Life in the Country

 

There are few things that make this

city girl happier than heading out

for a day in the country.

 

Hopping in the car with a snack

and my camera, NPR on the radio.

 

A country road trip to me means no

interstates, I don't even like state roads

anymore.  I want to be on a lonely

country road.

 

I love to be able to pull over and

take pictures of the old barns,

 

or animals that just happen to be

hanging out at the side of the road.

 

Today was a chilly but beautifully

sunny day, which just made the trip

even better.

 

This guy looks like he's talking

to me.

 

Piercings?  Kids these days...

 

I love the little awnings on this barn.

 

And I'm always happy to see the

county seats that kept the old

city halls, they are beautiful.

Road Trip

Saugatuck, Michigan

We are on a quick weekend road trip to

 the pretty little village of Saugatuck, Michigan.

It is only 4 hours from our house and a nice

escape from the heat wave we are experiencing

at home. 

It is located on the beautiful western

coast of Michigan.

It has many lovely old homes.

The small downtown is filled with

many interesting shops.

We have met up with our family from

Michigan and mainly we have enjoyed

spending time together talking.

And eating...

And enjoying the sunset..



Road Trip: Indiana University ~ Bloomington

On the road again...

First of all, let me apologize for the

poor picture quality, in typical Murphy's

Law fashion, my battery died in my camera

as soon as I got there, my back-up camera

was at home, so I had to use my ipod.  Sorry...

Today I went to visit Indiana University

with Brennan.  IU is settled in the softly

rolling hills of southern Indiana, it is a

beautiful area.

When I think of what a great university

should look like ~ this is it.  There are

beautiful old limestone and brick buildings

with brick walkways through a wooded

campus under that gorgeous American

mid-western blue sky.  I love how much

of the campus is closed to vehicles.

The architecture is lovely.

We started with lunch at the Tudor Room.

It was like having lunch in the Great

Hall at Hogwart's.

Brennan then went off to his

research scholarship interview.

I took advantage of the fantastic

weather and walked around campus.

We still don't know where Brennan

will choose to go to school but I

wouldn't mind visiting this campus again.

Of course, that would mean we

would be a house divided ~ yikes!



A Trip to Sweden in One Day?

Well, sort of, we went here...

For you city slickers, you will be saying, "So what?".

But for those of us who live out in the hinterlands, going to Ikea is fun!

If we are not traveling during the winter school holidays we always do

a road trip to Ikea.  We have been to 2 near Chicago, one in Detroit the Christmas I fell off a ladder and was in a wheelchair (this was actually quite fun) and now the nearest one in Ohio.  Yes, I know gas is over $3.00 a gallon and it is 3 hours away but we needed stuff.

We always start the visit with lunch, I love the Swedish meatballs with

 lingonberry sauce.  I do miss the new potatoes they used to serve,

now it is mashed potatoes or is that just a Midwestern thing?

Dessert of course.

There was even a nice vegetarian option.

We walk through all the rooms, trying out the sofas, opening cabinet doors,

imagining decorating a little vacation place in Europe.

We bought lingonberries,

new glasses,

and lots of candles. 

We dine by candlelight every night and go through LOTS

of candles.  Ikea is our best source for tapers.

My favorite purchase was this beautiful pillow.

Now to unpack...