Thursday Trip

Thursday morning, early, THGGM and I left for a trip to Wisconsin.
This time I couldn't take my camera with the good zoom lens (a can of coke exploded all over while that camera was in my purse and now I get a message saying "remove lens cap" but the lens cap isn't on!) so I had to take my good camera without a good zoom lens!

This camera does not take good pictures from a moving car unless I am using the Sketch Effects setting.
But, oh the FUN I have altering those pictures when I get back home.
People come out looking weird with that setting, so  at least I didn't annoy my relatives by taking pictures of them looking all cartoon-y.

 There is something about how these pictures look that I find extremely intriguing.
I can't quite say what it is though.

The sun was in my favor on Thursday.
Shadows only show up as blank space in Sketch Effects, so I'm thankful the light cooperated!
If busy taking pictures I'm kept from paying TOO close attention to all the traffic.
I do think THGGM appreciates this, as I'm not constantly yelling from the sheer terror of it all.

 Just think what a view these people must have from their windows!
Personally, I'd prefer to look out over woods, water, or fields, but I bet this is an interesting place to observe the skyline.

Seriously.
I was not the kind of child who sat in school dreaming of the day I would figure out how to build a highway system.
But I'm thankful someone did.
It amazes me what people have accomplished, while I stay home and make pumpkins out of scraps I find around the house.

Anyway..,
Wisconsin welcomed us! 

 Off the I, getting ready to turn left onto Highway 50.
The American flag looks great in Sketch Effects, it's one of my favorite things to take pictures of.

While THGGM pumped gas, I took a picture of a flock of Canada geese.
Flying NORTH, and having a bit of trouble with the V formation.

We met my cousin and her daughter in Lake Geneva for lunch at Simple.
Shopping followed.

Road Trip!

THGGM took today off.
At 8:15 we hopped into the car.
Two hours and fifteen minutes later, we were in Traverse City.
We started out antique shopping at Wilson's, then walked around downtown.
It was warm and 84 when we arrived.

 Of course we stopped at our favorite coffee shop, Espresso Bay to have the sugar-free Milky Way.
We had the frozen ones!
Very good, and the perfect treat after a warm morning of shopping! 

Next on our list of things to do was to drive to Leland for Whitefish and Chips at The Cove.
THGGM checked out the deck, but it was chilly so we stayed inside.

For dessert we had the Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake.
Notice that we shared!
Seriously, I intended to have a mere two bites.
Good thing they gave us two spoons instead of two forks, or someone might have been stabbed.
 

Fishtown is always a great spot to walk around, so after lunch we did just that!

Can you believe it?
Outside of The Cove there was a BLOOMING lilac bush. 

As we walked over the bridge, it started to rain.

And rain, and rain, and rain some more.

Oh, look!
It is FIFTY NINE degrees!

Our next stop was to be Sleeping Bear Dunes.
This was the part of our trip I was MOST looking forward to.
But, with the incessant rain and the much cooler temperature, we drove right on through.

Stopping only briefly at the visitor center. 
Not that it isn't a great visitor center.
It is..
But I was disappointed, to say the least.

Still cold and rainy at Arcadia Bluffs.
Did we get out and enjoy the foggy, rainy view?
No.
We did not.
I did see a couple with an umbrella walk out on the observation deck, although I can't imagine they could have possibly seen anything but fog and rain. 

I watched raindrops slide down the windows while THGGM took a much needed nap.
And then we drove home.
In the rain.
We stopped for coffee in Manistee, where it was sixty and rainy.

So, since we didn't get to walk or drive through Sleeping Bear Dunes, we had time to make it to Kado's baseball game.

He had a great game (that is him in the blue batting helmut)!
We even got to hear his team sing Happy Birthday to him as he passed out cupcakes and Gatorade to them.

Oh, and did you notice the temperature at Kado's game?
86 degrees.
And it was SUNNY!

A Bit of Antique and Thrift Shopping

This afternoon we drove into Holland to shop at Ditto, our favorite thrift store here.
I did well! Found a great Tommy Hilfiger sweater, which I wore for the rest of the day!
Oh, and also a pair of jeans, and a vintage wool blanket.

From there we drove toward Saugatuck/Douglas to one of our favorite antique malls

Saugatuck Antique Pavilion!
My best find was a Coach purse! I also purchased four ice tea spoons and a mug with blue stars on it. Quite apropos, considering this place is on Blue Star Highway.

Attached to the antique mall is the restaurant pictured above.

If you show them your receipt from the mall you get 10% off your entire order.

I had the grilled artichoke and steak salad with cucumber vinegarette dressing. Yum! I'm just saying, its worth the drive to visit even if you do not live close by!

And although we didn't stop there THIS time, both Saugatuck and Douglas have incredible shopping, eating and site seeing in their respective downtowns.

