Tuesday, August 30, 2016
One of the problems with being out here in Holly is that it is a long drive from our kids and our friends so we spend a good deal of time in the car getting to them if we want to see them. BUT today, instead of our having to drive to see friends, they came to us!!!!! It was so nice having Bill and Elaine Patton make the trip here. We could show off our beautiful site, walk around the park and show them all of the wonderful facilities, and simply relax in comfortable chairs under the trees next to our motor home. WHAT A TREAT!!!!!
We did do a bit of driving for lunch though as we took them into Holly for lunch at the Bittersweet Cafe and then down to the bakery for a cookie dessert. But that is not very far away and again it was a chance to show off what is available to us locally.
Before we knew it, it was time for them to be off so they could miss the heavy traffic that happens around returning from work time. But how wonderful we had yet another chance to spend time with them. Probably the next time we see them will be when they head to their place in Venice, Florida in mid-December. We often get to enjoy lunch with them as they pass through our area on the way down.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Dessert with Hillcrest Friends
Sunday, August 28, 2016
After church today and a chat with Beth, Dean and the boys, Ken and I headed to Fenton and the Big Boy off of Owen Road exit of 23. We arranged for a table for eight and then sat at one end of it to have some lunch while awaiting the arrival of friends from a variety of points in Michigan. Bill and Penny Schettling had a car load of medical supplies from the office where there daughter works (items they cannot use as they are left from opening packets for treatment of patients and once open items not needed cannot be used on other patients) to give to our Mission Chair at Hillcrest Berte Mercer and her husband Don who had been at a weekend gospel program up north and would be passing through this area. Penny's cousin and our choir director at Hillcrest Shirley and her husband Ron live nearby in Holly also came so eight of us who enjoy winters in Florida at Hillcrest were able to spend some time together over dessert and coffee.
In the late afternoon we helped move the boxes from Penny's car to the Mercer's Class B Roadtrek so they could take them to missionaries who work head out to assignments from the college near her. She was assuming they would probably be going to Africa but wasn't sure. We said our good byes as we all shared when we expected to be back together in Florida knowing we had a yard sale in early December to work on to raise funds for other missionaries both Internationally, nationally and locally. It won't be long.
After church today and a chat with Beth, Dean and the boys, Ken and I headed to Fenton and the Big Boy off of Owen Road exit of 23. We arranged for a table for eight and then sat at one end of it to have some lunch while awaiting the arrival of friends from a variety of points in Michigan. Bill and Penny Schettling had a car load of medical supplies from the office where there daughter works (items they cannot use as they are left from opening packets for treatment of patients and once open items not needed cannot be used on other patients) to give to our Mission Chair at Hillcrest Berte Mercer and her husband Don who had been at a weekend gospel program up north and would be passing through this area. Penny's cousin and our choir director at Hillcrest Shirley and her husband Ron live nearby in Holly also came so eight of us who enjoy winters in Florida at Hillcrest were able to spend some time together over dessert and coffee.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Lunch At and Tour of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate
Saturday, August 27, 2016
After a late breakfast, we were off for Grosse Pointe Shores over on Lake St. Clair which is one of the connecting waters of the Great Lakes and part of the shipping line all the way from the Atlantic Ocean. This town has many many large homes and estates owned by CEO's and other well to do people in the Detroit area. Edsel Ford (son of Henry and Clara Ford)
built his mansion here along with his wife Eleanor back in 1929 and moved in with their four children: Henry, Benson, Josephine, and William. It has 3000 feet of lake frontage and sits on over 80 acres of land. This is a map of the estate with numbers referring to various buildings and points of interest on the land. The home is #1.
The three boys eventually were very involved in the operation of Ford Motor Company which is still today owned by the family. Josephine enjoyed the arts as much as her parents and she along with her parents made the Detroit Institute of Arts the well known museum that it is. Most of the art from the house has now been given to family members after making copies to put in their place or given to the museum itself.
