Last Day of June

You haven't seen a post since last Tuesday because not a lot has been happening, but I thought I'd chime in on this last day of June with a little bit of this and that.

The third June birthday in our family was granddaughter Brianna's.  She turned 28 yesterday. Her only sibling, Brooke, flew to Nashville to celebrate with her.  They are six years apart in age, but very close.  Happy Birthday, Bri!  She texted this pic today.  The heart around their faces is my addition.  

If you are a Downton Abbey fan and don't already know, a third Downton Abbey Movie is currently being filmed at Highclere Castle and will be in theaters in September.  Save the date!

The Bridgerton bandwagon continues to expand beyond Bath & Body Works, Republic of Tea and Williams & Sonoma.  I don't follow Antique Farm House on Facebook, but some of my friends do so maybe that's how the advertisement for their new Bridgerton Collection made its way into my Facebook feed.   Or maybe it's because I used Google to research the history of King George III & Queen Charlotte, the Netflix Bridgerton series and the Regency Era. Who knows, but Antique Farm House said their new line of home decor products, "Whispers of Lady Whistledown", was inspired by the new season.

I welcomed June researching recipes to boost my "Belly Biome" and while I haven't made the ideal suggestion of consuming 20 different plant foods every day, I've greatly expanded my veggie and fruit diet repertoire.  I've enjoyed researching the nutritional values of foods and June is ending the same way it began - looking for new recipes to try.  

Several fruits and veggies fall in the 'superfood' category and one of them is Spinach.  Popeye the Sailor, a fictional cartoon character, first appeared in a 1929 comic strip. His Paramount theatrical shorts appeared in 1933, and in the late 1950's he began airing on TV.  I grew up watching his TV cartoons and I can still remember how his arm turned muscular with great strength after popping open a can of spinach and devouring it [by sucking it through his pipe], proclaiming "I'm strong to the finish 'cause I eats me spinach..." and Brutus was defeated every time!

I must confess, spinach has never been one of my favorite veggies until I read why it's a superfood.  It's loaded with vitamins A, B, C, E and K, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium plus other nutrients, and there's a whole list of benefits and support it provides for the human body [too many to list here].  So I decided to give it a try again.  I found two different spinach salad recipes in my cookbooks that are delicious.  I didn't take pictures after I made them, but I will provide the recipes here.  While spinach is very healthy, moderation is key because eaten in excess the oxalate found in it can increase the risk of kidney stones. It can also interfere with blood thinner medications.   I'm not on blood thinners so that's not an issue for me, but I am cautious about kidney stones.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Dressing Ingredients:

                        1/2 cup white sugar

                        1/2 cup olive oil

                        1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

                        2 Tablespoons sesame seeds

                        1 Tablespoon poppy seeds

                        1 Tablespoon minced onion [I used dehydrated]

                        1/4 teaspoon paprika

                        1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Salad Ingredients:

                        1 quart strawberries - washed, hulled and sliced

                        10 oz. fresh baby spinach - rinsed, stems removed and dried

                        1/4 cup slivered almonds [I used oven roasted]

Whisk together sugar, oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, paprika and Worcestershire sauce, and chill.  Combine prepared strawberries and spinach in a large bowl and add almonds.  Pour dressing over all and toss to coat.  Can chill before serving, but I didn't because my spinach and strawberries had already been refridgerated and were chilled.

Classic Apple-Spinach Salad

Dressing Ingredients:

                        1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

                        1/2 cup white sugar

                        1/4 cup vegetable oil [I used olive oil because it's healthier]

                        1/2 teaspoon salt

                        1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

Salad Ingredients:

                        10 oz. fresh spinach - washed, stems removed and dried

                        1 red apple, cored and chopped [I didn't peel mine and any apple will work]

                        1/2 red onion, quartered and thinly sliced

                        1/2 cup toasted pecans - toast in 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.  

                                                               

Combine vinegar, sugar, oil, salt, and dry mustard in a jar with lid and shake vigorously to combine.   Toss prepared spinach, apples, and onion slices with salad dressing in a large bowl.  Sprinkle with toasted pecans and serve.  I didn't use candied pecans, but I think they'd be an even better option than toasted pecans.

I promise you, both of these recipes are winners/keepers.  Let me know if you decide to try them.

 

Another Railway...

My church just concluded VBS [Vacation Bible School] on June 20th.  It was titled Rocky Railway.  Over 40 children attended and learned about Jesus.  I remember attending VBS when I was a child, and I'm glad the tradition still continues.

The theme reminds me of an old song - Life's Railway to Heaven - written in 1890 and published in 1909.  It's a favorite among country and bluegrass music performers, and the lyrics are very true.