A Spontaneous Road Trip

Last week Sunday on our way home from Wisconsin we stopped at an antique mall in Michigan City, IN.
There were two things there that I saw that really appealed to me, but I did not get them.
Instead, I bought a mink collar.
Yup.  A MINK collar.
It was on sale.
And I justified it as a lovely addition to the dress-up clothes drawer.
One of the things I saw was a beautifully framed picture of a little Dutch girl.
I have regretted all week not getting that.
So, before noon today THGGM suggested that we drive to Indiana to see if that picture was there.
And look!  IT WAS!
The drive to Indiana was beautiful, with a lot more fall color than last Sunday.
I found one more thing, also with a picture of Dutch kids, but I shall save that for another day.
And if you are ever out traveling around I would suggest that you too stop at the Antique Market in Michigan City, IN.
It is very well maintained and the prices are excellent!

Where Have I Been?

A week ago, THGGM and I travelled to Wisconsin for our annual fall visit with family.
We had a WONDERFUL time.
I feel sad for people who do not have amazing relatives like we do.
I took nearly 400 pictures on our trip.
This year I did not drag along my laptop nor did I crop and post pictures as the days went by.
No.  I saved all of that until I got home.
Well, THAT was not such a great idea after all.
THGGM had Monday off, and as we were sitting around our living room Monday morning I began to go through my emails.
There was one from FedEx, saying that I had missed a package delivery.
I mentioned this to THGGM, asking if he had ordered anything. 
He answered, yes, but he couldn't recall what it was.
Silly me.
In the SECONDS between when I asked that question and he remembered that his delivery had in fact been received, I clicked on the email.
WARNING!  DO NOT DO THIS!
Immediately, my computer went all wonky.
My computer was infected with the DECRYPT virus, which holds one's pictures hostage until a ransom is paid.
This virus has been around for a bit, wrecking havoc on businesses. 
I am an old gray haired grandmother with PICTURES. 
Please do not even ask if I had backed up my files.  Okay.  since you asked anyway, I DID back up many of them, but not all.  It isn't like it is free to do that, and my space was full, meaning I would have had to purchase more storage.  Apparently, it doesn't count that I was thinking of doing that. 
My amazing Son-in-law took my computer and was able to rid it of the virus, but nothing but paying the ransom would bring my pictures back, and I do believe it is already too late for that now.  After much intensive Googling, it appears even the FBI suggests that one just pays the ransom. 
Of course, it could be much worse.  I know that.  Most of my pictures appear on Facebook or this blog, so there is that. 
But, still.
I am so angry! 
I can barely sleep at night if I even think that something I have said without thinking may have hurt somebody else's feelings.  How do these people who do this kind of stuff sleep at night?  Ugh.  I do not know.
Anyway, all is not lost!  I've been trying to get comfortable using the camera on my Kindle Fire.  So, after four days of being away, I DO have this picture that came out somewhat decently.  This is my cousin's beautiful dog, Honey.  Honey wants me to throw that tennis ball for her.  So, there you have it, a picture from my fall vacation.
Now I am going to sulk and mourn a bit more, then I shall return with the silver lining.  Because, you know, there is ALWAYS a silver lining.
This silver lining will also reveal a bit more of my stupidity (yes, really, truly, it will) so I am giving myself a teeny tiny break before I admit to another incredibly dumb thing that I have done. 
Ugh.
Sometimes it is just so very difficult to be me.
But we had a GREAT vacation! 

The Allegan Antiques Flea Market

Every month from April to September THGGM and I PLAN to go to Allegan to roam the fair grounds looking for treasure.

This month, it finally worked out and we made it for the last one of this year.

It was the perfect day for it.  Warm and sunny, but not muggy.

Even I couldn't complain.

Because, you know me, not one to complain!

Except of course about humidity, snowy roads, pain, mean people, etc., but REALLY not much at all!

I'm not sure if it was just because I didn't really have anything in mind to scout around for, but I didn't see much that interested me.

There were some very good Fisher Price vintage selections, but I seriously have to cut back on buying those (see post below).  So I took the time to price things if I ever feel the need to sell what I have.

Oldest Son came along with us.  He was looking for Lego, board games, and collectibles that he has interest in.

THGGM had a few things he was hoping to find.

It is also a great place to people watch.

There is always a good turn out.

And for the record, we did NOT have an elephant ear today.

 I found a couple of interesting things, but to be perfectly honest, I still have a rather large amount of interesting things at home that I still haven't done anything with yet.

So I left with a red plaid Thermos to add to my collection, and another small green glass bottle.

 Truly, there IS something for everyone here.

Well, except for Oldest Son.  He didn't buy anything.

But, one really doesn't have to buy anything to have a great time walking around outside on a beautiful Fall afternoon.

