Wicked Halloween

This morning was the Wicked Halloween Run (10K) in Plymouth Michigan.    Almost 2,000 people were there for 3 races.   They all started downtown and wound around some nice living areas in Plymouth.   LOTS of costumes!!!!!!

I hooked up with this group from Playmakers - The Williamston Women Warroirs - shirts, tu-tu's and bandanas.    It was a fun race.  

P.S. - I came in third in my age group.   We didn't stick around for awards............no matter...

We have had some good winds this past week and many of the leaves are off the BIG oak tree.   They blew over the house and onto the front walk and deck.   It was at least 6 inches deep!!!

Happy Fall!!!!!

Costume Delivery

We drove to Ohio on Friday afternoon.    The drive was beautiful - fall color in abundance!!!

  Andrew greeted us with his new teeth!!!!

Saturday morning, Ashley and I went to Lebanon for Alexanders' Cross Country meet.    It was a conference meet - LOTS of teams there.   Alexander has done well this year - just over a 20 minute time for the course.

After helping Ashley and kids go thru their dressers, it was time to try on costumes.    Andrew is a ninja.....similiar to last year..

Allison is a leopard.   I found slippers and a set of scarf, gloves and headband - to which I added the ears - to go with the leopard suit that I sewed.

   

Alexander wanted me to make a long black cloak and some arm and leg guards.    He added the leather gloves and will add black sweats inside the cloak - a very serious Sith warrior.

Grandpa and grandson - sooo serious!!!!!!

Sunday morning everyone got up and ready for church - and the final family portrait.

We headed home.    The colors in Ohio are not as vibrant as Michigan - mostly yellow golds in the leaves.    Lansing has been blessed with the greatest red, orange and fire colored leaves on the trees.    We go thru Bellefountaine - they are working on the county seat building - first constructed in 1842.

This evening I'm headed to Playmakers for the Race Series Reception.   I placed third in my age group for the overall series - I had no idea I'd done that well in their series races this year.   It may never happen again, so I'd better go and get honored!!!!

Too Busy??????

My latest hand piecing project.  

Very scrappy.

Too busy?????????

Fall colors in Delta Township

This is the street into Willow Woods............

The trail that I walk takes me past these red leafed vines - they are stunning......

Are the poison oak???

This afternoon after biking 8 miles with Leslie - yes, I can still ride a bike - and now considering a springtime purchase....I took a walk in Hunters Orchard - another Delta Township park.

There were a few red trees....but mostly yellow.   Still the reflection in the water was neat to see.

This is another view I see on the walks near my home.........

All over town the color is magnificant this year.........I have to remember to watch the road when I'm driving!!!!!!!!

No more Dishmaster....sob!!!

We have had a dishmaster in our kitchen almost all our married life.   Kuhlmans' have had them long before that.   The model has changed over the years, and a couple years ago they outsourced the manufacturing to China - with  a less than satisfactory product.   This one had developed a leak that could not be fixed.  A dishmaster has a soap reservoir that came out the brush handle when you pushed the little red button - making dishwashing those few items a very easy task.

This is the new faucet.   Pull down nozzle that sprays and a little soap dispensor on the side.    I will be experimenting with various brush/soap units to wash those few items that need hand attention - or washing before the next time we run the dishwasher. 

During the recent Olympics, I pieced these 4 blocks then appliqued them to the background, added sashing, etc.   Next comes a peaky triangle border - maybe just top and bottom  - will determine that as I work.   They are cute little pieces that make great hand work.  I don't plan most of my quilts until working on them.

This is a major applique project.   I keep adding.........

and adding........

I'm not sure if it will get another border or not..........a work in progress!!!!

I really need to get busy sewing halloween costumes......

I now have all the fabric...and that is a start!!

Capitol City River Run - 1/2 Marathon

This morning was the Capitol City River Run.   This is the third year I have done the hometown 1/2 marathon.  This is Lori and I before the race.   It was kinda cool and the long sleeves were good.  Lori was a pacer - all the pacers were in costume.

The scenery cannot begin to compare with Spearfish Canyon.   There was water - the Grand River - but it was kinda dirty and at times smelled really bad  (like dead animal).    The noise of the freeway on the other side of the riverwalk kinda spoiled the ambience.

I started just behind the 13 minute mile pacers, passed them about half way thru the race, and just kept going and going and going and going.............was glad to see the finish line.
I have a PR - 2:49 and was first in my age group - something I did not expect at all!!!   So now I have my medal and a hoodie!!!

Labor Day at the Lake

The Kuhlman family gets together once a year - a day at the Lake.    It means tubing for the children!!!!

They look forward to this each year.

All the Kuhlman "Greats" - in 1 place, looking at the camera and still!!!!!

Eddie and Katie took all the kids out fishing at dusk.   Piper was the only one to catch a fish!!!

Dark means campfire - and that means s'mores!!!!!

Each year I have taken pictues of the children in a little chair.   We now have a new chair, but still get the pictures to record growth.

Andrew and Allison can sit in this chair.....

Alexander is just TOO BIG!!!    So I got him on the back deck.

School has started in Ohio - a couple weeks ago.   Alexander is a freshman in high school and enjoying cross country.   Allison is in 6th grade and Andrew in first.........with a first loose tooth!!!!!

While the children were here, we talked about Halloween costumes.   Each year I make what they want - and I have some sewing to do now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   First, fabric shopping.....  I wouldn't do this if I didn't enjoy it.    
I'll get a little quilting done, too.