The Filming of Youth in Revolt | Lake Leelanau, MI (06.26.2008)

I'm sure most folks outside of Michigan may not have heard of the tax incentives that are given to movie production companies who film in Michigan. One movie that we were very fortunate enough to see filmed was "Youth in Revolt." The movie is based on the novel by C.D. Payne. The crew and members of the cast that we met were extremely nice and allowed us to take pictures on set and while filming. Here is an article in the local paper that talked about the filming.

Filming here wrapped up in the park yesterday, and everyone has left. According to rumour are, they are now filming in Brighton and in the metro Detroit area.

(l) Welcome to Restless Axles Trailer Park! (AKA Lake Leelanau RV Park)
(r) The campground's office was turned to a church / meeting hall.


(l) The production crew built this double trailer for the movie.
(r) The trailer as it was during filming.


(l) The back of the double trailer during filming.
(r) My Green Haven (AKA "The Green Turd") was brought on site for the movie. The residents of this site were relocated across the street from us.


(l) Jean Smart is on her way via golf cart to the movie set.
(r) The crew is getting ready for the next scene.


(l) Portia Doubleday and Yummers.
(m) M. Emmett Walsh and MJM.
(r) Michael Cera and Yummers.

Memorial Day Weekend / TdL / School EOY / USS Silversides / The Raising Sand Tour

Hi everyone: Sorry it's been a while since I posted, but here is a fresh new set of blog entries for you. Enjoy the pictures! Cheers, P. :O)

The Raising Sand Tour (06.17.2008)
Michael really wanted to go see Robert Plant in concert at the Fox Theatre but couldn't get the tickets he wanted. He ended up talking to his sister, who said, "Why don't I call Alison to see if we can get tickets to the Detroit show?" Marilynn just happens to be Alison Krauss's physician back home. She made a few calls, and it was a done deal. We had great seats, and the music was great! We were lucky enough to meet members of their backing band as well as T Bone Burnett and Alison. It was a wonderful night! If you want to see the other pictures, let me know. Cheers, P.



Robert Plant & Alison Krauss | "The Battle of Evermore"


Robert Plant & Mr. T. Bone Burnett | "Who Do You Love?" (Tribute to Bo Diddley ~ RIP)


Robert Plant & Alison Krauss | "Black Dog"


Troop 863: USS Silversides (06.15.2008 - 06.16.2008)
Troop 863 spent Father's Day sleeping in the USS Silversides submarine in Muskegon. I think everyone had a great time spending time with one another. I got to sleep by one of the torpedoes, too. Very cool! On the morning after, we went to PF Hoffmeister State Park and had a nice picnic lunch as well as visit their nature center. Some pictures for your viewing pleasure below...

(l) Dockside view of the USS Silversides.
(r) The Captain George tugboat. It's yours for $ 60,000!


(l) Our beds. My bunk and Michael's bunk is on the very bottom. The kids got to sleep in bunks near their friends.
(r) Troop 863 Group Picture!



School EOY (End of Year - 06.13.2008)
Another school year has come and gone, and another picture in front of the Farrand School sign.



TdL - Tour de Leelanau (05.25.2008)
During the Memorial Day weekend, we were Road Marshalls at two stops (the Homestead & Kolarik / Jeleniak Roads). We were there at the beginning of the race in Leland and watched the end at the casino

(l) Kids on the old tree stump in Leland before the race.
(m) Kids at the Start Line.
(r) The riders are ascending to the finish line at the top of the small hill behind the kids.



Memorial Day Weekend (05.24.2008 - 05.26.2008)
Over Memorial Day weekend, we hung out at the cabin, went to Blackstar Farms & Leelanau Cheese, fished and Minnie caught another Easter Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.

(top left) @ Blackstar Farms: The kids are by the horse stable.
(top right) The grape vines at Blackstar Farms.
(bottom left) Minnie & his butterfly
(bottom right) Yummer on the boat pier

Farrand Talent Show & Piano Recital all in one night (05.22.2008)

Apologies for the lack of posts ... but we've been pretty busy. The kids had a piano recital and their school talent show both on the same night. Basically, they played their pieces at their piano recital and then we shuffled off to the middle school where the school talent show was held. It was a busy, but fun night! Enjoy the performances.

