Thursday

I'm working on our playlist for tomorrow. While I wait for my phone to sync, I'll tell you about today.

We went to Meijer Gardens! (The Arts Alive Campers and the Jr. High.)

I let them take pictures with our camera. I haven't even looked through them yet to see how many selfies there are. That's going to be interesting…

We walked around the sculpture park before eating lunch. Then we had a workshop and we explored the wetlands. We found all of the things on our scavenger hunt. The things we were to look for were:
butterflies
birds
duckweed
turtles
feathers
footprints
muskrat
dead wood
dragonflies
frogs
cattails
ducks

Yes, we saw all of those! Plus a few extra (see photos below). I don't know which student found the muskrat, but it was happily chomping away at some food and we (thirty or so 4th-9th graders plus adults) managed to check him out. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was a pet and they planted him there.

I snapped a couple of pictures on my phone.

 Here are the swans.

And here are a few of my students rolling down the hill en masse. Until they all crashed into each other. At which point they all got up, stumbled around for a few seconds until one of them yelled, "let's do it again!" and they all ran back up the hill.

Pictures! Hey, I promised...

I know, try not to be shocked. Part of the reason that I actually loaded the pictures is that all I have to do is take the memory stick out of my camera and insert it directly into my laptop. Ta-da! Easy-peasy. Without further ado, here are the butterflies and a few other pics from our beautiful day at Meijer Gardens.

 Butterflies + an amazing camera = great shot

 Check out the palm in the ball in front of the large leaf...

 I enjoyed trying to use my photography skills. What do you think?

 How many butterflies do you see?

 Bright colors blooming in the conservatory, gorgeous!

It's still mostly brown, and there was still snow on the ground behind me, but I had to take a picture of the waterfall. I don't remember it being here…?

After we were finished walking around, we browsed through the gift shop. Nancy found a book on Michigan Day Trips. We have the next seven or eight years planned out.

It was a great day. I'm thankful for friends, butterflies and philanthropists (Fred Meijer).

Pre-thankful

Tomorrow, Nancy is coming to visit. She's my Quota friend from Kalamazoo. We're going to Meijer Gardens. I haven't been there since December. I am really excited to go and take pictures. The butterflies are blooming. 

Since I'm pre-thankful today, tomorrow I'll post pictures. 

We are never alone

I think I can begin to understand why people have taken Sabbaticals, vows of silence, or live like hermits. As an extrovert, I first conquered working from home. I have a full life outside of work, volunteering through Quota and the church. I get re-energized from those gatherings.

Then I had to overcome Bill's new job which has him working in Detroit. It has been almost two years now. And when he comes home, I find it a little difficult to adjust my life to having another person in it.

Who knew as an extrovert I would enjoy being alone the majority of the time.

When those who have gone away to reconnect with themselves, return to "life" I wonder how they readjusted to the commotion.

I have had plenty of time to explore this world of loneliness. Quite frankly I am getting bored. I know when Bill does return home that it will not be easy. I will have a lot of adjusting to do. I am ready for that. In the meantime, I wanted to share with you the journey I took yesterday.

First I visited the Celebration of the Arts. This is an Art Show that our church hosts every year before Lent begins. The last day for the show is today, Ash Wednesday. Here are a few pieces that were on display.


The banner


"From the Lowly..." maple burl, Fred Bivins


"Bamboo" steel, Russ Baker


"In the Beginning ~ God Created" scrap metal, Lane C. Cooper (1st prize)


"Celestial Harp" forged & welded iron, David Holtslander
(photo taken from the hallway, through the window in the door, I'm not sure of the piece in the background. I just liked the way that piece had the iron gate in the foreground...)


"What Have I to Offer?" high relief, Terry Arseneau

There were a lot of watercolors, oil/canvas, and photography entered in the show as usual. Over 125 artists had pieces displayed, many had two! Our church always gets to chose a piece to add to our permanent collection. We have about four choices. The congregation votes for their favorite and whichever piece receives the most votes is purchased! Voting took place on the 7th and 14th. They have not yet announced which piece won.

I do love this city and its celebration of the arts through so many ways!

From the church I headed to Meijer Gardens. I wanted to get some photos of my favorite spots covered in snow. I've been there once before when there has been snow on the ground, but did not venture outside. We stayed inside to see the Christmas trees (I thought I had a post about it, but I can't find it if I do). This time I ventured outside to take some photos. When I came back inside I headed straight into the Tropical green house to warm up. For future reference, don't try to take pictures. Your camera will fog up from the extreme temperature change!


