The shortest day of the year!

I decided to go somewhere different for breakfast today. Sawyers pancake house. When sherry was here We went here with Oscar and mom. Boy are the pancakes good! I am having fresh peanut butter on mine and it is delicious! I walked in and the artist actor Sineh Wirie,from my cinema class was right there before me! I had not had a chance to show Sineh Wirie his video I did for the class so little ray ray iPad to the rescue.
Here is the video if you want to see it http://vimeo.com/17548573
Sineh was so appreciative, that I think he's buying my breakfast!


It is starting to feel like Christmas. I got to almost sit on Santa claus lap this year but i did not want to break his leg with all the presents he has to deliver!
Bertlee had too much egg nog at Susan and Brindley's party and got himself ran down so he got sick on Monday. He is on the mend and I hope he will be fine for Christmas. Bertlee is going way up north with his grand daughters and there mom. I will have the boys and Edie and dad over for a wonderful dinner on christmas day. The next day we will be going to John and Tammy's new house to celebrate with mom oscar and my sisters family.





Christmas is for little kids and I can not wait to see Holly and Daniel for the holiday season! Sister Sherry will not be here this time but she was for thanksgiving. Sherry and Holly by golly look fabulous!


I now have to go home and clean the living room to make room for the presents and the fun that this holiday season will bring.
I may not be able to spend spend spend durning this season, but the love and fellowship of my family and friends is what christmas is about. Good meal and wonderful memories will fill my house this Christmas season and I think the good lord above for all my blessings. Merry Christmas to one and all!

-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Location:Interstate 69 Business,Lansing,United States

What a great Friday in December ! Ho Ho you and I mean you!

I was out to bingo yes I said BINGO last night and it was so much fun! I did not think that Erich was going to be there but I pulled up right behind his escape. I worked really hard getting all the errands done for the day and my last stop was at Marks lock shop for the side door handle replacement. I tease Jr that he is wearing it out! He knows what I mean!!! Kisses ha! Anyways it's old and I love stopping to see mark anyways. He let me in after hours, ( he closes at 2pm!!! ), so it was really nice of him to do that for me. I just sold him three prints at the October first walk at the tuner dodge mansion. He should be a comic because his dry and crass send of humor always makes me laugh. My houses locks are from the era when you have to go to the locksmith and should last the the houses lifetime and my lady will be 80 years old in 2012.
He told me that the part would be there tomorrow and that I could stop by then. I went home and worked on a clients photo editing until I just could not do anymore. It was early so going to my local pub to play bingo, yes bingo. There is quite a following and what the hell, how often do I get to bingo! Bertlee is under the weather or he would of been with me. He has a toothache.
The week before we brought a whiskey bunT cake down for Deweys birthday. It was gone in about 5 minutes from when it was cut. The recipe is on www.epucurious.com which is my favorite site in the world! Here is the recipe if you want to be a hit at your party and your a whiskey drinker. Easy, easy lemon squizzie.....This Epicurious.com recipe: Lemon-Whiskey Bundt Cake
has been sent to you by a friend.
You can view the complete recipe online at: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/4629?mbid=ipapp


Lemon-Whiskey Bundt Cake
1 18.5-ounce package yellow cake mix
1 3.4-ounce package instant lemon pudding mix
4 large eggs
1 cup milk (do not use low-fat or nonfat)
3/4 cup whiskey
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1 cup chopped pecans
2 teaspoons all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 10- to 12-cup Bundt pan; dust with flour.
Stir cake mix and pudding mix in large bowl to blend. Beat in eggs, then milk, 1/4 cup whiskey, oil and lemon peel. Mix nuts with flour in small bowl; mix into batter. Transfer to prepared pan.
Bake cake until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Set pan with cake on rack while preparing glaze.
Stir sugar, butter and remaining 1/2 cup whiskey in heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until butter melts, sugar dissolves and syrup bubbles, about 5 minutes. Spoon hot syrup over cake. Cool cake completely in pan. Turn cake out of pan. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and store airtight at room temperature.)



