Ginger Made Me Do It!

While on vacation, Ginger is cracking the whip to ensure I get this Japanese butterfly top done.  She must be a good taskmaster - those are the only butterflies left to add!

She is a bit of a fabric snob, though. She's laying on imported cotton!

Believe Christmas Sampler

Have you been to Red Brolly's blog lately? She released this free adorable Christmas Sampler today. In addition to the free pattern, she also offers some great advice on stitching the Satin Stitch (I love the stitch but have not mastered it). Stop by her blog and DEFINITELY check out her other freebies.

http://www.red-brolly.com/2014/07/believe-christmas-sampler/

Lots of Couples Getting Their Vitamin Z's

Steve and I went to the Detroit Zoo on Monday.  He needs to build up his stamina after his surgery and the new geocaches were out.

It seems like everyone and everything had a buddy with them!  Lots of pairs!

Maybe you should grab a buddy for a visit?

Scott Fountain - Belle Isle

Ok, my friends.  I won't deny it.  After such a brutal winter and then a loved one's health scare, I spent the weekend outside sightseeing, barbecuing, and geocaching.  It was the perfect holiday weekend!

As some of you may know, I've written tons of posts about Belle Isle over the last few years.  It's a true gem in the Detroit River, and now it's Michigan's 102nd State Park.  I have probably visited monthly for the last decade - all seasons - and have read books and articles voraciously.  One of the joys of "state parkhood" is the time and money being invested to clean up and repair many of famous structures on Belle Isle.

A few weeks ago I shared some pictures of the fabulous Scott Fountain on this blog.  James Scott was a famous, lazy, womanizing scoundrel (Detroit loves its bad boys!) who cheated men, used woman, and had an all-around good time while alive.  When he died, he left his estate to the City of Detroit to build a fountain on Belle Isle.  The catch?  They had to erect a life-size statue of him overlooking the fountain and facing the Detroit skyline!

James Scott seated on the left side

This I knew.  BEAUTIFUL fountain!  And with the DNR running the Isle, many of my generation (and older) are seeing the fountain - all three levels - running for the first time.

Level One

Level Two

Level Three

Here's a picture my sister took when she and my Dad visited the fountain.  My father had never seen the entire fountain running! And he grew up within a few miles of Belle Isle!

Source: Lorna Hadley

Imagine my surprise when I read an article that the fountain lights up at night!  No!  Really?!?!? Never, ever, ever knew that.  So, the moment Steve felt well enough to travel, we went down to see for ourselves.  Here's our photos from Thursday:
 

 

If you get a chance, it's worth a visit.  The Fountain will run 24/7 all summer, and the lights kick on around 9pm!  

This was a great way to kickoff a red, white and blue weekend!

You Can't Buy Happiness...