down the basement and us girls had chika while watching tv and waiting for the New year It was a nice time but i admit i miss the noisy New year, noisy neighborhood and firecrackersbut to top it all, i had a nice holiday with my beloved hubby even if everyday is already a holiday for me i think hubby enjoyed his long holidays too, we watched bunch of movies, played Karaoke and shopping it's nice that we were able to attend Christmas Eve mass

     I would like to take this chance to thank also my dear friend Lanie for being so nice friend to me, i was able to meet many friends because of you, thank you for the gift of friendship and i will always treasure it Thanks pala for the watch that you gave me, i really like it and to all my MI friends before i forgot, i thank you Jeth Bell also for always including me in your lists, the neat black blouse that you sent was not too big than i thought very comfymy hubby said that you're such a nice friend, you've been sending me christmas gifts even we have not yet met in person and thanks for the card too

     Thanks to my friends, relatives and family in PI and here in the US who sent warm christmas greetingsI hope they got also the cards that we sent, it's ok if they were super delayed than lost somewhere Thanks also to all the bloggers here who visited me, will visit you too Again, Have a Blessed New year and may you get what you're wishing for

       The first "ber" month is almost over. In the Phils., when it's already a "ber" month it means Christmas is On and approaching, we even have countdown of days before Christmas and some are already putting up their christmas decors, christmas songs are playing on the radio and tv showsI can say, no one in the world celebrates Christmas the way Filipinos doAnyway, who doesn't love Christmas In the Bicol Region, we are not only excited of Christmas because September also means the Peñafrancia Festival or the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, celebrated every third Saturday of September in my hometown Naga City. It is the busiest and holy time of the year for the bicolanos, and i am just glad this year that i was able to attend the celebration even i'm thousands miles away from Naga City, Phils.

     When i arrived here 2 yrs ago, i was wondering if the Bicol Association here also celebrates the Peñafrancia Fiesta and luckily, a couple months ago,  i met a bicolana ate Nitz (Nenita Elpedes) in one of the parties here and she said, she will inform me about the fiesta and last week, i thought she already forgot about me I even wanted to go to Virginia because my lola there said they have bicol fiesta there. Anyway, isn't it amazing that even hubby and I were not able to go to Virginia, I finally had one here in Michigan and very near our place 

The Peñafrancia Fiesta held last September 20 at Thelma Spencer Park, Rochester MI., with the Bicol Association of MIchigan during the Fluvial Procession

     Hubby and I thought that it's the best time to wear our Bicol souvenirs shirts again we sneaked a pose too with INA

this is ate Nitz that i met couple months ago,  who is very hospitable and really made me feel welcome. Actually, hubby and I registered that day in the Bicol Association of MI

with ate Nitz and her daughter in law, May and some of her friends. I met many bicolanos but i forgot their names, anyway, there's more meetings to come

To view more pics, pls just click here       

     Because it's fiesta it means lots of food including of course! the Bicol's Specials; Gulay Natong or Laing and Balaw or Bicol Express. The celebration was simple, a mass was held after the fluvial procession,  not big fiesta as in Naga City but it was awesome. I felt that i am really home even i'm away from home Thanks to my hubby love for all the support 

     Salamat man saindo gabos sa pagbisita igde sa sakong journal Have a good day

    Hello everyone! As you can see, It's been a while that i don't have updates here, well, it's the time of the year again that i feel soooo lazy here, that includes blog hopping, I hope i could make it up to you guys sooner or later  I may be lazy updating here but not with attending parties, like last Aug. 23 was the birthday party of Trish, Lanie's only girl, and other things like shopping('coz i need to get something also for my hubby's birthday) and lunch dates with Lanie and ate Amy who would invite and cook her fresh vegetables from her garden, really good i got some takehome of tomatoes, red bell and chilli peppers and other veggies

