Vintage Wood Boat Show

Sometimes the best days happen unplanned! Matt called while we were at the Farmer's Market and suggested we meet him at a vintage wood boat show. It is a beautiful but HOT day with a hint of fall. I know---I know---the Wilis B Boyer isn't a wood boat but she was too big to ignore. Here is a trivia fact for the day. Lyman boats were made in Sandusky Ohio and are now a prized collectible.

No Cook Pasta Sauce

What do you do when you work all day, come home to a hungry husband and have gorgeous tomatoes bursting on the vine. You make pasta from one of my favorite summer cookbooks. What is great about this cookbook is it inspires you to create your own combos. And the only cooking is the pasta. Delicious. Here is how I made tonites dish

-1 pkg bowtie pasta(you can use any kind)--cooked.

In large bowl add

-aprox. 6 chopped tomatoes with juice

-1 cup sliced black olives

-1 cup feta cheese

-1/4 cup chopped basil

-3 Tbl olive oil

salt and pepper to taste.

Drain pasta and add while warm to bowl. Stir and EAT. The warm pasta slightly melts the feta. And you can add fresh grated Parmesan on top. EASY AND DELICIOUS.

We are home-sad but true. It was a great get away and our spur of the moment decision to go to Mackinac Island was one of the best days. For those unfamiliar with the Island, it is a smallish island---8 miles around that is rich with history including battle scenes from the War of 1812 and a fort that was built during the American Revolution. It has gorgeous Victorian mansions from when it was a summer getaway for indusrial leaders from Chicago and Detroit. It is rich with Native American history and has a Native American Burial Cave. Currently, there are not motorized vehicles allowed. Horses, bicycles or feet will get you around. It has the only US highway that doesn't allow cars. All garbage pick-up, mail, deliveries etc are horse drawn.
And the Grand Hotel---where Somewhere in Time was filmed. While we were waiting for the ferry, a group of foreign older women were discussing the island--"You know" one said "the movie Psycho was filmed in that hotel there" So not true.
We rode our bikes around and up to Arch Rock. For years, every time I visit the Island, I peer through Arch Rock and am amazed by the view of the turqouise/blue water. This time though, I had to laugh at the creative grafitti----somebody spelled out USA in rocks so it is visible through the arch. Whoever did this--I salute your creativity. Every visitor smiled as they saw it!

Mackinac Island

Back home today. Yesterday we took our bikes to Mackinac Island. Quite a study in contrasts. Riding our bikes in town is like being in China--dodging bikes, horses, carriages and pedestrians. But if you get away from the city you can see some spectacular scenery. And then there is always the Grand Hotel and the the Michigan governor's summer residence. Finally, home on the ferry. A wonderful day!

Still in Michigan. Charlevoix today. Everday on the half hour, this bridge that connects Lake Charlevoix with Lake Michigan goes up and a parade of sailboats and yachts pass through. And traffic snarls up but no hurry--we are on vacation. Dan noticed this Amphibi-Car which would be ideal----for use on land and sea. Petoskey is having it's Celebrate the Sunset Festival and I found a cowgirl hat---from an Australian vendor. We are staying one more day and taking our bikes to Mackinac Island---home of fudge, the Grand Hotel, filming of Somewhere in Time and the one place in the U.S. that isn't concerned about the cost of gasoline because the only means of transportation allowed are horses and bikes.

It is so great to be able to go into shops that aren't part of a national chain and that are local. Pictured above is American Spoon(which does have a few stores in the area and does mail order) which offers a great selection of salsas, preserves and grilling sauces. And then lunch at Roast and Toast-----this is my "dream business" A healthy offering of sandwiches and wraps on homemade breads and GREAT fresh roasted coffee. Oh----Dan didn't seem to enjoy the shopping experience---but he did send me a txt msg to "buy wine". And did I mention that American Spoon has an enormous, delicious selection of Gelatto.

Ahhhhhhhhhh!

We are here---at one of our favorite spots on earth. Harbor Springs Michigan. Dan brought our food processor and his tomatoes and made us salsa for Happy Hour. And then we took a picnic supper to Good Hart beach--secluded and gorgeous. Dan took a pic of one of my favorite scenes----when the glowing sun looks like it is floating on Lake Michigan. Today we are taking our bikes and going------wherever!