Seeking All Things Organic and Caffeinated

On Saturday after arriving in Granger, IN on Tuesday, John chauffeured us in his luxury chariot up into Michigan.  This really isn't quite the big deal one might think as they live less than a mile from the Michigan line, but the small towns along Lake Michigan always hold an appeal.  This day our point of destination was one of our favorites - Saugatuck.

Knowing his wife's interest in all things organic, our first stop was specifically for Michelle, and this amazing farm is less than 20 miles from their home.

All of the produce was freshly picked and cleaned and made one want to take some of all of it.  We did see a few that were new to us and would require instructions.

Kohlrobi was a new veggie for us, but sounds interesting if not a bit more labor intensive than I prefer.

I had never heard of Rainbow Carrots either, but they evidently grow rows and rows of this variety.

These Ground Cherries were another first for me.  They are said to be sweet, tropical-tasting gold berries wrapped in paper husks and are the quintessential summer snack, not to mention an instant conversation piece.

Obviously their three different types of Kale are a big hit for shoppers because they take up long rows out in the garden.

While looking around, I noticed this sweet lady just shopping up a storm so I engaged her in conversation.  She and her family live in Chicago but also have a home on Lake Michigan near by.  She said they spend their weekends in the country and this shopping trip is an every Saturday morning thing for her.  She and Michelle not only love the same foods but share a favorite cookbook, so I had to take a picture of the new best friends.

Our next destination was Three Oaks.  It is a very small little village only five miles east of Lake Michigan.  It has cute shops and interesting stores in a one-block span.  One thing we weren't prepared for though in this sleepy little town was an Amtrak train that literally blew right through the middle.  I use the term "blew" very loosely here.  May this southern gal just simply say "My goodness gracious!"

Froehillch's is one of those stores you only find in small towns because it has been there forever, and contains every thing you can imagine.  The original Froehlichs  came from Bavaria, and settled in the mid-west in the 1920's.  This particular store isn't quite that old as it got it's beginning in 1992, but has an interesting history. (For more info click HERE.)

It is so typical of small town stores where they are a one-stop-shop.  They have their own Froehlich's farm so all their food is farm-to-table.  From a bar, restaurant, to clothing, homegoods, over-night retreat accommodations, and even a room that contains only "adult" themed items, let it be known, we missed nothing.  Michelle didn't however, sample the coffee for some reason.  Big mistake!

From here we continued to Saugatuck.  It is not directly on Lake Michigan but is nestled into a cove of the lake.  This is one of our favorite towns because of the atmosphere, neat shops, art galleries, and places to eat.  There was a big event planned for that night, so there were tons of people in town.  Apparently, those who didn't drive arrived in their luxurious yacht.

One of the main objectives where ever we go, is to find a good coffee spot.  By this time of the day, it was overdue.

  After skillfully maneuvering through the horde of fellow Saturday tourists, we found the cutest little place with outdoor seating that caters to coffee connoisseurs.  By the way, Michelle fits into this category. Who doesn't love to people watch while sipping a cold brew on a hot day.

After walking and looking, touching, and enjoying, it was time for nourishment other than coffee.

If you happen to be in Saugatuck and are hungry, let me recommend Wick's Park Bar & Grille.

On the way home, we decided to take the scenic coastal Blue Star Memorial Hwy that takes you to other little towns on the Lake.  One of those is another place Dick and I go frequently, South Haven.  We love to walk the streets and down to the lighthouse and pier.  This day, however was not ideal and we didn't even stop. The usually lovely quiet little town was a teaming mass of humanity.  There was not one vacant spot on the normally empty, beautiful beach.  Let's just say that that many uncovered bodies is not a pretty sight.

We did find a spot overlooking the glistening waters of Lake Michigan so I could take these pictures.

While in the Mid-West, and perhaps especially Eastern Michigan, you don't want to pass up a nice organic farm growing beautiful things to eat.

Dick and John were beyond excited about another such stop, but what can I say, they are good men!

To end this delightful day, what better way than with a stop in New Buffalo for some locally made Oink's ice cream.

This place is all about pigs - not real ones, but a collection in every size, shape and description, in every available spot that isn't already occupied by ice cream, servers and customers.

Oh my, that was the best ice cream I've ever eaten.  Let me recommend a huge serving of the Mackinac Fudge.  Again, "My goodness gracious!"

This wraps up our Saturday road trip but not our fun by any means.  More to come.

 

Meeting Baby Jax

Let it be known that we do indeed love John and Michelle and their four precious adult children, and so enjoy every minute spent with them; however, let it also be known that our primary reason for this trip was to meet our new Baby Jax.

