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Live each season as it passes;

breathe the air, drink the drink,

taste the fruit,

and resign yourself to the influences of each.
… Henry David Thoreau

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I read it is NOT in the Destination;

the thrills in our lives are in the Journey.

I half agree.

I love both.

but then, I'm thinking of the travels...

(**wink**)

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Apple pie and

THE Betty Crocker recipe my Mommy lived by

Apple Pie - loosely adapted from this Betty Crocker recipe

Ingredients: CRUST - 2 cups of all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 2/3 cup + 2 tablespoons butter, 4-6 tablespoons cold water FILLING - 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, two tablespoons lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 5-8 apples in one inch squares

Directions: Mix flour and salt, add cubes of butter and mix until coarse like sand, add cold water by the tablespoon until dough sticks. Knead into two equal discs and refrigerate. Heat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, cut apples and mix with sugar, nutmeg, lemon, flour, and salt in a large bowl, making sure mixture covers apples fairly evenly. Roll out dough to fit the bottom of a nine inch pie pan, fill with apple mixture. Roll out other half of dough and cut into strips. Decorate top of the pie. Cover in aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes. Pie should be golden and bubbling. :)

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Summer Afternoon

Two of the most beautiful words...

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Finally posted...

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Spent the morning finishing several posts and

pictures of my journey to Leelanau, Michigan...

it was a nice 'return' to a wonderful getaway! 

And a reminder to start making plans

for the next excursion...

(**smiley face**)

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Another day in Paradise...(or NOT)

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Sunday...another day in Paradise.  Woke early and walked down to the beach and back - showered and dressed and off to The Early Bird for breakfast - right - it's about 11a.m.!  Afterwards, on a mission to purchase a few items in shoppes of Leland.  By 1:30, I'm off to Suttons Bay shoppes, mainly the The Painted Bird gallery and a couple others...AND to go down by the water for some fotos...then to see what the Carlson-Graham's (Claudia & Jim) are doing for dinner...well, that was the plan.

I'm done at The Painted Bird taking my bag of treasures to the car when my cell rings...it's the Lodge and they want to know why I haven't checked out, since my stay with them ended at 11 this morning.
I state that information is incorrect, inasmuch as I am booked until Monday, Memorial Day. "No", they state - that guests for my room are sitting in the lobby, my information is incorrect and I need to return to remove my belongings from the room.  This convo goes back and forth a few more times ending with they are going to remove my things so that they can clean the room and they will try to find me another location, altho most places are booked for this holiday weekend.  I advise I am on my way back and that I don't need their help finding a room for me.

At my return, my things are in the Office, I load my car, put my keys on the counter of the reception desk - neither the Manager nor I say one word to each other.  As I finish loading, a receptionist comes out - the girl that made the reservations with me, and apologized.  I stated that I would not be returning to this venue and how heartbreaking it was to end my love affair with The Leland Lodge Resort.  As I got in the car and drove off, I found it easy to reconcile that I'm once again lucky when it comes to "breaking up" when I want to do it.  I found the Lodge had changed.  It had suffered many different owners and it showed in the poor lady: She was lacking the charm and class that attracted me in the past. She showed wear and tear without the tender loving care once given her with fresh paint and wood wax.  The changes were downgrading to her and the "faux" flowers in lieu of all the beautiful fresh local wild and perennial flowers that onced graced her every counter and side table was shameful - to me.  I was once in love with this lovely lady of an Inn...and it sadly has taken a beating and has changed.  I won't return and I will miss her.  She's currently "for sale" and I hope someone with heart, money and respect buys and returns her to the beauty and class-act she once was.

On my drive back home, I want to stop one more place on the way:  The Pie & Pastry shoppe in Suttons Bay...since this is our cherry capital, I want to get some pies to take to a bbq tomorrow...

Goodbye Early Bird

Goodbye, downtown

Pick up the best Cherry Pies in the World

Hello, Old Man...you like this place too?

I'd love to stay and chat some more, but if you won't

let me stay with you in your doghouse,

I need to get back home

(I wished him a happy summer and told him

that I hoped to see him again this fall)

Goodbye, Painted Bird

Just needed some more water shots to hold me over

En route back to Traverse - to Graling and

turn for South...

I was bummed as I drove out of Traverse City

but I recalled Norm saying

"If I can't live here, I can visit as much as I want!"

He loved Leelanau also and I vowed again

to come back soon.

Thank you Leelanau, Claudia & Jim and even

The Leland Lodge.

