BADGER'S BIG ADVENTURE

Mom and Dad went out for an anniversary dinner....a two hour tour...and left Nana and Grandpa Bo to babysit...they also left some instructions...

and a power of attorney...


It was then that the creatures decided to attack...Grandpa Bo's suggested the use of firearms...But Nana insisted under the "instructions" guns were prohibited...Badger read the instructions again to Grandpa Bo and she was right...
So Badger armed only with a Banana stood up to the bad creatures..


The results were predictable so Badger rode away on her Pony "Thunder"



She met up with her friends from the 7th Calvary...but again the results were predictable...

Finally Nana rescued her from the negative influences in the house ....
And read a fairy tale to her...
The end....

Getting Ready for Christmas!

Well, grades are in and students are snuggled all tight at their parents' homes and we are awaiting our own children's arrivals to the farm. We have ordered the snow and we are preparing the food and drink, and wrapping the gifts. We even have a tree all decorated, complete with tacky tree-top angel in place. We hope for a full house including Grandma Vandenbergh. But so far, guests are arriving and the cats are waiting in anticipation, wondering if Toby is coming to visit. Photos display our preparations so far...

WINTER IN MICHIGAN

It's December 9th in Chippewa Lake and we have been hammered with our first major snow storm of the Winter. Two feet and climbing! By comparison last year people were playing golf on December 16th. All of the schools are closed and a few of the Courthouses. Sadly not Mecosta or Osceola. I stocked the birdfeeders last weekend so the critters are ok. It's days like this that I'm proud of my gas guzzeling 4-wheel drive redneck truck. Roar out of the garage and head for the office on our unploughed roads. It's neat to be the first vehicule on the road. It also helps to be four feet off the ground with a good heater. A couple of nights ago we watched a DVD prop-mo from the Villages. Happy people walking in there shorts and enjoying the Florida Sunshine. Those poor folks have no idea what their missing.
My latest book is Martin The Warrior. The hero is a mouse, who with the help of his friends (including a fearless female Badger) is attempting to rid the land of Stots, Fox and Rats.

THE GREAT DEPRESSION

One of my habbits is to review the books the family buy in the annual xmas trip to Barns and Nobel. Somebody picked out THE GREAT CRASH, by John Kenneth Galbraith. It's a short book which discribes the economy leading up the the October crash of 1929. The crash that lead to the Great Depression. The comparison with today is pretty chilling. Then people were investing in something called Trusts (today read hedge funds) and through "leverage" and bank loans gambling with stocks and investments that they niether understood or were able to value. Sound familar? Of course the house of cards colapased and took america with it. Great Xmas reading!
For my next book maybe I'll read about the "Black Plague". Speaking of Plague, I vote that instead of Papa Vino's we celeberate all birthday dinners at home. I've never gotten sick on your mom's cooking!
We have some new stockings for Xmas but as always are open to suggestions for items to stuff them with. This is also our first Xmas with Badger and I've been busy in my workshop. Nana is getting ancy to make "VandenNog" and cookiees and when she turns in final grades for the semester I'm sure she'll shift into high gear.

Badger's 1st Thanksgiving

Four Generations

New Wig

Cousins

Uncle David

Proud Great Grandmother

??????

1st Eddition

Some Guy at the Resterant

Hanging on Every Word

Welcome to Our Blog

It is Thanksgiving Day and the first day of our blog. We are entering our pre-retirement phase and entering the blogosphere to keep in touch with our growing family. Please join us.

Janet (in desperation) is attemping to put her head in the oven....fear not she was stopped in time (before she wrecked the potatos).

It's thanksgiving morning at the home of Loraine (mother-in-law) and chaos reigns in the kitchen. Two turkeys in the oven and many many side dishes on the stove. This is our first blog posting and with the help of our above average daughter we are up and running. We will be posting a mission statement later but in general our intent is to maintain contact with our family (including friends) as we enter our newest adventure (Retirement).

As to the name of this blog Cindy and I have traveled many roads in our 40 years together. Details will follow but the essence of our travels have been the people we have come to know and love.