The Ice Cream Social

A couple of days ago a small flyer was passed out in the park telling us that there would be an 'Ice Cream Social' at 3:00pm the following Sunday (today).  No big deal I thought ... a hot summer's afternoon ... a little cold ice cream ... it all seemed like a good deal.

As the afternoon rolled around it was sure hot and the humidity was thick as my hair used to be 50 years ago.  We meandered down to the clubhouse a little early and something was up none of us expected.  Assembling on the clubhouse porch was at least a 20 piece band.  Trumpets, clarinets, drums, trombones,   saxophones, a couple of singers, and a bunch of sound equipment.  Wait a minute ... this is supposed to be an ice cream social ...  not a concert!

This clever idea was hatched by owner Mary Cousins to help celebrate her husband Hal's birthday.  The total surprise was pulled off without  a hitch and the entire park got in on the party.  Just like the ice cream socials of yesteryear, the Casco band has been around since the late 1920's.  An eclectic mix of young and more senior musicians, they entertained us for more than two hours with a combination of patriotic favorites and old standards.  If you were old enough, you could close your eyes and remember those days as a kid when you went to the local park with your folks and listened to the band playing in the pavilion on a Sunday afternoon.

Anyway it was a great afternoon with music, lots of great ice cream, birthday cake, and a few pictures to remember the day.

Our Host Mary Cousins

Strike up the Band ... The Casco Band

Who knows what a Flugel horn is?

Hal and Mary Cousins

Happy Birthday Hal

76

Drummers drumming

Casco Band at the Park

Keep it coming

Hurry before it Melts!

Hey Jerry! Get your own.

Better than bobbing for apples

There's no such thing as 'enough' whipped cream

Strawberry ice cream makes people happy

Partiers in the park

And a good time was had by all

So another day in the slow lane of life and still livin' the dream.

Phil

Special event

This is just a short note to those here at Cousins RV who continue to make this summer stay very special.

A special Thanks goes out to Corky, Miki, Henry, and Geannie for hosting a steak fry here at camp.  A sumptuous steak dinner, all the trimmings (including homemade cakes and pies), song and merriment almost rounded out the event.  I say almost because it also enabled the group to celebrate Jerry H's birthday.  Joining us and his wife Della, and a surprise visit from their daughter Lynn, made this day extra special.  Of course, I should also mention a host of others who also helped but we all know who they are and greatly appreciate their efforts as well.  Needless to say this camp has a lot of people who know how to put on a party.

But I think what's most important is how close we all have become, and the kindest and generosity freely given in this small, mobile community.  In many ways we know these people better than our 'back-home' neighbors of 30 years and continue to truly value their friendship.

So as this summer melts away, we are thankful for this unique experience and mindful that we're still livin' the dream.

Phil

A Special Day

Today is a very special day.


In Eaton Rapids Michigan a justice-of-the-peace performed a very special marriage ceremony 45 years ago.  In the back room of a tiny State Farm Insurance Company's office, I married my best friend Sharon.  In the passing years we have been blessed with two great children, many special friends, had rewarding careers, travelled to many far-away places and we have remained steadfastly in love through thick and thin.
  
So on this special day I'd like to wish my very special Sharon a Very Happy Anniversary.


Still livin' the dream and ... with all my love dear ...  Phil

Decisions ... decisions

We all knew what we wanted to do but ... we just couldn't decide where to do it.  We could do it in this place or ... maybe that place ... or maybe that place over there.  Sometimes important things in life take figuring out.  We looked ... we smelled ... we touched (all important things to do upon entering any place to eat I think).  But before the day was done and chowed down,  we had to check out the area and this is how it all started ...

The little day trip to St. Joseph Michigan (http://www.sjtoday.org), took Bill, June and Sharon and I on a drive to visit the twin cities south of us (Benton Harbor/St. Joseph).  The drive down consisted of poking around the back roads to see what we'd not see before ... just enjoying the great weather and new sites.  We even stopped a Covert Park where, as a young lad of about 10 or so, I was taken on a rare father/son camping trip with a bunch of other kids and their dads.  Though some 55 years had passed, the hills and valleys were still recognizable and memories came flooding back.  Shooting a bow and arrow, a BB gun, sleeping in a dark and scary tent that smelled of mold and mildew, and eating cold food alongside a fire on a dank and rainy weekend.  Not the greatest of locations but one of the few things I did alone with just my Dad.