[1]  Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that's brave;

       We must make the run successful from the cradle to the grave;

       Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels, never falter, never quail;

       Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.  [Refrain]

[2]  You will roll up grades of trial, you will cross the bridge of strife;

       See that Christ is your conductor on this lightning train of life;

       Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail;

       Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail. [Refrain]

[3]  You will often find obstruction, look for storms and wind and rain;

       On a fill or curve or trestle, they will almost ditch your train;

       Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail;

       Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.  [Refrain]

[4]  As you roll across the trestle, spanning Jordan's swelling tide;

       You behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide;

       There you'll meet the Sup'rintendent, God the Father, God the Son,

       With the hearty, joyous plaudit, "Weary pilgrim, welcome home."  [Refrain]

Refrain:

       Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us, till we reach the blissful shore,

       Where the angels wait to join us in Thy praise forevermore.

On another subject... My granddaughter, Marissa, celebrated her 29th birthday yesterday. Below is a picture of her and my daughter when they went out for her birthday dinner.  Happy Birthday, Marissa!

Michigan Central Train Station

We only had 105 guests for tea last Saturday, so when I got off work my hubby and I drove over to the newly restored Michigan Central Train Station for a self-guided tour.  It's just 2.5 miles from The Whitney.

It recently opened to the public on June 6th after a $950 million, six-year restoration project by Ford Motor Company who purchased it in 2018 for $90 million.  Effective June 21 thru August 31st admission is free on Friday's from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

I was so anxious to see it.  The last time I was there was June, 1964 to see my girlfriend [on the left] off to California.

'The Station' [as it is called] was closed in 1988 due to decades of declining rail travel, and it sat vacant for 30 years experiencing severe neglect, decay, and vandalism.  It became a symbol of Detroit's urban decay and blight.  In 2013 the Detroit City Council ordered its demolition, but it was saved thanks to several factors, including being on the National Register of Historic Places.  

It's located in Corktown, Detroit's oldest neighborhood.  Irish immigrants, primarily from County Cork, Ireland, settled there in 1834 giving the area its name.

Saturday was a hot, humid, windy day, but it was air-conditioned inside the 'The Station' unlike when it was first built.

The green space in front of 'The Station' is Theodore Roosevelt Park.

There she sits in all of her restored glory.  Origionally, the Beaux-Arts building was designed with a three-story depot with ten gates for trains and a 15 story tower for more than 500 offices.  

A limestone sculpture in front of the side entrance.  A quarry in Indiana was reopened to excavate the same  limestone that had been used over 100 years ago in the initial construction of 'The Station'.

The main front entrance was closed for the tour so we entered from the far left side.  The guide referred to it as the 'welcoming room', but it was either the men's or ladies' waiting room origionally.   I read it will eventually be an event space.

An informative video played every two minutes before entering the Grand Hall.

Eventually there will be restaurants in 'The Station', but none are open now.   There were food trucks outside, but no food or beverages were allowed inside.  All beverage containers had to be checked outside before entering.  

Below is the Grand Hall [main lobby/waiting room] with its 54-ft. Guastavino tile vaulted ceiling. Warren & Wetmore of New York and Reed & Stem of St. Paul, Minnesota - the same architectural firms that collaborated on New York's Grand Central Station - were commissioned for Michigan Central Station.  

In the Grand Hall was a long historical display board for visitors to read and view photos.   As you can see, a lot of other people were there for Saturday's tour too.   

Three new massive chandeliers were recreated in a Beaux Arts architectural style to match ones seen in original constrution drawings and historical photos.  They hang in the Grand Hall. 

'The Station' was modeled after Rome's public baths with marble floors, bronze chandeliers, and Corinthian Columns.  It opened December 26, 1913 as one of the country's most spectacular transportation terminals.  At its peak, 'The Station' saw 4,000 passengers daily.

Below is the [north] main entrance into the Grand Hall, but it was locked on Saturday. Origionally benches for travelers to sit on would have been in this area, but now it's a large open space.  It showcases the marble floors beautifully.

 The origional beautiful windows opened for air flow, but I don't think the replacements do.

Ticket counters in the ticket lobby, and one of two large clocks on the ground level.  The ticket lobby was between the Grand Hall and the Main Concourse.

~ Replicated clock above the ticket office ~

~ Main Concourse ~

~ Train Gates ~

~ An amazing Lego recreation of 'The Station' ~

Original walls in the entry/exit with graffiti painted during its abandonment remain to retell the history of 'The Station's' past life.

Thank you Ford Motor Company for saving this beautiful iconic building from demolition. Since 2018, more than 3,000 skilled tradespeople have spent 1.7 million hours to meticulously return 'The Station' to its original architectural grandeur.   

If you're a local reader, I hope you will make plans to see this magnificient piece of Detroit's history and future legacy.  I saw a lot during last Saturday's tour, but I missed some things, so want to return again before August 31st.

First Day of Summer

Happy summer!  As I sit at my computer typing this post we're in the midst of a severe thunderstorm - rain is coming down in torrents.  But it's been so hot, our lawns appreciate the rain.

Did you celebrate Juneteenth yesterday? I read red is a key color for Juneteenth because it represents resilience.  It's reflected in menus too - watermelon salad, barbequed ribs, red velvet cake and hibiscus tea or strawberry lemonade are common offerings at Juneteenth gatherings.  The federal holiday is ony officially recognized in 29 states and Washington D.C.  Michigan is one of them.

