Traverse City - Day Five - Homeward Bound

We were in no hurry to leave Traverse City Saturday morning.

So, we didn't.

Breakfast was a leisurely affair and we stopped to shop at Younkers. There we realized we were both sick of shopping.

It was cool and sunny. Every year we SAY we will drive home down the Lake Michigan coast, but again this year, we did not.

Sometimes after looking at so much natural beauty, it's just hard to process anymore. And, after a few days, every lakeshore town starts to look the same.

I am thinking that maybe I should have dots tattooed on my hand to remind myself exactly which Michigan towns are my favorite.

So, instead of traveling home down 31, or retracing our route by taking I-131, we drove home down M-37.

This is such a pretty ride!

We did come face to face with a deer standing along the side of the road. But, on this route seeing only ONE deer and not hitting it is a blessing.

In the city of Newaygo we stopped in at two antique shops. I found eight bell shaped jello moulds for only $2.00. I think this gives me enough to make bell shaped jello for everyone at Christmas. I probably won't, but I COULD. Which I think is just as important, don't you?

One of the antique places had just started selling thrift also, and I found a quilted denim jacket for $3.00. I'm planning to embellish it. I'm planning to do a lot of things.

As we passed through Grant, the town my sister lives in, we stopped to eat at The Depot. What a great place! It used to be the depot, and is decorated charmingly. And the food is fantastic.

From Grant we continued down M-37 to Fruit Ridge, to Peach Ridge and back to Fruit Ridge. Both of these roads have some of Michigan's most beautiful orchards and farm land.

I was running my digital camera through most of it. That is until a car turned right in front of us causing THGGM to have to slam on the brakes and me to fumble the camera. Had we hit, I would have had the evidence to prove our innocence's.

We officially ended our vacation there. Officially ended our vacation there was a better option than officially ending our lives there. Well at least I think so.

THGGM has this week off also.

Tomorrow is my birthday. We hope to take Jonge and Famke someplace fun!

Day Four - Sun Set

These pictures were all taken while the sun was setting. THGGM graciously drove me around to get the correct position. This is the old state hospital in Traverse City. It is being turned into a variety of interesting shops, restaurants, living spaces, etc. Some of it looks amazing, some has a looong way to go.

Traverse City - Day Four PM

Tonight we wandered around downtown Traverse City.

This picture was taken from the sidewalk.

A little channel runs just behind the businesses. From here you can see the highway and just past that, the West Bay of Grand Traverse Bay.

Just a few steps back, and there are lilac bushes.

These aren't even opened all of the way yet.

The smell is AMAZING.

We actually went downtown twice.

First to shop around a bit, then we picked up dinner and went to the beach to eat.

Of course, on a vacation ice cream is REQUIRED, so we went back downtown for ice cream and walked around some more.

What a day. Soooo very beautiful here.

Day Four - Suttons Bay, Omena, Northport

Sutton's Bay is one of our favorite stops.

Interesting shopping, beautiful bay, and it ALWAYS helps to have the sun shining!

This is the cute shop where I bought my marbles.

The gull was floating on the bay in Omena. Mid-West Living had an article in the most recent issue about a cut-flower farm in Omena. Wouldn't that be a fun farm to have?

We didn't go there, but I'd like to drive back up sometime this summer and take a look around. This week, the lilac were blooming in full force and the scent of them was EVERYWHERE. I LOVE that.

The last picture is the bay in Northport. We didn't linger in Northport, as Leland was calling to us.

Day Four - Morning

Leland - Fishtown.

Such a wonderful town.

Quaint little shops.

THGGM is carrying the wonderful piano CD we purchased at a small art gallary.

We actually bought it from the pianist himself.

Good stuff.

Blue sky and blue water.

So pretty.

And, we watched these two guys catch what they said was a rainbow trout.

For all of the effort they put into it, I thought it would be much bigger.

But then, I was just standing there with a camera.

We ate at The Cove.

We are a forgiving people.

THGGM had the angus burger and I had the grilled chicken.

It was GREAT.

What I Bought Today

I had FUN shopping today!

I found exactly what I was looking for!

Although I did not know what that was until I actually saw it.

Since I lost my marbles sometime ago, I thought it only appropiate that I buy more.

And, pretty ones, too!

Traverse City - Day Three, Part Two

The sun came out late this afternoon!

So, we headed north again.

This is my favorite barn on the Mission Peninsula.

Earlier in the day, in the rain, it didn't look this good.

Beautiful.

So glad the sun shown.

Traverse City - Day Three

Yes. This is what it looked like AGAIN this morning. Still found it rather pretty. Click to enlarge. Orchards on both sides, fog too.