The greenhouse from outside


A little bit of color, spring is coming!


The waterfall
(it was actually very cool, you could still hear the water rushing underneath the ice)


My most photographed sculpture. The dull sky behind the shiny steel. It's winter and everything is asleep...


except for the butterflies! They are emerging!

Through my last couple of days of loneliness I have remembered that I am not alone spiritually. And through technology I am connected with many friends. But here in my house, I am alone with the cat. Juliette is a quiet companion.

Spring is coming.

The end of last week

We went back to Meijer Gardens on Thursday morning. We saw the butterflies again. Here is Skylar modeling the shirt that she had bought on Monday. We didn't go outside because it was cold!

After that we went to the scrap book store and bought our supplies so that we could both create our memories of the week! She did a great job on her scrap book! (she's wearing the shirt that she bought at the zoo)

Then we went to Krispy Kreme and got two fresh donuts because the HOT sign was on, and bought a couple to take home with us. Yummy! Later that night, we went to Bill's old high school, East Kentwood, and went swimming. What fun!

Both Felix and Juliette finally got used to Skylar on Thursday! This last Monday they wandered around the house looking for her. They miss her! On Monday night, Felix went and jumped up on the bed that Skylar slept in, like he was waiting for her to come to bed.

Friday night we went to a hockey game. (it's not a scarf around her neck -it's her Webkinz. A tiger snake, named Snicker. We bought it Wednesday night)

The Grand Rapids Griffins are the farm team for the Red Wings. It was their second to last game of the season. They won!

But not without several broken sticks!

On Saturday, we went to Jersey Junction and ate ice cream! Skylar tried the "play dough" flavor. It's blue moon with colored chunks of cookie dough. Her mouth was blue when she was finished! We didn't mind that it was chilly outside!

That was the rest of the week. We'll hopefully have her back for a week this summer.

Spring Break 2

Skylar is visiting Auntie Em and Uncle Bill during her spring break. We are having a great time. We have been very busy! Here are some of the things we've done.

We went to Meijer Gardens on Monday. It was the perfect day, weather-wise. It was warm, sunny and just a little breezy. We saw the butterflies inside, but spent more time outside. We visited the Children's Garden. Skylar pretended to kiss the mouse.

Skylar learned what a sun dial is and she decided she would become one!

Watch out for the horse! It's about to crush Skylar!!! This is not a small horse...

And of course, she rolled down the hill. Here she goes...

And here she is at the bottom.

Then we went back home and made a kite! It was windy enough that it flew really well! (this kite was so easy to make. We made it out of regular paper, a streamer, yarn, and a bamboo stick. That was the most difficult part, cutting the bamboo skewer!)

Then, after taco dinner with Heather O., we went to Naked Plates and painted pottery!



We went to the John Ball Zoo on Tuesday. We saw Spider Monkeys, a tiger, penguins, and farm animals. We stopped to pet the goats, cows and sheep. Skylar got tackled by one of the goats. They had a scavenger hunt going on, Skylar found all the clues and won a tattoo!

Here is the tiger, checking her out. I bet he thinks she looks tasty!

Here's the goat trying to tackle her.

On Wednesday, we went to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Skylar learned how the original "computers" (her words) worked, the old printing press. She hoped on a bicycle for a ride.

And we rode the Carousel.

Thursday, we went back to Meijer Gardens, and we are planning on going swimming, as soon as I finish this blog. Look for more to come!!

Next addiction

Now it's back to Harry. Heather and I began the slow count down, by watching H.P. 1 & 2 yesterday. We also ate tons of junk food. It was great! Okay, the food wasn't that bad; mac & cheese (no paprika incident this time), doritoes and guacamole, homemade oreo ice cream (thank you Ben & Jerry's), left over deviled eggs, and cookies. Did I forget anything? Yup! Pizza rolls! Yum! The only reason we didn't watch other H.P. movies, was because ours are still packed somewhere.... and Heather doesn't have three. And I'm sorry, but you can't have a marathon and skip one! Before 5 comes out, we'll have found ours and we'll have a "proper" marathon! All things H.P.

I still haven't received my new computer. It's expected to be delivered tomorrow. Yeah! I ordered a new desk. Both of which I will have to photograph so I can share with all of you! Fun! :)

Speaking of which, I went back to Meijer Gardens with Sami and her daughter Rhea. We had a great time! And we're going again in May when they have the Chocolate exhibit! They don't know what they're getting into, having something like that with us around! I digress, here's the clear wing butterfly, I finally got a good picture of it!