A WINNER Hello friends! I have been away for a week and I returned to find some very lovely comments and emails about my last post. Thank you for your generous kindness. I picked a random winner and Martha will find the “imagine” banner in her mailbox next week. I’m so glad to know its gentle message will be hanging in a home far from Vermont.
Whenever I do a giveaway, I end up a bit sad that I cannot offer something to everyone. I’ll continue to do an occasional giveaway in hopes that someday will be your lucky day. xo
The Ambassador Bridge, an international suspension bridge across the Detroit River, connecting the USA and Canada.
AN ADVENTURE We loaded up the pickup with bins of 1980-1990’s era Playmobiles, Legos and marble works. Batman had refinished the bunkbeds from our own kids’ era and we loaded those up too, along with an assortment of other childhood treasures. We spent our 43rd wedding anniversary on a 13 hour drive through to Detroit. :-)
Oh, the fun we had, gathered with all four kids and three grandkids.
On Friday, Batman painted Flora’s new bedroom and we set up her new “big girl bed”. We made another visit to Fish Eye Farm, to pick up a CSA share. Early on Saturday, we visited Eastern Market, Our mission is to nourish a healthier, wealthier, happier Detroit, as we have been doing since 1891. Later in the day, we celebrated Hannah and Loren’s baby shower. On Sunday we went to the opening of 4 1/2 year old Maggie’s art gallery, in her apartment. Photos, above. On Monday we celebrated LIndsey’s birthday with a cruise along the Detroit River.
Another day we trekked out to Ann Arbor to the WE Upjohn Peony Garden at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum at the U of Michigan. You can read all about the amazing work that’s being done to study this gorgeous flower on the linked website. (And right now, our peony bed here in Vermont is spectacular!)
A carousel filled with roaring tigers.
Tuesday night found us watching the Tigers play the White Socks with eight of us supporting Maggie’s first baseball experience. What a hoot! Maggie made it to the seventh inning stretch when she realized how late it was and decided it was time for her to go home. She was ready to go back the next day for another game.
The Tigers were Batman’s childhood team and he remains loyal to them all these years later. What fun to have some of our kids in the Tigers’ neighborhood!
There was amazing food all week, some homemade and some ethnic take out, which is hard to find on the back roads of Vermont. We also made a pilgrimage to Sister Pie, one of our fave Detroit landmarks.
We had some quiet time with little Theo and his mama and papa on our way back east, and ended up pulling into our driveway last evening.
What a privilege and joy to be able to spend time with family and friends far from home. It reminds us of how precious these connections are. And spending time in and around Detroit continues to inspire and challenge the way we think about equity, inclusion, diversity and belonging. There are so many connections to this work, no matter where we live. And so…
SOME CURIOSITY Juneteenth’s coming up this weekend and I am learning more about this holiday each year. There are many events scheduled here in Vermont, one of the whitest states in our nation. I’ll be listening to some podcasts in the next few days to open my heart and brain to more learning. Maybe you have some curiosity too?
Now that we’re home from our adventures, I’m looking forward to time in my studio, refreshed by a break in our routine.
I hope you are able to find refreshment, friends. Maybe it’s a break from your routine as well, maybe it’s just a walk around the block or out in the woods. In any case, wishing you a wonderful weekend…full of curiosity and fun.
love always, me.