June sure has been the month of bricks & pavers for the Pillywiggins. We started in Boyne City with two brick jobs and finished up outside Central Lake with two Rosetta Stone patios. The homeowners have been busy renovating their home inside & out. Stay tuned. You'll be seeing more of this project in the future. 

Perhaps you've heard the rumor? Jason hit the bricks. Well, I'm here to tell you it's true. He snuck out of the house early in the morning, packed up his truck and split for Boyne City... to complete two landscape projects back to back and brick by brick!

For the first project, the homeowner wanted to salvage & reuse the existing brick. The walkway & drive had been installed by her late husband many years ago. She was seeking a landscaper with "artistic flare" to remove, repair & reinstall the bricks. Someone recommended the Pillywiggins. We're not sure who but thank you!

All of the bricks were removed, the area was leveled and new base materials were installed. The joints between the brick needed to be tighter but Jason was careful to keep the patterns similar to the original work. Sometimes, preserving memories is just as important as making the repairs.

Our 2nd brick job in Boyne City belonged to the first homeowner's daughter. A brick walkway, new install. The new walkway went down quickly but the rain caused a slight delay when it was time to sand in the joints. We're no strangers to working in the rain but some tasks, like sanding in joints, can not be completed when wet.

Yesterday, Jason made the last trip to Boyne City to finish sanding in the joints. Luckily, the next job on his list was just a few miles up Boyne City-Charlevoix Road. It's a pretty drive through Horton Bay & around Lake Charlevoix.

I'm sure Jason enjoyed taking the scenic route (and a breather) before tackling the 4 ton pile of stone that was waiting at the next site. Jason had previously constructed the berm & mulched it. To create a decorative edge & complete the berm, 3 tons of washed stone & 1 ton of 12" boulders were installed. When the homeowner returns we'll select the plants to fill the berm.

I spent Memorial Weekend with my folk's on the farm. The 3 hour drive puts them a few weeks ahead in the growing (ALLERGY!) season. I noticed an abundance of cottonwood fuzzies floating in the air around Clare so I decided I better pick up some allergy meds. I'm so glad I did. The trails on the farm were blanketed with fuzz.

The gardens were exploding with blooms & yummy treats. My mom is an awesome cook. I ate my fill of fresh asparagus & morel mushrooms picked on the farm. Morels cooked my favorite way, dredged in flour & pan-fried in butter until crispy. Yum! I was one of many hungry travelers eating well that day. Hummingbirds buzzed the porch feeders. Bumblebees feasted on bleeding heart nectar & the lilacs were covered in hummingbird moths. I was lucky to catch photos of both in flight.

I have wonderful memories of my great-grandparents. I was blessed to have them in my life for many years. Great-Grandpa was 82 when he passed. He would be 118 if he were alive today. His infant brother passed when Great-Grandpa was just a child. We're not sure when the lamb was placed but it's likely the lamb is over 100 years old. Here's a photo of my Great-Grandpa & his family taken sometime in the early 1900's. (Great-Grandpa is the little blonde boy with the serious expression.)

It was a wonderful weekend making memories with my family, honoring the memory of my loved ones, and paying tribute to our Nation's Fallen Heroes, the brave men & women who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may all live free. Please, honor their memory by helping the living. Support your local Veterans organizations!