Bon Appétit
January 1998

-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Location:Young Ave,Lansing,United States

Hump day in December

Well I was Late for cooking class today because barbie came over last night and got me and Bertlee drunk.


This is the barbie that stopped by barbie bitch.
You know I have a question, if barbie is so popular why you you have to buy all her friends? Oh that is a different barbie! Taylor came home from work at 8am and I really did hear him, but the bed was so warm and I was so tired I thought I could get another half hour. Taylor yelled at me, DAD your going to be late to school! And I popped out of bed,in the shower and was only 20 min last. I made a cake in a spring from pan. It was apple pecan cranberry Carmel upside down cake. I made real whip creme with Carmel and brandy folded into it. It was so good!



I got the recipe off epucurious .com.Chef was very impressed and the class agreed. Bertlee will tell me when I get home if he liked it. Well back to drinking a little joy into my life with friends.
Happy hump day!






-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Location:Esquire bar

The night before turner dodge 2010

I am over across from the turner dodge mansion on the other side of the street. Wow what a difference from one side to the next. I love my life and looking so happy at the prospects from across the street, just like in alice in wonderland. Happy December 2010!

-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Thanksgiving weekend

I decided that I had too much to put away outdoors to go to college on Wednesday. I came to breakfast at Mijos and was ready to be out in the cold for most of the afternoon. My girls where so nice to me at the restaurant and they where packed that morning. Heather is such a sweetie! I worked outdoors for at least 6 hours and had everything put away except the chairs and covering of the tables. Arty and his crew of guys came down to finish up the last details of the tree house and it was time for my gum truck to go to his new home. Arthur had yelled the sky is falling so many times that this time I was ready for gum truck to go. The camper is called Ellie may and she will have lots of fun this winter since Arty plans on taking her winter camping. I had a few tears but I know they are going to a good home. Bertlee was in the house making pies for thanksgiving and I worked on the last of the lights till it was dark.


He is so good to me, because when I came in there was a cocktail waiting and the smell of grilled cheese coming from the kitchen.
Our neighbor lady, Ashley stopped over to say happy thanksgiving eve and have fun as she was heading down to her new guy Steve's family thanksgiving. Caleania stopped by next and she had a grilled cheese with us and we all where cheesing by the time she left. Jr and his friends showed up next and they where on there way to wednesday fun, as you see they looked marvolous.


I got ready washed my hair primped up to the max and me and Bertlee went down to our local bar to say hi to friends. I could not believe that there was so little people compared to years past. I can remember shoulder to shoulder and you could not move a foot without seeing a friend you only see this time of the year. This year there was only a handful. Bertlee and I still had a great time as you can see.


The pies where a hit and we had a great tome at Barbies for thanksgiving.


I even watched football! And had the best nap that I have had at somebody's else's house in a long time. I am so thankful! Happy thanksgiving 2010.
-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Location:116 West Maple Street,Lansing,MI 48906

Jessie moving to the country

I am sitting here on a on a wonderful October 25th day in the country of little ole dimondale . They just moved in and I am watching jason the hot cable guy put jessie's cable into her new house. We are playing with barbie witch's grand babies and having just a wonderful time!


The dog is cleaning and the babies are crying, welcome to jessie's life! Poor cute Jason the cable guy has bert memorized.



Just a wonderful high light of our day here in October 25th can't wait for the weekend!