   On the other hand, last Labor day weekend was special for us( actually every labor day weekend would be or will always be memorable and special) because it's, my hubby Mark's birthday, Aug. 31 and a day after his birthday, Sept. 2 is our wedding anniversary. I guess my Mark had a nice happy birthday, we had bonfires at his friend's place, together with other friends I am glad that he always like every presents i bought for him, ( i know we have the same taste) especially the shirt that i got which is funny because we found out that it's made in the Phils.oh, i never noticed it at the mall, i was just busy looking for the nice color and texture Anyway, Happy Happy Birthday again to my dearest and beloved husband. I know how happy he is with me 

   We planned a trip to Virginia to visit my relatives and to attend the Peñafrancia or Bicol Fiesta there, but due to insufficient funds we were not able to go, but anyway there's still next time, we'll just go whenever we can We thought of going to Cedar Point but unfortunately it was closed(open only on weekends this Sept.) It was open everyday mid May until August and i was already excited Again, Life has many surprises and we don't know what's gonna happens next Hubby and I ended up watching a movie" Death Race" at the mall. It's a pretty good movie and actually, it was just the second time for us going out to watch movie because we usually buy or rent dvds to watch at home( i like our own home theater herebig tv and with audio just the same with movie theater) anyway, it was worth to go out, and took dinner after watching and we had a nice date 

   We still have our Cedar Point tickets and hopefully we can go this weekend and our little tokens for our anniversary that i like(aside from the Kitchen Cabinet/Organizer we got earlier)the shimmering Fiber Optic and a pretty scrapbook to fill up with happy and sweet memories of our lives(i'm corny, i know!)

       They say, that up to 5 yrs of marriage is the adjustment period, but i can honestly and sincerely say that for 2 yrs of being married, we really never undergo this adjustment thing. I feel that we have been married for a long time and we never had serious arguments or anything, maybe, it's because we are just both cool people Usually or most of the time, we both easily agree on somethingnot bad for us who have just started and have a long way to go. I know, there's no perfect relationship, but i can say that we are almost there, and i wish and pray that it would always stay this wayThis is not to sugar coat or anything but my loving husband is just right and perfect for me. I know, husbands are husbands but there are many things about him that i really admire and cherish, i am thankful for  I LOVE YOU MY EXTRAORDINARY HUSBAND MARK ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE AND EVERYTHING, AND I THANK GOD I BELIEVE THAT HE IS ALWAYS THERE, BLESSING OUR LIVES AND OUR MARRIAGE, UNTIL FOREVER

    THANK YOU ALSO TO OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND TO ALL WHO GREETED US AND FOR ALL THE WISHESBE HAPPY AND HAVE A NICE WEEKENDGOD BLESS

     How's everyone there? I hope that you are all fine, just like me here Although i am quite lazy again in updating here  maybe because of the weather, i like the weather, not hot in here for couple of weeks nowThis week, i spend much time watching the Beijing Olympics, ( i set aside my TFC shows for now) i enjoy watching the games, after watching the scenic or cinematic, spectacular, grandiose and so Hi-Tech opening ceremony last Friday, that WOWed us and the world. I even watched it again the following day(it was recorded) Congratulations to China for the amazing fantastic job Anyway, It's quite different now, i mean, before, i only cheer for my beloved country Phils., now i am also cheering for the USA team, and i really enjoyed watching them winning the gamesthey are doing greatespecially, Michael Phelps, that is getting golds for swimming. The USA team is no. 1 in rank for medal standing right now, although, i think China got mosts of the gold. On the other hand, The Phil. government is offering a reward of 15 million pesos plus a car to a Phil. athlete who would win the first gold, but i believe it's a tough competition for them, anyway, Tira-Tira! GO Team Philippines!  Mabuhay and the USA athletes

     On the other note, last Sunday, hubby and I attended the christening of Rowena's baby girl Ashely yep! i noticed every weekend this summer is a party weekend, and it's nice because i get to hang up with friends, although of course i get to eat more too i know this is the not so good part of it at least for me, that is gaining weight. Anyway, it's ok as long as i enjoy it. They say, enjoy life while it lasts The reception was held at Lanie's, here's our pics below

