Going back to Europe, chocolate nuns, a French bike race and bits of of our lives

After nearly two years in pandemic mode, we are going back to Europe. 

In fact, by the time we leave in mid-April it will have been over two years since the pandemic turned everyone's world upside-down and then sideways, leaving most of us uncertain about the future.

Into the midst of all this global incertitude we decided to launch ourselves back to Europe, to visit places we've never visited before and to meet old friends one more time. . . 

Next week I'll post the details of our forthcoming trip -- but let me just say it entails 2 airplane trips, at least a dozen trains, some busses somewhere along the line I'm sure, 6 apartments, 4 hotels, 7 countries all in 60 days. So stay tuned!

In the meantime, we've kept close to home and hunkered down for the winter. Recovering from a broken ankle, having stepped on an acorn while walking just before Thanksgiving, Susan is back to taking walks, swimming and has even seen a pair of eagles in our neighborhood. She recently taught a tart class the other evening and is working on several blog projects, two of which I've been on the lucky receiving end: religeuse and Paris-Brest pastries!

We did pop over to Meijer Gardens around Christmas to check out the lights, decorated trees and whatnot. Lovely holiday color, greenery and floral arrangements. 

Religeuse by the French Tarte

Paris-Brest by the French Tarte

the Victorian Garden at Christmas

sterile artwork

Eagle in Grand Rapids

broken ankle

pain au chocolat by the French Tarte

And I'd like to you leave with this visual thought. . . simpler times, eh?

Unwinding the skein by Frederic Leighton

Catching up during the pandemic

We've been self-isolating (more or less) for eight months now and even though Susan's mom is in full lockdown at Pilgrim Manor we're thankful she is healthy and in good spirits. While we are greatly disturbed by the direction our country has been heading these past four years, a trend we see little sign of abating any time soon, we're fortunate to have a nice home, good food, a little money in the bank and good health when so many are without. 

That said, here's a quick look back at our (few) outings during the past several months. 

Besides the Mackinac Island adventure and a couple of patio dinners at Patty and Paul's home in Grand Haven, we've taken a trip to Meijer Gardens. We've gone to Søvengard on the west side for Susie's birthday (rained out) and then back again for our anniversary (it has superb outdoor dining and the sour beer fries are incredible). 

A group of us in Eagle Ridge Court got together in our driveway to remember a wonderful and generous neighbor, Daryl Kaufman. Susie and I (OK mostly Susie) laid the pavers on our new patio. 

One gorgeous afternoon we drove over to Lake Michigan to pay a visit to one of Susie's favorite childhood haunts, Meinert Park, located just north of Muskegon. 

Although we missed their version of the Eiffel Tower we passed through Paris, Michigan on a day trip up north. 

Finally, we made a quick trip to Susie's old stomping grounds, Fremont, Michigan. Filled with great memories tarnished only by the prolific number of Trump signs. 

Now we await winter's arrival and wish safety and health to all.

k

2nd CRC

529 Iroquois 

Second Lake

Out and about in West Michigan

OK, I admit there's little rhyme or reason to this particular post -- the cynic might say I was too lazy all these past three months or so to post individual notes with accompanying photos. The cynic might be right. And then again she might be wrong.

Frankly, I couldn't bring myself to focus on one simple blog entry as somehow worthy of standing alone on the page as it were. That and I had a few other things on my mind -- spending nearly a month in Europe, spending time with folks I find funny, engaging and happy to be alive enjoying life.

And I was sick for a short while. No, not the kind of illness that brings one to death's door but one that was nonetheless debilitating. And no fun, if I may say.

Anyway, here's what our spring and summer have been like, in part and so far. . .

First up, the butterflies at Meijer Gardens with Susie, her sister Mary and Mary's daughter Mallory.

Cut to Memorial Day, which is a pretty big deal here in the USA.  The idea for "memorialization" of past lives grew out of the American Civil War. The veterans of that horrendous conflict as well as their friends and families determined it was important to recall, indeed to remember annually the sacrifice made by so many to preserve the Union. As a kid growing up in central Illinois I remember my folks calling it "decoration day" since we would go out to visit the folks who have long since shuffled off this mortal coil to place a vase of flowers on their graves.

Anyway, we thought we'd visit the cemetery before heading out to Clear Lake for some quality family time and good food.

Susan and her mom visiting Tunis VandenBerg's grave

Melissa Ten Have Loaney

Melissa, Jeff and Laurie

Bernice, Melissa and Susie

June saw another trip back to Meijer Gardens, this time along with family visiting from Chicagoland.  Anyway, I learned that the Orchid Corner has been renamed in honor of Anne Frank and the children who died in the Holocaust.

Susan

Later in the month we had a chance to catch a fascinating discussion about Fortunato no. 4 chocolate by its sole producer at Patricia's Chocolate in Grand Haven.

I can never refuse a shot of the pier at Grand Haven.

After the talk Susie and I headed back into Grand Rapids and had dinner at Søvengård on the city's west side.

Small plug here for one of my projects this year: I'm prepping for a presentation on the men of the 3rd Michigan buried in Fulton Street Cemetery in Grand Rapids (21 to be exact) and am updating some of photography.

Fulton Street Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in the city (1838) and is the final resting place of many of the city's early settlers and more illustrious (and undoubtedly not-so-illustrious) characters.

Earlier in July we took a day trip up to Ludington, Michigan and checked out the state park and its beach -- both worth a stop, especially if you're keen on Lake Michigan.

After we left Ludington, we spent an hour or two touring the backroads of Mason County away from the lake and came across this bit of whimsy. . . . Enjoy your summer!