-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Location:10257 bishop Rd, dimondale,mi 48821

Downtown Lansing New City Market

I am sitting out on the deck looking at the new renovations of the old board of water and light building. It has come along ways since I started documenting it's transformation into this gorgeous building I am sitting in front of. The car garage is getting concrete skirts on the skin today. It seems just yesterday that the ground was wet and muddy. This week there is light long and proud just the way we like October. Crisp,clean air and long light. Michigan always looks great in the spring and fall. It the way the world tilts and I love this long clean light.
I promised myself to shoot as much as possible for the next couple weeks.
People places and as much as possible in HDR. I had a wonderful day out at MSU gardens yesterday. I had a photo shoot planned for 6pm and they called while I was I cinema class. I missed that they wanted to reschedule, so since I was already there I had a blast taking photos all over campus.
I was in heaven! When the light was gone me and Bertlee went to Emils for all you could eat spaghetti night. I had not been there in years. Now I am sitting out looking at the new space that is surrounding me by the city market. Nobody here but me and the occasional jogger or bike cyclist. The coffee is about gone and my words run thin because the beauty is overwhelming me. I have to leave with this thought. Where are the people to enjoy this beautiful day with me? I guess I am one of the lucky ones and I have to always remember that.
Thank you god for such a lovely day!
Cheers and smiles,
Rogerray



-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Location:Lansing , Michigan

The Ray Ray tree house

I met Arthur Eastman 3 weeks ago about when I got my wisdom tooth extracted. I was on so good drugs and thought I needed to get out of the house because it was a beautiful fall day. Dam if it did not take me around the block to see Dale's house on the corner of Seymour and Butts aka Maple street. The house was where my friend Rick Benson use to live at decade ago and it had asphalt siding on it. It look horrible! Now here it is in all it's new glory after Arthur and his crew got done putting his heart and soul into Dale's place.


I said to Arthur, how this mad the place look 200 percent better and that I was looking for somebody to flatten my roof on my front porch and build me a deck wrapped in cedar just like this.
The only problem was that I did not have the cash for it ,but was willing to trade my fully restored 1989 GMC truck and camper for the labor. Arthur ears perked right up and came right down to see the job. Timing is everything and Arty needed a truck and I need a roof and new deck so by Saturday, October 10th 2010 my dream of a upper deck was started.
I was a little worried because I was on my way to Kalamazoo for Mary's birthday party this weekend. It's not everyday your birthday flls on such an occasion as 10102010. I have to say seeing My best man Hal and his wife Peter, going to a wonderful play about a Gay baseball player and having a wonderful time at Marys party the weekend was just perfect.
I took my own color tour across to South Haven, Sauatuck and Douglass dunes beach aka Oval beach for a wonderful day of photos and reminiscing of what a wonderful summer season this was. It might not have been the most productive in money, but it was a wonderful time with friends and family. My porches have never been as busy as they where this year. I love it when people feel comfortable enough to just drop by and hang out with me and Bertlee or whoever might be there. I feel blessed with all the friends and fellowship we share at my little end of the world. Sitting at the beach saying goodbye to summer has been tradition for me for over a decade and today was one of the best! On my drive home I was excited to see how far Arthur and his crew got on the project. I pulled in the driveway about midnight, and was amazed at the progress that they had achieved in such a short time!








It rained on Wednesday so this slowed the project down to a crawl and there was a hole in my house where there use to be a window. The cold creeped in and Taylor said it was bone chilling for him to sleep that day. Taylor works at liquid web and his job is from midnight to 8am so the crew has been keeping him up. I told him to just look at the results and the 10x26 foot deck will be so worth it in the long run. This is adding 260 square feet of brand new living space to the second floor that was never there. You can tuff it out for a week until they are done.


This week was a little slower than last because now it's the little stuff that needs to be finished. Arty agreed with me about replacing the sides that where not covered in cedar shingle with new 8 inch side boards and he is working on that and the last of the V side roof. It will finish off the project with the respect that it needs and after returning the extra material to Menards there was a 13.00 dollar credit.
I decided to have a small dinner party up on the tree house with Bertlee, Taylor, Jamie and JR. What a wonderful show of color the maples gave us as the sunset! I am so happy this has come true!



