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Squirrel at our feeder

Caught me

Posing for his close-up

Sideways Warrior Position is best for eating

What? Like you will miss a few seeds here or there.

Lunch is Over - See ya Soon!

We have a feeder for the birds. We enjoy watching them up close.

We have several other neighbors who like our feeder, too.  They

are always looking for a free lunch, free breakfast, free snack.

It becomes a part time job to keep them away from the black

gold known as sunflower seeds.

 

Usually if startled, they will fly into the air and land with a thud! 

It is about 14 feet to the ground.

We show “The Moocher” in the act……

The moocher

This fellow is a regular – not glad to see us!

Having breakfast

But I can have a few more seeds before you get serious.

Not afraid

Mug Shot # 147

The following shots were done with the burst setting on our camera.

hang ten

Hang time.

scrambling 2

 

scrambling

scrambling 3

the leap

safe

Short rest period until the next run.

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The Ottawa Hills neighborhood in Grand Rapids has had major construction

going on all winter.  The new Christian Elementary School is going up

on the old Ottawa Hills High School campus.  You can read about the

beginning  phases on an earlier blog. This campus will serve a large area

and is eagerly anticipated.  It is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2010.

We took a few new photos so you can see how it is shaping up.

new christian school grand rapids mi

We could hear the air hammers working away inside.

new school construction in ottawa hills gr mi

Lots of machinery and building equipment in evidence.

new school

The former playground was kept intact and their is plenty of open space.

school const lot

The view from the northwest corner of the lot, near Alexander Dr. SE.

This new facility will be located at: 1501 Fisk St SE

Old Ottawa/Iroquois Middle School
Old Ottawa/Iroquois Middle School
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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate, the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

Holiday traditions to celebrate the winter solstice are common

to every culture around the world.  The transition from the shortest,

darkest day in mid-winter to the longest day of light at the beginning

of summer are a common theme to our world.

 

Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids 

celebrates the light by showing the traditions of many countries

and cultures around the world.  Besides the forty one gorgeous

Christmas Trees that are decorated as they would be in their native

regions, they also display Kwanza, Jewish, and Buddhist traditional

decorations.  New this year is Tet Nguyen Dan, the Vietnamese

celebration of the lunar New Year; pronounced day wen don,

it literally means, “the first morning of the first day.”

 

Meijer Gardens is celebrating the completion of a $7.6 million

renovation and expansion that was awarded a silver level LEED

certificate in energy and environmental design.  The renovation

and expansion was centered around the cafe, visitor areas, office

and storage spaces.  The new cafe has a stunning Dale Chihuly

blown glass sculpture of colored glass flowers hanging from

the ceiling.

 

We have put together a few photos we took at the gardens

recently, so you can see some of the holiday decorations from

near and far.  The gorgeous Christmas trees are all 12-15 feet tall

and loaded with beautiful ornaments.  This is just a sampling of the

Christmas Traditions displayed here:

Our Holiday Wishes for Peace & Goodwill to all of you!

 

We invite you to visit our world famous Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We will share our recent snowy winter scenes with you. It usually doesn’t look like this until January or February, but it certainly is getting us in the Holiday mood. This is just a sampling of the 200+ sculptures that are here at the park permanently.

If you get a chance to visit Grand Rapids, don’t miss the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Former President Jimmy Carter called it a "National Treasure." We would love to have you come for a visit and see for yourself.

More photos of Meijer Gardens

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate, the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan

area with a diverse business community, great medical research & services, numerous universities, plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

If life gives you lemons…make lemonade.  Well, the residents of Grand

Rapids Michigan don’t need lemonade lessons or snow fun lessons, either.

With the surprise snowfall of about 10 inches and a couple more inches added

yesterday, we have SNOW!!  When you put kids & a day off school together,

you get lots of Snow Fun!!

sledding hill are where you find them

The best sledding hills are where you find them…this one is on a nearby

church backyard.

Kids sledding

Lots of energy is being spent here, the low carbon emission type,

perfect for that hot cocoa remedy for cold hands, feet, and faces.

winter fun

When the uphill climb gets slower and slower, it is a sure signal that it is

time to pack up your gear and head home.

Bolt snowman

A neighbor made this impromptu snowman. I love the innovative

hat.

