Memorial Day Weekend

As I sifted through my archives in search of an image to share with you today, I happened upon these beautiful Hydrangeas from last Summer blooming around the chamber offices in Saugatuck, Michigan. If there were a flower I could fall madly in love with and have an affair, it would be Hydrangeas. They bloom in various shapes and sizes and colors. Oftentimes, they are variegated which adds to their charm. Something about the Hydrangea screams 'Americana'.

Memorial Day weekend is approaching! Do you have great plans for the weekend? After all it is 'the official start of Summer'. Public pools around the nation officially open for the season. Teeny weeny bikinis are seen at every turn whether it be at the beach, the lake, the park or the pool. Inner tubes are hauled out of storage, pumped tight with air and ready to throw in the water for sun bathing. Is that the smell of sun tan lotion wafting through the air? Did somebody check the burgers and hot dogs on the grill? All of the ladies are rushing about preparing side dishes for the cookout. There's baked beans and old fashioned potato salad or perhaps you would prefer roast corn or fresh green beans. How about a big slice of baked Apple Pie and can I have a smidgen of fresh whipped cream. Or maybe a scoop of vanilla ice cream is more your speed. What is that popping and cracking sound. Ahhh, the neighborhood kids are shooting off firecrackers. What do you say we scare up some folks and play a game of softball or touch football. We could always just throw around the Frisbee. Maybe Dad will drag out the horseshoes for a tournment. Has anybody seen a movie at the drive in theater lately?

Whatever you decide to do on this long holiday weekend, I wish you loads of fun,

delicious food and great times with your family and friends. Be safe.

ENJOY!

Sunset, Lake Michigan

As I sat on a bench next to the walkway at Holland State Park in mid July, the sun was moving low in the sky, and sadly before dropping to the horizon, a bit of cloud cover set in. I peered way out and saw this lone sailboat adrift on Lake Michigan. It is written in many, many articles that the western Lake Michigan shoreline with its quaint, and I might add, plentiful beach towns is America's best kept secret. And they would be right. Every beach town I visited from Saugatuck, and points south and north, there were very few tourists or visitors compared to the well known beach towns in Florida, or along the Texas or California coasts. This one aspect made for a pleasant journey in and around the small towns, not to mention the shoppes, the beaches and the restaurants.

One might ask, why would I want to travel from Kentucky to the shores of Lake Michigan in the Lower Peninsula. All you need do is visit there once to discover exactly what I did. Spending several nights in Holland, driving north and south to visit the beach towns, then driving slightly farther north to Traverse City, and again visiting more beach towns, made for the perfect itinerary. For the second time in my life, I was able to take in beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes, and finally make the mile long hike to Empire Bluff. As I drove up and down the peninsula, I was treated to many a cherry farm with red ripe cherries, heavily laden hanging from the trees, row after row. I passed many a blueberry field resplendent with ripe blueberries as I drove north along the shore. On my initial trip to Michigan I drove to the Upper Peninsula and photographed the Pictured Rocks National Seashore. What a gorgeous area, rugged and virtually untamed. Love to get back there some day to photograph the Moose which are plentiful in that area. I hope you enjoyed my look back at my travels to Michigan. It's such a beautiful place to spend time outdoors. I hope a beautiful sunset graces your horizon today. ENJOY!

Linking to Sunlit Sundays

Varigated Hydrangea

Oh my how I love Hydrangeas, but this one in particular was absolutely gorgeous. This particular Hydrangea bush was blooming next to a black wrought iron fence that surrounded the tiny Visitor Center at Saugatuck, Michigan's downtown harbor area.

And even more beautiful...

I don't even have to ask if you agree. Surely, you must. Have a lovely Labor Day weekend all. Stay safe and if you are having a heat wave such as we are in Kentucky, stay cool. ENJOY!

Roses in a Saugatuck Garden

While on my trek in Michigan back in July, I captured several images of the Roses blooming in an old fashioned flower garden sitting next to a bank on the corner of the main street that ran through the tiny town of Saugatuck. I have a fondness for Roses but especially love Cabbage Roses. It reminds me of the Rose bushes that bloomed along the fence line in my childhood home.

This courtyard filled with flowers is one you might encounter in England as opposed to a tiny tourist town like Saugatuck, but there it was with its black wrought iron fencing at least 10 feet tall and a beautiful oval topped gate.

I don't believe I have ever seen blush colored Roses actually blooming in a garden before. Although I have seen them in florists. I love there faint color of pink.

Just as I made my way to the end of the garden path, I found this muted pink rose shining in the sun. I tried to find out more about this courtyard flower garden online, but came up empty. All I can figure is it is owned and maintained by the Chemical Bank that is situated next to it. I am praying the oppressive heat wave we have been under since last week will die out this week as it was rather difficult to get anything accomplished when everything you try to do outdoors leaves you sweating profusely. I read on another blog that the snowline is creeping south up in Alaska and wonder just how much summer is left in the higher altitudes. I can feel Fall is not far away now. One of my favorite seasons. ENJOY!