Bonnie & Terry Westbrook Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

We went to the polls this morning to vote in what I hope will be a historic

election in the United States of America. This is the tenth time I have cast

my vote for a Presidential candidate. If you are adding this up, yup, I'm not

a young girlie anymore.

I am an independent voter, which means I choose my candidate by his

credentials, education, or sometimes, just a feeling I get about their character.

I don't always choose by political party and I think I am like the majority of

American voters. We look the candidates over and then try to make an

educated decision.

My paternal Grandmother - Eleanor - 1916

My Maternal Grandmother - Flora - 1892

But I digress, I wanted to talk about going to the polls and voting. I take

this exercise as a right and a privilege. My grandmothers didn't get to vote

until the Nineteenth Amendment was finallly ratified by Congress and made

into law in August of 1920. The fight for women's suffrage began in 1872,

a full 17 years before my grandmother was born. She was 31 years old

before the right to vote for women was won. My Mother, myself, and my

daughter have never known the feeling of not being equal in the voting booth.

I hope you exercise your right to vote in this Presidential election. It is an

important part of being an United States citizen. And I know my Grandmothers

would appreciate it.

Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Real Estate

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved

Grand Valley State University hosts an annual Shakespeare Festival and

included in the month long festivities is the Rennaisance Festival. This is the

only student run Renaissance Festival in the United States.  It was held on

GVSU homecoming weekend right on campus in Allendale, MI.  I talked

'The Big Guy" into going with me and it was a blast!!  The only way it would

 have been more fun is to be a student and dress up for the event. 

There were about 50-60 costumed characters roaming around. You could

 have your friends and family arrested by the local sheriff and put in jail

for $1.00.  There were all kinds of entertainment going on: Jesters, Tribal

dancing, Sword fighting, Pirate Tales, to name a few.

You could buy complete Renaissance Attire, a custom sword, or just have your

body henna-tatooed.  Our short video we took of the event:

This is just an example of all the activities available here in Grand Rapids, MI

on a beautiful Fall day. 

Got your Bard On?

Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Real Estate 

The Fallasburg Arts & Crafts Festival was just a few weeks ago at the

end of September. I published a post about it and I sure hope you

got an opportunity to attend. It was a gorgeous weekend here in

Western Michigan. We had temperatures in the high 70's and sitting

 in the sun, it felt more like 85 degrees.

I will try to give you a synopsis of the Festival in case you didn't make

it to this premier Arts & Crafts Festival here in Kent County. 

My brief video is a tour of some of the highlights:

There is lots of parking in a vacant adjacent field, where traffic is

coming and goingall weekend.  We made a few stops on the way,

as garage sales and tag sales are a big attraction for all the traffic

 heading to the Festival.

The huge stone arches mark the entrance to the park.  The booths

and stalls are set up, with the food and entertainment in the middle. 

The big community building houses the craft demonstrations.  There

 is weaving, spinning, rug hooking, chair caning, origami, leather tooling,

 and wood carving.  This is a great chance to talk with the artisans and

sign up for lessons, if you see something that is interesting to you.

There is a children's area, with games, arts & crafts for the little ones. 

 The Lowell Garden Club has a huge exhibit with wreaths, floral displays,

and dried foliage arranged in all types of ways.  The bouquets of

 "Sweet Annie", a pungent herb, permeate the air in this area. The

bouquets  are hot sellers, as they are purported to discourage spiders

and other insects from entering your home.

My friend, Carol, and I found a cool, shady spot to eat our grilled chicken

 dinners prepared by the Lowell Fire Department.  We strolled the park,

 listened to the live music, and feasted our eyes on all the wonderful arts

and craft items being offered for sale. Being a juried show, they ranged

 from unique beaded jewelry to marquetry furniture, with all sorts of items

 in between. You could have picked up a handmade wooden toy for your

little one, an unusual pottery butter dish or cruet set, a hand carved

walking stick, or just a piece of homemade pie. 

Make mine Lemon meringue.

PS I didn't win the fabulous quilt they raffled off. You can see it in

the video.  (sigh) There's always next year....

Fallsburg Arts & Crafts Festival  

Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Real Estate

Ada Michigan has a new park addition. The Carl Creek Wetlands Preserve

is the newest addition to the Ada township park lands. It is protected

by the Land Conservancy of West Michigan as natural habitat for local

wildlife.

This land, 34.02 acres is located south of Forest Glen Residential

Development, M-21 (Fulton St )and north of the railroad tracks. It can

be accessed at Alta Dale Ave. Carl Creek drains into the Grand River and

this wetland area is a prime example of open herbaceous wetlands.

Ada Township is having a Dedication Ceremony for their newest Park

The Carl Creek Wetlands Preserve

on October 12, 2008 at 3pm. Parking and the ceremony will be at

155 Alta Dale Ave Ada, Michigan. Ceremony will proceed rain or shine.

Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Real Estate

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved

Aerial map from Access Kent

Shakespeare & Renaissance Festival ~ GVSU Homecoming

Sounds like a little something for everyone this fall at Grand

Valley State University Campus.

Grand Valley State University is celebrating their 15th season of

Shakespeare by going "Back to the Forest."

The play A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare

will be performed be on Sept. 26, 27, Oct 2, 3, 4 at 7:30 pm

Sept 27,28, Oct 4, 5 at 2 pm

Special mid week matinees for school groups

Sept 30, Oct 1, 2 at 10 am.

Student and regional artists, as well as guest professional actor

Brian Webb Russell will be featured in the production.

Shakespeare Festival Link

The play precedes the Renaissance Festival on Oct. 11 & 12.

The Renaissance Festival is the only completely

Student Run Free Faire in the country.

It will take place at The Clocktower Plaza from 10 am to

dusk on October 11 & 12th in Allendale.

Which happens to coincide with Grand Valley Campus Homecoming Celebration.

Homecoming celebrations will be held at the Allendale Campus on October 10, 11, & 12th.

See the above link for times and events of interest. There is a 5K run to get started in the

morning, various activites and Saturday ends with the Lakers vs Hillsdale at 7pm.

Go Lakers!

Grand Valley State University has buses headed to Allendale from metro-Detroit and

Chicago areas on Saturday. Check the for departure times and locations.

Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Real Estate

Copyright 2008 all rights reserved

Photo of Lakers mascot & Titania & Bottom from GVSU website

Photo of 2005 Renaissance Festival by Dave Perrin