Anita and her piano recital performances.


Minnie and his piano recital performances.


Anita and her talent show performances. (Apologies for the blurriness and initial confusion ... I thought she was going to be on the stage, too!)


Minnie and his talent show performances.

Farrand Talent Show Dress Rehearsal # 3 (05.13.2008)

Today was the talent dress rehearsal for all of the kids participating. We missed the second rehearsal due to the cruise. Oh well. There were some really great performances which included our kids (of course).

Here is Anita ...


and here is Minnie!
..

Green Street Fair (05.03.2008 - 05.04.2008)

We went to the Green Street Fair in downtown Plymouth during the first weekend of May. It was a lot of fun trying out different food and beauty products. Whole Foods Market had the whole middle section of The Gathering and offered many tasty treats. Plenty of free samples from Eden Soy pasta, Nordic Naturals supplements, Lush bath bombs, pens / lip balms / bags (yes - literally) of popcorn from Bosch could be had. We even planted trees at a National Forest in Michigan. Lots of great live bands played on stage, too.

While it is great to have an annual yearly event to promote conservation / alternative energy sources / sustainability / organic concepts, I think everyday should be a day where people can make an effort to take care of our great Mother Earth. 'Nuff said - here are some pictures!

The kids wrote down their thoughts on large colourful boards at a booth on the corner.


One of the trees we planted in Michigan courtesy of Toyota Motor Company.

The Family Carnival Sensation Cruise to the Bahamas (04.27.2008 - 05.01.2008)

Minnie's seventh birthday was this past Monday. It has always been a dream of his to "see the ocean and find shells." Well, MJM and I did just that and took the kids to the Bahamas! We flew in to Orlando and was whisked away to Port Canveral where we boarded the Carnival Sensation. As we headed out into the open sea, we saw two dolphins swimming by the ship as well as a sea turtle.

We went to a Junkanoo beach party in Freeport. The kids found five conch shells on the beach, and we brought the best ones home as souvenirs.

In Nassau, we took a small boat to a private island where we swam alongside stingrays and fed them during the day. They were in an enclosed pen off the beach. On another part of the beach, a wild stingray swam up to Minnie and everyone crowded around. We went walking around the town in the afternoon after the stingray adventure.

Of course, we partook in the various activities on board the ship: swimming, animal towel making class, bingo, and of course, live entertainment which included several performances by the kids. Below is a video of the kids singing and playing the piano shortly after we boarded the ship. MJM encouraged them to ask the pianist if they could try to play the piano with fairly good results!

EDIT on 05.13.2008: I'm putting the photos from my little Kodak on Facebook.
Here's a link to the Kodak photos.

EDIT on 05.14.2008: Now, a link to the Nikon photos!

Farrand Poetry Slam (04.16.2008)

The Farrand PTO, Farrand Elementary and Barnes and Noble partnered together for a really cool "Poetry Slam" event. The kids read their own poems, watched magic performances and learned juggling from Mr. Jones (Our principal's husband). Very cool. Even more cool was that all proceeds of sales by Farrand families were given to the school. Below are some pictures of the event. Enjoy!

(L) Anita read her haiku to an enthusiastic audience.
(R) Minnie learning how to juggle with handkerchiefs first with Mr. Jones.


(L) Minnie did not want to hang out in the kids section anymore. I found him in this section.
(R) Thank goodness it was a handkerchief that landed on Minnie's head and not hard balls!


A bit OT, I know, but I thought I'd show you what Minnie made me for my birthday: A broom and dustpan out of tape, cotton swabs and paper. Good lord.

Talent Show Audition @ Farrand (04.15.2008)

Yesterday, Anita and her classmates all auditioned for the talent show at the school auditorium. The kids were split in two groups. There were dance acts, a very strange comic routine, and a couple of guitarists. Surprisingly, she was the only pianist in the talent show this year.

Minnie got roped in the talent show as well when he was playing Yummers' "Magician" song on the piano after the auditions were over. One of the third grade teachers, Mr. Hammond, said, "Hey, why aren't you in the talent show?" and put Minnie on the spot. He said his infamous, "I don't know." Then, Mr. H. said, "Do you want to be in the talent show?" Yummers said, "Yes, do it, Minnie!" His Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Fryberger, said, "You can do it, Michael!" So, he's signed up now, and he'll be doing his recital pieces for both the recital and school talent show.

