The Flower of the Day is the Wild Strawberry, and while it is common, it is nevertheless very pretty and quite plentiful this time of the year. But new flowers are beginning to appear and will be available for future blogs.

Greg and Lori were here over Memorial Day Weekend. They left for Oak Park and home today.They were a big help with our flowers, cleaning gutters, gifting the cabin with a Mizzou Banner, and joining us in several exciting (sometimes frustrating) Euchre sessions. Overall, the girls won, but just barely. Greg and Lori plan to be back in October to help us undo the flowers and for more Euchre.

The last picture is of the town of Detour as seen in the fog on Sunday as we were on the ferry on our way to church.

The Flower of the Day is the Round-lobed Hepatica -- one of the early risers on the island. But this is also the time for the Large-leaved Trillium that can take over a hardwood forest with its ever-spreading beauty.

This past weekend we were in Marquette, MI, on the south shore of Lake Superior for the ordination of our new bishop, Rayford Ray. It was a fun and exciting time and St. Stephen's was well represented. Our Presiding Bishop, Kathrine Jefferts Schori, was present and visited with a group of us Friday morning talking about our relationship within the Anglican Communion -- the challenges and opportunities. She is a very lovely lady -- graceful and bright and we are very fortunate to have her as our PB. Sandra was also fortunate to have her picture taken with her.

The ordination service on Saturday was a good service -- well done, but cameras were not allowed, so there are no pictures of the service. I was able to get a picture of our new bishop with the PB and the consecrating bishops. The last picture is of four members of our St. Stephen's group. We were eating a light lunch that was provided by the diocese. As one person said early Friday, "Don't say there isn't a free lunch anymore -- you're getting two this weekend." And our friends at Christ Church, Lexington, will be interested in knowing that Bishop Field and his wife were there and we had a quick minute to say "hello" (Bishop Field is second from the right in the picture).

All of us from St. Stephen's felt fortunate to have been present for the ordination, for being with so many Episcopalians, and for the opportunity to visit with and get to know other people from throughout the diocese.

Sorry, no Flower of the Day, although I'm told that several are beginning to show up. I'll check them out.

We drove to Chicago (Oak Park) on Friday. Missouri was green and beautiful -- much like Ireland. And, of course, Spring has not arrived on the island and may not show up for another two or three weeks. It's strange to leave Spring and in 48 hours be in not yet Spring.

We spent Friday and Saturday night with Greg (Lori was in Denver with the new grandchild). Greg celebrated Mother's Day with his Mother on Saturday evening -- I tagged along. We left Chicago very early Sunday morning and before we knew it the Mackinaw Bridge was awaiting us as was the Drummond Island Ferry and then the cabin.

The weather has been wonderful. We had a fire Sunday night, but it was not necessary on Monday. We put out a large wash Monday -- how can we dirty so many things in 16 hours, and we began unloading the shed and putting things in order inside and outside of the cabin. Even got in some deck sitting. Today it's overcast and rainy. We will stay in. The ocean and lake ships are on the move. Several have been by today.

Candice and Jurgen had us for drinks and dinner Sunday evening, and Carl and Irmie were here for drinks tonight. What the heck, it's a life, and we feel so fortunate to be here, although there is always that part of us that very much misses those back home. We send our love to all -- family and friends, and please know that we always keep you in our prayers and thoughts, and although we plan to stay here until the middle of October, we also look forward to that time when we will be back with you.