Karen Owen came up to Michigan to visit from Georgia for the week-end (Thursday through Sunday) and it was a joy to have her here. After I picked her up at the Detroit airport, we stopped at Ann Arbor on our way to Portage and did some serious shopping at Hollander's (and, some serious eating at Zingerman's Roadhouse). When we got home, we met up with Catherine Warner and went out to dinner at Martini's (one of my favorites) in Kalamazoo.
On Friday, Catherine and I took Karen to the Lake. We spent the day in South Haven: eating (great lunch at Clementine's, see photo below); Saugatuck (shopping) and Holland (taking photos). We made it back to Kalamazoo in time to have dinner at Food, Dance (yum!)
Karen and I walked out to the lighthouse at South Haven.
On Saturday, I had planned a day of eating, playing and socializing. I invited people over for show and tell, making paper dolls, sitting around and talking, and constant grazing (everyone brought something to eat and I made curry rice shrimp salad, pea salad and chocolate chip merangues). Not everyone could make it (it is, after all, a holiday week-end), but we had a pretty good turn out. Catherine and her siter Marie came, as did Beth Bricker, Lynn Contos, Brittney Young, and Jeanie Croope , who
drove down from Lansing and spent the night. Nellie Wortman joined us a little later in the day.
Here is a photo of me, Catherine, Karen and Jeanie in front of the food.
Here's Brittney looking at me while Jeanie and Karen admire her show and tell (amazing crazy quilt work, destined to become a purse and two pillows).
Beth's show and tell was outside by her car - she hit quite a few garage sales on her way to my house. Here you can see the back of Marie's head, Catherine's shoulder, Brittney's red hair, Lynn flashing a peace sign, Beth laughing, the side of Karen's head, and Jeanie in profile as we were all admiring the 19th century German album that Beth scored and the really cool rocking chair with the awful orange cushions.
Here's a photo of Jeanie and Karen working on their paper dolls.
Catherine was having her way with paper (such a "cut up").
Nellie and Karen on the sofa.
This morning (Sunday), Jeanie posed with her paper dolls before we went over to Catherine's for brunch.
At Catherine's, Karen demonstrated how to make authentic Mint Juleps...
...and Catherine set a beautiful table and fed us an incredibley delicious egg dish, fresh fruit and wonderful bread.
I had such a greatl time and was very sad to see Karen go back home (darn long distance!) this afternoon. She was a delightful and fun guest and getting art friends together is a great joy. It was all good!