Karen's Koffee Klutch: June 4th 2013 thru July 9, 2013

I tried to get back on track and get my blog out every week, but it just hasn't happened yet. So just bear with me and it will happen. We have been busy getting our yard work done and getting ready to head to Goshen, Indiana for Heartland's North American Rally and Pre-Rally..

I had gone and weeded some flower beds and then planted some flowers as Dan has cut the grass about 4 times since we have been home. He has his new lawn mower that he has made adjustments to so our lawn looks so good when it is done.

We have filled all the hummingbird feeders as they all came back already and were looking for their food.

In between cutting the grass, he has washed and waxed the 5th wheel and truck and getting it ready to hit the road again.

On the 5th of June, I along with 2 others went to L'Anse Michigan to our friend Kathy for a fun party and an overnite. She is a Red Hat Queen and she had a "Housewives of Baraga County" "Special Tea Party" (There was no tea, just Wine) along with wonderful finger foods. What a HOOT....

Yummy Yummy

Tea Anyone

Our Lovely Hostess - Kathy Erickson

On Monday the 10th we headed for Elkhart IN, where we met up with Heartland friends and stayed the night. Bob and Pat Curry were going out for dinner and I invited us to ride along so we did not have to unhook, or make any dinner. We went to a place called Chubby Trout. What great food and the best part was the carrot cake for dessert. It was large enough to feed 4 people and had vanilla ice cream scooped high along side of it.. Yummy....

When we arrived we were parked in our permanent site and did not have to move. Unfortunately we were about 250 feet from the busiest train track in the state of Indiana I believe. When the trains came, it sounded like it was right next to our rig. Oh well...what more can I say...

The following pictures are some of the highlights of the week..

4H - fairgrounds

Herbie looking for his Mom...

Les and Janice Houser

Hoyt and Mary

Jay and Roy

Sally, Nellie and Stella

A mama Kildeer

Can you see the eggs

4-H RAISED GARDEN

It sure was a Party

Kelly and Micheal

The drink of choice (for some Heartlanders)

Our friends Hoyt and Mary arrived a few days later and they were parked right next to us. None of the people that we knew were parked near us, they were all over in another section of the park.

Dan and I had made a few trips out to Amish Country and then when Hoyt and Mary came we went there also. The towns are full of colorful flowers and unique shops.

The Heartland Rally went into full swing and everything was buzzing around. Heartland Mfg of Recreational Vehicles are awesome. They have it together with Great Customer Service and a Quality Product.

We had a great time at the Rally and was sure happy to head home to the Northwoods. We had a few days to get things in order before our friends Jim and Pat Doggett arrived. They had been at the Rally and made a trek north to visit some of their Winter Texan friends in Illinois and Wisconsin and Minnesota. We had

Dan didn't have time to make his smoked ribs for them, but he did make delicious charcoal grilled chicken. It was so yummy. They didn't stay long as they had to be back in Kansas City on Sunday. It was sure nice to share our beautiful country with them.. We hope that they come back and stay a bit longer in the future.

After they left we had another few days and then our Heartland Friends Bob and Pat Curry arrived. They took the reservations of our friends Bruce and Joanne from Kentucky who were suppose to spend the 4th of July week in Munising camping on Lake Superior, but sadly they had to cancel. Later our friends Ralph and Barb Chester from Valparaiso arrived for a pre-4th get together here at Halvorsen's Hideaway.On Saturday June 29th Jim and Lou DeVoe arrived from Tomah, Wisconsin. We had a nice dinner on Saturday evening. Sunday morning, we all packed up and headed 25 miles to Munising to The Tourist Park, which is on the shores of Lake Superior. to make this week happenings short, I will say that we had a couple of cool days, sunny ones, campfires, beautiful sunsets, stories, laughs and of course good food. We went to the parade on the 4th and then to the Bayshore park for awhile afterwards. We went back around 6:30 PM to the park and got settled in for the Fireworks. Why so early you think, well the park fills up so so full, that by the time it gets dark you can hardly find a bare spot to put your chair. As always, the fireworks were superb. All the Oue's and Awe's. On Saturday July 6th we packed up and headed back. DeVoes headed to Wisconsin, and Ralph and Barb went back to Indiana. the Curry's came back to our house. Our friends from Winnepeg, Manitoba came through earlier to go to Ontario to pickup a newer 5th wheel, and on the return run they came and stayed with us for a couple of days. We met them in Texas some years ago and the past few years they decided to go to Florida, but we have kept in touch and have met them a few times on our way South. It was so nice to have them spend some time with us. I really enjoyed their Rusty (Fox Terrier) Speaking of The Furry Friends, Herbie sure has had a variety of friends play with his toys. Blackjack, Bentley, Bailey, Trevor, Wiley and Yoggie and Rusty.

This morning, Ian and Mary left to go back to Canada, Bob and Pat Curry are leaving and heading to The Copper Country of Michigan and then on to their travels for the summer before heading back to Dallas, TX.

Dan and I are going to rest up for a few days and then head to Wisconsin and bring my mother home with us for a while. Come August the 5th wheel and truck gets washed and cleaned up and we head out for a some campouts with our Heartland friends.