Da was the first in line to get his hands on that sweet boy and wasn't very willing to share.  In fact, to make sure of that, he told everyone else, "I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 50.  The closest to that number gets to hold the baby first."  Guess who won!

On another visit it was my turn and this expression tells the story of how Jax felt when he realized his Bibby was his sole babysitter.

He finally decided that it might not be all bad to be snuggled, sung and talked to by an old woman, and in fact could be quite entertaining.

Great-grandmothers hold pretty good after all.

Before we left Indiana early on Saturday morning, we had one last visit with this sweet baby and his parents on Friday night that will have to hold us until Christmas.

Four generations of Day guys!

One month old on Saturday.

Sisterhood on the Hodgepodge

It's a gorgeous new day from my outdoor perch in Granger, IN.  So, welcome to Michiana!

Hop on over to Joyce's Blog to participate or just see how she answered the following questions.  Her answers are always much more interesting than mine.

1.  Do you have a sister?  Tell us something about her.  If you don't have a sister, tell us about a friend who has been like a sister.  Or tell us about a sister-in-law if you have one who is extra special.

Yes, in fact, I have two sisters, Sarah and Virginia (Gingie).

I am the oldest, Gin (left) is two years younger and Sarah (middle) is seven years younger than I am.

We are all different of course, but Gin is the glue.  She was always the extrovert; is a fighter and 4-time cancer survivor; she is the caregiver, and there is nothing within her power that she wouldn't do for us.  She is a devoted mother and grandmother and is now devoted to caring for her husband who has health issues.  She is our blue-eyed, caring, pleasing, sweet sister.

Sarah, retired a couple years ago after teaching for 30 years.  She is the most devoted and caring mother and grandmother, willing to put even herself aside to assist one of her three grown sons and their families any way she can.  Sarah is also our crafter.  She paints rocks into baskets of flowers, and has literally transformed pieces of driftwood into works of art.

It is interesting how each of our strengths and weaknesses compliment each other.  I am so blessed to have these sisters in my life.

2.  Resister, assister, insister, persister...choose one of the words listed and explain how it relates to you and your life lately..

This week I will go with "assister."  Michelle and I will be covering a bench cushion for grandson Jackson's mud room.  We bought all the material yesterday and hope to get it done in the next day or two.  Also, we brought with us the wooden toy box my dad made for our son John back in 1969, thinking we would pass it down to Jackson.  However, Michelle has decided it just might stay at her house and hold all the blocks and toys that had once belonged to John.  So painting over the antiquing and stenciling that has decorated it for ages, will be another "assister" project before we leave.

3.  Share a favorite song, book, movie, or television program that features sisters.

I well remember the movie "Sister Act" from 1992.

Of course "Little Women" will always be a sister reading classic, but perhaps my favorite is "The Nightingale."

The song, "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" speaks to my relationship with my sisters - "Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down" - We will always be there for each other. 

4.  August 3rd is national watermelon day...are you a fan?  Do you like watermelon flavored candy?  Besides eating the melon as is, do you have a good recipe made with watermelon?

I am a huge fan of watermelon and in fact it is my favorite "fruit."  However, I don't want it any other way besides fresh or perhaps in a fresh fruit salad. And, no salt please.

Funny but true story:  My son was born on August 22nd - not the best time of year to be pregnant in the deep south.  The last week of my pregnancy was spent standing in front of the open refrigerator door eating watermelon.  I could eat a whole large melon in a day and stay cool at the same time.  Of course, I added almost 10 lbs. that week, and when my water broke, it was like a flood.

5.  'Tis August...what are three things you're looking forward to this month?

1.  Enjoy the rest of this first week of August with our Indiana family and Baby         Jax, while looking forward to spending quality time with a granddaughter and      her baby boy in Texas

2.  Dining out with friends

3.  Celebrating our son's 53rd birthday, though from a distance

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Have you seen the movie, "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris"?

It is not likely to win an Oscar but it is truly a delightful girly movie.  Michelle and I took Dick along with us. In order to counter balance this fufu experience, he and John went to see "Thor" later.

And I do love the haute couture fashion of the 1950's, especially these Christian Dior inspired frocks.  If you get a chance for a fun outing with the girls, don't miss this movie.

Indiana Inspirational Update

We arrived in North Central Indiana, better known as Michiana, on Tuesday afternoon after a two-day road trip.  For some reason, this trip's destination seems to move further and further away each time.  I'm certainly not implying that age has anything to do with that, just stating a fact.

We got to meet our baby Jax Tuesday night and his Da and Bibby were both able to get some quality snuggling time.  We will take advantage of every opportunity to love on this sweet boy in the next two weeks.

Wednesday morning while all was quiet, I enjoyed my favorite spot of John and Michelle's home - the screened back porch overlooking the above beautiful view.

