A Meijer Gardens visit today

Bonnie and I went out to wander around the Meijer Gardens today. It was a beautiful sunny day, but not too warm. We saw a little snake crossing the path, looking as if he was having quite a hard time of it. Bonnie gave him a hand across ... which was impressive (from a distance). :) Loved these turtles sunning themselves!

 

 

 

 

Jenny Jeep

Many blessings to be thankful for, all of which resulted in the new addition of Jenny-the-Jeep to my world.

I had a bunch of errands to run today, and really enjoyed getting to spend some time with my new addition. She's a 2007, with 23,000 miles.

Hummingbird Pictures

 

Hummingbird Pictures

 

Miscellaneous

 

Just thought I'd throw this picture up there. I've got these pretty candles and flowers on my table, and have been really enjoying them.

My two female hummingbirds have acquired a suitor, and now the three of them are spending copious amounts of energy trying to keep each other away from the feeder (which has more food in it than they could possibly eat, and six ports to feed from. They obviously are more territorial than they are rational.) I've been sitting out there reading in the evenings, and they keep hovering near the feeder, starting at me, not so sure they dare settle down and eat.

Hmmm .... I guess that's all ... not very eventful!

the green smoothie experiment

Our local health food store is encouraging people to start trying to drink green smoothies.

I decided to give it a try. I made one tonight, and despite the rather un-appetizing appearance, it doesn't taste too bad (if you don't look at it when you drink it.)

Want to give one a try?

Basic Green Smoothie

1-2 Cup Clean filtered water

1/2 lb to 1 lb raw greens (spinach, Kale (Lacinato is less bitter than curly kale), collards, dandelion, arugula or mustard. (Depending on your blender you may need to add greens in batches to blend)

1-2 Cup blueberries - frozen are great! - Gradually add to the greens

Agave Nectar or Stevia to taste (I didn't use this)

Mix till very smooth - 90 seconds. Enjoy!

If you have extra Green Smoothie, place in a safe container and refrigerate for later that day. Smoothies are best consumed that day but are ok the following morning.

* If this blend seems too Green to you, start with more fruit and increase your greens as you develop your taste for Green Smoothies.

There are numerous variations to the basic green smoothie along with many additional items to suit your taste and nutritional needs. We will add these options as we go! Check back often for updated information.

how cool is THIS?

It's a site that will map out where the garage sales are in your area.

How fun!!!

Tractors, Four-Wheelers and the Garden Police

The girls had a great time today getting rides on my step-dad's four-wheeler and tractor. Youngest niece loved going fast on the four-wheeler. Oldest niece loved that she was allowed to steer the tractor. She did pretty well too ... no trees suffered in the course of this vacation activity. :)

 

 

Then there was the garden police.

Meijer Gardens has a children's garden. Normally when I've been there before on a weekday, there's been hardly anyone there. I was so looking forward to my nieces being able to experience it.

Until ... (cue music) ...

The garden police got us.

The children's garden was just jam-packed with a visiting school group. And there were quite a few adults keeping an eye on things.

One of the most fun areas is a display of the Great Lakes, and the kids can sail little boats and splash in it.

So ... the nieces kick off their shoes, and dive in to have fun with the other kids.

A member of the garden police snagged them and ordered them to put their shoes back on. This was an exhibit, and not intended for splashing. (No fun here! Move along children!). Grrrr!

They were across the exhibit from us, so they faced scary garden-police-woman all by themselves when they were apprehended. They looked just terrified!

That really put a damper on things. Both for the kids and the adults. Oddly enough, a BUNCH of the other kids were bare-foot, and almost any time I visit the gardens, I'm wandering around barefoot any time I'm outside.

Here are some garden pictures once we'd recovered from being shamed as law-breakers. :)

The Adorable Nieces at the Zoo

 

We went to Binder Park Zoo today in Battle Creek. Such fun! Tomorrow we're looking forward to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. :)