Once upon a time ...

It does seem like a good while has passed since we came back from our trip, but here we go at last - US visit report! As usual, when we arrived we were awake very early, owing to the bizzare effect travel has on the body clock. So we headed out to the lake on our first morning and had an awesome breakfast at "Cousins" just outside South Haven. Then we went to look at the water and take a few shots, although it was pretty chilly by the lake as it was only 7am or so! This is north beach, looking south towards town, south beach and the lighthouse.

Much of the rest of the trip we stayed around Kalamazoo, saw most of our good friends at least once, and also spent some time with members of Annie's family.

However we did also get out on our own sometimes, including here, where vacation Annie looks to be enjoying that beer, downtown!

One day we drove out to Yankee Springs and had a (slightly bracing) picnic beside Gun Lake. We watched the fisherman on the water (everyone else was home still) and one guy was sweet enough to bring his boat back to shore and make a decent picture for me ;¬)

Towards the end of the trip we went on a tour of the Heritage Guitars factory. Now, you know that Ms A is fond of guitars, so this was a real treat, organised by one of Annie's Mom's friends.

Although Heritage have been making guitars on this site for over 20 years, they real guitar-nerd interest is in the original use of the same factory - as the first home of Gibson Guitars.

As you can see ehre, the building still has the original "Gibson" chimney, which is missing from all the current publicity shots of the factory! When the Gibson plant moved south, in the 80s, some of the workers wanted to stay put and so they formed Heritage, to go on making electric guitars in the traditional way. Annie tells me the Heritage "good enough" slogan may be related to the Gibson slogan "Only a Gibson is good enough". Clever, hey!

As you can tell, it was a glorious sunny day and a really interesting tour of the factory, conducted by Rendal Wall who was part of his Dad's Green Valley Jamboree, on tv (a year or two back). He told us that he started work in that factory the same year that I was born (ok, he didn't actually know I was born that year, but you get the gist). He's been there a while and had some great stories to tell. (I knew I should've asked Annie to write this, she's tell you some decent stuff)...

For me, one of the lovely things about the trip was getting a bit of time to play with the new camera. Including one or two decent wildlife shots. Here we have a robin outside the condo.

This chap had us fooled at first. He was near the medical center where Annie goes for blood tests and with the naked eye he looked real at first. On camera though, the truth is revealed. Do you think he's some sort of scare-coyote, or just someone's idea of a joke? Anyway, I kinda like him.

Towards the end of the trip we got some snow (as you can see) and so we took to indoor activites for a couple of days. The fireplace at the condo has had a candle arrangement in it for the past 8 years or so, but this had become rather overgrown with wax and grubbiness. So, we cleared it out and now have a musical instrument still life. You likey?

Well there, I feel better for getting that post done. Now I know I owe an update on the plot too, but I need a decent day to get some up to date pics taken, as much has happened up there. So ... soon, I hope.

much love,

K xxx.