Anyway ... we finally made it to St. Joe and toured around the downtown and beach area.  The city has made an excellent effort keeping the downtown interesting for tourist.  A number in neat shops and several choices of restaurants occupied the area.  Surprisingly most of the buildings were being used; unlike many cities of this size with store vacant fronts.  The beach looks typically nice, as do most of the beaches along Lake Michigan; and on a warm sunny day like this day was, was well occupied by a wide variety of sun worshipers.

So as we puttered along, the thought of a bite to eat surfaced and the search began.  All of us sort of agreeing that anything would do, we came to the first place downtown.  A small deli-like place that warranted a look-around so we went in and looked, smelled and decided collectively it wouldn't due.

Walking across the street we checked out an Oriental place, asked the waitress about their specialties ... looked, smelled and left.  Not exactly what we were looking for either.

Window shopping for lunch

Onward, up the street, around the corner and down the block to another Oriental place.  We checked out the menu, went inside, looked, smelled, noticed that there were no other customers or workers for that matter, and walked out.  Not what we had in mind.

Number 6 or 35?

Along the way we came across one of the many statues (?) of farm animals placed all around the downtown area.  Pigs, chickens, donkeys, and several lovable cows of which this mildly (?) decorated one caught our attention.  Not exactly sure why the town was full of these whimsical creatures but they were fun to look at.

Bessie ... is that you?

Checked out local restaurants in my smartphone Google app and got the address of another potential eatery and headed down the street in the opposite direction.  Got there, looked inside and, maybe because we were all more than hungry by then, asked for a table and settled in.  The menu had a nice variety and our waiter was very helpful.  First item ordered was an order of calamari.  I hate to break anyone's bubble but calamari is really octopus legs sliced up and deep fried.  If you're lucky you'll even get a whole baby octopus which is an extra crispy treat ... really.  Regardless of how it sounds, it's a great dish when fresh and deep fried properly;  this was and we really enjoyed it.

Scrumptious calamari

Each of us ordered different things of which they were all very good, well prepared, and served promptly so I think I can safely recommend The Pump House Grill (http://www.pumphousegrille.com) as one of St. Joe's better stops.

So in the end we finally had made up our minds and it all turned into another interesting and 'fulfilling' adventure.

Now before I get any email complaining that we didn't give any of those other places a try, I'm pretty sure that  if they didn't serve good food they wouldn't have stayed in business as long as they have so the next time we're in town we may still give them a try.

Still livin' the dream.

Phil

Tour de Kal Haven

One of the nice things about the RV life is being around other families and learning how they live their lives.  Friends, children, grand children all providing the ingredients to life's stew.  I suppose sometimes the ingredients don't always mix well together but mostly this stew turns out pretty good.

As I look around our summer camp I learned that our neighbors (Charlie and Judie) son (Jason) was coming to visit after graduating from college out west.  When he arrived it was apparent that the family ties were strong and caring and they shared a common admiration for sports and doing things that involved physical exercise.  I learned that Charlie and Jason were going to ride the local Kal Haven trail.  Beginning some 34 miles away on the outskirts of Kalamazoo, the woodland path meanders westward across southwestern Michigan and ends near downtown South Haven.  An all seasons trail for walkers, cyclist, horses, and snowmobiles this well maintained route is in constant use and is a relatively easy trail to take.  So I thought it might be fun to sneak out on the trail and photograph some of their ride and enjoy the trail myself a little.

Sharon and I got in the old TrailBlazer and headed out to try and locate them.  With a little help from mom/wife Judie, we got an idea when they started and after looking at a map, worked out an intercept point along the path to take some pictures.  We got to the spot some ten miles from where they started and I, like a stalking mountain lion (okay maybe a little exaggeration here) found the perfect place to ambush them with my camera.  Annoying little mosquitoes were tasting me as waited in the deep bush along the trail.  Then came the horse flies; they too hunger for some of me but I hung in there and waited. And waited.  As I began to swell from the bug bites and this sweltering hot and humid afternoon I continued to look at my watch then down the trail again looking for the two riders ... but still no one in sight.

