Day 10

Back over in Leelanau County today!

08/10/2013	You enabled Lovers Lane		Visit Log
Replaced and it's ready to go
08/10/2013	You performed maintenance for S2S Empire		Visit Log
Stopped by today and checked, the numbers had come off the lid. Replaced, it is now good to go. Grabbed the teddy.
08/10/2013	You couldn't find MLT Glen Haven		Visit Log
We found all the stages but blanked on the final. Maybe another day.
08/10/2013	You found Going, Going, Gone!		Visit Log
We were out today on maintenance mission for our Lovers Lane cache in Suttons Bay and the S2S one in Empire. As lunch time approached the question was Art's or the Early Bird, this time the Early Bird won. Since we were in Leland we picked this one for our Day 10 souvenir. Today the field was a place where a half a dozen young kids were throwing balls to their well behaved dogs. Made the find and signed the log. Thanks for placing the cache in such an interesting place and thanks for giving us a find on Day 10, only 21 to go.

31 Days of August

The challenge is to find a geocache every day in August, 2013.  Dick has joyfully tackled this challenge, and here are the first 9 finds in August, one per day.

	08/09/2013	basswoodbend found Pull My Cache	Michigan	Visit Log
	08/08/2013	basswoodbend found Owls' Perch	Michigan	Visit Log
	08/07/2013	basswoodbend found The Covered Cache	Michigan	Visit Log
	08/06/2013	basswoodbend found Merry Christmas 2012	Michigan	Visit Log
	08/05/2013	basswoodbend found Boone Farm, Clem's Gems	Michigan	Visit Log
	08/04/2013	basswoodbend found Love Means Nothing in Tennis	Michigan	Visit Log
	08/03/2013	basswoodbend found GRF#76 - 1st for Michigan	Michigan	Visit Log
	08/02/2013	basswoodbend found River Side Ammo	Michigan	Visit Log
	08/01/2013	basswoodbend found Its NOT Apples and Oranges	Michigan	Visit Log

All Gone

Jana flew out in the morning.

The Gillespies drove away in the afternoon.

If somebody should happen to buy our house, this summer will have been the last time we are all here together on the River.

Brunch and Bye Bye

Brunch at John and Susan's lovely home on an absolutely perfect day!  It was a treat to have a chance to touch base with Annette, "Baby" Annette and Jackie.   It was very relaxing for all of us, and a nice way to unwind after the exhilaration of yesterday.

 The brunch was scrumptious - I have to admit that the special bread was my favorite.  Thank you John and Susan.  Susan's friends hosted the brunch and provided the food - such good friends!

After the fun at the brunch, we drove Tom to the airport for his trip home.  Hugs and then too quickly he's gone again.

The drive home was uneventful.  We had good conversations and pleasant weather - can't ask for more than that.  We stopped for dinner in Cadillac at The Dawg House.  I can't complain because I chose it!

Tomorrow, everyone else is leaving.

Molly and Laith

Molly and Laith Hermiz

It was such a lovely wedding!  Our entire family was able to attend, and we had a marvelous time.

Dick rented a van, so all seven of us could travel to Grand Rapids together.  We had rooms at City Flats Hotel, the same venue as the reception.

The ceremony was at the East Congregational Church - a beautiful setting.  We were all so impressed with the really special stained glass windows.  The officiant was very personable and added many family details - he was well acquainted with the Lichtenbergs.

The reception room was beautifully decorated, and just the right size for all of us.  I believe there were approximately 180 or so attendees.  We were all seated at the same table, and the rest of the T.C. relatives were at the next table - very thoughtful seating.  The chocolate pretzel favors were yummy, the dinner was very nice, but for us the most fun was watching the dancing!  Tom and Dylan always enjoy it so much, and tonight was no exception.  The DJ alternated between rock and Chaldean - and both were extremely entertaining.

We had a chance to meet Laith - had a nice conversation with him and with Molly too.  We loved every minute of this event.

Congratulations Molly and Laith!

Cousins!

 

 

Big time dancers!  Dylan and Laurie, Lauren and Lydia

Double Double Party Party

Nancy, Barb, Dick with Sharon, Laurie, Tom, Dylan with his feet on Laurie's head (?), and Jana.

John and Sharon rented a house on West Bay for a week!  It was so special - room for everyone to party, and even an in-the-ground pool for the kids.

We were invited to a double birthday party - John is now 65, and baby Ella Victoria is almost one year old.  (This was her Michigan birthday party!)

There was cake, there was pie, there were presents, cute kids and great company.  Thank you John and Sharon.

During the week, our kids went over for at least two campfires and they always had a super time with their cousins - and great cousins they are :)

What a Great Day!

Our intrepid bikers ready to ride the new Sleeping Bear  Heritage Trail after playing on the dunes.

Closely followed by lunch at (where else) Art's Tavern.  There are school pennants all over the ceiling there, and Chip found one for his school - Embry-Riddle.

After climbing the dunes all day, the perfect ending is at Moomer's!  Cowabunga!

Can they eat it all?  Yes they did!


 

GENFEST 2013

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Dave, Tom, Amy, Chris, Campfire

Peter, Melissa, Laurie, Doug

Mother Gen's train case is like a treasure chest.