We had to move a couch today out of the house form the second floor and it was a bear! I pulled the truck up and Arty and his son got on that and Bertlee and I got on the new deck. It worked much better than just dropping it over the ledge.
Arty will be done hopefully by Friday and I can clean up and have my house back in order. Timing is everything!
Saturday October 23rd
Well Arty ran out of boards to finish last night so I am out to get them at menards. Jackies diner called me first though because I could not get off the exit since it was closed. It's raining so he just might not finish today, I hope by Monday night it will be finished. Happy saturday and this rain will bring lots more color and leafs, on the ground.








-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Location:116 west maple street, Lansing, Mi 48906

The first Sunday Walk Old town October 3rd 2010

Well it is hard to believe but it has been a year since I showed my work at Turner Dodge Mansion. I am sitting down here at Heart and Soul getting breakfast before the show and looking at my wonderful work that hangs on there wall. I stopped here to see my favorite gals and to get my print of North by Northwest. I hope I sell a lot today it would be great!
Well breakfast is here so I will write more later.....
I was able to show a lot of my new work and talk with a lot of people but all I sold was two prints. I did get a lot of cards into people's hands and I had a greet time. I will also be in the December first sunday walk. I will say it is a great opportunity and I do get to show my work. I just finished a short video piece for my Cinima class about old town artist and the walk go check it out at http://vimeo.com/15545355


-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Location:North Lansing, Michigan,48906

Getting my tooth pulled

I am sitting in the dentist chair waiting for my mouth to get numb so the doctor can pull my number one wisdom tooth. I ended up getting a cavity in-between. When I was 21 they told me I should have them out but I was a chicken. I hate pain and thought when it was time I would grin and bear it. Well that was today and I have been stressing it all weekend. I didn't even sleep last night and I worked in the lawn to get everything done so I would not have to worry about the pain. Dr peters just came in and has a big set of dirty pliers to pull my tooth now so I better hold on here we go! Here is what the tooth fairy looks like !



-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Location:Mason mi

P town vacation 2010

Bertlee got up early and I slept in at David's so that I would be totally rested for the day. Bertlee went for a walk on the beach and I think almost watched the sunrise. I took my tome and got ready just about the same time David rolled out of bed. Breakfast was great and we had a wonderful time on the deck overlooking beautiful Buzzards bay. After breakfast, bert and I went for a walk down to the ocean to see the little crabs running away as you walked by them! It is so fun to see then run with such a big claw and such force! Could you imagine having a hand as big as your body! Check it out!
The boys at the dock where catching blue rock crabs.
They where using raw chicken legs and they said there grandma was going to cook the crabs for dinner. This was such a wonderful way to get your seafood!
We stopped by David's house before we left for P town and this gave me a little time to take some HDRS at David's house. Check the out and tell me what you think.











The Drive down to P Town
I decided to let David drive and me and dolly the dog rode in the back seat. David can handle this crazy driving and all the round a bouts, so it gave me time to catch up on my blog.
Dolly could not sit still while her dad was driving, and she was a little nervous about dave's driving. She and I where on the same path! I did get David to stop for clam chowder after the tenth place we passed. I have to whine like a back seat driver to get some though!
Ray and Karen had left at 11am and we left at 2pm. They only arrived less than a hour before us! That is how bad the driving is going to the cape on a Saturday is! We switched places when dropped the boys off at the "Ranch B and B". The ranch is right down in the heart of P Town and the street are not your normal streets. They are barely two lanes and have never changed from there brick ways. Parking is a premium and you never park close. By the time I got back the boys had settled in and the cocktails where already served! Bertlee was waiting for me to go on a tour of the Ranch. Wow was I amazed!


We where greeted by Rob, which became gorgeous Rob by the end if the night. He became a mascot for the Ranch and I hope they use this shot rather than the ugly one they use online,the drawing one. Come on thins so much better don't you think?




