Foto Friday – What Were They Thinking?

Foto Friday – What Were They Thinking?

Weird_Van

Driving down the East Beltline today, we came across this van.

Uhhh, I don’t get it……what were they thinking?  It must be a new definition

of “GREEN”.  Isn’t it wonderful that individualists can express themselves in

any way they want?  And you thought Grand Rapids was boring.

 

Copyright 2011     All rights reserved

_____________________________________________________________________________

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!

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Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – When is a Pick-Up not a Pick-Up?

Foto Friday – When is a Pick-Up Not a Pick-Up?

Custom_Golf_Cart_Pickup 

When you live in Florida’s Villages Retirement Community, a car is not

a car and a pick-up is not a pick-up.  It is a golf cart, a customized golf cart.

This huge residential community of over 80,000 homes [and still building] has

2 major shopping centers and town squares.  The main mode of transportation

is by golf cart.  When unlimited funds and individual expression meet, you can

order a $15,000 personalized golf cart.  We couldn’t resist taking a photo of

this snazzy green retro pick up golf cart with wooden sides on the back bed.

 

Grand Rapids Michigan Online Relocation Guide

_____________________________________________

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

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – Christmas Railway Garden Meijer Gardens 2010

Foto Friday – Christmas Railway Garden  Meijer Gardens 2010

Did you ever have the thrill of constructing a train set with a model village

to run your track through?  I have visited a few but never had the fun of

constructing my own.  Elves have made an awesome model railway village

in the Meijer Garden Conservatory that runs past quite a few West Michigan

landmark buildings.   The model train runs through the Victorian

Conservatory and the “Special Exhibit” Rooms.  The model Railway Garden

village is constructed of only natural materials.  It is decked out in African

Violets, orchids from the Gardens large collection, numerous ground covers,

small fir trees, tree bark, rocks and moss to give a green and magical feel

to the model railway village.

See if you can recognize the buildings before you scroll down to read

the description.

FountainStChurch

This is the iconic Fountain Street Church famous for liberal speakers and

bringing the outside world to West Michigan since 1924.

Ada  covered bridge

The Covered Wooden Bridge in Ada Michigan is represented here.

Fulton_St _power_plant

This odd looking building is the Steam Power Plant on Fulton Street in

downtown Grand Rapids.  This still functions, supplying steam power to many

downtown buildings.

BigRedLighthouseHolland

The Big Red Lighthouse in Holland Michigan.

GothicChurch

Gothic style Church – my guess is Immanuel Lutheran on Michigan Avenue hill?

[There are over 1200 churches in Grand Rapids, so help me out if you know]

FallasburgCoveredBridge

The Fallasburg Covered Bridge over the Flat River in Lowell Michigan.

GrandRapidsHome

An arts & Crafts Style Grand Rapids Michigan home, typical of many homes

built here in Grand Rapids in the early 20th century.

We hope you enjoyed the brief tour through the Christmas Railway Garden

Village at Meijer Gardens this year.  It will be on display until Jan. 9th, 2011.

In addition, horse drawn carriage rides, carolers, 40 theme Christmas trees,

and other holiday specials will be happening till the end of this year.

There will also be extended holiday hours on December 21, 22, 23,

27, 28, 29 and 30. The entire facility will be open until 9 pm.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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!

ar125812212017642 Lowell Michigan Top Best Buy Homes Nov 2010 ar125812218972939 Lowell Michigan Top Best Buy Homes Nov 2010 ar125812225271331 Lowell Michigan Top Best Buy Homes Nov 2010

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – Grand Rapids Michigan is a Winter Wonderland

Foto Friday – Grand Rapids Michigan is a Winter Wonderland

Yes, we have snow in Grand Rapids Michigan already. It came right after

Thanksgiving this year and looks like it is here to stay.

Snow frosted fir trees

Lots of people smitten with the mitten (people who love our winter weather)

have  been waiting for snowfall to start their winter activities, such as snow-

mobiling, snow skiing, snow boarding, cross country skiing, sledding, and

even just making snow men and snow angels!

Come on over, the snow is here and the hot chocolate is ready!

Foto Friday – Oh, Deer Oh, Deer

Foto Friday – Oh, Deer  Oh, Deer

 Mom_and_ Bamb_Tulleymore_GC

This mom and baby deer were grazing out in the open at Tulleymore Golf

Course when I played there this spring.  We were also met by a herd on

the driveway into the course early that morning in Stanton, Michigan.  If you

live in Michigan, the white tail deer is a common sight, either in your yard

eating your shrubbery or along the road in open fields.