THGGM has a project in mind for which he needs three gold picture frames.  He found one while thrift shopping yesterday, and another today that will work perfectly with the first one. Now all he needs is one more!

Such a beautiful setting for a fair grounds, along the Kalamazoo river in the beautiful city of Allegan, MI.

You should go there.

Next year.

Friday Night Sunset in Grand Haven

After a busy day of donuts, zoo, and Chinese food, THGGM and I got the idea that it would be wonderful to take Anne to Grand Haven to watch a lovely Lake Michigan sunset.

The pier in Grand Haven is in a year long process of being restored, and the catwalk was recently removed so it can be restored also.

It looks incredibly weird to see it like this.

Still beautiful, but different.

There we are!

And there is THGGM.
Behind him is a guy playing a guitar.  But we couldn't hear him very well.
A hot muggy day, yet the beach is nearly empty! The camp ground was full though.

I don't think I could ever get tired of looking at Lake Michigan.

This sunset was THE perfect way to end the day.

I could not stop taking pictures of it.
It just kept getting better and better.

We got to keep Anne over night!
Her husband is a musician, and their son arranged for him to have time in a recording studio and will be producing a CD for him.  So he had his fun with his son, and we got to keep Anne!

And I just bet you can't guess what we did on Saturday morning!

Oh, wait.  I bet you can!  We took her to breakfast with us and then to our two favorite thrift stores!

Of course we did.  It's really all we know how to do on a Saturday morning.  Are there other things?  Should we branch out a bit?  I don't see that happening, but it is a thought.  And after all that thrift shopping fun, and we ALL were successful, we had coffee and Steenstra's St. Claus Cookies before we brought Anne back to her family.

Friday!

On Friday morning my friend Anne arrived all the way from Maine for a visit!  Of course, she came to see her son and his wife who have relocated to Grand Rapids - BUT - she kindly found time to also visit me too!
Lucky for us Daughter came along to keep us in line and from wandering off doing old-lady things.
Our first stop was Marge's Donut Den just around the corner from me.
And look!  Before we even entered the gates at the zoo, Daughter rescued a teeny tiny baby snapping turtle.
She is amazing like that.

This was Anne's first trip to John Ball Zoo.  No one goes to this zoo without having a picture taken at the John Ball statue.
Daughter told Anne that it is tradition to pick his nose, but Anne is mature and of good manners and chose not to.

We rode the Funicular up the hill, which is always fun, but the incredible view of the city was hampered by foggy skies.
And the tigers were in their lovely enclosed walk-way through the woods, but they were sleeping in it.
I apologized to Anne for not calling ahead to have someone wake them up so she could enjoy the wonder of walking in the woods with tigers.  I do not know if anyone has ever seen them do this, but it IS a nice thought.
This lion is lovely, and did cooperate a bit more.  Of course in Michigan sports the Tigers and the Lions are known for not doing what everyone thinks they should.

This is Sammy, my favorite animal at the zoo.
He is 34 years old.  Apparently, he is not the Alpha male as one would think.  The Alpha is actually a balding gray-haired female whose daughter was grooming her while we were watching.
I told Daughter we just may be looking into our future.
Back to Sammy.  He is a loaner.  He does enjoy looking at people's shoes, and he had a great time nodding his head back and forth and up and down along with Daughter.
Daughter was having a great time.  She did not have to constantly be counting children.
Just two slow moving old ladies who never did attempt to run away from her.

The cougars started out lazy, but got a bit more active.  "Here kitty-kitty" means nothing to them. They certainly are gorgeous creatures.

This grizzly bear was active and put on a pretty good show for us.

I love this wall of plants.

In June when I was last here these howler monkeys were howling their little hearts out.
Not a peep out of them today.

This trip I didn't take many flower pictures.
But whatever this is, it is lovely!

Daughter is sort of a Dr. Do-little.  She not only talks to the animals, she dances with them also.

Okay.  So I took a FEW pictures of flowers.
And a waterfall.

The trout were interesting too.

Yes.  She even talks to fish.
They really were quite entertaining, even jumping out of the water every now and then.
Anne had a great time too!
After we roamed around the zoo we stopped in the zoo gift shop, which is very nice.  Anne has two grandchildren in Maine who needed gifts from the zoo!
The zoo was not crowded at all.  It was muggy, but most of the animals were active and it was possible to stand around watching them at length instead of feeling like you had to hurry along so other people could see them.
After the zoo we went to Hunan for lunch.
Anne requested to do those three things when she was here, and since Marge's, John Ball Zoo, and Hunan are three of our favorite things to do here it was a great time for the three of us!
And I think Daughter actually got to ENJOY the zoo instead of constantly counting heads.  Also, we never requested that she buy us anything!

 I shall leave you with this reflective picture of pelicans, just because.
You are very welcome!