this weekend was fall break for me, so k and i took a little road trip to ann arbor. we visited my friend kristie, who happens to be from the same hometown as k. kristie and i have been friends for going on ten years. i usually only get to see her at christmas or when she happens to be passing through kentucky. this was the first time i'd ventured up north to see her in her natural habitat, and wow...she lives in such a beautiful place.
we stayed in the house where she lives, which is a kind of old-fashioned boarding house. blue bottles lined the windows.
this large copper kettle sat on the antique stove, ready for making morning coffee.
i hopscotched on the way to our adventures.
we visited a nearby park to see the beautiful trees. this photo is absolutely not retouched. those are the colors: burning orange, deep burgundy, clear blue, grass green. k and i sat on a bench taking it all in, then looked up to see...
are you ready to have your mind blown?
this couple with their new baby. what's so special about running into them? they lived in the same prefecture as us in japan! we hadn't seen or talked to jessica and dylan since we lived in japan two years ago, and then they just happened to be at the same park as us in michigan. how serendipitous!
kristie showed us around downtown at night. i snapped pictures of neon lights.
k heard about "the best ramen shop in the midwest" so we headed out to matsu chan in canton, michigan with kristie and her friend catherine. the noodle shop was a hit!
we also managed to swing by lake erie on our way back home. i dipped my toes in the cool lake water and crunched my way through the dry yellow leaves that dotted the sand.
* * *
it felt wondeful to get away from real life for a few days! i hope you had a great weekend, too. i realize we're already halfway through another week, but is there anything you're still savoring from last weekend? or something you're looking forward to this weekend?
I've missed you!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you were having fun. And how crazy bumping into your pals from Japan! Did you get goose bumps?
Looks like a lovely place to visit. I enjoyed your snippets...a lot.
Love the pictures & the descriptive details of your trip. Sounds like you all had a great time. And how neat was it that you ran into the couple you knew from Japna! Talk about a small world.
ReplyDeleteHave a great rest of the week!
Phyllis
Sounds like it was a great weekend! I have family right near Ann Arbor, but I still don't think I've ever been. If I have, I was too little to remember.
ReplyDeleteThat tree is phenomenal! And how cool is it that you ran into old acquaintances like that!?
PS: The tote in the final photo looks familiar! ;)
I've missed you too! That is too freaky, running into your old friends. Too freaky indeed! Of course, in a very, very good way. And I love the blue bottles. But my neatnik ways wonder who is the poor soul who gets to dust them?
ReplyDeleteso much beauty packed into this post. fabulous pictures and what a wonderful get-away!
ReplyDeleteAllison!! Thank you both for coming and for the excellent toothbrush -it was a perfect surprise to come home to after teaching. Skipper was a little concerned I would be offended, but I explained.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing coincidence running into those friends of yours! I'm just back from a little trip myself, and also feel that it was great to get away from real life for a little while!
ReplyDeleteI just decided to take a break from lesson planning to stop by your blog and visit for a bit (and I'm so glad I did!). I can't believe you ran into Jessica and Dylan!!! Serendipitous, indeed! I also enjoyed hearing about the ramen shop. What I wouldn't give for an authentic bowl of ramen on these chilly autumn days... especially in the company of good friends. ;-)
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