Christmas family gatherings

 Caitlin our Christmas Day hostess, with Santa Sean

 Cousins:  Don, Chad, Carolyn, Jenny, Cynthia.  Missing were Sharon, Bill, Emily and Katie.

 Cousins with Kristian Taylor, Herb Mahony and Aaron Weiner

Cynthia and Jim's family.  Where was Herb?

Candy Making again

 Karli and Stephen finish Peanut Brittle.

 Barbara and Don looked at photo albums from mie-1980's.  We all looked younger and some of us are still wearing the same clothes we wore in the photos!!!

Kristian and Laura stirring up the toffee.  Mike was here but I missed him in the photos!

2012 Neller Christmas

 The cousins being silly. Missing David, Andy, and Liane. Maybe next time.

 The elder members of the family.

Mom and Suzanne always take a good picture.

Mckenna says "All done!"

After a good venison steak dinner with squash and green beans from their garden at Don and Barbara's, we came home to have a cookie decorating party .  Of course we finished off with milk and cookies!  Then a couple of stories.

Thursday's outing

We enjoyed lunch at Jerry and Doris' and a magnificent sunset that was beautiful for many miles as we drove home.  Bible Study at our house this morning and Dottie Stark took a photo of us.  Caitlin and Mckenna are coming for tea this afternoon.

Candy making with Sewells and Mahonys

Mckenna, Caitlin and Ayla the fudge makers

Jim a superb nut chopper!

 Mckenna, Sean and Cynthia enjoy toys from Christmases past!

Caitlin & Jim check temperature of Peanut Brittle, Grandpa supervises and Ayla has the buttered pans ready

Dipping Divinity, Cynthia, Jim, Mckenna, Caitlin, Grandpa

Christmas Time in Chicago

Its finally after Thanksgiving which means Christmas decorations are finally going up. I have my Christmas tree up. The first one I've had since I moved to Chicago. Its fake but I think it's way better than dealing with a real one in my apartment. Grandma and grandpa sent me a Santa ornament (thank you!!) which is very lonely on my tree. My and Karli's parents are going to be coming in the next few weeks to see the city in the holiday season which is pretty amazing. It seems like every building decorates in some way for the holidays. The third picture is the Merchandise Mart which I get to see all lit up on my walk home every day.

Thanksgiving Day

 Walkers at Hawk Meadows:  Dave, John, Emily, Elija in stroller, Barbara, Don, Mike, Laura, Kristian, Ron

 Ron's new bearded look.  He plans to be in the Christmas Journey for their church and then may have a gote.

 Lauren admiring dessert choices: pumpkin (2 kinds),sweet potato, pecan, pumpkin cheesecake and the ice cream hasn't been put out yet!

 Playing ball with Elijah: Katelyn, Drew, Lauren.  Jonathan and Katie in background watching football.

More football watchers:  Bill, Jill and Mike.

A good weekend

The weekend began celebrating with Jim at the Community Recreation Center's 25th anniversary banquet honoring Manchester volunteers.  Jim was nominated by the Kiwanis Club for his willingness to help in any way at community events.  He was presented a framed certificate of appreciation while Cynthia, Caitlin, Herb, Dad/Grandpa and I applauded.  In the silent auction I was high bidder on dinner for two at  famous Zingerman's Deli and four tickets to the theater/music school event of my choice at U of M..  It was a good evening to be together.

Saturday's main activity is shown in the photos.  Don came after lunch to fire his rifle at the targets.  It takes a lot of preparation to get ready for deer season.  Leaving at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning will be the main push for this week.

After church Sunday Dad/Grandpa and I went to the grand opening weekend open house at the Broad Museum of Contemporary Art at MSU.  The building itself has been controversial and I have tried to reserve comment until I went to the open house.  Check out the building at broad museum@msu.edu, it is too hard to describe.  We waited 20 minutes in line to get in and the line was over twice as long when we left.  I'll go again, both the building and the art take some getting used to.  The 3D movie was interesting and much of the art was like nothing seen in Lansing before.  One of my art friends was quoted in the newspaper saying "New York has come to us!"

 The top blew out of the tree earlier this year.  Dad will call Art Kyler

 to see if he'd like to cut it into firewood to heat his house.

Pedro Party Day 2012

 Dave presenting trophy to Cynthia, 2012 Champ.

 Roz had plenty of poor hands and will get the booby trophy from her niece, Kelly, when they can get together.

Trick or treat time as everyone gathered.  I'm greeting truck driver Sean, pirate Mckenna and their Mother Caitlin.  Total count attending was 22.  This included Dave and Amy Lemmer, Barbara's brother and sister-in-law visiting from California.  There were delicious casseroles, a couple of salads and a tempting variety of wonderful desserts made by the best cooks ever!

Dow Gardens, Midland, MI

Yesterday was a day of beauty for Barbara, my guest, and me.  We went to Dow Gardens with Lansing Woman's Club.  Autumn color was beautiful even under cloudy, rain washed skies.  First we toured the home and studio of architect Alden Dow.  A room in the reception area is 18" below the water level of the pond surrounding the home.  Views from every window made you feel city life was miles away, in reality the home and gardens are in the center of  Midland.  Color, art , creativity fill every room.  I think surrounding yourself with beauty is an  inspiration..  After a box lunch in the garden barn, the director of the garden spoke on the history of the garden and led us on a walk through the garden.  Again beauty in every direction.  Some of the views I enjoyed follow.

 This bridge was designed to resemble the sun in its reflection.

 On a sunny day I'm sure this tree would be even more vivid.

 This bridge is made of cinders held together with cement.

This is a garden full of different kinds of kale!  Sculpture is called The Grand Ham!

Mahony Pumpkin carving 2012

First time touching the guts

Before he had touched the guts

Ayla hard at work and Sean saying no way get me away from this thing. Sean's pumpkin became Mom's pumpkin :) 

Still not having it!

Mckenna/Herb's is the bat on the far left, Mine/Sean's is in the middle, and Ayla's is on the right 

Fun at the cabin

 Cynthia helped Mckenna make a pretty, warm scarf with this special yarn.  10 minutes to finish!

 This frog game helps 4 year olds with learning colors, counting and memory retention.

 Gus and Mckenna, Cynthia, Jim, Jerry, Mike, Barbara, Dave, Don, Mary and Stephen.  We missed the rest of you!

 Somemore time!! Mike helping Mckenna toast a marshmallow to perfection.  The coals were just right for turning the marshmallows golden.  When we went inside we left the 1/2 bag of marshmallows, a chocolate bar and an open box of graham crackers on the woodpile.  Gus finished them off and acted rather sick!

 Don, Jim and Dave inspecting the "new" cultivator to work up the deer feed plots.  Don got it for free.  The fields are planted with rye grass now.  This will be used in spring to work up the ground for turnips etc.

 This is the best deer we saw in the woods!  Jerry uses these antlers to rub together and attract deer to his shooting lanes.  Twoanimals have appeared on Don's game camera, a Bob Cat and a Black Bear!!

 Cynthia and Mckenna off on a four wheel spin around the property.

Mary, Cynthia, Mckenna and Barbara keep their brains sharp with a game of Scrabble.