The fog wasn't THAT bad.

We safely made it to our favorite Elk Rapids antique mall.

First customers through the door, we were.

Free-standing clocks are a big thing up here.

This is downtown Elk Rapids, in the rain.

The East Bay of Grand Traverse Bay is down at the end of the street.


After fun and successful antique shopping, we drove back into Traverse City for lunch at Don's Drive-In.

This is THGGM enjoying his lunch. He had the foot long chili dog basket. He had a chocolate shake, also. I had the grilled ham and cheese on rye basket with coffee. YUM.

LOOK! Don's Drive-In has been around since 1958. Same as us!

This looks much better when it is sunny. But, it hasn't been sunny since we've been here.

Whatever.

We are still having a great time.

This is a post card I picked up today.

Sometime soon I hope to upload more pictures of my thrifty/antique-y purchases on my Simply Thrift blog.

But, right now I'm just having waaaay too much fun relaxing.

Traverse City - Day Two

Today started with breakfast at Cracker Barrel. It would not 'feel' like a vacation without eating there at least once.

We are boring people. Both of us had oatmeal.

Next we hit an antique shop on the bay.

This Dutch picture is in a bowl that I found for $2.00.

$2.00!

I also found these two children's hankies.

Both for $1.50.

The hankies are old, I'm not sure if the embroidery is or not. But for that price, I didn't care!

After that we went to see the new Night at the Museum movie. It was very good. I had hoped to get a nap, but it isn't the napping kind of movie.

Next, we walked around downtown, went for coffee, stopped at our favorite stores and got wet.

Downtown looks all shimmery in the rain.

Hopefully, the rain is moving out. Time will tell.




As we drove I snapped pictures out the car window.

Love the look of the drops on the window.

It was a WONDERFUL anniversary!

Dinner was fabulous. THGGM had steak and shrimp and I had grilled salmon. As always, asparagus is the vegetable du jour.

We shared strawberry cheese cake for dessert.

But the REAL reason I LOVE to come to Traverse City this time of year is to enjoy that extra week of spring blooms!

I love that.

Daffodils, tulips, lilacs, fruit trees.., what's not to love?

Traverse City - Day One

Still pretty, even in the rain.

Downtown.

Today, we shopped at two antique places.

Didn't buy anything.

Antiques are better priced in Elk Rapids.

My chauffer.

Trees are still flowering here.

That is why I like to come at this time of year.

An extra week of blooms!

This is the old state hospital, coming to life again.

As Seen in My Yard Today

Not only is it Memorial Day today, it is also only seven months until Christmas.

The red and the green in this first picture reminded me of that.

I think the flower is a peony. The other four peony bushes in the yard haven't burst open, yet. This red one is the only one on this bush. One single bloom. So beautiful.

These aren't even mine, although they are hanging over into my yard.

Most of the flowers are on my side of the fence. but the actual plant belongs to my neighbor.

If you look closely, you can see the peonies getting ready to pop.

Someday I'd like a bush like this. I believe it is a hydrangea, but I'm not sure.

My grandma and grandpa had rows of them in front of their front porch. She called them snowball bushes.

I can see why.

These also reminded me of Christmas. Snowballs.

Funny People in My Life

We had a picnic today at Daughter's house.

This is Famke, as seen from across the yard (i'm not good with the zoom lens).

We could not really hear her, but her gestures were VERY exagerated, and funny.

My dad is a funny one, too.

He told me he is going to have to grow bigger ears to hold everything he needs to stick behind them.

Glasses, hearing aid, cannula..,

I asked Famke yesterday what Pa had in his nose.

Her answer?

Boogers.

Such a Pleasantness Is Success!

Right across the street from where we donate plasma is a fabric store.

I've been wanting to go there for months now.

Friday night, I did.

I should not have.

Don't I have enough unfinished projects breeding dust bunnies around here as it is?

Yes. That would be me. Yes. Yes, I do.

But they had a great price on fat quarters...

And, I love birds...

Blue and white, too...

Then.

It happened.

I saw the buttons for making covered buttons.

So, I bought three.

When I got them home and actually READ the box, I was SUPPOSED to already have the button setter. I do not. Not even an Irish Setter.

Since I am one not to be deterred by what I do not have, I improvised.

By setting the fabric and the top of the button on a pile of fabric, laying a round wooden tinker toy piece on top (with the center hole over the button shank) with a few taps with a ball peen hammer I had COVERED BUTTONS!

I'm sure this thrills no one but me.

But, I am excessively thrilled.

I still haven't quite mastered the pin cushion, but do I give up? No. I do not.