I didn't fix any of the red food items, but a visit to Costco did provide the wild caught sockeye salmon that we had for dinner.  I found a great salmon marinade recipe online and cooked it in the air fryer.   It turned out so good.

My Bridgerton Guide to Entertaining Book was delivered today.  It's a great book with many recipes and color photographs of the recipes plus the cast and scenes from some of the episodes.  It also covers topics such as The Art of the Calling Card, How to Address Royalty and Nobility and other things relevant to the series.  It's definitely worth $25.

I started watching Season Three and am amused by all of Queen Charlotte's wigs.  She was bi-racial in real life, and the grandmother of Queen Victoria.  She and her family enjoyed many happy summers at Kew Palace and she died there in 1818.  Her life story is very interesting. When I was in England last summer my hubby and I toured Kew Palace.  It's much smaller than other palaces and not nearly as elaborate or elegant but it was away from the hubbub of London where the family could enjoy privacy.

The only downside to the Bridgerton series for me is the graphic love making/sexual scenes and nudity.  Those aren't necessary for a good series and aren't an enhancement to the episodes.  

Have you watched Bridgerton or the Netflix prequel, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story? 

Williams-Sonoma Store and Bridgerton

Our granddaughter, Marissa, has a birthday on June 24th so I went to the Williams-Sonoma store this morning to get her a gift card.  Her mom says she's enjoying cooking and baking now and recently got a nice stand mixer there.  I thought I'd help fund her new hobby.

I love Williams-Sonoma and could spend a fortune in that store.  While browsing around I saw a few things that I put on my mental wish list.

I enjoyed seeing their Fortnum and Mason tea displays.

I knew Bath and Body Works and Republic of Tea collaborated with Netflix on their Bridgerton TV Series to create a product line and I blogged about it awhile back, but I didn't know until today that Williams-Sonoma has a Bridgerton collection as well.

This particular store didn't carry the full line of products - just the honey and fruit curd and mixes for Vanilla Earl Grey Quick Bread, Orange Cardamon Shortbread Mix and Strawberry Scone Mix.  I bought the Strawberry Scone Mix [$18.95] and am anxious to try it.

When I got home I went online to view the entire line of products - dishes, linens and beverages [no tea - Republic of Tea sells that line].  The linens and dishes [teapot, teacups and dessert plates] are all floral and match each other.   They also carry Bridgerton Petit Fours and other sweets and sell a lovely Bridgerton picnic basket.  

They also have a really cute honey bee collection which isn't a part of the Bridgerton Collection but it would coordinate perfectly since the bee has a dominant role in Bridgerton.

I won't be buying any of the tea party dishware, but I did order The Official Bridgerton Guide to Entertaining [$25 plus tax and shipping].  With Bridgerton's popularity, I can see why it would be a great theme tea.

I smiled when I saw a Lady Whistledown quote at the website.  I haven't watched any of the third season, but according to previews the identity of Lady Whistledown will be revealed.

Moving on to a different subject... Lucky's restaurant [where we ate yesterday] serves huge portions, so Jerry and I both got take-home boxes.  He ordered Chicken Parmesan and I got Monterey Chicken which came with two large boneless chicken breasts halves.  I heated the leftovers for our dinner today.  Hooray, a no cooking day!  ;-)

The Monterey Chicken was grilled, topped with bacon, Cheddar cheese, sauteed green and red bell peppers, onions and mushrooms.  My side dish was steamed broccoli, so the entree contained 5 plant based fiber foods plus the garden salad.  I made a Romaine garden salad again today.  

In closing, wasn't it wonderful to see Princess Kate back in public again at last Saturday's Trooping the Colour after her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy.   The world adores her as much as Princess Diana, and everyone wishes her a full recovery.

[Internet Photo]

Father's Day 2024

My father's been gone from this earth for 13 years now, but I honor him on Father's Day and think of him often throughout the year.  He was a wonderful father and I was blessed to have him for 93 years.  I'm comforted knowing that He lived a life committed to Jesus and our parting is only temporary.   I will see him again in Heaven someday.

 I also celebrate Jerry, the father of our three children.

And our two sons who are also fathers.

~ Steve ~

~Jeremy ~

Today our daughter, Lori, and son-in-law, Dave, came to our church to worship and to be with Jerry.  Afterwards, we all went to Lucky's Steakhouse in Imlay City for dinner.  There were 10 of us around the dinner table:  Steve, Levi [our church's youth pastor], Brooke, Lori, Dave, Jerry, Me, Sharon, Sheena [Sharon's mom] and Larry [her dad].  

While waiting to be seated, I took a picture of Jerry & Steve in the restaurant foyer with the Indian statue.  Native Americans once inhabited Imlay City.

Jeremy posted a picture of him and his three kids in Zeeland, MI today.  We will see him this Thursday when he comes to our side of the state.

It was a wonderful family day and I thank God for His blessings and faithfulness to our family.