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Garden Goddess Down

Looking at the garden goddess last week, it looked
like she was leaning a bit more than usual.

This is her today. I don't know if the long winter
finally put her down, or if she is smelling the
soil, preparing for spring.

4th Installment

MJ writing at 3pm Tuesday, August 5, 1997: "The wrist-watch alarm went off at 6:45 a.m. We'd spent the night in Berlin, Maine. A good stopping point enroute from Boston to Acadia National Park. Tired and hungry after a fun day of sightseeing in Boston and more beautiful scenery. A lobster dinner, distinguished only for its appallingly bad service, topped the evening.The morning drive to the 3rd largest island off the continental coast of the USA took us through a number of quaint small towns, each with it subiquitous "lobster pound".Mt. Desert Island is a treasure! We took the driving tour of the Acadia National Park, stopping midway to walk several miles along the shorelin. We peered int tidal pools, hoping for a glimpse of stranded crabs or sea urchins. Nothing too dramatic, but the shoreline was incomparable. It was low tide, so "thunder hole" wasn't doing much "thundering". The pink granite was fun to climb up and over and the trails looked tempting. Gregg didn't seem at all keen to try the precipice trail or even the less daunting Gorham Trail, after glimpsing human specs making their way along the mountain face above us.So much to see on this isalnd and we only really peeked at it! Overcast skies and glorious thunderheads loom above us as we follow US-2 out of Maine, across the White Mountains of New Hampshire."Below are a few more photos from the trip: swimming at the cottage; Boston street, Acadia Park and "Thunder Hole"

3rd Installment

Monday, August 4, 1997 - MJ writing: "Sunday morning everyone slept in, exhausted from the long drive. We arrived in Woodbury, Vermont at 3:30 pm. Saturday and met the Knights at their farmhouse, greeted by Lily, a not-so-lily-white dog."

"The cottege (pictured above) was just up the road; small, clean, decorated inside in Spanish red and black, but very comfortable and functional. We have a lovely view across the lake to the mountains. A thunderstorm rumbled through Saturday night after we'd gone to bed. Intermittent rain Sunday morning helped us decide to put off outdoor exploration in favor of a trip to Lake Champlain. We explored Montpelier and Burlington, Vermont, enjoying beautiful scenery to and from."

"We arrived back at the cottage at dusk. Emily and I went for a swim, practiced dives off the dock and chased Jillayne, who was paddling around in the canoe. Later, took a short tandem trip up the shoreline; Jill and Em in the rowboat, Gregg and I in the canoe."

"Ready for bed later and a final moment or two on the dock to enjoy the night sky. No moon from our view, but countless, close, constellations had us wishing we'd brought Em's telescope."

(Monday morning..)..."After traveling so many curving rural roads, it seems to take some adjustment to get used to the four lane interstate as we enter Boston proper. We're in a metropolis area again!"

I'll add my own memory here - aged by 12 years- ...sleeping on very narrow beds, musty, wet smells of the cottage...enjoying the Burlington sight-seeing and the lovely county buildings in Montpelier. We kept our eyes peeled for moose as there were numerous moose-crossing signs...or was that in Maine? I just remember that we REALLY wanted to see one but had heard horror stories of collisions between moose and car, so was anxious about encountering one around a blind curve. I also remember seeing bumper stickers and signs and asking, "What is PHISH?" only to learn that my musical tastes had not kept up with the current enthusiasm for this Vermont band. Give me a minute to Google them and I'd be able to tell you the name of one of their songs....I'd be curious to know what our listening preferences were during this road trip...does "Barenaked Ladies" sound right to you, guys?

Spring with a chance of snow-showers......

Hey, it's Michigan, right? Weather and temps can go from 60 to 0 in 10 seconds flat! What a gorgeous day, though. So nice to be coatless for the afternoon and spend some sunny time outside with the kids. They're predicting more snow soon.

Just to backtrack with a bit of explanation on this next installment of the '97 Vacation; We had rented a cottage in the White Mountains of Vermont that summer and used it as a base to do some exploring along the east coast. Acadia National Park and Boston were high on the girl's list. It just so happened that Gregg was working for Service America that year, assigned to the newly opened VanAndel Arena. The company also had the food contract for Saratoga racetrack, Saratoga Springs, NY and they needed some help that summer as well. Since Gregg would be spending a few weeks there after our trip, we made a pitstop to check out his soon-to-be workplace.

Here are a few photos and Jill's travel note. "We made a stop in Saratoga Springs to visit the race track. It was a pretty place. Neat seeing where Dad will be working."

Diary of a family vacation - Day One

Here's the first excerpt from journal dated August, 1997, Our Family Vacation:

" MJ writing -- Left GR Friday, at 8pm. It's 7am Saturday.....just hit the rumble strip about an hour ago. Time to stop and switch drivers again. After a short nap I woke up to dense mist lifting off the valleys below as we skirt the southwestern edge of the Adirondacks. This is our first sight-seeing along the way. Riding through the night leaves everything to the imagination! Canada was a face at the border saying, "Enjoy your trip." and then a few lights around the Niagra area - a sense of flat, sightless driving and then waking out of a daze again to wait at the U.S. customs, "Open the sliding door, please. Who are these young ladies?" "My daughters." "All three of them?"

"We've taken the toll road all across New York. Good road with minimum traffic. Let's stop for breakfast. Em wants donuts NOW!

Em writing -- I smell them already - yum! I just want to get out the car - peel myself from this greasy chair and wash my hair-wash it in a mountain waterfall - ya-cool! Donuts....hmmmmmmm......."

Sunday Shots

The Garden Goddess wasn't shown in many pictures
this winter. She is looking good, totally uncovered.

The backyard is looking good too.

Peek-a-boo!

M riding his trike at Riverside.

Ready for the February Thaw!

Ok, remember the January thunder and lightning-rain-induced thaw last month? I'm so ready for another thawing out - minus the crazy rain and flooding. They say 40's by Saturday here!! Anyone parking at the curb on our street has had to manage balancing up on two wheels on the frozen snow-ice pack which totally hides the true curb somewhere under there. The plows never did make it back down our street after the last few snow falls, melts, re-freezing so that it looks like a wicked two track for much of the lumpy way. DO NOT attempt to sip coffee while driving this stretch!

The Wii fund raiser was Tuesday in Lansing and it went well. I was surprised at how many people still just like the other offering, which was to toss a little rubber pig into the toilet from 12 feet away. We charged a buck for three trys to put a "pig in the pot"! One lady spent $10 and failed to get the necessary two out of three for a chance at the grand prize, so she hired some guy to do it for her! Gotta love the determination. The grand prize was the Wii itself, plus an extra remote and game set. Long day, but fun.