The home has 60 rooms of which we visited just 20 -- all the ones most important to the family as their living quarters. The help also lived with them and had their own rooms as well. Several of the rooms were "renovated" in the middle 30s to achieve the more "modern look" of the time and while they are nice the main house is really much more of a turn of the century look with carved ceilings and moldings along with massive fireplaces, and carved wood pieces of furniture. Much of the interior was purchased on trips to Europe from old mansions and monastaries. And original art work came from all over the world much of it from the masters well known in the art world. You are not allowed to take pictures within the house so I can't show any of that but this is the home itself from the land side.
And this side looks out at Lake St. Clair
This shot was taken as we walked on the grass from back to front
Unfortunately a huge storm was rapidly coming in as we finished up our tour with this walk so we couldn't get good views of the water since we were racing for cover and a bus to get us back to the parking lot. But lots of ocean freighters ply these waters as well as plenty of sail boaters and speed boaters. In fact, Edsel kept a speed boat in his boat house that he could use to get to work since it was faster to get there by water than by busy streets in the city.
You can sit on the patio area and just enjoy the beauty of the flower garden or wander through the enclosure for an up close experience with the butterflies. Several landed on me so I had the fun of really looking at them close up.
we found places to sit at round tables for eight. We had sat down at a back table when friends Mark and Karen Krugman came and asked us to join them at the front table where Edsel Ford II and the present treasurer of FERA (and coordinator of this event) were sitting. Here he is introducing Edsel who is talking with Mark. The silent auction stuff can be seen as well.
Karen is a genealogist extrodinaire who speaks all over and loves researching. She had just completed a book with all the Ford Family information including pictures of grave stones and newspaper clippings of obituaries and had Edsel autograph it. He in turn ordered a couple of copies for himself.
Edsel shared all kinds of stories from his memories of visits with his grandmother (Edsel died in his early 40s back in 1943) who lived in the house till her death in 1976 when it reverted to the trust she had created so it could be used and enjoyed by the community.
What fun it was to hear about he and his cousin Bill driving go carts around the grounds and enjoying family gatherings there. He told us about an experience he had after he was married when his grandmother called and invited he and his wife to dinner that night. It wasn't till later that it occured to him he needed to know how to dress that he called and asked and all she said was we always dress for dinner. What she meant was in formal wear tuxedos and long dresses. He told us how she went for a walk every morning to to the garage and then asked her chauffeur to take her back to the house as she would be "too windblown" if she walked back because of course there was always a breeze off the lake. She never learned to drive because she felt there was no need since the chauffeur was always there to take her wherever she wished to go.
Once he finished, we divided in groups of 12 to take the tour of the house and grounds. A bus took us to the house and our guides. Once we were done with the house we toured some of the other buildings on the grounds starting with the swimming pool that was 115 feet long (longest in the country at that time) and 40 feet wide at its widest point.
Near by was the "Pool House" which was huge and a gathering spot for all kinds of recreational activities including having a handball court.
and garage which is now housing autos from the past.
After a late breakfast, we were off for Grosse Pointe Shores over on Lake St. Clair which is one of the connecting waters of the Great Lakes and part of the shipping line all the way from the Atlantic Ocean. This town has many many large homes and estates owned by CEO's and other well to do people in the Detroit area. Edsel Ford (son of Henry and Clara Ford)
The home has 60 rooms of which we visited just 20 -- all the ones most important to the family as their living quarters. The help also lived with them and had their own rooms as well. Several of the rooms were "renovated" in the middle 30s to achieve the more "modern look" of the time and while they are nice the main house is really much more of a turn of the century look with carved ceilings and moldings along with massive fireplaces, and carved wood pieces of furniture. Much of the interior was purchased on trips to Europe from old mansions and monastaries. And original art work came from all over the world much of it from the masters well known in the art world. You are not allowed to take pictures within the house so I can't show any of that but this is the home itself from the land side.