Pls just click here for more photos

     Thanks for viewing and for visiting me again my friends Have a lovely day

   Thank you my friends and family for hopping in here and checking me. Sorry if you did not get new post for a while as i was a bit lazy  I thought of updating here before the laziness strikes me again

   The photos were taken last weekend when Fran (a bicolana too) invited us to Higgins Lake for the birthday celebration of her father in law. The first time we met Fran was during the christening of her son in Saginaw,MI, so i was excited when she invited us again and so, hubby and I spent the weekend with Fran and family at Higgins Lake in Roscommon, MI., about 166 mi or 2 and half hr drive from home, but we spent an hour more because of the traffic due to road constructions. We went there Friday afternoon and came back home Sunday pm. The place was very nice, just like our camp site when we were in UP north wherein there's fresh air and tranquility  Fran said that she likes it there and they are going to live there when she and her husband are oldThey got a nice cabin and also her inlaws, actually her inlaws got a big nice house there, not cabin. Her step daughters were so excited and amazed when hubby were setting up our tent and they kept telling their father that they wanted a tent also but they got more excited when they saw the Playstation Karaoke Revolution and the Rock Band, oh yes they enjoyed playing it together with their cousins it's good that we brought those stuffs, actually we almost forgot to bring it

   That past weekend was really a blast Hubby and I were not expecting that we're gonna enjoy it when Fran said that more or less 70 people are coming there to attend the party. Actually, it was a surprise birthday party for her dad in law, attended by family, relatives and friends. We thought that Fran and her hubby Mike are gonna be so busy, but we had a great time with them. They took care of us from breakfast to dinner, even her parents in law were also awesome and accomodating. They were telling us that we are always welcome to go back there anytime we want to yes, i want to go back to swim again at the very beautiful inviting lake We came back home Sunday, but we dropped first at Fran's house in Saginaw continued the karaoke singing there and had our yummy dinner first before we headed home We surely had funOur big thanks to Fran and her family 

  So, that's our summer weekend getaway last week Thanks again folks for hopping Enjoy your summer there

      After a week of camping to UP North,MI., my buddies here Lanie and Kim invited me to go for a strawberry picking at Middleton Berry Farm, just very near with Kim's place. The thought that i would be in the middle of the farm filled with strawberries was the one that made me excitedbecause i'm not so crazy of strawberries, i mean, if i have to choose from strawberries, apples, grapes or bananas, i would like the other fruits for my desertsalthough i also like the processed ones, like strawberry jams, popcicles, icecream, yogurt or even the lip gloss strawberry flavor. It was one pleasant day at the farm, not sunny at allgood for me 'coz my skin is still burned from our campingso it was just perfect time for us, (perfect for taking pics also,)you know, first timer. I thought of tasting one strawberry and oh! boy it was really sweet and good, and so i couldn't help but to eat while picking them actually, everybody were eating also, that was so much funand Lanie's kids enjoyed as well(of course!). We also hopped in at Wojo's garden, so you'll notice that there are some flower pics included in the slides.

    Anyway, here at home, i have been eating strawberries since Friday and until now i still got some after making a couple of Strawberry Smoothies Just great for a hot summer day

    Oh! well, this week has been a strawberry week for me not yet tired of eating them. We all enjoyed that outdoor activityand i am excited for another berry picking again next month. Well, I think it's just good to make the most of summer and enjoy while it last

    On the other note again aren't these pics cool?

