Family Reunion in the Mid-west

"Hard workin' men, good-hearted women". That explains George's extended family. We spent almost a week visiting them in Ohio and Michigan, with all the cousins on the west coast and east coast attending.

I now understand where many American values come from - the family farm, a church community that cushions and protects, and service organizations that fill the cracks, keeping an eye on children and the disadvantaged.

We appreciated farm food, wonderfully home-grown, freshly picked and simply prepared. At Helen's home it was common to have many different vegetables served at a meal, all cooked to perfection. We also had a Sunday lunch in a rural cafe where breakfast was served all day, and dinner at a Lion's Club meeting that featured chopped red jello with Dream Whip sprayed on top - something I haven't had in decades.

The following posts convey images from the trip - visiting family farms, successful family businesses, and the stories that haunt old cemeteries.

We had good flights, easy connections, and the most wonderful accommodations, one of which was a bed and breakfast out in the country. I spent several mornings, coffee in hand, walking through an old barn, and through meadows where mist hovered in the morning. Just an exquisite place, the heartland!

Sharing Haskins Green Photographs

Tom Explains His Business

$60,000,000 in sales, this year.

Touring Glei's Apple Orchards

Glei's grow fruit trees, annuals, perennials, vegetables, process
apples for market, and make apple juice.

Edith and David's - Family Time

Picking Elderberries with Helen

Helen and I spotted an elderberry patch along a country road.
She said she would make a pie, and if there were enough, she'd make a jar of jam. I loved her vegetable garden and her pantry. She cans a lot of her produce, and makes labels that show the ingredients - generally no more than three, all natural.

Going Back: Hillsdale, Michigan

We visited some of the cemeteries in Ohio and Michigan where George's family members are buried. Dick and Judy sit awhile on a family gravestone after watering the plants.
The rest of us quietly wandered the cemetery, reading headstones.
The family checked out the old family homestead.
George's grandparents lived here, raising 8 children!

Lions Club at the North Adams Coffee Shop

Well, as my Dad would say, "It is a little 'one-horse-town'. There are about 12 members of the North Adams Lions Club - devoted fund raisers who meet once a month.

After dinner was served we listened to a presentation by Judy's daughter, Lora, on Leader Dogs for the blind.

This small Michigan town reminds me of 'The Waltons', a TV series I enjoyed decades ago. Down to earth, neighbors helping neighbors.

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area - Ohio

Magee Marsh covers about 2000 acres of wetlands. It is unique because it provides all of the components vital to a marsh system - beach ridge access, deep and shallow water, an open marsh and sedge meadow.

These conditions provide a critical stopover habitat for migrating birds.

We stopped for lunch here, then explored the walkway.

I enjoyed walking in the tall grass along the beach.

Stopping Briefly in Denver

We arrived safely home about 9:45 p.m., found a pile of newspapers in the chair on the front porch, and heard a very lonely cat inside.

We Camped at Baker Lake on the Weekend

We spent the Labor Day weekend north of Seattle at Shannon Creek Campground on Baker Lake. Nestled in the foothills of Washington's rugged North Cascades, Baker Lake lies in the shadow of two of the area's tallest mountains, Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan.

It was a change for us, heading into an area of greater population density. The weekend recreational areas were packed with noise and people - something we generally avoid. But, it was an enjoyable change, being a part of the fabric of humanity on a holiday, and we had a good time.

Listening to loons calling at dawn was a real treat.

One man flew in his family on a private plane, so they could spend the day swimming.

We checked out every campground along our route through the Skagit Valley, to determine campsites for future trips. Whatcomb County's Silver Lake was packed with swimmers and sun-bathing.

Canoeing Lake Baker - A Delightful Afternoon

The shoreline of Baker Lake is beautiful and varied, with lots of tree roots and stumps underwater.

The water is incredibly clear and cold where this stream enters the lake. We paddled upstream as far as we could, then let the currant push us downstream.
Ancient roots reaching for the water.

Hiking the Shoreline Trail - Baker Lake

We spent an afternoon hiking along the shoreline of Baker Lake.

This dramatic beach was washed out in the flood of 2006.

We took the eastern trail down toward Noisy Creek Campground.

Camp Cooking at Shannon Creek Campground

Much of the food served on this camping trip was prepared ahead of time, so a meal could be served within minutes of arriving at camp. This was a smart move, because we didn't find a camping spot until about 4:30 in the afternoon!

All campsites in the three campgrounds along Lake Baker were reserved for the Labor Day weekend. We were fortunate, however, arriving late in the afternoon. Thanks to a park ranger, we secured an unattended campsite - the campers didn't arrive. After setting up our tent George went to fill the water jug, and I put on my apron to start dinner.

I also knew that canoeing and hiking would be a priority, so there would be little time for meal preparation. I kept meals simple, and prepared everything at home - east Indian curry, spareribs and fried onions, Egyptian ful and flatbread, Rasam, and red beans and rice.
And, this wonderful crusty bread which I sliced and warmed in a skillet to bring out the flavor.

This meal was served after canoeing Baker Lake, after a hike along the shoreline - Rasam, cornbread, and fruit.

Lunch Along the 'Rails to Trails'

We stopped along the road near McMurray, Washington, to have lunch - vegetable soup and falafal burgers, pita bread and macaroni salad.

There was an old cement barrier pushed to the side of a trail. I used it as my camp kitchen.

I set out lunch items, water jug, and assembled my camp stove.

There was just room for the car and our chairs along the side of a little pond rimmed with cattails.

An old 'Rails to Trails' path lead through the valley. We hiked it after lunch, then continued our drive through the valley.

I bought a book on the history of McMurray at the General Store - "McMurray - Gone With The Trees" by Varee A. Bandazy. Paperback, used, from Amazon, $92.35. This little country store had some old copies on a shelf. I paid $5.00!