Guests in Town

This past weekend we had out-of-town guests. We had a great time showing them the town and catching up on what everyone has been up to. We of course started the tour of Grand Haven with a walk on the boardwalk down to the beach. And of course, we took a picture of our guests in front of the lighthouse.

We then walked back into town and had dinner at Tip. Everyone enjoyed it and Debbie was knocked back by the Margarita she had. "I've never actually tasted the tequila in a Margarita before." She liked it!

After a late night of chatting and catching up, we started Friday with French Toast and headed out to check out the new chocolate factory (a big hit),  museum and shops in town. A very happy shopper...

Then over to check out the train and coal tipple.

Then it was time for a little refreshment before dinner so we headed over to the VFW. MP Jack Russel said "Hi Woof" to our guests and everyone had a great time inside.

We had dinner at 22 with its wonderful view and then it was off to the musical fountain.

The power plant looks nice lit up at night.

We started Saturday with a walk to Eastown for bakery goods and jerky. Then headed up to Irish Fest in Muskegon but first a stop by Spring Lake.

Jack and others playing in the session tent.

Beautiful waterfront.

Fly over!

Jack with a stout.

And of course, dancing and music.

Our guests left for home from the fest. A good time was had by one and all.

Happy Birthday Adam

Well about this time today in 1974 I was having a baby. Today that baby is a wonderful man, he was a pretty wonderful kid too. He always loved cars. So on my walk into town last evening I said I'll take him some car pictures. However, it was a pretty slow night for cars. But there was this...

While they are "just" cars and trucks. It appears that mother nature is smiling on one of them.

Happy Birthday Adam!

Boats and Cars

Well except for the leaf blowers at Central Park, when I'm king they well be banned, things are much quieter around Grand Haven. Most of the tourists have left. However, there are still a few with very nice boats.

The weather is cooling down and we're going to get a storm this afternoon. Walked past the trolley stop  to see if my guess about the trolley stopping after labor day was correct. I was. So our guests next week won't get to ride the trolley. But there is still plenty to see and do. A new art exhibit opened last night that we'll wait to see with our guests.

Waked by the library courtyard with it's nice sculpture fountain on the way back home. One thing I will say for Grand Haven is there are many nice restful places to sit and relax around town.

Because I was told "We want cars!!!!" I leave you with these ones spotted around town this morning.

This and That

I've been very busy working but have managed to still have a non-work life. We finally made it to the Bolt Park Market before it closed for the season. Everything from home grown produce, hand knit items to cutting boards. Since Jack isn't woodworking anymore, I picked up a back-up cutting board.

We also attended the last for the season Tuesdays in the Park music event.

And then Wednesday night dancing on the boardwalk. I also think the last for that but I'm not sure.

We now have a community college campus in town. The Senior Center is moving out and the college kids are moving in. I've also up sized my computer monitor. I've been working on the laptop screen but the last book I needed to make a huge table for had double column and small print that made toggling back and forth difficult on the eyes. Now I'm using it as my main monitor. I'll be spoiled when I travel and have to go back to the smaller screen. Thanks to Gale for helping me with the settings.

I think this bit of nature's art in front of the art gallery is amazing.

Well back to work - peace.

Summer Winding Down

It's been busy since Coast Guard Fest. I missed Stitches Midwest and my Illinois friends due to working on a large index that got in the way of my going. I did have a nice rose on my desk from the garden as I worked that weekend.

The second week of August we had a veggie disaster. It finally rained and the hooks I'm using could not hold in the wet ground. Jack and I tried to get them up and secure but it didn't work out so well. Between the terrible heat, drought and being knocked about, the plants are just about done for. Next year there will be ground-based containers.

August 17 and 18 was Sidewalk Sales. I was surprised by the crowds for this. I bought a cookbook from the Tri-Cities Historical Museum booth. It is organized by month and each section starts with a bit of history. I'm a sucker for cookbooks and history. Historically Delicious: An Almanac Cookbook

On August 19 we went to Michigan Fiber Festival. I took a beginning drop spindle spinning class. While I was in the workshop, Jack wandered around mostly spending time in the animal barn. I avoided the animal barn. Sheep, llamas, goats, rabbits and allergies are not a good mix. Jack now knows everything there is to know about border collies. On the left my first spun yarn...

This past Sunday morning when we were out for the morning walk with Sugar, there was excitement on Washington. A crane that was being used to wash the county courthouse windows sank into the ground and tipped over blocking Washington. By time we arrived it was upright and about to be loaded on the the flatbed truck. A simple window wash turned into an operation requiring much heavy equipment. Oops. But the window washer was wearing his safety harness so he is fine.

I have a couple large work projects to take me through September. Jack will be doing his usual variety of things while I work. Right now he's down in the man cave starting work on the rocking chair Sally found us. She is a big shopper for all things. Her very cool house is full to capacity with the treasures she has found over the years, a basket collection, tea pot collection, at least three clocks per room and more. I told her I was on a hunt for a rocker and she found me a perfect one. It needs one new spring and to be reupholstered. The wood is real pretty and Jack says all it needs is some oil. I'm excited. Chair in man cave...

I leave you with a couple Arf Walk dogs and cars around town.

More Coast Guard Fest

Tuesday night was Street Dance.

Central Park Fountain

The crafters set up in the park on Thursday afternoon.

We walked through the Arts and Craft show on Friday. It was a very nice show with lots of variety. Didn't buy anything but got some ideas! Friday night we hit a couple of the tents for entertainment.

First the VFW

Then the Eagles

Eagle Riders

And Saturday was the parade. It is a very large parade lasting two hours. We watched it at 7th and Washington where Jack's barber was throwing a real nice parade party.

It's the regular UPS driver for Grand Haven but not the regular delivery truck.

I love that this town celebrates the Science Olympiad team. The schools here are very highly rated and the various academic teams not only get floats in the parade, the newspaper covers them. I'm use to sports teams getting all the attention, and they also get attention here too, but it is nice to see academic teams getting high visibility.

For Jack...

And to end the parade, the Scottville Clown Band...

Saturday ended with a huge fireworks show. I watched part of it from my upstairs window. Very impressive. Sugar hid in the bathroom shaking. She finally came out of there around 4am when Jack told her really they won't start again. No pictures because really pictures of fireworks are just pictures that don't live up to the real thing. (And the ones I took through the window didn't come out at all.)

Now Sunday afternoon, and all is back to normal in Grand Haven. Adam and Steph are here for the weekend and that has been nice. Tomorrow I'll need to get back to my indexing work. Next weekend Stitches Midwest.