A fun day at Meijer Gardens

Last week we met friends at Meijer Gardens. I didn't post pictures then, so I'll share them today.

 The waterfall.

 Pretty flowers.

 Queen Bee.

 I have another photo just like this from seven years ago. Skylar is a little taller now. 

 The pond with shades of green.

 Aunt Em and Skylar.

 We saw a chipmunk,

 and several turtles,

 and a family of swans!

Skylar's hanging with her peeps, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Meijer.

It was a very fun day, and it was fun to hang out with the Robinson's.

a study of sculpture

Two weeks ago (really? It flew by and doesn't seem like it was that long ago) Nancy came to visit. We went to Meijer Gardens and walked around East-town and East Grand Rapids. We had a lot of fun, despite it being cooler and the light mist that fell while we walked around the Gardens. I did not have my camera, but knew Nancy would. Here are a couple of silly pictures we took.

the sheets on the bed

It was clean sheet day before we left. And we have a house guest while we're gone, so I had to change the sheets on the guest bed too.

The sheets I used for that bed are so soft. I love using them.

They are not new. In fact, they are older than me. There is a picture of my sister, in bed. In this picture the bed has these sheets on it. This picture was either taken before I was born, or right after I arrived.

They don't make sheets like that anymore.

There is another set of sheets for the guest bed that are new. Much newer. We bought them when we got the bed, so the sheets are no more than eight years old. (Hey, that's newer than the other set of sheets!) The elastic on the "new" sheets is shot. It has been for about six years.

I think it's interesting that the elastic on the set that is thirty-some years old is not shot. In fact, the elastic feels like new. Like it could go on forever.

I will state (for the blog record) that both sets have been used. Somewhat equally. The older set has a few years on the newer set. Neither has been stored away. In fact I had used the newer set more frequently because I liked the pattern and color. Then the elastic dried up (or does whatever it does) and I started using the "old" set more frequently.

Because the old set of sheets were made to last.

If anyone finds sheets like that, please let me know!

brew tours and Saturdays

*Editor's note: With regards to yesterday, 11/11/11 we watched "Ocean's Eleven". Thought you'd like to know

It's Saturday morning. We have a lot to do. We have company coming for a short fun-filled visit. Heather W., Jenny and Ginger (her Wheaten Terrier). The house is mostly clean, we just have a few last minute things to take care of.

The reason Jenny and Heather are coming is because in our recycling program I found free brewery tours to one of the local breweries. The cool thing about this Brew Pub (in case you're not into beer) is that it's in an old church. I can't wait to see it.

I invited Heather because she lives in the middle of the state with nothing around her. When I met up with her to go to Dahlia Hill, she mentioned how bored she is in the winter. She needs live music, a hip city scene and other human interaction (seriously, she's surrounded by a lot of woods...). So when I found these coupons, I knew this was something she would like to do.

Then I invited Jenny because John is out of town. We took a winery tour for her birthday a couple years ago. It was a lot of fun and I knew she would enjoy the brew tour too.

We are looking forward to it. But now my coffee is finished and it's time to get the house ready before they arrive.

for Alex

Our friend Alex is planning to visit us. It will be her birthday while she is here. I would like to do something nice for her, as far as cooking goes, while she is here. She got cheated out of one of my delicious meals the last time she came to visit. She had asked if she would get to eat one of my delicious dishes during her last visit, and while I promised her she could, she ended up visiting with her husband's relatives who also live here in town. So they missed out. I am going to make it up to her. *rubbing hands together* I am already thinking of what to make!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I love cooking, have I mentioned that? We had friends who came to visit this past weekend and I made a creamy risotto for the first time. It was amazing. I am making that again, soon. This time I'm adding shrimp.

Back to Alex, I have many choices of favorite dishes to fix. Help me? She will be here Saturday and Sunday. Saturday for breakfast is easy: my chocolate chip pancakes (or blueberry or both) with the homemade cinnamon syrup. Lunch will be a lighter affair to save room for dinner and dessert. Alex is going to have to tell me what she would like for dessert.

But for dinner, there are so many choices... a pasta dish? Lasagna (from Paula Deen, so there's something like seven different kinds of cheese in it), risotto, cheesy baked ravioli, the list goes on.

Or one of my many varied chicken dishes? This last weekend I cooked Chicken alla Roma (chicken with tomatoes, red pepper, proscuitto, onion in a sauce).

Or soup? I have a great homemade tomato soup (with Sherry), a cheesy beer soup, potato soup... with sandwiches? I love sandwiches.

Or pizza, or a calzone. I feel as though I should start rhyming, but I'm not quite in the mood to do that.

My recipe notebooks overflow with suggestions. What do you suggest I choose??