Tuesday, November 05, 2024
I took Matt back to Traverse City to meet the family. The leaves were changing and everyone said that they were better the week before, but they were still spectacular.
Homer and Matt in front of a red bush.
We took Susan and Lee to a horrible Mexican restaurant the first night.
The next day we went to Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. This Park Service lakeshore has massive sand dunes dumped there by glaciers. Plus pretty woods. Matt wanted to climb up one of the dunes. It was chilly.
Matt climbs.
Matt stuck his I phone out the window and took this fancy photograph. I said it looked like a puzzle picture.
Covered bridge.
We finally found the place where you could stand on a deck overlooking Lake Michigan and see the crazy steep 400-ft dune, which ends at the lake. We did not go down it.
Matt, Susan, and Homer.
The next day we to the Amish produce market where my brother works. He was working at the butcher plant. We also dropped off some enormous bags of cat food and dog food for the many cats living in his barn. People dropped off two boxes of kittens at the produce market and my brother took them home. Matt said No! when he saw me holding a couple.
Squash and pumpkins.
That afternoon we went to visit Elizabeth and Jeff and their dog Bowser.
On Saturday there was a family lunch at Lee's house. My two aunts and my uncle on my father's side came. I made a fruit salad and a cheese and cracker dish. Lots of food. Lee made two pies- delicious.
Afterward Matt got to go on an Amish buggy ride with Lee while I visited with my aunts.
The horse and buggy.
But first we went out into the pasture to see Jemima and Jean.
Jemina and Jean and Matt.
After the buggy ride it was time for Matt to collect eggs from the chicken coop. I caught one of the hens.
Matt, Hen, and Homer.
Then Matt took a family photo, minus Lee who is Amish.
Nice to meet you.
Matt collecting eggs.
Uncle Bill, Jeff, Aunt Harriet, Elizabeth, Aunt Louann, Susan, and Homer.
We went to a couple of antique stores and I bought a bunch of photos (pricey!).
The next day we returned to Tucson and I started preparing for the All Soul's Procession cocktail party.
We wore masks on the airplanes and did not catch Covid.
I'm writing this on election day. Back in Traverse City and the countryside you saw a lot of campaign signs. Mostly for Trump out in the country (including some flags) and mostly for Harris in downtown Traverse City. We saw a Pride flag at a cheese shop and that was where I bought the cheese for the party, making sure the staff knew that was why. There were numerous other Pride flags hanging from front porches in the downtown area. And a "Gays for Harris" sign where you turn to go to Susan's house.
I think Matt has a really good time and my family all really liked him, so yeah!