Finally I'd had enough.  The bugs were winning.  What had I figured wrong?  Had they had mechanical trouble or ... had I just figured wrong and they had already passed this spot?  I gave them the benefit of the doubt and guessed that they were faster than I had calculated so we quickly left and leap-frogged ahead about five miles to another intercept point.

I arrived at the new location and as luck would have it the mosquitoes and horse flies either had followed me there or there was a whole new batch of them waiting to get acquainted with me.  Undaunted, I again waited in the brush for bikers to appear.  Aha!  I could see them approaching in the distance and readied for the shot.  'Ker chunk'. 'Ker chunk'. 'Ker chunk'. 'Ker chunk'.  My Canon 5D rapidly fired off a series of shots at the passing cyclists. But my cover was now blown as they were on to my picture taking.   But now it was a race for me to the next point to grab some more shots.  But before leaving I grabbed a few more images as they disappeared down the trail away from me.  Looking at them as they pedaled down the trail it dawned on me how the two of them were making such good time in their journey.  It was those damn flies and mosquitoes!  In ordered not get eaten alive they had no choice but to keep a fast pace.

Keeping the pace

Horse flies in hot pursuit

I decided to head to a picturesque location near the end of the trail and waited once again.  Poised on a bridge overlooking the trail I waited.  The sun had already set and it was getting darker by the minute so I was anxious to get these final images.  Again I waited.  5 minutes.  Another 5 minutes then finally I could see two riders emerging from the dark woods into the fading light.  I framed the shot and 'ker chunk', 'ker chunk', 'ker' chunk the camera fired.  I think I got the shot I wanted...  but wait a minute ... what's going on here!  "Who are these people?" I asked.  As they got closer I quickly discovered that it wasn't who I thought it was but some other cyclists who were ahead of the guys I was following.  Nice shots ... but wrong people.

So back to my vigil of waiting   Another 5 minutes went by and I could finally see in the dim light two cyclist coming toward me.  Increasingly hard to see,  I had to rely on the cameras ability to remain focused on moving objects ... another round of 'ker chunking' and I had the images.  Thankfully just before I needed a blood transfusion.

End of the trail is near

Returning to camp I edited the images.  As I looked at the results I could see the tangible evidence of the bond between dad and son.  Both enjoying each others company, enjoying spending time together, and sharing a common respect for one another.   Special stuff, I'd say.

Team Ratering

So another fun day in South Haven and still livin' the dream.

Phil

The Berry Patch

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away there was this berry patch with this Wylie wabbit who lived in a hutch all covered with straw.  Oops!  I must be dreaming again or maybe it was too much sun but I think I got the berry patch at least right in this little story.  Okay I got it now.  We were at a berry patch and it's not too far from camp.  And talk about berries.  Almost as far as the eye could see (well maybe 20 acres or so) there were rows upon rows of delicious raspberries.

We stopped at Riverbend Farms (www.greatberries.net), just a little ways from downtown South Haven Michigan (just east of the Blue Star Highway and North Shore Drive) to see what that had to offer.

Riverbend Farms South Haven Michigan

We've seen this berry farm from its beginnings back in about 2009 as we passed it on the way to places where we shop.  Neat rows stoutly supported with wire supports, cleanly mulched and watered with an underground watering and fertilization system.  Pretty much a state of the art berry patch if you'd ever want to see one.  Over the past year or so I have talked with the owner and his son and have learned of the research and work they have put into this place and now us berry pickers and eaters can finally enjoy the results of all that effort.

As we walked up to the bright red shed/office/storage building we passed several customers who had already been out picking.  Oh my, I thought.  We're going to have some great berry eating before too long.  We got our picking trays that held about 8 pints and were asked if we wanted to pick red or black.
Now I usually think in terms of playing roulette when someone says that,  but in this case it was red or black raspberries.  I'm not sure many folks know of black raspberries but sort of being a Michigan boy I knew all about black raspberries.  Usually a little bigger than the red ones, and we soon found out this old idea had not changed, many were the size of the end of your thumb.