      Hubby Mark shovels the snow during winter, and mows the lawn on summeri just thought that the changing of seasons is amazingoh! i love Michigan

    Thank you everyone for visiting me hereHave a pleasant day

   Hi everyone we're back last Sunday from a week camping(June29 to July5) at Forest Lake in the Upper Peninsula(UP) North Michigan, about 395 mi or 6 and half hrs ride from our place. Our road trip was fun because we travelled in a convoy with my hubby's friends, (Scott and his big black dog Axle, couple Greg and Susan with daughter Erin) and we got walkie talkie or radio to use anytime there's a problem or anything. Their other friend Rob with wife Julie went there, Wednesday. I tell you, it was a nice vacation wherein, it was like we're in the middle of nowhere that all we could see are trees, lake, falls and some watchable animals around like birds, butterflies, chipmunks and squirrels, and it's nice that there were no bears although i was curious to see one. The fresh air, campfires while having some drinks and grills, and lots of stars at night were awesome very different here in the city that we could hardly see so much stars at night. Well, it was great to see, feel and experience the nature again once in a while. Hubby Mark and friends are camping regularly at least once a year and this is my second time with them. My first time camping was last year at Black Lake in Onaway City and he thinks that i also like camping, yes he's rightand I never missed the internet nor my TFC, isn't it amazingAlthough my skin got dark or tanned, i even got sunburn on my face, but it was worth it naman

more camping photos here

    Last year we did not pass the mighty Mackinac Bridge So i was more excited and took video this time. The Mackinac Bridge of Mackinaw City is a 5 mile suspension bridge connecting MIchigan's Upper and Lower Peninsula

     It was cool to have landed my feet on the LAKE SUPERIOR the largest, deepest, coldest and cleanest fresh water lake in the world whew! the water was really cold

    UP North MI has several interesting names of the towns or communities, like the Paradise and Dollarville(sounds nice isn't it) and Christmas, so everyday is christmas in Christmas, MI

     We hopped in to some waterfalls. Wagner Falls is just near our camp site 

more pics here

    THE TAHQUAMENON FALLS STATE PARK in Paradise,MI has become famous for the magnificient UPPER FALLS. At 200 feet wide and nearly 50 feet of vertical drop, it is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. A maximum flow of more than 50,000 gallons of water per second has been recorded cascading over these falls.

   The coloration of the water is due to the presence of tannic acid, which is a natural substance found in decomposing vegetation, such as eastern hemlock. Hemlock bark was once used to tan leather. It took 125 pounds of bark to tan 1 cow hide.

    Four miles downstream is the LOWER FALLS, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island.Although not as dramatic as the Upper Falls, they are equally magnificient.The falls can be viewed from the river bank or from the island, which can be reached by rowboat rented from a park concession. The island walk affords a view of the falls in the south channel.

Tahquamenon Falls Video

    UP North getaway would not be complete without the PICTURED ROCKS Boat Cruise in Munising,MI it was fantastic, awesome and beautiful Just great to discover the Scenic Natural Wonders on the waters of Lake Superior. It's a breathtaking 2 1/2-3 hour cruise along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The crystal clear blue green waters of Lake Superior have created masterpieces of colors and rock formations found nowhere else in the world and it's an unforgettable experience seeing those incredible formations up close. The 37 mile adventure passes points such as Lovers leap, Grand Portal, Miners Castle, Indian Head, just to name a few, and are described with legend and lore by the captain.

         pls just click here for more pics and video of the Pictured Rocks

    While cruising, we got to see the birds up close and personal video here

      After the cruise, we took dinner and waited until the Fireworks Display started which was held at the Bayshore, Munising, just the same place where we had the cruise The Fireworks Display was awesome, well not as great like in Detroit but at least we also felt the Independence Day celebration last 4rt of Julynice treat!

   more pics of amazing fireworks here plus the video

    Well, that's all folksto sum it up, we really had a great time with our UP North getawayand looking forward to have more campings and adventures in the future

    On the other note, hubby and I, together with friends had a day at the beach(Blue Belle Beach, Genesse Park)in Flint, a day before going to camping. hmm.. the waterproof case for our small digi cam is really working good

 more pics here

   Ok, i think i'm done for now Once again, thank you girls and gals for checking me here Have a fantastic day