Storing up for winter (8/30/04)

Squirrels stock up on nuts in the fall. Dogs bury extra bones for snacks to be dug up later. Animals of all kinds amass whatever is needed to get them through the long winter ahead. We stock up on craft projects.

It’s time once again for our annual trip to Michigan. First we stop in Lansing for stained glass supplies and lunch at a sports bar. I hope the eatery is still there. If I remember right it had good food and a pleasant atmosphere. Their lemonade was delicious.

We need to find a better way to get to the rest of our destination. The last time we left Lansing we headed for Detroit. We made great time until we faced a detour sign less than a mile before our exit. We followed the huge semi that exited just before we did. The signs disappeared and we continued winding through residential areas playing follow the leader with the truck. The next sign we saw informed us that there was a detour in the detour. Who ever heard of such a thing!

We trusted the semi driver in front of us who was following several more trucks. We traveled down streets where half of the road was under construction and the wheels of the big rigs were barely on the pavement. Then we saw yet another detour sign directing us back to the original detour. It took us over an hour to return to a point only a mile or two from where we had originally left the highway. By that time we were beginning to regret the lemonade.

We got into Port Huron after dark. Port Huron seems to be a nice little town with a giant craft store. They have a tent sale this time of year with bargains and old ladies galore. We generally buy enough craft projects to get us through several winters. We usually get at least part of our Christmas shopping done at the same time. I also buy stuff for my mother as her birthday is in a couple of days and she likes to keep her hands busy.

Once we have had our fill of shopping we take our treasures back to the hotel room. It isn’t long before the room looks like the aftermath of Christmas with all the goodies spread out before us.

Then it is time to go downtown. We happened upon a street fair last year. I think it was called Art on the Avenue or some such. All kinds of local artists displayed beautiful objects. It reminded me of a similar street fair that Portland held when we first moved here. Did all of Portland’s artists move elsewhere or are they waiting for some unknown future event to display their talents?

Last year Port Huron’s main street was lined with stained glass craftsmen, carvers, jewelry makers, photographers, painters and a whole host of other artists plying their wares. There was one booth that featured lawn ornaments in the shape of seagulls and pelicans. I almost bought one of the wooden creatures because they were so cute but it would have been lonely on our Indiana lawn.

Sometimes we take a boat ride out onto Lake Huron. Sometimes we visit the museums. Did you know that Henry Ford lived in Port Huron at one time? I didn’t. Sometimes we walk along the water and enjoy each other’s company. No matter what we do we have a nice vacation from our everyday lives.

In the evening we stop at a little place that has wonderful fish. If I could prepare fish like they do I would never crave a juicy steak again. They also have a piano player and a guy who plays the upright bass. They play a mix of light jazz and tunes that I almost recognize. I had never even seen an upright bass before we discovered that restaurant. I could sit and listen to them play all night.

We have to return to reality soon enough, reassured that we are well-stocked for the dark days of winter that are just around the corner. Shopping for crafts is much easier than storing nuts or burying bones and the trip gives us something to look forward to. I can’t wait to get going.

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