Our whole day began at the Activities building which has been built to handle special events on the estate land. Right next to that building is a beautiful butterfly garden with an enclosed structure filled with a variety of butterflies. (below is just a segment of the full garden)
Once all of the present and past FERA (Ford Employee Recreation Association of which Ken in which Ken held all the offices including president back when working at Ford) arrived - 120 in all, we were taken into the ballroom for lunch. Once we had had time to get a drink, peruse the various items up for auction (this whole affair was to raise funds for the Leukemia Foundation of which Edsel Ford II is very involved), chat with friends and chat with Edsel Ford II,
Once he finished, we divided in groups of 12 to take the tour of the house and grounds. A bus took us to the house and our guides. Once we were done with the house we toured some of the other buildings on the grounds starting with the swimming pool that was 115 feet long (longest in the country at that time) and 40 feet wide at its widest point.
This was a lounging area inside the pool house
We walked through several of the gardens including the rose garden that had all colors of roses but red as Eleanor did not like red ones.
This whole green was bordered by a variety of trees creating a vary woodsy feeling to each side.
Then we stopped for a visit inside of Josephine's play house that was a gift from her grandparents Henry and Clara Ford on her 7th birthday. It is a 3/4 size home with living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.
Their is a great deal of special interest in the outside structure including nursery rhyme designs
From there we went to the gate house where there presently is a display of the wedding dresses worn by many members of the family including Eleanor
The gate house also includes the entry to the estate
Eleanor's favorite car make especially for her by her oldest son Henry Ford II.
And of course a Mustang .............
Ken and I then walked back toward the mansion
A view from the side as we walked toward the water
This is the side facing Lake St. Clair
so we could walk along the waterfront and take some outside pictures of the home. It started to thunder and the sky got very dark so we moved quickly, took a couple of pictures and then scooted around to the front door and got on a bus headed back to the guest area and parking lot. The rain started in earnest just after we pulled out of the lot and came down in buckets making for a tough drive back to the campground!!!!
But what a wonderful day. We were ready to relax
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
No More Surgery This Year
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Ken visited his eye doctor today and learned that his eye pressure has fallen down into the acceptable range (thank goodness) BUT the doctor will not be doing the other eye this year. He waited to be sure all was going to be ok before making the next surgery appointment and now there simply is not enough time to remove the cataract and have time for the return visits before we have to leave Michigan. So Ken will be living with only one eye done. Luckily it seems to be working well.
Before heading out to Sterling Heights for that visit we had a great visit with Ron and Shirley Brendel over lunch at the Bittersweet Cafe in Holly. It still has the fancy tin ceiling put in many many years ago along with the brick wall givinihg it an olden days feel. The food choices of sandwiches, salads, soups and all day breakfast foods all have unique names reflecting the area and olden times. For instance I had a Victorian Salad (chicken, dried cranberries, feta cheese, lettuce) while Shirley had a Diehels Apple Chicken Salad (Diehels is a nearby orchard).
After lunch, we walked down to the new bread bakery for a cookie dessert. There we could sit at a table with an old toaster on it as there specialty is slices of several types of bread that you can toast at your table and enjoy. They hope to soon add salads as well.
On our way home from the doctors, we stopped at COSTCO for some items and took advantage of the large building and air conditioning to walk up and down every aisle getting in some of our steps for the day. It is always nice to find a fresh new surrounding to walk around. :-)
Tonight we had some tomato soup I had made yesterday with a bunch of tomatoes that Dean gave me from his plants. It was delicious!! It had a unique taste to it because it included some ground cloves.
And Jen called while Noelle was participating in a volleyball practice at her school. The team was just formed this week and will give her a chance to wear the team shirt Abbi had the one year she attended Portersville. We will be heading to their home on September 11 to stay for a little over a week and she wanted us to know she and Abbi would be gone most of that time as they are flying to Oregon to stay with Abbi's Spanish teacher and then attending a Veritas gathering where she will help the teacher but also get to participate in some of the activities. So we will be stepping in and trying to fit into Jen's shoes playing taxi driver, cook and bottle washer plus plus plus!
After our evening walk, we enjoyed not only our usual shows - Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune - but a Tiger ball game with them winning 9-4.
Ken visited his eye doctor today and learned that his eye pressure has fallen down into the acceptable range (thank goodness) BUT the doctor will not be doing the other eye this year. He waited to be sure all was going to be ok before making the next surgery appointment and now there simply is not enough time to remove the cataract and have time for the return visits before we have to leave Michigan. So Ken will be living with only one eye done. Luckily it seems to be working well.
