Just checking in on this last day of June. It was a busy weekend... after work on Saturday my hubby and I attended our daughter-in-law's parent's surprise 50th Wedding Anniversary Party. I managed to get a few pictures but only one of the honored couple as they were escorted into the party by three of their 23 grandchildren. I was hoping one of their five children would post some pictures, but so far none of them have.
Monday, June 30, 2025
The End of June
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Clara J's Tearoom
The month of June is rolling by quickly. Yesterday was the first day of summer and today it's 95 degrees in southeastern, Michigan and feels like 104 degrees. The Detroit tri-county area is under an extreme heat warning. Last Wednesday a tornado touched down less than 2 miles from my house which is very unusual.
Yesterday was a busy day at The Whitney serving tea to 155 guests, and one lovely young lady received a marriage proposal. The groom-to-be arranged ahead of time to have the beautiful engagement ring [displayed in its case], positioned on the top tier of the serving stand when the server took it to their table. Both sets of parents quietly slipped in to watch the happy occasion and, of course, the young lady said yes! All the guests in the Drawing Room erupted with a heartfelt congratulatory applause.
Thursday I traveled 38 miles south of where I live to pick up my girlfriend, Sandy, to go to Clara J's tearoom in Maumee, Ohio [9 miles south of Toledo]. Our reservations were for 11:00 a.m. The weather was drizzly, but it didn't dampen our enthusiasm for sharing teatime together. The last time I was at Clara J's was in 2019 for a Downton Abbey tea with my girlfriend, Lori, so a return visit was long overdue.
The food was beautifully presented and very tasty. When we arrived only a couple other guests were there, but when we left the tearoom was full.
The top tier contained three savories: A Radicchio leaf stuffed with zesty Cilantro Slaw; Watermelon & Feta squares; and a Sundried Tomato Palmier.
Monday, June 16, 2025
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.
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.
Friday, June 13, 2025
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.
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.
Monday, June 9, 2025
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.
Have a good week!
Thursday, May 29, 2025
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.
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!
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.
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.