You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right.
It's a wonderful night for me. I really feel lucky to be here, and I want to thank you for that warm welcome. I want to express my deep appreciation to Mike Ilitch, Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers for that video salute and also for the many great things they've done for me and my family throughout my career here with the Tigers. In my almost 92 years on this Earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey, and the blessed part of that journey is that it's going to end here in the great state of Michigan.
The hottest ticket in town (heck, even the state) tonight will be for the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals game at 7:05pm. Not so much for the teams (even though Detroit is in the midst of a division race) either. Longtime Tigers radio broadcaster and Baseball Hall Of Fame legend Ernie Harwell is to be honored by the team tonight.
Ernie Harwell recently revealed that he has incurable cancer and there has been an outpouring of love and support from fans both young and old. I think it's great (and long overdue) for the Tigers to pay tribute to a real gentleman. Emotions will be running high in the ballpark tonight.
Ernie Harwell Tribute Video with a smattering of his legendary signature calls as well as his final sign-off from 2002:
Wasn't the weather simply gorgeous across Michigan over the weekend? I certainly enjoyed working on a few late summer projects and spending part of the day on Saturday attending a local harvest festival. One of our favorite farm market vendors, Crooked Creek Farms, wasn't at the harvest festival so we drove on over to their produce stand and picked up some wonderful heirloom tomatoes, green peppers, and potatoes.
They have delicious locally-grown produce at excellent prices. I don't think we paid more than we would at a local chain grocery store that was trucking in the produce from across the country. In addition to the great prices and tasty food we're supporting a local business and I believe that is important.
Who knows how many more weekends we'll have that were as beautiful as this past one? I hope everyone enjoyed some time outside :).
When we lived in Lansing, my wife and I would make at least one trip each fall up to Uncle John's Cider Mill. Housed in a wonderful old dairy barn, the gleaming modern equipment can be witnessed from the hayloft viewing area. You can munch on their delicious donuts while drinking some cider and watching the cider making process.
They have special events going on every weekend in September and October. Their corn maze is supposed to open up tomorrow, September 12 and they have a ton of fun things for kids to enjoy. There are pedal tractors, wagon rides, a nature trail, and much more. Some of the activities are free and some just charge a nominal fee.
Whatever you do, do not leave without picking up one of their wonderful fresh-baked pies. Oh man, they are SO good.
Here is a brief video overview of the cider mill operation at Uncle John's Cider Mill:
Talk about a unique experience! Can you imagine the thrill of viewing Michigan's wonderful fall color show aboard the Pere Marquette 1225 steam engine? I mean, Michigan's fall colors are amazing, but to hear the chug-chugging of the steam engine and hear that wonderful whistle blow? Paradise!
As a child, I once road a train (it was a diesel, but as a kid I couldn't care - I was on a train!) for a fall color tour. It was so much fun and a very memorable experience. We packed up some snacks for the ride which was, I believe, a couple of hours. I'm pretty sure the best part was riding on a train - I don't remember what the fall foliage looked like ;).
The October 3, 2009 trip aboard either the Pere Marquette 1225 or the Nickel Plate Road 765 departs Alma at 9am and returns at 7pm. Tickets start at $125 for Coach and $200 for First Class (which includes a boxed lunch). For $135 you can get an open window seat for what I'm sure will be excellent photo opportunities. Order tickets online at www.mstrp.com.
Celebrate the glorious fall foliage behind two steam locomotives! Together again for the first time since 1991, Pere Marquette 1225 and Nickel Plate Road 765 will be powering the Steam Railroading Institute's historically significant fall excursion to Cadillac, Michigan on October 3rd.
Here's some footage of the Pere Marquette 1225 from 2005 back when she was still lettered with 'Polar Express' for the movie of the same name that was released in theaters in 2004. For those who don't know, the Pere Marquette 1225 served as the model for the steam locomotive in the movie and you can hear it's whistle blowing and steam exhaust in the movie as those samples were recorded directly from the 1225 in operation. I never thought of this, but it was pointed out at Wikipedia that the road number, 1225, is also the date for Christmas - 12/25.
This November you can purchase a model of the Pere Marquette 1225 for any of the railfans in your family :).
It's that time of the year again when Michigan's landscape explodes in a beautiful palette of color. My two-year-old daughter and I have already started collecting some of the wonderfully hued leaves from the silver maples in our back yard. I couldn't believe it last week when I gazed up into the upper reaches of one of the silver maples and could see a handful of leaves beginning to blush with color.
I simply love the area around here in southwest Michigan for fall color viewing. With so many rivers, state land, and a wonderful covered bridge in nearby Centreville it's a hotspot for fall color photography. I've also had the privilege of witnessing the show that is put on in the Upper Peninsula and that is a definite "must see" if you have never taken the opportunity to witness the fall colors in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Here's yet another great Pure Michigan ad to get you in the mood for Michigan's fall color show: