These are blueberry fields. We stayed a few days smack dab in the heart of blueberry country. Michigan is the U.S.'s biggest supplier of blueberries and the area where we were staying produces 80% of Michigan's blueberries, so you know I am not exaggerating when I say there were blueberries everywhere. And they were priced at 75 cents a pint, the same amount that here at home costs $5. So I would have liked to have brought home a year's supply of blueberries, but considering how fragile they are, I brought home one pint. And will cringe every time I see them at the grocery store. The soil was so sandy in this region that it is perfect for blueberry roots that will drown in any kind of clay soil. Other than the blueberries, this locale was remote and lacking in any kind of industry. The house we rented was closest to Grand Junction, Michigan. And the house we rented was right next to a bar that's signs professed to be "Putting the Function Back in Grand Junction!" Surprise!! Your family vacation house is feet from a redneck bar. They didn't list that in the amenities. Oh well, the bar was only open one night while we were there, but had we known...
This is where the bar was XXX
This is the house looking from Silver Lake. It had a nice little beach and the water was really nice. It was shallow enough that Sam could wade out quite a distance and it was only to his chest. It was warm even though the air temperature might only be 70 degrees. Beautiful days!!
Closest you will ever find of a picture of Diane in a string bikini.
The lake was very calm and pretty quiet. Occasionally someone would have a boat out, but for the most part, it was just us.
This dock was great! It was anchored but could be moved to where ever we wanted it.
It's where I fell asleep and got a sunburn on one half of my body.
The kids played around in the backyard, too. Don't ask me why but it appears Sam was getting practiced in k-i-s-s-i-n-g but isn't it supposed to be about sitting with someone in a tree?
Here he's practicing his Michael Flatley.
I don't know if I could pick a favorite out of these two
daddy/daughter pictures. I love them both! Grant did not want to get out of this water! It was very cool, but he was having a blast in the waves. 
Caroline looks so somber, but she was just people-watching. We did see a guy who you would swear was the Santa Claus. Totally white beard, big belly, green and red Speedo. Just kidding. It wasn't really green and red. 
The next day, it was time for us to head home after 9 days on the road. We went through Indianapolis and stopped by Clay County for a night, getting to visit with Karen and Joe and Grandma and Grandpa Harrell. Then we finally got home to Glen Carbon and found we were locked out of our house, missing a key and with the garage door opener power shut off. Long story short, we were able to get a key from the house of the boy who had been hired to feed and water Scooter even though he and his parents were not home, and finally at 10 p.m. we got into our house. Boy, did our beds feel good that night! And I will say we had a happy dog.
This is the house looking from Silver Lake. It had a nice little beach and the water was really nice. It was shallow enough that Sam could wade out quite a distance and it was only to his chest. It was warm even though the air temperature might only be 70 degrees. Beautiful days!!
As usual for this family, making sandcastles was a highlight of vacation. And what was cool about these was that there was no tide to take them away overnight.
This was the study on how many bucketfuls of water would it take to make this castle fail. It was very many!
We had a firepit in the backyard, so we had a weinie roast and Jack was kind enough to roast marshmallows special for Sam.
More days playing around in the lake!
Closest you will ever find of a picture of Diane in a string bikini.
The lake was very calm and pretty quiet. Occasionally someone would have a boat out, but for the most part, it was just us.
This dock was great! It was anchored but could be moved to where ever we wanted it.
It's where I fell asleep and got a sunburn on one half of my body.
The kids played around in the backyard, too. Don't ask me why but it appears Sam was getting practiced in k-i-s-s-i-n-g but isn't it supposed to be about sitting with someone in a tree?
Here he's practicing his Michael Flatley.
One day we went to Saugatuck, Michigan and found this Lake Michigan beach. It was beautiful and you think it has to be an ocean, seeing no end.
I don't know if I could pick a favorite out of these two
daddy/daughter pictures. I love them both! Grant did not want to get out of this water! It was very cool, but he was having a blast in the waves. 
Caroline looks so somber, but she was just people-watching. We did see a guy who you would swear was the Santa Claus. Totally white beard, big belly, green and red Speedo. Just kidding. It wasn't really green and red. And I apologize, no picture! I'm gonna get fired from this blog thing.
More sand construction.
And I cannot believe the kids got ahold of the camera and snapped this of Gary and me!
Well, except it's not Gary or me, and the snapping of the picture was actually done by me. Hey, you two, get a room!
The next day, it was time for us to head home after 9 days on the road. We went through Indianapolis and stopped by Clay County for a night, getting to visit with Karen and Joe and Grandma and Grandpa Harrell. Then we finally got home to Glen Carbon and found we were locked out of our house, missing a key and with the garage door opener power shut off. Long story short, we were able to get a key from the house of the boy who had been hired to feed and water Scooter even though he and his parents were not home, and finally at 10 p.m. we got into our house. Boy, did our beds feel good that night! And I will say we had a happy dog.
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