More storms

More storms brewing on the horizon this morning.  They were pretty wicked last night and although we got lots of wind and rain and lightening, the towns right south of us got the worst of it...Power is out, trees down and one of my very good friends who was on her way to Maine for vacation, was notified that her house was on fire!  Her and her husband returned home, their entire house has smoke damage, the garage is ruined.  Such lovely people and a beautiful home I have visited many times through the years, has been damaged by lightening.  Very sad.

 

We must be home

 A few miles from home we saw a guy on a motorcycle whose helmet was a giant pink fuzzy rabbit head, with floppy ears. I am not kidding...I turned to Bill and said, "It looks like we're home!". So, yes, we made it home safe and sound. The plants and hummingbirds were glad to see us!   UPDATE:  about an hour after I posted this on Facebook a friend of mine saw the rabbit motorcyclist in Salem...

Little Bavaria

 Today we drove to Frankenmuth, MI, known as 'Little Bavaria' As you can see by the photos, the theme was carried out throughout the city. Flowers along every street, German music playing and a good time atmosphere everywhere. We took a ride on the Bavarian Belle paddle boat. I don't think there are paddle boats in Bavaria, but it was fun anyway. We went to the Frakenmuth Fudge factory, bought 4 kinds of fudge, the Cheese Haus and bought 8 kinds of imported cheese. Then to the Castle shop for authentic German pastries, wine and imported beer...all at one place. We are at the Drury Inn and it is right downtown and an easy walk to everything. We are heading home tomorrow with lots of wonderful memories!''

War memorial marker

Beautiful welcome center at Frankenmuth

The Cheese Haus...where you guy cheese...

Beautiful flower bed with a vintage sausage grinder at the Sausage house

Lots of outdoor cafes and a party atmosphere most everywhere

You can take a carriage ride around town

Kaffe Haus

A traveling bar where everyone has to peddle to get anywhere, they were all over the place, but were having a great time

Bavarian Inn

Me and Bill on the deck of the Bavarian Belle paddle boat

The Cheese Haus again

The War Memorial

Where you can buy fresh German baked goods, beer and wine in the same place

The Bavarian Belle paddle boat at dock
 

Last night by the lake

 It's the last night in our little cabin by the lake. We are heading off to another adventure tomorrow. Here are some pix of our beautiful sunset and a couple of kids that work in the dining hall having fun in a paddle boat..they were laughing and having such a good time! Enjoy yourself youngin's...old age comes faster than you think!

 

Fireside Inn, Pesque Isle

 I posted about this wonderful resort yesterday and how amazing it is. There is barely any phone signal here, 1 bar if you are lucky. I was surprised my long post went through last night. There are lots of kids here of all ages. Nobody is on their phone, a sight to behold. They are playing pickle ball, swimming and running around like we used to when we were young. After supper the kids all gathered on the big porch of the dining hall and actually talked and laughed for hours. After that some of the guys were playing cards in the cabin next to us until after midnight. Bill and I sat on our porch and enjoyed the storm. We just got back from breakfast and a long walk. We have a hard day of relaxing ahead of us.

Cabin by the lake

 To celebrate our anniversary today we wanted to stay by the lakes. We found this wonderful cabin camping area on Presque Isle (Fireside Inn) with wonderful rustic cabins. When they said rustic, they weren't kidding. No tv, no air conditioning and no internet. We love it. It's been very cool. The campground was founded in 1905 and some of the cabins look about that old, I would say the newest ones were built in the 40's or 50's. I feel like I'm on the set of Dirty Dancing.... Meals are served twice a day at the same time. Everyone gets the same thing. They ring a big dinner bell when it's time, just like summer camp. Tonight was Thanksgiving in July: turkey, dressing, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, hot rolls and pumpkin pie! We visited and climbed up some local lighthouses and had a picnic at one of them for lunch. We have made a few friends because just like in Dirty Dancing many families have been coming here for the summer for decades and they are all very friendly. Here are a few pictures, if you've stayed until the end of this very long post. It's been an anniversary full of memories!

 

 

Stone hunting

 Today we drove to Petoskey and Charleviox beaches to collect fossil stones (Petoskey stones), ancient fossils (mainly coral) from millions of years ago when the area was a sea bed. Lake Michigan is beautiful and it was a gorgeous day! The stones are out in the car or I would post pictures.

 Someone built a cairn

Lake Michigan

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

 Today we went to Dearborn, MI to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. It was amazing! It was like Disney World for historians! Many presidential official cars were displayed, such as President Reagan, Dwight D. Eisenhower and the car that President Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated. All were authentic. So many displays of automobiles, flying machines and all things mechanical . Also on the grounds is Greenfield Village which displayed Henry Ford's actual childhood home with many original or exact duplicates of the furnishings, Edison's workshop and some artsy dinosaurs that were controlled by levers, wires and cables. Either way, what a fun and interesting day!

 

Dinosaurs that were actually art projects

The largest steam train ever built

Henry Ford sponsored Lt. Byrd on his trip the the Artic

Wing Walkers...no thanks...a big deal back in the day

Authentic items from Edison's Laboratory

You can take a ride in a model A

Hundred year old carousel...still running daily

Hand built covered bridge

We took a ride on a steam train..