We had a wonderful pot luck dinner right at the ranch and there was Chicken and wonderful barbacue with steak and sausages , and corn on the cob and cumber salad! It was so good! Ray and Karen and her sister came over and eat with us. They had to sit outside because woman are not allowed in this establishment. Gorgeous Rob show the girl a great time while they ate.



He was desert! Dam look what testosterone shot can do for a 47 year old man!
Ray and all of us ended up down by the dock and had a wonderful time to take this shot.


David Stjaques, my buddy from the cape and me and Bertlee !
Ptown August 2010
This was such a great time and everybody down there treats you like a wonderful friend that you have known forever! I have nothing but great memories of my trip to the cape with my buddy Bertlee. This is when we stopped at Niagara Falls



This is a HDR so it looks this way. I think people should not be in them so far . I hope that changes in the future.
This is at the falls too....



Look at that rainbow! So cool. I hope this brings a little sunshine to you just by looking. Ptown day two tomorrow.

-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Arriving at Cape cod, Wareham, MASS David's place

Driving up state New York in the dark and the rain was really a long tiring part of the trip. Thank god it was at night. We where going to stop in Wochester, MASS for the night but what the he'll, after midnight it would of really not mattered. David called and said that the storm was really strong and he was up because of it and if we wanted we could drive right though.





We arrived at about 3am and dolly, David's dog, welcomed us with lot of barking. She settled Dow and David had the guest room chilled and beautiful as usual. We crashed until about 9 am and bert got up earlier than me. I had dreams that I was still driving, you know that was hard to shake but after seeing David it was all gone. I met my buddy David in 2001 and we have been great friends ever since. We came down here in 2007 and spent 2 weeks enjoying Boston, Warham, and Cape Cod in general. David is such a great host and our friendship has grown over the years that I would not know what to do without him.











He throws great parties, and he and his brother Ray treat us so well. I can't say enough great thinks about the StJaques.
David had to go to work for a short time before the weekend in P town, so me and Bertlee went to the "Crack of dawn" for breakfast. After that, we just took a drive to see the shoreline and ended up getting lost in the wonderful shoreline that cape cod has to offer. David called and said that he would be home within the hour so we headed back to his house. We are staying at his families summer home on the ocean and it's near Buzzards Bay. I can't wait for our wonderful weekend to begin!
David was still getting things around when we arrived and I too a moment to go out and photograph his house and view on the cape. Hope you enjoy the view.
Buzzards bay, StJaques Family home























This was a great day and to boot we got to swim at the pool and look at this wonderful view at the family home on the ocean. Ray was running a little behind, but it just gave David, me and bert more time to catch up. We had cocktails and before dinner snacks out by the pool.





What a great place to be!
Dinner was great and steaks, cohogs, and a wonderful salad. Desert was the best, and girl scout cookies hit the spot along with the laughs and wonderful crazy times.

Time for bed, P town here we come!


-- Post From Little Rayray iPad

Journey to Niagra Falls

The Lake Erie shoreline drive of Canada was so beautiful that I would recommend it to anybody. Bertlee and myself stopped at a farmers house for pickles and some beans and met a wonderful Canadian Gal , Elaina. She was so happy that she had somebody from the US stop by her place. We talked for a little bit and she was so friendly! We love canada! The coastal drive was so wonderful even though it added time it was so much better than the highway. We did stop once to put our feet in Lake Erie and saw the Who and pink Floyd the wall.









Niagara Falls


We arrived about 2ish and the sky was so beautiful! Bertlee had never seen them up close so we parked by the space needle and walked down closer to them. Wow was it HOT!
So, so many tourist and Bertlee was amazed. What he was really amazed at was the garbage! He looked down and it was scattered everywhere! So much for clean canada at the falls. Dam tourist!


This is suppose to be one of the 7th wonders of the world and they just little it up like no end. Hopefully you don't see it in my photos. We stayed for about a hour and a storm was brewing so it was time to cross the border.
Up state New York here we come!


-- Post From Little Rayray iPad