November 2021, May 2022 and Summer/Fall 2022
Finishing up some odds and ends from our adventures…
So tired of saying “due to covid restrictions,” but we missed being in person for Maggie’s 9th birthday “due to….”.
Maggie picked “The hunger Games” as the theme for her special day, and through the magic of the internet along with family cooperation we held a virtual birthday. We dressed up in character costume, had sign boards to cheer on our favorite combatant (Katniss, of course!), and shared typical birthday party activities. Not quite the same as having family there, but then again we were there, and had a blast!
Between birthdays Maggie reminded us regularly that we had not been there in person for her 9th birthday party, and asked if we were certain that we’d show the next year? We promised and kept our promise…made it for her 10th and 11th birthday.
Elyssa turned us on to Aullwood Audubon Metro Park and The Trolls.
In 1957 Marie S. Aull generously donated 200 acres of woodlands to the Audubon Society which has become a wildlife sanctuary with more than 8 miles of walking trails, an educational nature discovery center, and a sustainable farm.
“The Troll That Hatched An Egg” is nine installations across the continental US and Puerto Rico by artist Thomas Dambo – Allwood is home to one of the installations. As we made our way along a hiking trail, we found 3 giant trolls and a troll’s nest. What’s really terrific is that Thomas Dambo only works with recycled materials.
Beautiful setting, lots of walking trails, farm animals to see, and giant trolls? Well worth the visit if in the area!
Friends from our wintering in Mesa, Jim and Connie, live in Bridgman, Michigan which is about 3 hours or so from where we were hanging out in Grass Lake while our condo was being prepped for our moving in. Jim taught us to play pickleball, he and Brian played softball together for the past 3 years, and there were many, many times we celebrated happy hour together. Only small problem is that Connie is a die-hard Notre Dame fan, and that just doesn’t fly in this M Go Blue household – HA! We had a terrific time being hosted by them at their beautiful home.
While there they took us out to the western shores of Lake Michigan, we got to watch the captain of a huge freighter maneuver the channel while heading in-land…
…and were moved by listening to the sounds of a bugler playing taps accompanied by the crashing of the surf on the shore as the sun set across the expansive waters…
Tom and Landa Mohr were workamping in Mancelona, central north mainland Michigan the summer of 2022. They broke camp in October and we took off traveling almost 3 hours west to South Haven to spend an afternoon just being friends together.
Our full-time travels are at an end for perhaps a year. We fully expect to continue on this journey started so long ago, and have begun our list of next stops. For now, we need to settle into a somewhat sedentary life until late fall 2023, feel a new balance as condo owners, and reach our goals of more time with grandkids and working athletic events at the University of Michigan…but more about those later.
Barbara and Brian
It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.“ – Henry David Thoreau
Aimless Wanderings 
As usual……….BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY!
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Those trolls are terrific. They made me think of the film of Where the Wild Things Are (which Marty & I recently re-watched). So glad you continue to have adventures, even if they feel smaller because they’re closer at hand. 🙂
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Thanks. We loved the big rascals too. The largest spider we’ve ever seen (no kidding) was on Bo Troll, but I must have cast a shadow when I went to snap the pix and (s)he scurried away.
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