We started down our assigned row and could not believe how many ripe berries there were.  We soon filled 6 pints not moving more than15 feet down the row.  And that didn't include the ones I popped into my mouth when I was sure no one was watching.  I'm probably the only one who has ever snitched an extra berry every now and then so I thought I'd better confess.  We decided we'd picked enough black ones and headed back to the shed where they refrigerated them for us until we were ready to leave.  We picked up some fresh empty pint baskets for picking the red raspberries and headed to our assigned row.

Reds

Much like the black berries, the reds were just as plentiful, but a little smaller so it took another couple of minutes to fill each pint.  I was now getting into a rhythm ... pick 5 ... eat one ... pick 5 ... eat one.  I think they know there might be of few of us berry samplers out there and actually hope we eat some as there were far more berries than will ever be picked.  So I figure I'm really doing them a great service by harvesting a few extra and taste-testing as I go.  Or at least that's the story I'm sticking to.

So the more I picked that great malady all pro-pickers get finally got me.  I got a bad case of 'berry fingers' and finally had to call it a day.  Probably permanently stained but who cares.  It was certainly worth the effort on a bright beautiful day here in South Haven.  We harvested about 10 pints of the delicious little orbs and headed back to camp.  So now they sit in the frig waiting to be placed in a pie ... or on vanilla ice cream ... or my morning cereal,  or just popped into my mouth when Sharon isn't looking.  Life is good!

Blacks

They say they will be picking black raspberries for another week or so and the reds a little longer  ... then the reds will go sort of dormant for a couple of weeks or so and then start producing again almost into September.

So if you have a hankering for some really fine raspberries, get in the old pickup, grab the wife, and any kid hanging around and get a picking.

Just a few minutes of picking

Just in case anybody wants to know ... this and the last few blog entry images were shot with my Canon S95.  Canon's high-end pocketable powerhouse that really performs.  It's with me now almost constantly and is so much lighter than my Canon 5D system.  It will never replace the full frame 5D but makes a great carry everywhere, point and shoot camera.

Still livin' and pickin' the dream.

Phil

Happy Birthday America

We've have it all this weekend ... Flags a flying.  Parades.  Pig a roasting.  Great weather.  Great friends.  Great food.  Say what you want about the state of the economy or the state of your bank account ... this 4th of July weekend was something to cheer about.  Forget your troubles and let your hair down.  Relax a bit.  Enjoy the goodness of the moment.  Let the kids run loose, light some sparklers, pop open a cold beer, grab a handful of Fritos and find a spot on the beach to flop.  All this is something we're all born to be good at ...  so let's get at it.

Mr. Grand Marshall and mystery celeb

Mrs. Grand Marshall and her court

Worth the wait

Us folks on the RV circuit don't need much prodding to have a party and certainly this grand weekend was no exception.  A very beautiful 190 pound pig lay in state on the portable spit.  Slow cooked for most of the day under the watchful eyes of  'porkmasters' Corky and Jerry,  she was the center of attention with a constant stream of onlookers venturing down to see what the main course looked like throughout the day.

'Porkmasters' at work

While 'miss piggy' was the center attraction, the families at the park stirred up their specialty dishes and before long the serving tables had more food on them than one could imagine.  And desserts ... did I mention desserts?  OMG this was obscene.  Some almost too pretty to eat.  Others so good you almost forgot about eating roast pig.  This is South Haven's answer to the 'horn of plenty'.  About 140 participants were very well fed.  Even had leftovers today.  But I'm probably going to pay dearly at my upcoming Weight Watcher meeting.  This will not be pretty.

I told you so

This whole shindig was orchestrated by Hal and Mary Cousins, owners of Cousins RV Park http://www.cousinssouthhaven.com here in South Haven Michigan.  Located on the 'sunshine coast' of the state this small, but very comfortable park has been our summer home for the past few summers and we really feel at home here.

So America this is where we spent the kickoff to a great summer.  We're certainly grateful to live in this country and thankful to have so many friends and experience so many of life's little pleasures.

Still livin' the dream.

Phil

ps ... The is sort of a milestone for me as well ... my 201st  blog entry.