Vitamin D at Tollgate Farm in Novi

I’m still plugging away at my projects but everything is in the “in between” stage - lots of applique completed and prepping for the embroidery. 

In the interim, I thought I’d share some photos from my “happy place” yesterday.  Tollgate Farm, in Novi, is a 160-acre farmstead, currently owned by Michigan State University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Americana Foundation.  

I was introduced to it by my friend Lauri – we would grab our lunches and visit its beautiful pond while we ate.  So many birds & butterflies, plus several retired horses (from Greenfield Village).  Besides the stunning paths weaving through some beautiful flora, there is a children’s garden, a rose garden, a greenhouse, a sugar shack and nature trails (yes, plus two geocaches!). There’s no cost or donation obligation.

Yesterday, while waiting for a friend, I snapped a few pictures with the Hipstamatic app on my phone. 

Here is a picture of the pond from an earlier blog post:

Happy Wednesday!

Elisa



Inside | Out Art and Cracking the Whip

It's that time of year again!

The Detroit Institute of Arts has taken up residence in our local communities! Thirteen towns in Southeast Michigan are hosting the DIA's Inside | Out Exhibit. Approximately a half dozen reproduced Masterpieces dot each town - hung outside coffee shops, libraries, boutiques. It's a fabulous way to introduce everyone to the original gems housed downtown and gives us an excuse to explore small towns.

So far this season, Lorna and I have explored Canton, Northville, Ferndale, and Troy.

We've discovered that Canton has some wonderful outdoor art made by local artists (loved the glass and iron sculpture outside the library).

Downtown Northville has great Angus burgers at a bar with outdoor seating.

Ferndale's works are TOO close to a great new taqueria called The Imperial.

Troy's art is located in it's historic village (of which, neither of us knew existed!).

I believe we may be visiting Waterford and Clawson next. Alongside the art, the Michigan Geocaching Organization has hid a corresponding Geocache at each location. We love a good puzzle!

Never fear, though. Ginger has been hovering on my armrest all night making sure I meet my appliqué goals for my SKoW. Who knew that I'd grow to actually enjoy the "A" word! I'm also pleased that I've learned not to stress over the "perfect block" and am having fun! I'll share some pics once the embroidery is complete.

Hope you have an outstanding weekend!

Elisa

 

Devil Witch of Summer

Happy Summer!

My sister reminded me that it’s been awhile since I posted.  Have to admit – like the rest of you, I’m sure – it’s hard to quilt during the glorious summer weather!  I’ve been out exploring the Michigan countryside.  This past weekend, my sister and I visited the oldest geocaches in Oakland County for a challenge.  Hard to stay indoors when these line the trail paths:

I’ve also recently made some new friends, explorers like my sister and myself, who enjoy the eccentricities of Lower Michiganians.  Saw this along the road and knew I had to stop:

Unfortunately, as abundant the sites are of Michigan, I’ve also had to deal with another of Michigan’s residents: poison ivy.  It’s very plentiful this year – ugh!  Did you know Michiganders recognize local poison ivy based on the shape of our state? The bottom two leaves are the shape of two hands reversed (each with a notch where the thumb is).  The middle (top) leaf resembles a hand on top (notches on each side where thumb and pinky are).  Yet, this knowledge still didn’t prevent me from touching it!

Luckily, I have my bottle of Palmolive in the shower and my package of antihistamines on the counter.  The worst has subsided.  Any of you have any folk remedies I should remember for the future? 

I think Ginger would like me to stay closer to home! 

Time to get back to my journal quilt (I’ve almost finished another strip) and some stitcheries.

Elisa

Victory is Mine! Uh... Sort Of!

Ok, so it was noted that I left off two very important pictures in my last post.   Not because I'm embarrassed but because I didn't have them yet.  I'll let my geocaching log explain:

I'm SO PROUD OF MYSELF! Attending Geobash when my sister, WikidKriket, and I decided we needed to cache in a thunderstorm. We reached this hill and I knew I had to climb it, water sloughing off the side. I kicked off my flip flops, dug my feet in with each step, and hauled my robust rump up the side of that hill! Victory! Found the cache!