One of the books I am reading in my early morning time is about Women in Christian History.  Wednesday's feature was Harriet Winslow and the impact her short life had on the education for young women in what was Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) back in the early 1800's.

Harriet was able to open an all-girls boarding school in 1820, where she taught the girls sewing and household skills while also teaching arithmetic and geography, subjects only available to boys at the time.  Of course, she also taught them about Christianity.  The school still exists as Udival Girl's College and has more than one thousand girls, ages five through eighteen, enrolled.

One of the things Harriet did to care for her girls, who were mostly Hindu, was to pray for the salvation of one specific girl each day. Harriet's life was ended suddenly in childbirth at the age of 36, but only history will reveal the impact she had on the lives of these girls.

Girls today still need older women to pray for them and Harriet's example spoke to me this morning.  I am the mother of a daughter who is the mother of four girls, and now a grandmother herself; I am the mother-in-law of a mother of two girls, and a daughter-in love, and also now a grandmother as well.  That means I am personally responsible for praying for these nine females, plus two sisters and additional nieces.

Think about all the girls and young women with whom we come in contact:  daughters, granddaughters, sisters, nieces, girls in our church, neighbors, girls from our community, perhaps even students at your child's school.

Two of my girls are young mothers who so desire to be the best mother to their baby they can be.  They need and seek God's guidance every day. I have four who are unmarried and need God's direction in meeting and choosing His chosen mate for them.  One is starting a new career; one is finishing her last year of college; one is in high school and all the challenges that brings.  One is dealing with health issues and on we could go.

We have young lady church friends who are facing career and pre-nuptial decisions and learning to adapt to new challenges.  I have friends who have recently lost their spouse and one whose only daughter died suddenly.  Some are dealing with serious illnesses and declining-health life decisions.

THEY ALL NEED PRAYER!

Even though I pray for my girls on a regular basis, as a result of this lesson from Harriet Winslow this morning, I am going to select one girl/woman each morning and pray specifically for her.  I trust God will bring them to mind all day long as He deems necessary.  At night I will thank Him for her and for bringing about His will for her that particular day.

Perhaps this idea appeals to you as well.  Go for it!  Make a list of girls you can be praying for, with a few specific requests for each one.  Then rotate them into your daily prayers and thoughts.  The Lord may even lead us to pray consecutive days for one particular girl.  Do it!  Let us be sensitive to His leading.

You might even want to tell them you are praying for them and ask if they have a particular need that day, or you may just want to keep it between you and the Lord.  Either way, it will be exciting to see how our prayers impact their lives.  And ours.

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.  Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them."  1 Timothy 2:1

Now, some more scenes of Jax and the Day garden.

Is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby!

Unlike the fried flowers we left behind in Plano, these are thriving in the beautiful Northern Indiana summer, and so am I.

And these two never miss a hug opportunity.

Tracking Great Grandboys

It is time for some more Hodgepodge and let me introduce to you, Jax Marcus.

Jax was born on June 6, weighing 9' 9" and 22 1/2" long and wearing the sweetest smile.

Mom and Dad are thrilled and absolutely loving this new adventure as a family with their perfect baby boy.

Needless to say, Papa and Mimsy are beyond excited about being grandparents.

Look at that beautiful head of hair.  I showed this picture to a friend, and she said, "Oh he looks like the Michelin Man."  And I think he might.

HAPPY 2 WEEKS OF LIFE TOMORROW, SWEET BABY BOY!

From This Side of the Pond

1.  Last time you drove more than 100 miles from your home?  Where did you go?

We haven't been that far since returning from our May trip to Louisiana and South Texas.  We will however, be driving over 2,000 miles when we travel to meet our newest baby next week.

2.  Something that drives you batty?

Setting aside anything relating to politics such as listening to our two top level administrators speak, I would say hearing anything repetitive and/or high pitch.  But, today as I write this, it would be the intense heat of North Central Texas.  Yesterday, it reached 109 with a heat index of 111.  Today it will be hotter than that, breaking another record.  With no rain or relief in sight.

Heat drives me BATTY!

3.  Do you feel like you're 'on track'?  For what?

Not at the moment and that is another thing that drives me batty.  I've not even started thinking about packing for our trip; the data I need for my HOA Board report today is not available; my plants are dying because of water restrictions, and I'll stop there.  I am on track with my daily Bible readings and that probably is more important than not being on track with the other things.

4.  Your favorite car snack(s)?

This question is a good reminder to get on track with preparations.  We love cubed cheddar cheese and grapes.  I also love having a nut mixture close by.  There is something about being in a car, that stimulates my need for chewing.

5.  Something you've done recently 'on the fly'?

I cannot think of anything unfortunately.

6.  Insert you own random thought here.

Our grands and greats!