 

 In case  you have been living in a bubble, this Monday was opening day

for Firearm Deer Season in Michigan.  The Department of Natural Resources

estimates that this is a $1 Billion industry for Michigan, with hunters buying

gas, food, licenses, and hunting gear.  In the recent past, about one and half

million licenses were bought each year.  This year, with the down turn in the

economy, just over a million licenses are expected to be sold.

 

Kent County had the first reported case of Chronic Deer Wasting Disease

in 2008.  All Kent County deer killed must be taken to a check station where

the DNR checks for CDW by removing the deer head and sending it in for

testing.

 

If you are interested in Deer Hunting in Michigan, the DNR and Michigan

State University have a website with lots of information including: updates,

weather, news, field data, and more.

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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!

ar125812212017642 Grand Rapids Michigan – City of Bridges ar125812218972939 Grand Rapids Michigan – City of Bridges ar125812225271331 Grand Rapids Michigan – City of Bridges

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

                          Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – A Grand Rapids Veteran’s Vietnam Memory

Foto Friday – A Grand Rapids Veteran’s Vietnam Memory

 Swimming pool with Banana Trees in front of my hooch

Ahhh, tropical Vietnam, a vacationer’s delight.  In 1970, this scene

was right outside my hooch [Army barrack’s room] anytime I wanted to

take a dip.  It was a regular cement pool with all the trimmings installed

by our engineering group.

Because our base was in the Central Highlands, we were definitely

back country and had few extras or other signs of civilization, unlike Cam Ranh

Bay which had paved streets with street lights. The pool was our pride and joy.

The story I heard was that a certain high ranking officer ordered

the pool for his base on the coast.  When the supplies to build it arrived

in-country, our engineering group happened to spot it sitting on the docks.

A Chinook was handy and going our way, the rest is history.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – ArtPrize 2010 Art for All Ages

Foto Friday – ArtPrize 2010 Art for All Ages

Connect the dots ArtPrize 2010

ArtPrize 2010 has taken our city to a new level of art appreciation.

People are out looking at the exhibits and enjoying the festival

atmosphere, while getting an education in contemporary art.

You don’t have to be an art critic to enjoy this event!

Photo by Bonnie Westbrook

More ArtPrize 2010 Photos

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

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – Grand River Grandeur

Foto Friday – Grand River Grandeur

grand river south at knapp st

The Grand River is the longest river in Michigan, running from Hillsdale

near the Indiana border, up to Lansing, and then turning west towards Grand

Rapids and eventually emptying into Lake Michigan.  Its watershed drains an

area of 5,572 miles including 18 counties and 158 townships.

The native people who lived here called the river  O-wash-ta-nong, meaning

“Far-away-water” because of its length, 260 miles.

With fall fast approaching, scenes such as the one above are common here

in West Michigan.  This photo was taken on the Knapp Street bridge in Ada

township.

_

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

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – Grand Rapids Fish Ladder

Foto Friday – Grand Rapids Fish Ladder

View of GR from ladder

The Fish Ladder in Grand Rapids is a fascinating place to visit

in the fall when the salmon are returning upstream to spawn.  When we

have visited this small park on the northwest side of Grand Rapids, the

fish have been so crammed into the fish ladder that ducks were walking

on their backs to get bread crumbs thrown by visitors.

The Fish Ladder is located in a small park named for it near the 4th Street

bridge. From the banks of the Grand River here, you can see the

skyline of downtown Grand Rapids and the Medical Mile.   The view above

is a view of the Riverside area framed by the Fish Ladder structure.

If you  haven’t visited the Fish Ladder Park, fall is the best time to see

the salmon making their way back upstream to their birthplaces to spawn.

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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

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM

Foto Friday – Fishing Pond at Ada Park Ada Michigan

Fishing Pond at Ada Park Ada Michigan

Scenic pond

The Fishing Pond at Ada Township Park is available for children under 12, senior

citizens & handicapped persons when the park is open.  Provide your own poles

and tackle.  Four fish per day is the limit.  Ada Township Park is located on the

corner of Buttrick and Grand River Drive at 1180 Buttrick Avenue.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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!

ar125812212017642 Grand Rapids Michigan – City of Bridges ar125812218972939 Grand Rapids Michigan – City of Bridges ar125812225271331 Grand Rapids Michigan – City of Bridges

Westbrook Realty Grand Rapids MI Real Estate

Contact Terry   616-292-7263

OUR FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM