Craig Snead / Real Estate Investor

Michigan Renaissance Festival Celebrates 32 years

The Michigan Renaissance Festival comes to Holly, Mi again this year. The festival runs every weekend through October 02, 2011. Each weekend has a different theme.
The setting is the shire of Hollygrove. Recreating Renaissance (circa 1586-1600)

Guests attending the festival will be greeted by belly dancers, sword swallowers, sword fighters and musicians all dressed in period costume. MANY guests like to dress up in costume as well. It's encouraged to partake in the festival spirit and join in the merriment. If you don't behave, you could find yourself locked up. Then you have to beg for money to get released.

There is fun and games for the kids. All of the "rides" are period as well. There is no electric carnival rides. They are all man powered. You may have to pull a rope to get going or slide down a wire to put your jousting pole through the ring.
There is even knife, ax and star throwing. Try climbing Jacobs ladder as it twists with your weight on it. Or you could try to knock someone off of the sitting pole into the hay with a bag stuffed with rags.

JOUSTING. One of the main attractions. Gallant knights in shining armor have a live jousting duel on horseback, defending their honor, right in front of you complete with the king and queen of the court. There's also a live chess game where knights have sword battles to claim a space on the board.

The numerous stages are filled with jugglers and hecklers. Go ahead. Throw some tomatoes at the heckler. if you can take the verbal abuse. One of my favorite shows is the Ded Bob Show. A few audience members are brought up on stage and used to portray a little humorous skit.

What would a festival be without vendors. In the marketplace you can find costumes, swords, shields and many other handcrafted wares. You can even have your palm read. If you get hungry, you can feast on a turkey drum stick or many other foods. Sorry, no utensils. You eat with your fingers as if you were living in the past.

Take a trip back in time to Hollygrove and enjoy the festivities.
Look for discount tickets at Kroger and Walgreens stores.

Walking in San Diego, CA. An uphill battle.

My wife and I enjoy walking when we're home in MI. The time alone gives us an opportunity to talk, to reflect on the day and connect with one another. The combination of sunshine, fresh air and companionship helps us stay balanced.

Whenever we travel, we like to continue our walks and take in some different scenery.

Recently we were in San Diego, CA visiting my Dad. He lives on the eastern side of town with a lot of hills and mountains in the area and Dad just happens to live on a small mountain. When we go walking, it's an uphill battle to get from point A to point B. Even when we're walking down the hill, we have to walk at a slight angle so as not to fall forward too much in our stride. We've found different routes to take. If we just do an around the block up and down walk, it's like interval training. First we get the uphill stress, then the downhill cool down.

This is the street going up on an angle.

You can see from this picture how the street behind Dads house is much lower than his property. And at a steep angle.

In this picture, notice how the roof line is level with the street.

Here's a picture going down hill with a mountain in the background.

Here's a picture of Cowle's mountain. We've climbed this before. That's going to be the next story.

Walking is good for the mind, body and soul. Get out and go for a walk today.

See how refreshed you'll feel when you get back. Enjoy the day.

Summer festival celebrates 41 years of fun in Westland, MI -- June 30 - July 4, 2011

While budget cuts in other cities continue to cancel extra curricular activities, Westland, MI has been able to maintain costs that will allow the summer festival to continue. The summer festival has been a mainstay in the city for the last forty years. Due to the longevity of this event, you will find families that were raised in Westland and went to the festival as a child now bringing their kids to the festival and reminiscing about their childhood experiences at the fair.

This festival has something for everyone.

Carnival rides.
Live bands.
A horseshoe contest.
A muscle car show.
A beauty pageant.
Free parking and shuttle service.
Carnival rides.
A fun and educational science show.
A fundraiser walk for the Alzheimer's Association.
A child ID program.
A petting farm.
A fireworks display on the last night.
Did I mention the carnival rides?
Bring the whole family out for one day or all five. Grab an elephant ear, a hot dog or some cotton candy. You won't be bored. DON'T FORGET THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY......

All carnival rides provided by Wade Shows.

Play Planet -- Tattan Park -- Westland, MI

Westland, MI recently put in a new play structure for the kids in Tattan Park right behind Westland City Hall.
This new steel and plastic playground structure replaced the old wooden structure that was located at Central City park.
The new structure has a rocket ship theme that is highlighted with rocket shaped towers for the kids to gather in.

There are plenty of climbing areas as well as numerous slides and climbing walls intertwined within the structure. Kids can freely use their imagination as they run up and down the many walkways connecting the different platforms.

There's also a variety of climbing bars, jumping platforms and swings to keep the kids happy.
You just might lose sight of your children as they roam about the spaces available to play on.
There's even a covered pavilion available for rent. The pavilion boasts several picnic tables with plenty of seating for large gatherings.
Planning a family reunion or a birthday party? Need something to keep the kids occupied?

With summer vacations coming, it's a perfect place to get the kids out of the house and get some fun exercise.
Get away from the electronic games.
Get away from the boring television watching.
Get out and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
Get out and let your imagination run wild.

Get out to Play Planet and PLAY, PLAY, PLAY.........

A day on the farm.

I have always lived in the city. My first home had a lot size of 100' x 300' and I felt comfy. Then when I moved into my next home and the lot size was 55' X 110', I almost went into a panic mode. I could practically fit six of these lots into my old lot. I thought that the neighbors were too close. I even considered erecting six foot picket fencing all around but then I realized I would be shutting myself in and didn't want that either. After some years I learned to adjust.

My oldest son just lives twenty minutes away from me in Monroe, MI. I can drive down to his house and feel like I've driven WAY OUT into the country. His home sits on 2 1/2 acres. We refer to visiting him as "going to the farm".

He loves his animals. He has goats, rabbits, chickens. guinea and doves. He also has several bird feeders out to attract a variety of wild birds.

With plenty of room to play, he has some toys to keep the kids occupied. They have the usual swing set/play structure. He also has a bounce house, golf cart, mini bike, go cart, and a couple of four wheelers. The kids have a ball playing OUTSIDE all day.

Here's the chicken coop with some of the goats, chickens and guinea.

The kids get a kick out of holding the baby bunnies, jumping in the bounce house and swinging away on the play structure.

Everyone gets a turn riding in the golf cart, on the four wheeler and the mini bike.

It's relaxing to go down to the farm in Monroe, MI. for a day and get away from the city.

I look forward to our visits there.