FYI ... their teacher's recital and school talent show are on the same time and night. Sheesh ~ we're going to have the kids do the recital first and then hop over to the school for the talent show.

Here she is ... sans microphone though!

Troop 84: World Thinking Day (03.17.2008)

Yummers' Girl Scout Troop was assigned to create a display, SWAPS activity and bring food products for our assigned country of Germany. Yummers was assigned to bring a dish, and we brought strudel which was well-received by the 80 or so Girl Scouts and their parents. Other countries included Mexico, Brazil, Ireland and China.

(L) Troop 84 starting off the evening at our table.
(R) Part of our display closest to the wall.


(L) Anita & her old buddy, Madison.
(R) Schnitzelbank Drinking Song Placemat (part of our display).


The Animaniacs version of the "Schnitzelbank Drinking Song."

Troop 863: DIA Trip ~ Part II (03.15.2008)

OK ... Lest you think that I forgot about the kids, here they are!


I found couple of great gift ideas at the DIA store.

Troop 863: DIA Trip ~ Part I (03.15.2008)

I was SO excited that we were going to the DIA after the renovations were complete. It was really worth the wait, and I highly highly recommend anyone visiting the Detroit to go to sixth largest art museum in the United States. There is ample parking at the parking lot behind the DIA (next to the Detroit Science Center) which is $ 5.00 all day on the weekend.

Everything was well laid out, and the "eye spy" features for many of the rooms kept the kids entertained. All of my favourites were proudly displayed. I took a few pictures with my little Kodak snapshot camera which turned out only OK, but I do hope you enjoy the point of these masterpieces. Cheers!

From the DIA's Central American Art exhibit: (Yes, those are war clubs with a sharp nail-like object sticking out in the third picture ... OUCH!)



(L) From the DIA's Egyptian exhibit, this is a close up of an Egyptian Hieroglyphic.
(R) Outside of the Egyptian exhibit was this work which was composed of different types of wood.


From the DIA's African exhibit:
(L) Camel Riding Seat
(M) Pure Gold for the Village Leader
(R) Palace Door from Nigeria (about 1920)


From the DIA's Asian and Modern Exhibit:
(L) Money Tree Yao Qian Shu (yes, please!)
(M) I've always liked this picture of this boy by Otto Dix.
(R) I overheard part of a docent's conversation about this painting which represents an African-American male as a hero. Apparently, many people stood in line to see this work of art when it was first acquired by the DIA.


(L and R) Picasso
(M) Picasso: Woman Seated in an Armchair / Femme assise dans un fauteuil (1923)


(L) Henri Matisse: The Window / Interieur au myosotis (1916)
(M) Henri Matisse: Poppies (c. 1919)
(R) Henri Matisse: Coffee / Le cafe (1916)


(L) John Singer Sargent: Photograph of the artist One of my favourite artists... a genius!
(M) John Singer Sargent: Judith Gautier (1885)
(R) John Singer Sargent: Madame Paul Poirson (1885)


(L) John Singer Sargent: Mosquito Nets (1908)
(R) John Singer Sargent: Home Fields (c. 1885)


Another personal favourite artist of mine...
(L) Thomas Gainsborough: Sir John Edward Swinburne (1785)
(R) Thomas Gainsborough: Sir John Edward Swinburne (1785)


(L) Gustave Courbet: Bather Sleeping by a Brook Baigneuse Endormie (1845)
(M) Pierre Auguste Renoir: Woman in an Armchair / Femme Assise dans un Fauteuil; Lise (1874)
(R) Paul Cezanne: Madame Cezanne (c. 1886)


(L) Vincent Van Gogh: Bank of the Oise at Auvers (1890)
(R) Vincent Van Gogh: Bank of the Oise at Auvers (1890) ~ extreme close up!


(L) Vincent Van Gogh: The Diggers / Les Becheurs (1889)
(M) Vincent Van Gogh: Self Portrait (1887)
(R) Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of Postman Roulin (1888)