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The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate, the Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in West Michigan. Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a diverse business community, great medical research & services, numerous universities,plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

I guess I am still a kid at heart. What a thrill to wake up and see the

white crystals of snow coating everything in sight! Needless to say,

with the amount of snow we received, it is a “Snow Day” for most

of the kids in Grand Rapids area.  While it is not inconvenient for me,

it is for most people. Roads are slippery, traffic is slow and commute

times are much longer than our normal speedy travel.

I took a few photos so you can see what we woke up to in GR this

morning.

front yard first snow

back yard first snow

winter morning view

 

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___________________________________________________________________________________________________

The authors of the this blog write about Grand Rapids Real Estate, the

 Greater Grand Rapids MI area, and what it is like to live in West Michigan.

Grand Rapids Michigan is a vibrant, growing metropolitan area with a diverse

business community, great medical research & services, numerous universities,

plus lively arts and entertainment of all kinds.

We believe: Grand Rapids is a Great Place to Live!

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

                       Where Something Good is Always Cooking   

                           Breakfast ~ Lunch~ Take-Out ~ Bakery  

The Real Food Cafe is THE REAL DEAL! We probably go there for lunch at

least once a week. They only serve breakfast and lunch but it is better than

my Mom made. Their breakfasts are almost legendary. They serve

breakfast anytime and what a breakfast…..the home fries are just too

delicious to describe.

 

Grill & Rosie at work

 

 

The pancakes are made with real buttermilk, fresh eggs and served with real

butter.  Below is the picture of my two eggs scrambled and home fries.

 

real food eggs & home fries

The home made soups are always delicious.  The burgers are 1/3 lb. of

Angus beef.  The sandwiches are huge and  definitely satisfying.

The omelets are mouth-watering.

home baked goodies real food cafe

The baked goods such as cookies, cakes and pies are all home made on site

and worth sacrificing the diet for.    The crew and wait staff are all friendly and

genuinely happy at work.  It just makes you feel good to be there. It is

always full of people eating “real food” and enjoying themselves.

Rosie at Real Foods

 

One of our favorite people at Real Food  is “Rosie.”  She has known

the chef, Frank, since  he was a little boy and is always busy seating

people, getting drinks, and generally bustling around with a friendly

word and smile to all.

They have recently expanded and added an additional location:

Real Food Cafe

at 5430 Northland Dr. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525  

(616)361-1808

 

If you  like  “real food made with real ingredients by real  people,”

this is the place to go.   

 Real Food Cafe Grand Rapids Mi

       We are there often, so we hope to see you , too.   

The Real Food Cafe   2419 Eastern Ave.

Grand Rapids MI 49507     (616)241-4080

 

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search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

We love to try new places to eat, especially for lunch. But Marie

Catrib’s in the East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids is an old

favorite.  We have friends, John & Betsy who live in Heritage Hill

and Marie’s is a great place to meet.

The atmosphere is cozy and warm.  The restaurant is always busy.

And the food is unusual and delicious.  I prefer the vegetarian,

local products, my spouse prefers traditional fare. At Marie’s,

both of us are happy with the selections.

On our recent visit, I ordered the veggie Sweet Potato and

Quinoa burger [heavenly and huge] while my pard ordered the

Turkey Rueben [messy but delish].

Outside of bldg

Marie Catrib’s From the Street

Inside marie catribes restaurant

East Hills is the center of the universe.

deli goodies case at marie catribes

A take-out case is loaded with great offerings.

Marie Catrib’s is located at 1001 Lake Dr SE Grand Rapids MI

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search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

Front doors are the first impression that visitors and passersby

get of your home.  We all make instant judgments about a home’s

interior when we see the front door, just like we do about a person

we first meet.  If you want to make a good first impression, you

should make sure your front door is attractive and welcoming.

autumn wreath on front door

I have a fascination with front doors.  I  drive by homes and

look at the front door or front entry.  I love to see a home with

a touch of personality or a piece of artwork displayed by the front

door. 

Cat face entrance decoration

GR doorway w trees

This front door reminds me of castle. I saw several doorways similar to

this in England inside the castle walls.

gr arched door w wreath

Door with well dressed scarecrows

Holidays and seasonal decorating are especially fruitful for my

voyeuristic entertainment.  I especially like the his and hers

well-dressed scarecrows guarding this front door.

search for Grand Rapids homes Find Grand Rapids Home Value Grand Rapids Relocation Guide

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

Grand Rapids Photos

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