Belle Isle Sunsets

I had the most amazing time on Belle Isle with Steve tonight. It really felt like Spring so we walked around both ends of the Isle and enjoyed the sunset near the old water slides.

Happy Birthday Adventure!

A week ago today was my 44th birthday.  And, as tradition would have it, my sister and I spent the day exploring parts of Michigan, laughing and snapping pictures.

I thought I'd share the wonderful adventure she executed.  It was fabulous!  I had the hardest time narrowing down the pictures to share with you.

Hamtramck Disneyland

Hamtramck Disneyland

Heidelberg Project - is this the house that burned down days later?

Heidelberg Project - the Birthday House.  Fitting, isn't it?

I love the Dog House

Then we headed North.  Lunch at Max & Erma's near Oakland University and then onto the house tour at Meadowbrook.

Then off to Meadowbrook for the house tour!

Meadowbrook - fabulous house and fascinating history

VERY bright (and cold) day - hard to take good pictures

Built 1927

Lorna crossing the bridge to Meadowbrook

Pegasus in the Meadowbrook Garden

After Meadowbrook, we cruised North down very snowy roads. It's "horse country" past Oxford, into Metamora, and on to LaPeer.  In addition, as we rounded the corner we came across a group of wild turkeys!

Dancing in LaPeer

LaPeer - one of 10 oldest continually run courthouses

This is a Virtual cache in LaPeer

Our final stop was Frankenmuth. Lovely at night, streets lined with snow.  Being so cold and a little late, there were only four other parties in the main dining room at Zehnder's.  We need to bring the family back in the Spring.

My fabulous sister, Lorna

Not the best picture but we were tired, hungry, and very happy.

Little Sister is always stealing from my plate!

It was a glorious day.  We decided, in addition to our birthdays (in cold November and March) that this year we'd take an adventure on our Un-birthdays (July 12th) and enjoy an adventure in the warmth!  Grand Rapids this year!

Cold Outside

Have you tried Luigi's Pizza in Livonia? AMAZING! Worth setting aside the quilt for a night.

Barn Quilts in Traverse City!

Up in Traverse City with my sister, Lorna, this weekend, we had a wonderful surprise.  Driving up the Old Mission Peninsula, we saw many barns with large quilt blocks painted on the side.  Many of the barns were on the properties of the celebrated wineries that dot the island.  We even saw some painted on the side of private homes. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stop to grab pictures as the road is quite busy and curvy with no pull-offs.  If you get a chance to go to Traverse City, it’s a must stop!

I did find some wonderful pictures here: http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?p=1266

My sister and I were up enjoying the early change of colors in Northern Michigan, geocaching, photographing, and eating.  All the joys of life!  Although Traverse City has quite a few really nice quilt shops, we didn’t stop as we only had about 24 hours total to enjoy TC (and my sister isn’t a quilter).

I thought I’d enjoy some pictures of our trip.

1 - Lorna and Elisa

2 - Old Mission Lighthouse

3- Rock Art on the Sand Bar

4- View from Sand jutty back towards lighthouse

5- Traverse Bay

6- Pure Michigan baby!

7- also the 45th Parallel

8- Lorna at the Old Mission General Store

9- Can you spot the geocache?

10- View from our motel

11- View from our motel

12- Cherry Republic, Glen Arbor

13- Beautiful Rain

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Elisa

Can You Believe We Missed It?

Yep, that's a Geocache, and we missed it the first time! Out with the family, Geocaching, on this Labor Day. Great day to soak up some sun!

31 Days of August: Day 31

We did it! We cached all 31 days in August and received our virtual souvenirs!

Can you spot the Geocache in this picture? WikidKriket & SnakeyLicks did!

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 30

Had a glorious day at Robert Long Park today. I'll have to share more once it doesn't hurt to type (6 hours of walking - OUCH!)

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 29

Today was sucky so I thought I'd share something to make us smile. This is A2QueenCacher posing with a minion cookie (made by Mibbs). We have a lot of baked goods at meets!

31 Days of Caching: Day 28

One thing I love about Geocaching is that it excites so many types of people. This is a group picture from an event today. There are teachers, trainers, retirees, Academic computer operators, cable installation specialist, school kids, medical grad student, men's clothing store manager, housewives, retail Customer Service, cheerleader, programmers, Grandmothers, nature guides (off the top of my head). All ages, sizes, walks of life. In this area, it's always a WE and never a ME mentality.

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 27

Challenges, like caching streaks, are easier when your caching buddy enjoys life as much as mine does.

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 26

So, I find myself pulling off in the oddest spots to grab a geocache.  In Ohio, there was no parking at the end of the Wabash Cannonball Trail.  In Auburn Hills, there was a set of nature trails behind their civic center.  I also stopped in West Bloomfield, where I walked around a public lot (at the end of an exclusive residential street).

I ALWAYS make sure parking is allowed - I never trespass or park in No Parking zones, etc.  But still... neighbors are vigilant and wonder why a strange car is parked in their neighborhood. And I'd hate to get towed.  So, I made and laminated this sign for my dashboard:

In a stroke of (I think) genius, it's reversible. The flip side, in bold red letters, reads I'M IN TROUBLE - CALL 911.  I hope to never need that.

I've really learned some safety skills in this sport.

Take care and happy caching!

Elisa

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 24

My sister gave me this awesome coin! It a treasure chest that opens to display its booty inside!

31 Days of Caching: Day 23

Cache containers come in all shapes and sizes and disguises.

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 22

Just hid this cache tonight. The container? It's green. And the size of a pencil eraser. That's evil. (tee hee)

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 21

To help their fellow cachers reach their 31 days of caching, some of my friends have hosted geo-events this month. Today there were THREE ice cream socials scheduled! Steve (TaGeez) always enjoys a good ice cream!

31 Days ofGeocaching: Day 20

Today's adventure brought me alongside an oft-forgotten 1930's pet cemetery on a gentleman's farm. Cool!

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 19

Not only does Geocaching take me to pretty places.... It takes me to sad places, too.

This was once a thriving elementary school in the middle of one of the richest counties in the US. Instead, the school was torn down, the baseball field abandoned, and the dog park empty. I swear... when I stepped passed the chained gate, the crickets started to sing, a soaring sound washing away their loneliness.

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 18

Geocaching. It's a family thing.

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 17

Happy International Geocaching Day! As you can see, these three are partying hard!

31 Days of Geocaching: Day 16

It's always best to Geocache with someone who has a sense of humor!