Before heading out to Sterling Heights for that visit we had a great visit with Ron and Shirley Brendel over lunch at the Bittersweet Cafe in Holly. It still has the fancy tin ceiling put in many many years ago along with the brick wall givinihg it an olden days feel. The food choices of sandwiches, salads, soups and all day breakfast foods all have unique names reflecting the area and olden times. For instance I had a Victorian Salad (chicken, dried cranberries, feta cheese, lettuce) while Shirley had a Diehels Apple Chicken Salad (Diehels is a nearby orchard).
After lunch, we walked down to the new bread bakery for a cookie dessert. There we could sit at a table with an old toaster on it as there specialty is slices of several types of bread that you can toast at your table and enjoy. They hope to soon add salads as well.
On our way home from the doctors, we stopped at COSTCO for some items and took advantage of the large building and air conditioning to walk up and down every aisle getting in some of our steps for the day. It is always nice to find a fresh new surrounding to walk around. :-)
Tonight we had some tomato soup I had made yesterday with a bunch of tomatoes that Dean gave me from his plants. It was delicious!! It had a unique taste to it because it included some ground cloves.
And Jen called while Noelle was participating in a volleyball practice at her school. The team was just formed this week and will give her a chance to wear the team shirt Abbi had the one year she attended Portersville. We will be heading to their home on September 11 to stay for a little over a week and she wanted us to know she and Abbi would be gone most of that time as they are flying to Oregon to stay with Abbi's Spanish teacher and then attending a Veritas gathering where she will help the teacher but also get to participate in some of the activities. So we will be stepping in and trying to fit into Jen's shoes playing taxi driver, cook and bottle washer plus plus plus!
After our evening walk, we enjoyed not only our usual shows - Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune - but a Tiger ball game with them winning 9-4.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
A Couple of Gorgeous Summer Days
Monday/Tuesday, August 22/23, 2016
What a wonderful gift we've had the last two days!!!!!! Gorgeous deep blue skies, a few fluffy white clouds and temperatures in the 60s in the morning and low 80s in the afternoon with humidity down around the mid 40s!!!! Now this is what I call perfect summer days!
Ken and I have simply enjoyed going for walks, listening to the birds, and watching the kids have fun out on their bikes, playing on the equipment and swimming. It has been so pleasant we can sit outside and read or chat. In fact, we've spent a fair amount of time talking with several of the people camping across from us: Lynn and Bill, Char and Gary, and Sandy. All their flowers enhance our view as we look out toward the lake and the huge willow trees plus huge expanse of super green grass now that we've had some rain which has taken away the brown stuff.
Dean gave me a bunch of tomatoes from his plants when we were there on Sunday so today I've tried making tomato soup following a recipe I found on All Recipes. We also enjoyed a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with those super good home grown tomatoes.
Ah, the sweet joys of summer.
What a wonderful gift we've had the last two days!!!!!! Gorgeous deep blue skies, a few fluffy white clouds and temperatures in the 60s in the morning and low 80s in the afternoon with humidity down around the mid 40s!!!! Now this is what I call perfect summer days!
Ken and I have simply enjoyed going for walks, listening to the birds, and watching the kids have fun out on their bikes, playing on the equipment and swimming. It has been so pleasant we can sit outside and read or chat. In fact, we've spent a fair amount of time talking with several of the people camping across from us: Lynn and Bill, Char and Gary, and Sandy. All their flowers enhance our view as we look out toward the lake and the huge willow trees plus huge expanse of super green grass now that we've had some rain which has taken away the brown stuff.
Dean gave me a bunch of tomatoes from his plants when we were there on Sunday so today I've tried making tomato soup following a recipe I found on All Recipes. We also enjoyed a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with those super good home grown tomatoes.
Ah, the sweet joys of summer.
Monday, August 22, 2016
A Day at the Zoo
Sunday, August 21, 2016
After church today, we took Beth to her favorite restaurant in Royal Oak, Lillys, while the boys were off doing some gardening work for their friend Clinton. It was so nice having some time just with Beth while enjoying a fabulous meal.