Will it ever stop raining?

Riverside Elevation

Game Time

Toast Your Twinkie!

Riverside deck area

Let's roast a Twinkie!

Jackson, our family phenom !

Into Each Life a Little Rain Must Fall

Let's say that you are shopping for a condo.  One day you find one that is beautiful, in a good location, a terrific setting, and perfect floor plan.  Let's say that you make an offer on that nice condo, and your offer is accepted.  The disclosure papers mention an attached letter, which is not attached.  So you pursue the letter, because it's important to see what it might say.  The agent finally agrees to give you a copy.

The letter says, in effect,  Oh, by the way...  We've had water damage in the lower level, but it's been taken care of by some unknown builder person.  Excavations were done, sumps were installed, and it will never happen again.

Really?  What actually happened, you might ask.  What was actually done?  There is no evidence on the grounds of any excavating a few weeks ago...  Oh no - doesn't this sound like a problem that you do not want to buy into?  Doesn't this make you feel as though somebody is trying to sell you a pig in a poke?

So we have rescinded our offer, and the search continues.  Dick wrote this letter to our agent, with no effective response:

From: Richard Steiger

Subject: letter

Date: Wed 7/24/13 7:40 AM

 

In our minds, the Addendum Letter has raised more questions than it
has answered.

 We don't understand how it is that Mr. Christians did
not provide you with the letter with the property description in the
original report. (His inclusion under EXTERIOR FEATURES of handicap
accessible and attached green house raised a red flag from the
beginning.)

With the letter in hand we would have been much more aware
of things to look for when we visited the unit with you. We feel that
by not including it, he was not being fair with you. (Or us)

The letter reports "extremely heavy rains in March". In fact the 2 1/2
inches for March was below the average in Traverse City for most
months. We did have a day of heavy rain but living on the river we
know that we have had heavier and more prolonged rains in the past.

 It
states that the repairs were done by "the builder" and refers to "4
square construction". A search for that business in Traverse City
yields nearly all the builders in town. Was "the builder" the firm
which constructed the development or was it a firm hired by the owner?
To proceed with our purchase, we will need the name of the builder who
made the repairs and an opportunity to meet and discuss them. We
mistakenly anticipated that the "attached letter" referred to in the
"Professional Report" would be from him.

The letter states that many basements flooded, we wonder if the other
attached units in that area flooded. Did they all require repairs? In
fact, why did they need to waterproof and install drain tile to the
building, isn't that code for new construction? We have it installed
on both sides of our lower basement area. We also wonder how the sump
is connected to the catch basin, did they dig up the basement floor to
install the pipe or does it run along the wall? These are questions
that we need to ask the builder or repair firm.

When we saw the dehumidifier operating in the basement, we were
inclined to agree with you that it was because the air was off.  Needless to say, now we are suspicious.

We are not aware of the full scope of the building inspector's job. Can he be expected to check all
aspects of this flooding problem and the repairs? This has obviously
been the major topic of discussion for us. We are concerned that a
situation which appears to have been repaired at this point in time,
will once again become a problem and a money drain in the future.

What inspector do you have the most confidence in? Who do you feel
would best represent us? Is it standard procedure for us to accompany
him while he carries out his inspection?

We will be busy this weekend with our family reunion but would like to
resolve this situation next week.

Ranger Dylan

Dick, Laurie and Dylan pruning and moving brush - Dylan was driving the tractor.

Chip and I went shopping.  He went to Oleson's to shop for lunch,  I went to Family Fare to shop for the next two dinners.

 It's a good life.

Dinner is in the crock pot - cranberry chicken :)

Dick, Laurie and Dylan are going to the Boardman Nature Center so that they can do Dick's new Ranger Rick geocaching series.  Via the grapevine, we learned that Ranger Rick #4 is burned.  We haven't heard anything about a fire over there - they'll find out!

They're back and Dylan has a sprained ankle from tripping over roots on the Nature Center path.  They found 5 of the caches, and Dylan sprained himself after the 4th one.

Elk Run and Ex Boardman Pond

This morning Beccy took us to see this condo at 12046 Elk Run in Cedar Creek Commons.

http://www.trulia.com/property/3123858516-12046-S-Elk-Run-Traverse-City-MI-49684

 It is a beautiful, well-maintained, spacious home, with a beautifully finished basement.  It's an end unit in a lovely, woodsy setting.  It has a very nice deck, and a big two car garage.  I think if we looked forever, we could never find another condo better than this one.  It's in a great location, and is in a wonderful setting.

Sadly again, though, I am the only member of the family who is over the moon for this condo.  It seems we will continue to turn down whatever is available, even if it meets our requirements and is affordable. 

I'm beginning to think that this isn't the right year to try to downsize.  I'm kind of just giving up on the whole process - dealing with a ton of negativity.  I'll  step back and Dick can decide whether or not to see another condo.

 I'm deflated.

                                                       ******************

In the afternoon, they all went kayaking.  Starting at Scheck's Place, they paddled through the new river route where Boardman Pond used to be.  It took them approximately 2 1/2 hours to get to our place.

They all had a super time, and the weather was perfect.  They saw 2 huge, huge turtles and a duck - that was it!