Hang it Up

A tidy household perhaps?

Fourth of July in Harrison, Michigan - 1

The big Fourth of July parade in this area is in Harrison, the next town north of Clare. Pure small-town Americana. This year's theme was super heroes.

Everyone here is so friendly. People strike up a conversation just because you are standing there. The man above and his family participated in the parade, riding a fancy truck promoting his auto detailing business. Mrs. C, a noted member of the language police, pointed out the spelling error on his shirt. Well, his brother printed it, he said. We avoided discussing politics.          

Brexit

An estimated 50,000 took to the streets on Saturday to to show their feelings about the outcome of the referendum to leave the EU.

Plan B Was Okay

Turns out there was some misunderstanding about yesterday morning's event. Clare's little airport has a fly-in/drive-in pancake breakfast around the forth of July. No plane rides but 75 to 100 single engine aircraft, mostly old and some just strange, stop in for a $7 breakfast of pancakes (as stated), cheesy potatoes, ham, eggs and coffee. People ate at picnic tables in a hangar. And everyone got complimentary treats from Cops & Donuts, more about which soon.

After breakfast we drove way up north to Traverse City, where the National Cherry Festival was in progress. I guess they grow 'em up there. It was packed. Nowhere to park close enough with a baby in a stroller. Visitors swarmed across the main road, oblivious to traffic and signals, at times reminding me of herds of bison swarming. So we drove straight out of town.

The alternate destination was Leland, Michigan, even farther north. It's a cute village that lives off summer tourism (it must be brutal in the winter). There is a nice sand beach along the northern reaches of Lake Michigan. Audrey got her Great Lakes baptism.             

Looking down on Mamilla

.

Another "looking down" shot--the upscale Mamilla Mall in Jerusalem.
.