Father's Day, VBS and More...

I hope the fathers in your family enjoyed a happy Father's Day.  It's hard to believe my father has been gone 14 years, but our parting is only temporary and I'll see him again someday.

At church yesterday the sanctuary was all decorated for Vacation Bible School which began today with the theme Scuba Diving into friendship with God.  Day 1 was reported as a huge success.  I was curious when VBS began because I remember attending when I was a kid. Google says the first recorded VBS was held in 1894 at Hopedale United Methodist Church in Illinois.  How awesome that it's still going strong 131 years later.  It's a wonderful way to teach children about Jesus.

Two pictures that were posted of day #1 [Actually 13 pics were posted but I'm only sharing two].  Did you go to VBS when you were a kid?

After church yesterday our family went to dinner at Lucky's Steak House - a family favorite. After our meal my family indulged me with some picture taking.  Below are the three dads represented in our family yesterday: Jerry, son Steve, and son-in-law Dave.  The Indian statue is a reminder that Native Americans once inhabited Imlay City where Lucky's is located.

Jerry with two of his kids, Lori and Steve.  Jeremy didn't make it from Zeeland.  Steve wore his VBS Scuba Crew T-shirt since he had to preach from a platform decorated with an underwater theme.  All VBS helpers are wearing the same T-shirt this week.

When we got home from the restaurant I got right on the task of completing the Whitney Tea Service Training Manual.  I finished it just before midnight and sent it via the Internet to the restaurant CEO so he'd have it first thing this morning.  So glad to cross that off my 'to do' list.

Tomorrow my hubby begins his 12th year with the summer GM Student Corps program.  His shirt is ready and waiting to put on first thing in the morning.   He was delighted to learn his GM Student Intern used to be granddaughter Brooke's best friend in grade school until she and her family moved to another community.  Small world!

I went back to the Hallmark store today and bought the garden stone I blogged about last week.  My hubby thought it would be safer hanging than in the ground where it might get damaged by the weed whacker or lawn mower.  It did have a place on the back for hanging so we put it right by our front door.  I smile every time I see it.

I'm looking at the picture below and notice I need to pull that droopy white flower in the wreath back up in place so there won't be a bare spot.  ;-)

Have a good week as we begin the third week of June!!!

June Celebrations

June is a month filled with celebrations for our family.  Our daughter-in-law, Sharon, begins the celebrating with her birthday on June 7th.

June 11th was Jerry's and my 59th Wedding Anniversary.  We went to our favorite restaurant, River Crab in St. Clair, MI to celebrate.  It was a beautiful day, just like our wedding day.

We ordered our favorite entree - Ultimate Seafood Mixed Trio - Grilled Salmon, Crab Cake, Coconut Shrimp, Coconut Ginger Rice, and Broccoli Rabe.  It didn't disappoint, and we went home very full!

For dessert we shared a Creme Brulee.

We were hoping to see some freighters on the river, but none passed by while we were there - only a few speed boats.

The next day [Thursday/yesterday] I drove to my childhood stomping grounds to have lunch with some high school girlfriends.  This year marks our 60th high school graduation anniversary.  We decided we wouldn't refer to ourselves as old.  We're seasoned and experienced instead! ;-)

The gal sitting next to me in the above picture [in the red top] texted me recently saying she had some dishes to give to me if I wanted them.  She brought them yesterday and I didn't know what a treasure I had until I got home and began to unwrap them.  Royal Albert Old English Rose service for 12. They're beautiful!  The set has a sugar bowl and creamer, but no teapot, so I will have to remedy that.

Sunday will be another day of celebration as we honor the fathers in our family, and two of our granddaughters have birthdays on June 24th and 29th.

 

Keeping In Touch

I hope you've been enjoying the month of June so far.  It's hard to believe it's been over a week since I last posted. The days go by so quickly and there really hasn't been anything newsworthy to blog about, but since I want to stay in touch I've come up with a little 'this and that'.

While I went off to work last Saturday to serve tea to 130 guests, our daughter came over to work on a project with her dad.  She will be moving into her new house in mid-July and wanted to give her oak dining room set a face lift.  They sanded the chairs and pedestal and will paint them black this coming Saturday, while the table top will remain it's original oak color.  I took the picture below when I came home from work when they were just wrapping things up for the day.

It's always a blessing to go to church on Sundays, but yesterday was a double blessing when Dr. Todd and Jeanne Mellish attended while visiting from New Hampshire.  [They are the young couple pictured on the left.]  Todd's dad was the senior pastor of the church we attended for 26 years and where I was church secretary.  Todd is a few years younger than my kids, but they all grew up together and Todd has kept in touch with Steve since moving to New Hampshire. What a joy to see them again!  His wife Jeanne has the gift of hospitality and would love to own a B & B someday.  She said she'd enjoy a job like mine at The Whitney.  I suggested restaurants in historic homes, B & B's or upscale hotels as good places to start looking.   It all starts with a dream so dream big!

In the center of the picture is my girlfriend, Lori, and her husband.  They attended the same church, so also know Todd.

 

Earlier today while out running errands I passed a school sign that said dream big.  I couldn't help thinking about my conversation with Jeanne, so I took a picture and sent it to her.   It took a long time [and a lot of prayers] to get my dream job, but with persistence it finally happened.  What dream would you like to see come true?

When we went outside after church, Liz, a master gardener who plants all the flowers at church and cares for them, was watering them before going home.  Aren't they beautiful!

