What better way to celebrate 29 years of marriage than having a backdrop of 1.2 million lights? Hubby and I headed to downtown Rochester for some great eats (Rochester Chop House) and to view the Big Bright Light Show 2016. Neither disappointed.
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season continues into January in Rochester, a beautiful city right next to ours, population of 13,000 with a very vibrant downtown. This is the 11th year for the Show. It takes two crews working 7 days per week for eight weeks starting October 1 to try to get it done before Thanksgiving.
We ate and then absolutely had to walk around to feel better about ourselves and the quantity of food we had just devoured. It was cold – about 28 degrees with a strong wind so walking briskly was a must.
Going toe to toe with Mr. Grinch!
A girl can dream, can’t she?
Cheers to us and Happy New Year to all of you!
“Same mind with same old ideas enters the same old year; only the new mind with new ideas enters the New Year!” – Mehmet Murat Ildan
Cranbrook House – another wonderful Groupon find! My mom and I headed to Bloomfield Hills to tour Cranbrook’s annual Christmas tree and train event. We were not disappointed. A historic Detroit area home circa 1908 located on gorgeous Lone Pine Road.
Kudos to the Cranbrook House and Gardens Auxiliary: Cranbrook House & Gardens Auxiliary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to preserving, restoring and maintaining Cranbrook House & Gardens and related cultural properties for the enjoyment, education and cultural enrichment of our members, the Cranbrook community and the public.
Cranbrook House was the family home of Cranbrook’s founders, George and Ellen Booth, from 1908 until 1949. Today, the estate serves a dual purpose: Its gardens, works of art and first-floor treasures are preserved as a testament to the Booths’ gracious lifestyle, their interest in landscape gardening and their involvement in the American Arts and Crafts movement. Its upper floors house the executive offices of Cranbrook Educational Community, the world renowned National Historic Landmark cultural center the couple created on the grounds of their country estate.
This period of the Booths’ lives coincided with the building of their extensive fortunes. Given an opportunity to join the executive ranks of the Scripps family’s publishing empire in 1888, George Booth worked closely with his father-in-law to build the News into Detroit’s largest daily, a process that was repeated at other Scripps-owned newspapers throughout the Midwest.
As a private investor, George also began to purchase interests in several Michigan newspapers which, combined with others already owned by his brothers, Ralph and Edmund Booth, eventually led to the establishment of Booth Publishing Company, the most extensive and profitable chain in Michigan’s history.
In a nutshell, the Booths weren’t exactly living a tough life. But they also gave back. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and plan to go back in the spring for a complete tour, not just the house but the gardens and grounds as well.
Enjoy the pictures. Not only the festive Christmas trees but the detail in the interior of the house. Side note: I seem to have an obsession with historic mansions and their interiors. Must be one of my past lives breaking through!
Welcome to Cranbrook!
Themed rooms hosted by helpful docents with interesting tales.
Quite an entryway!
Little girl’s tree and sitting room.
Penguin tree and mitten tree
Nativity scene and Civil War tree
Carved scroll next to sconce…detailed mantle above fireplace
I call this Norwegian descent woman standing next to Scandinavian themed tree…
Just your run of the mill library (gorgeous!)
Great people who use Groupon were born in 1961!
I dedicate this picture to Shelly P. – a lover of Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone! Here’s to a happy and healthy 2017!
Just your run of the mill library (gorgeous!)
Kicking and Screaming... 
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