Chihuly in the Japanese Garden

We returned to Meijer Gardens recently to finish off our tour of the Chihuly sculptures, this time focusing on the Japanese Garden.

new take on the old jungle gym, in the children's garden

 

Gamelans by the Buchans

the Great Lakes water feature in the children's garden

entrance to the Japanese Garden

Niijima Floats

boardwalk

Turquoise and Erbium fiori

Float Boat

Fiori Boat

Yellow Herons

Susie

Skip the John Ball Zoo

June 22.

The John Ball Park Zoo in Grand Rapids has been around for a very long time, maybe too long. The space itself is actually built up a hill and although they provide a funicular to get folks to the top so they can walk down, when we were there in June it was not working and the staff members we spoke with didn't know why it wasn't functional and one person who worked at the park seemed confused by the word funicular.

    The grounds are also peppered with advertising billboards. Not the kind that might highlight the name of a company or organization that donated for a particular exhibit but just straightforward billboards placed here and there along the walkway. 

    And the overall feel of the grounds seemed very tired -- the aquarium smelled bad and barely lived up to its name.

    That said, the kids -- and there were a LOT of families about -- the kids seemed to enjoy themselves. And the otter exhibit was pretty cool it must be said.

    But Susie has such fond memories of going there as a child so the tip was worth it for that alone.

word is the lanterns scattered make for a most impressive night stroll

lots of kitschy decor and not all of it made much sense but the kids loved it!

the live music stage

aquarium

 

Chihuly in Grand Rapids

June 21.

In May of this year we popped over to Meijer Gardens to check out the latest Dale Chihuly indoor and outdoor glass exhibitions.  Some years ago we had the wonderful experience of seeing an outdoor exhibition of Chihuly's fantastic glass art at Kew Gardens in London and when we learned there was to be a brand new exhibition right across the street we jumped at the chance.

While we didn't see all the outdoor work -- we hope to rectify that in the coming weeks -- what we did see outdoors was lovely. And the indoor pieces were simply incredible.

Ikebana

Example of the collections of early glass baskets:

the Persians

The Fax Room, wallpaper of Dale Chihuly faxes consisting of his sketches, ideas and drawings from the 1990s:

Rotolo

We walked outside with map in hand to track down several of the outdoor glass installations.

Chartreuse Icicle Tower

Walla Wallas (as in the onions)

Turquoise Reeds

Mottled Trumpet Flowers and Plum Feathers

Blue Polyvitro Crystals at the Waterfalls

Cattails and Copper Birch Reeds

Go see for yourself.

Association for Gravestone Studies Conference 2026

The Association for Gravestone Studies will hold its annual conference in June of 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You can find out more on their website:

https://www.gravestonestudies.org/conferences/2026-conference

Our 42nd wedding anniversary

Today was not quite as busy as it was for us (well for Susan who did all the work) 42 years ago in Roanoke, Virginia. We were married at the home of Bob and Margie Berry and it was a grand day indeed! Warm to be sure but certainly fun full of happy folks, smiling faces and plenty of fellowship.

August 6, 1983

We spent today going about our routine enjoying life's little things: workout at MVP for us both and Susie putting the final touches on her preparations for teaching a couple of curious teenagers how to make macarons tomorrow.

The highlight of the day was meeting up with friends Patty and Paul for dinner at Linear. The food was good, service fine and company, as always with those two, warm and full of lively conversation.

laughter always seems to be the hallmark of being around these two 

Susan had grilled salmon

I had the Bolognese

As the sun dropped ending another day we said adios to P & P and headed off for our car. Forty-two down so we're at about halfway. . . 

A birthday and remembering Mark Van Halsema

Yesterday was Susan's birthday. 

We spent a quiet day with the birthday girl enjoying her combat fitness class at MVP while I did my workout. After her class Susan walked home from the gym (it's only about 2.5 miles) while I headed out to the Asian market in Kentwood to pick up a few staples (Panko, scallions, garlic, rice wine, frozen Edamame and soy sauce mainly).

That evening we joined about dozen or so of Susan's cousins at Beer City Bread for dinner in memory of Susan's cousin Mark Van Halsema. He died August 3, 2005, and his wife, daughter and a couple of sisters were in town to visit the grave and to recall his life and spirit.

It was a short drive down the East Beltline to the restaurant. The weather was nice, the food was good (I had a crispy chicken sandwich), the beer cold (Perrin Black for me), and the company lively and in wonderful spirits. Stories about Mark flowed for much of the evening bringing about lots of chuckles as well as a few tears. 

cousins Mark Lindholm and his wife Nancy Tess (Van Halsema) on the left

the birthday girl

Front: Me, Susie, Donna Kallemyn, Brenda Friedman, Tess, Jane DeKorne, Brianna (Kate's friend), Helen Sterk; back row Mark Lindholm, Clark Van Halsema, Dale DeKorne, daughter Kate, Scott and Jennifer Galloway

cousins Brenda Friedman and Dale Dekorne with Mark Lindholm in back

Mark's wife Helen Sterk with cousins Scott and Jennifer Galloway

cousins Dale and Susie