Ain't Life Grand?

Having Fun in Grand Haven

We had a wonderful time visiting the beautiful

town of Grand Haven this weekend.  Grand Haven

is a coastal town along the edge of one of the American

Great Lakes, Lake Michigan.  For those not familiar 

with the Great Lakes, they appear to be more like an 

ocean than a lake ~ being called "Great" is not an

exaggeration by any means.  Grand Haven is a lovely

American small town with a thriving downtown and

beautiful old homes.  But the best reason for us to 

visit Grand Haven is to spend time with our family.

Pat and Jim welcome us to their summer home and

show us such gracious hospitality.

It was Tulip Time in the nearby town of Holland, 

Michigan so we drove down to participate in the 

Tulip Festival.  Our first day we visited the Windmill

Island Gardens.  It was a perfect Spring day, warm 

but breezy.

Holland was settled by Dutch immigrants who had 

to carve out a community from what was essentially

a swamp with brutal winters.  Through much hard

work and perseverance the town thrived.

Through the 1950's, 90% of the town's population

was of Dutch heritage.  In the remaining years, that

demographic has changed but the town still likes

to celebrate it's roots.

In 1927 a local high school biology teacher 

suggested the town plant flowers as a community

beautification project.  Since most people in town

were Dutch, they chose tulips and imported bulbs

from the Netherlands and the Tulip Time Festival

was born.

In fairness to my readers, I have to say this is

nothing compared with a visit to the Netherlands

where you can see endless fields of tulips, visit the

 world renowned Keukenhof gardens and see Dutch

architecture and culture.  But for those who can't 

make a trip there, a visit the Holland, MI is a nice

little peek of what you would see in Holland.

The best part of the weekend for us of course is

getting to spend time with Pat and Jim.  We

never stop talking all weekend ~ it is such fun.

On Saturday night we went to the beach and 

hunted for driftwood and watched a spectacular

sunset.  On Sunday afternoon we explored the 

downtown shops and had a bite to eat.  All too

quickly it was time to head home.  we can't wait

to visit again!

Thanks Pat and Jim!

A Grand Time in Grand Haven

Last weekend we packed the suitcases, packed the

cooler, packed the car and headed north to Michigan.

I think Michigan is one of the nicest places to 

spend the summer.  The days are hot but there

is a breeze from all those lakes and the nights

are cool and great for sleeping.  The landscape 

of western Michigan is filled with fruit orchards.

We stopped at Crane's Pie Pantry for lunch.

I love a business that has been around since 1916.

And if you are eating at the pie pantry ~ well,

you have to have pie!

Finally we made it up to Grand Haven and the 

new summer home of our relatives Pat and Jim.

Grand Haven is a quintessential American small

town.  The downtown is thriving with shops and

restaurants.  This Italian provision store has been

in business since 1907.

We had a great time walking around the neighborhood

looking at all of the beautiful homes.

The homes and gardens are so well kept,

this is an area of many Dutch immigrants

and you can see their roots in how nicely 

they keep their properties.

Of course we went to the Saturday morning

Farmer's Market.

In the morning we could run to the bakery

to get treats for breakfast, there was time

for picnicing, going to the beach, doing some

antiquing, finding some local history and most

importantly time to spend with those we love.

At the end of the day we headed to the beach.

It is so nice to watch the sunset in the 

western sky.

You have to stay to watch the lights come on

on the pier.  They are on a catwalk where the

keeper can walk when the lake gets very rough

and it is impossible to walk on the pier.

A grand time!

Thanks Pat & Jim.

It's Greek To Me

 

While shopping for ex votos in the antique

markets of Monastiraki in Athens, I met

Achilles.  He started speaking to me in Greek

and I asked him if he spoke English.  He said

he thought I was Greek and when he found out

I was from America he said of course I must be

a Greek-American.  That's when I realized I

could be Greek, the dark hair, the dark eyes...

So sometimes I become Eleni Maria.

 

 

I am in Grand Rapids, Michigan today and

I found out there is a Greek Festival.

Oh yeah ~ time for Eleni Maria!

 

 

We checked out the food selections.

 

 

We had a delicious dinner of spanakopita,

moussaka, Greek salad and those fabulous

Greek green beans.  During dinner I even

met one of my friends from home.

 

 

After dinner it was time for dancing!

 

 

And to finish off the evening we split a

Baklava Sundae ~ sinful.

 

 

 

 

Foodie Shopping Spree

We spent last weekend in Saugatuck,

Michigan and in this small village there

were many shops made for foodies!

I have never seen a place like this before,

you could sample olive oils and balsamic

vinegars ~ sort of like visiting a winery.

The spice shop had a great selection

of spices and teas.

I love to watch people make fudge,

and I like to eat it!

I was happy to see Saugatuck had an

American Spoon store ~ I love their

products.  Check out their story and

their products at:

www.spoon.com

Strangely, we didn't have any great food

all weekend.  Is it because it is a seasonal

resort and chefs can't make it on a 4 month

season?  Maybe all the great food is being

made at home in the cottages and cabins

lining the lakes...

Big Red

Holland, Michigan



The present lighthouse was erected in 1907
and named the Holland Harbor South Pierhead

Lighthouse.  Its gabled roof reflects the area's

Dutch influence.  It is now know as Big Red and

it was automated in 1932.  It is located at the

entrance to the channel connecting Lake Michigan

with  Lake Macatawa.

In 1970, the US Coast Guard recommended that

it be abondoned.  Local citizens founded the Holland

Harbor Lighthouse Historical Commission and they

restored and preserved it.

In 2007, the US Dept. of the Interior announced that

Big Red would be protected, the 12th Michigan

Lighthouse to have this status.

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..