Small town Michigan- Ionia

-

 It was a beautiful sunny but cold day so we decided to go for a drive as we do occasionally.  We decided to head east on hwy 22 to Saranac and Ionia.

The landscape is still very bleak but there are signs of spring...small green leaves on the low bushes and a few green fields.  Hope!

Saranac is very small! A quick drive down Main Street was all we needed.

Ionia is much bigger.  Even though it is known generally for the State prison and the Ionia Free Fair, I was not expecting much. We saw lots of old beautiful churches and government buildings.

A quick google search told us it was founded in the late 1800s.  Every July it hosts what is said to be the world's largest free-admission fair, the Ionia Free Fair.

It's not a busy town in winter.

Time for lunch!

The county courthouse!

Interesting corner.

Lovely blue sky!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Challenges!

-
Image
Challenges! My youngest daughter loves challenges. Every once in awhile she publishes a challenge on her blog http://sewdutchsisters.blogspot.com/  that usually involves digging into ones endless stash in the craft room. She encourages others to join but I think what it does is really gets her motivated. She currently has 10 challenges ( 1 per week) listed on her blog.  Well, it helped me get into the spirit of things as well. I had a pattern for a robe in my stash. I have always wanted a robe that was not too bulky like the old terry-towel ones of years gone by but not too thin that  it would only be good for summer weather. Every year before and after Christmas I go robe shopping and have never been able to find one that I liked enough to spend money on not to mention the fact that lately the only ones available are made from velour or other synthetic fibers...which ALWAYS give static electric shocks.  So I went to the fabric store....
Read more

Blogging from the phone...who knew?

-
Image
I just learned that it is possible to post to my blog from my phone. My son who needed help today to set up his blog told me. Perhaps this will make me a more faithful blogger, who knows.  For now I'll just practice.  Can I post a picture? New Year's Eve main dish: stuffed shells. They were delicious! We had a party as per usual. Every year I try to challenge our friends in some or another culinary way. Last year each couple was given a country, asked to do a bit if research and prepare an appetizer or dessert from that country.  We enjoyed some wonderful food that we would have never tried on our own.  This year we did a modified version of the TV  show Chopped! The instructions were simple: pick three ingredients from the list of nine and concoct an appetizer, side,salad or dessert on an Italian theme. We had some lovely appetizers and a side/salad. One couple brought a main dish that while  it included the three ingredients it was as far...
Read more

Wednesday Lunch again!

-
Image
We found a new restaurant to try called The Stray... a music and arts café. It used to be a century-old auto repair shop but you'd never know it!. It's a relaxing venue offering great coffee options, fresh food and local beers. The lunch time that we were there, there were many different ages represented  but none our age- definitely a younger crowd. There were beautiful plants all around and lots of local art displayed on all sides. The menu is varied but not overwhelming! We had some very good food!     Dreamy Italian- salami, honey-ham, bacon, cream cheese  banana peppers, dill pickle, tomato and lots of VERY fresh greens wrapped in a Spinach tortilla.  (I'm going to try this at home)  Farmer's wife- chicken, bacon avocado spread, goat cheese sprinkles, herbs and apple slices on wheat-berry bread. (R was not too sure about the bread). A grapefruit forward beer was just ok! Rooibos tea-- delicious! I'd like to go back on a weekend to disc...
Read more