leder legends

  Who would have thought? Our book club pick this month is a very old book written by Lloyd C Douglas and published in 1942! The Robe! I know I was on kick to read many of his books back in the day but WHEN was that? In any case, the book was in storage at the main library. I got it this morning and have 10 days to read it again.  My copy is from 1949 First published in 1942 Small print and only 503 pages! I hope it’s as good as I remember it to be! It’s Monday night. I’m on p 335.  It is good!

  Cottage is such an odd word. It could mean anything from small and rustic to a glorious and grand second home on Lake Michigan. The one we go to once a year is probably somewhere in between.  It’s a nice house on the lake with a lovely view! Instead of a potluck, this year we decided to go out for dinner after a few appetizers at the house! It was the first time I had Cowboy Caviar - a tasty mix of some beans and various healthy veggies eaten with corn tortillas! We went to the restaurant on the nearby Benona Shores golf course called Farmhouse Kitchen and Market. We had wanted to eat outdoors but it was much too windy but the alternative was quite fine- a bright airy room a bit away from all the noise! We all enjoyed the good food presented in large bowls and gold colored cutlery! Certainly a step up from the usual lightweight utensils that we are used to using in restaurants and cafes. What did we eat? Here goes…. Descriptions are in the captions! Loaded (3 meats) Mac...

  FOXTAIL COFFEE has arrived in Michigan. To date there are 6 locations all in West Michigan. 6 in Georgia, 1 in Virginia, 1 in North Carolina and 2 in Nevada. It all started with BANG in Florida where there are now 78 Foxtail Coffee locations where you can get your coffee fix.  Starbucks look out- here they come! https://www.foxtailcoffee.com/ Since we are always looking for something new on Wednesdays,  we went there for “brunch” for the opening of their latest location in Grand Rapids.  It’s clean, new and modern! $17 will get a 12 ounce bag of their overpriced coffee beans that come from various countries and roasted in Florida. E had a drip coffee and said it tasted burnt, Rose had an Americano with cream and found it to her liking. I order a regular Americano which they said had 2 shots of Honduran coffee.  I found to be VERY light and too American for my taste. The banana bread was okay and the egg bites were tasty - straight from the microwave! It probab...

  The last daylily of 2025 although I might have some re-bloomers but they don’t count! This has been a wonderful year for  daylilies.

Lots of color!  August is usually just yellow!  Hibiscus Highbush cranberry  Hibiscus Phlox Obedient plant Phlox Daylily  Phlox

  A toasted pickle? Is that a real thing? Lots of pickles and pickle-ly things on the menu but sadly NO toasted pickle! They do have free pickle juice shots.  R got a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of tomato soup.   I ordered an Italian sub !  Both were declared delicious and satisfying and yet we both craved a sweet afterwards. So wevheaded down the street to an ice cream shack and enjoyed turtle sundaes at an outdoor table! The sundaes were okay but nothing beats a Tommy Turtle from a place out in Zeeland! They weren’t too pretty either! What I got ! What I was hoping for!

In the past, I have always bemoaned the August Uglies! It's especially true for hostas and it's the end of the daylilies but I was so surprised to see how many are still blooming. 4 daylilies and plenty of very green hostas (the sun and the slugs have hurt a few) The bloom count on all the plants has been amazing this year. The rudbeckia and the phlox are also showing off.(3 types of each) Cosmos, turtlehead, and hibiscus are putting on a great show as well!    False sunflowers are very tall!  I love the guara blowing in the breeze. While I normally cut down the hosta flowers, I have  found some very pretty ones and the bees agree! Joe Pye weed is also looking better than usual in spite of the fact that I pulled more than 1/2 of it last summer. It’s a great pollinator!  The “August Uglies” have been delayed this year!   August Uglies - Urban Dictionary The weeds on a farm that have managed to survive all the attempts to kill them over the summer...