Then I remembered that I'm afraid of heights (and that was a pretty sheer drop on all 3 sides of that ridge). So, less gracefully than before, I descended, barefooted, backwards, until I reached the bottom. Did I mention that my supportive sister was giggling and snapping pictures the whole time?!?

Don't you just LOVE family????

Happy Wednesday!
Elisa

Amazing Time at a Mega Event!

Yes, I've been quiet lately.  After finishing the memory quilts, I went to Ohio!  This past weekend was the Midwest Geobash at Wauseon, OH.  My family (Team Free Range Lobsters) camped, cached, ate, biked, shopped, socialized, and, if time was left over, slept at the Fulton County Fairgrounds!

Team Free Range Lobsters
3inaTree, scrapcat, Tristan39, WikidKriket, and PopLob

Corey playing Giant Jenga

Taking the time for wine tasting during the Poker Run.
A Poker Run is like a road rally visiting businesses in the local community.
Other stops included an ice cream shoppe and a bakery.

Nothing going on here.
Move along.

SUPERSTARS!
Robyn and Corey conquered the hill!

Dad at the Adventure Hunt.  Everyone "found" a
commemorative geocoin.

Corey and Robyn hamming it up!
Completing another challenge.

Elisa and Lorna posing with Signal, the Groundspeak mascot.

Theme of the weekend was Halloween in July.
Lorna felt this lil' fellah needed a hug!

Lots of great biking trails.  Out geocaching with Jeremy.

We even got a little caching done!

TOTALLY exhausted!
Team FRL completing another challenge.

One more picture before we head home!

It was a weekend I'll never forget (and I've recorded it all on my journal quilt). We had an amazing time and are already making plans for next year!

Have a great week!
Elisa

Annual Trek to Upper Lower!

Every year my family takes day trip to the Tawas/Oscoda area.  It's stunning!  It's on Lake Huron - just north of the thumb on the mitten!

No stops at the quilt shops this year (the one in Tawas City has closed) but plenty of adventures!

Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse

Team Free Range Lobsters visiting Paul Bunyan

Another shot of Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse

Jon is doing what boys do

Jon, Lorna, Corey and Robyn

Funny thing to find at the point, eh?

Must stop for putt-putt.  Dad was chilling in the fudge shoppe!

And you must stop at Marion's before heading home!

Tomorrow I should be able to (finally) post some finishes!

Elisa

And Who is Watching You?

I'm just a few days shy of showing you a finish.  I have to wait until the recipient sees it, but, I'm SO geeked! It took me awhile to get it started because, given the fabrics (old clothes) to work with, I had absolutely NO idea what to do with it.  As with words, I'm rarely at a loss for ideas... LOL!  I can't wait for you to see it!  I normally would never combine those colors, etc, it it's SO darling!

This is the first time in over 10 years I've had the summer "off" (I still have a full-time job but I'm postponing an additional part-time job until this Fall).  Is this what it's like to have time for myself?  I've been attending picnics & BBQ's, walking through the park, meandering around the zoo, gearing up for the summer Zoo concert series. In a few weeks, my family is heading to Ohio for a geocaching adventure (classes, vendor booths, poker runs, mazes, giveaways, tinfoil hats).  I'll be sure to share the pictures.

One thing I'm surprised about is all the beautiful animals loose around Michigan.  My nephew, Jonathan, laughs.  "They've been here all along, Aunt Elisa!"  I guess I'd been too busy to notice.  So, since I can't show you quilt pictures, would you like to see whose been watching me on my mini-adventures?

Luc - Erie Metro Park

I looked up from a geocache and this is what I saw.... 

... and then turned around to see this beauty!

Just hanging out.

Michigan is SO blue!  So refreshing in this awful heat!

I mis-heard the news.  They meant there was a rabbit
population explosion - NOT exploding rabbits!

Family of swans in the Vernal pond.  Papa ducked this photo!

I could flood this blog with beautiful flowers.
They're EVERYWHERE!

Sitting on a bench at the zoo.  Looked up & over my shoulder
and this is what I saw!

I also have oodles of new zoo pictures, but I'll save them for another day.

Take care!
Elisa