Speaking of The Whitney... I have a question I'd really like your input.  I'm working with management on an updated Tea Service Manual for training purposes. I think many people are visual and retain info better with pictures.  I'd like to include photos to accompany instructions.  What do you think?

A new tea room book arrived from Amazon last week.  I first learned about Leila & Erika Shanoff through World Tea Expo a few years ago during the COVID quarantine, and they also advertise in Tea Time magazine.  They are a mother/daughter duo who own a tea room in Clermont, Florida called Erika's Tea Room.  They've been in business for about 12 years.  In addition to their book, they also do YouTube videos which are interesting to watch.  I love their slogan, "Memories Made with Every Cup!"  Very true!

Below are some scones I ordered from them in 2021 for a World Tea Expo virtual tea tasting.

I saw this teacup swimming pool on Facebook recently and thought what tea-themed item will they think of next?  Even though I'm a tea lover, I'm not a sun goddess [I burn too easily], and I'm not a water lover either so I'll leave the teacup swimming pool for others to enjoy.

In closing, I went into the Hallmark store today and saw the cutest garden stone.  I took a picture of it so I could mull it over in my mind, but I think I'm going to go back to get it.

Have a good week!

Lunch in Detroit's Mexicantown

Our son, Steve, has been trying to get a date on his calendar for us to go to lunch together, and today was the day.  I've been wanting to go to Detroit's Mexicantown, so that's where we went.

The Mexican neighborhood's identity was solidified in the 1970's and 80's and was officially named Mexicantown then, but it's been home to Hispanics longer than that.  There's a plethora of Mexican restaurants in the area to choose from, but today we went to Mexican Village.  They opened at 11:00 a.m. and we got there around 11:30 when only a few other customers were there, but by the time we left the restaurant was full.  

The graphic below is from the restaurant's website.

There were so many good things on the menu to choose from.  We started with an appetizer of cheese Quesadillas with Guacamole and Con Questo Dip. That was almost enough to fill us up, but we each got the lunch portion of Enchiladas - two [beef or chicken] served with rice and refried beans.  Yummy!

The restaurant [as the above graphic indicates] is located at 18th Street and Bagley, and that's the neighborhood where my mother grew up long before it became Mexicantown. The family home she lived in at 740 18th Street no longer exists.  The address numbers have been changed and an apartment building now sits in its place.

We drove to nearby St. Anne's Catholic Church, the second oldest continuously operating parish in America, where my mother and her Irish family attended.  It's the church where she and my Dad were married 86 years ago, and where her parent's funerals took place.

Several years ago while my parents were still living and in reasonably good health, we took them inside the church that held so many memories for them. One of my mom's brothers was an altar boy there.

 

The photo below is my mom [white hat and coat], her sister, and brother [in his altar boy garments] in front of their 18th Street home.

Right next door to the church is the Catholic school my mom attended through 8th grade, and it looks like it's still in use today.

There are beautiful murals painted on walls of buildings in Mexicantown and the one pictured below was across the street from the restaurant where we ate.  I would love to go back when we have time to drive around and see all of them and visit their food markets and gift shops.  I read where they have a Cinco de Mayo celebration and parade on W. Vernor Street every year. That would be interesting to see.

Thank you, Steve, for a very enjoyable day.

2025 Memorial Weekend

I hope you had a enjoyable Memorial weekend with family and/or friends.  When I got off work at The Whitney last Saturday, we drove to Zeeland, Mi [about a 2 1/2 drive] to spend the holiday weekend with our youngest son, Jeremy, and his family.  It was a fun-filled weekend.

We enjoyed two evenings around their portable patio bonfire pit, visiting, having S'mores, and listening to Izzy play her ukulele.

Ice cream and apple pie while enjoying the fire pit!  ;-)

On Sunday morning we went to church with them at Hope Church, followed by lunch at Vee's Grill and Coney Island.  Izzy ordered a breakfast burrito bowl that I'm anxious to recreate at home, as well as Jerry's breakfast tacos.

In late afternoon we drove the short distance to Saugatuck.  A lot of other people had the same idea as it was very crowded with tourist walking the quaint streets.   We paused for some pictures on our brief walk around town.

Memorial Day was a beautiful sunny day with temps in the low 70's.   So many activities were packed into the day, beginning with cornhole.  I have never tried that game.  Have you?

Jeremy and Ellie competed against Izzy and Jerry [Papa]

After cornhole, Jeremy and the three grands played volleyball [without a net].  Ellie is on a volleyball team and is quite good.

Jeremy played a game of chess with each of his girls who are learning the game.

When chess was done Izzy and Ellie did craft painting on old 45 rpm vinyl records.

Izzy concocted a drink with lemon slices and fresh strawberries that was very refreshing and good.

~ Jeremy with Jerry and Me ~

Then it was time for Jeremy to grill steaks and chicken kabobs.

While dinner was in the making, Ellie, Landon - and even Papa - used the time to shoot some hoops.  Football is Landon's first love, but he's quite good at basketball too.

Izzy made a yummy salad with Arugula, Green Apple slices, and shaved Parmesan tossed with a Lemon Vinaigrette.  I love trying new recipes and I'm anxious to try her salad at home.  I think I'll add some honeyed sliced almonds.

There were Arnold Palmer's to drink and I took my Harney's Blueberry Green tea that I enjoy too.

As has been said, "all good things must come to an end", so around 6:00 o'clock we loaded our car, said goodbye, and began our journey back home with many wonderful memories of our time spent together.

How did you spend the holiday?