I will treasure this time as long as

life and memory lasts.

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* * *

Claudia's

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Claudia and I met for dinner at The Bluebird, a famous restaurant in downtown Leland.  I saw her walking towards the restaurant so I ran to stand at the Hostess’ station.   When she walked in and approached me, I said “May I help you?”  Claudia took off her sunglasses while she was perusing people in the restaurant looking for me and stated “…well, I’m here to meet someone….”.  “Yes!” I said and opened my arms, “that would be me!” I think I grab/hugged her at the same time and took her by storm and surprise…it surprised even me…and at the same time, as we released, my heart giggled and my brain screamed “THIS IS THE BEST!!!”.  We enjoyed dinner and chatted all the way thru.  Her husband Jim didn’t “show” and we calculated he was purposely not attending so that we could have a couple of hours to reconnect.  And it was good.  Claudia guessed he was at another local restaurant and bar, so after dinner we drove there and yep: there was Jim.  We hopped up on stools to join him at the bar – introductions made and we chatted away…

 The next day...came the day I finally drove to Claudia and Jim’s home.  How exciting was THIS!!! I so regret that I didn't have my camera in my pants pocket to take pictures of their beautiful home and amazing lot. Lot...hell...acres...country...enormous pines, gardens everywhere, force plantings and wild, organic beautiful flowers, shrubs, trees... heaven on earth, actually. We went on a tour of their newly renovated awesome home. I could smell new wood and it was such a warm and welcoming home that it told a story of two people, in love and who share love - I felt like more than a "guest" - it felt like home. There aren't many other homes that make me feel that way...maybe because this was the home of my dearest childhood friend? Possibly. The tour ended back in the kitchen where a birthday card to me was on the table and Claudia presents huge, beautiful birthday cupcakes for my birthday! Geez, I felt like crying or giggling - I giggled as this tickled me so. Jim, Claudia and I plunged into the treats as we talked about everything. Jimmy asked how I liked my Subaru Outback and the feel of its drive...we decided they should try it out, so off we went on a drive. Jim drove, they both pointed out sites, landmarks, directions of this place I love but had never seen this countryside before. I (now) grabbed the camera lying on the back seat and started clicking all over Suttons Bay, Michigan:

I took more pics, however with a point and shoot they're mediochre

I made a mental note to take the better camera in the fall

After the tour, it was time to leave. 

We would meet with their friends later for
pizza at the Bluebird.

We did and we took this -
to be cherished forever:

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Downtown Leland, "Leland" and The Water

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Landmark: The Harbor House Trading Company

Touristy stuff (t-shirts) and the best soft-serve ice cream!

River and Main

Stopped in for:

fresh ground Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co. beans

that make the best cappuccino!

AND: LO and BEHOLD:

While IN River & Main, WHAT APPEARS

before my very eyes?

This antique refinished weather vane!

YESSSS...she came home with me to be

placed in my front room picture window.

I named her Althea's Leland of Michigan.

Althea is mother's name, the woman who

first introduced me to Leland.

We'll just call her Leland for short.

Yess, I do realize weather vane's usually

 sit atop turrets and steeples. So?

Driving around Leland

because this is another reason to be here

the scenery and the water

this is country, after all, and the barns

are a photographers eye candy

that, and the water

Now time to get back to the Leland Lodge and

stick my feet in some lake water and sand!

Driving from the Lodge to Nedows Bay Beach

past the exquisite golf course

Be Still My Heart:

SUN, SAND, LAKE

...may I never leave?...

Tickey tickey...

Ahhhhh

Beach treasures

Thar's GOLD in them thar beeches

I need these pics for viewing in January

Ohhhh, Mama...this is NATURE'S

"heated flooring"

Thank you for this day, God

Back to the Lodge and the outside deck.

Time to make a date with Claudia to

see her after 35 years

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Next: 

Off to tour around Suttons Bay while

Jim drives and Claudia plays tour guide...

(if you go, these are the people to show you around!)

Fishtown, MI, USA, The World

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These are only a FEW of the many pics

I took in Fishtown.

I love it here. 

I'm in love with it's history and

it's evolution to

the current boutique commerce

and shop owners mixed in

with the purpose of Fishtown: FISH!

The Rockin' Bead Shop is owned

by a dog rescue friend while

right in front of her sweet shoppe is

her husband's family

fishing charter business and their boats.

A W E S O M E!

Next:  Downtown Leland and "Leland"...