By the time we got to her home, the guys were back, so we changed clothes and all of us headed to the zoo for the afternoon. Us and thousands of others! It sure was a busy place!!! But that is probably because there was a break in our high temperatures and today it has remained in the very low 80s with low humidity and grey skies. Here they all are in front of the bear fountains a favorite spot of mine since I was a little kid.
It has been quite a while since we've been to the zoo so we were anxious to see the new penguin house as well as the baby giraffe born just a little over a week ago. Since the zoo is so close to their place, they go all the time. We were amazed at all of the additions and changes in the place - it looks great!
The Penguin House was far more extensive than we expected. This is a general shot of the major exhibit area of the penguins. It is huge and snow flakes fall regularly adding to the atmosphere of it.
This little guy came right over by the window and posed for a long time :-)
We then headed down the stairs to exhibits and underwater viewing area. I was startled to find this neat transition from one to the other. You go down a ramp and feel like you are in a explorer's ship in the arctic during a storm with all the crashing sounds.
Then past portholes with views of sea life.
The underwater views are really neat.
One other interesting spot is this huge corner screen of views of a glacier calving. The thunderous sounds were so mindful of what we experienced in Alaska at the several different glaciers we visited.
At the Reptile House many of the exhibited reptiles were active - something you don't often see. We enjoyed watching them move and eat like this legless lizard
as we were heading for the exit since the zoo was closing for the day.
But what a delightful afternoon it was to share this place with our daughter and her family. Our family home in Pleasant Ridge was less than a mile from this zoo and our kids grew up making many many visits there. In fact, when they were very young it was free so a great place for taking stroller rides with mom pushing and letting them get out some to wander freely. It sure brought back lots of memories.
Dean had put meat in the crock pot so we were invited back for a delicious dinner before heading back to our RV for the night.
After church today, we took Beth to her favorite restaurant in Royal Oak, Lillys, while the boys were off doing some gardening work for their friend Clinton. It was so nice having some time just with Beth while enjoying a fabulous meal.
By the time we got to her home, the guys were back, so we changed clothes and all of us headed to the zoo for the afternoon. Us and thousands of others! It sure was a busy place!!! But that is probably because there was a break in our high temperatures and today it has remained in the very low 80s with low humidity and grey skies. Here they all are in front of the bear fountains a favorite spot of mine since I was a little kid.
The Penguin House was far more extensive than we expected. This is a general shot of the major exhibit area of the penguins. It is huge and snow flakes fall regularly adding to the atmosphere of it.
A red panda was hiding up in a tree but I was able to see at least a part of him
Even the gorillas were up and moving around
This ring tailed lemur was out for a walk and poking about in the bushes
The giraffes had loads of people watching them. It has been quite exciting for the people to see the baby giraffe who seems still to be just a little disoriented. He was happiest when near his mama.
The kangaroos and wallabys were fairly active too as we walked through the area where they live. It is neat to be able to actually be close to them without a fence to block our access.
Wild Dingos are apparently a problem with pastured animals so the Australians build Dingo fences using mesh wire and anything they can find in the desert lands
Peacocks wander all over the zoo. We found this one poking in a bush along side the sidewalk
Seldom have I seen the anteaters out poking around. Here were two of them sticking very close to each other seeking ants
At the wonderful ring of life exhibit we saw several polar bears moving around an an arctic fox just scoping things out.
A seal was scooting around in the pool though he can't be seen in this shot since he was underwater.
But we did get better views of those seals once we were in the underwater viewing area. It is neat to see the bears swimming too but none were in the water when we were there.
We passed this Tree Kangaroo
But what a delightful afternoon it was to share this place with our daughter and her family. Our family home in Pleasant Ridge was less than a mile from this zoo and our kids grew up making many many visits there. In fact, when they were very young it was free so a great place for taking stroller rides with mom pushing and letting them get out some to wander freely. It sure brought back lots of memories.
Dean had put meat in the crock pot so we were invited back for a delicious dinner before heading back to our RV for the night.
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