Beckwith's Apple Orchard - Our Family Tradition

We have watched her grow by the apple tree!

2016 Look How You Have Grown!

Late summer or fall could not be complete without a trip to Beckwith Orchards in Kent.  On the spur of the moment, My son, Adam, my granddaughter, Zoe and I decided to go for a slice of apple pie and ended up walking through Hal's Dahlia Patch.  His diverse assortment of dahlias is a sight to behold.  We had the pleasure of talking to Hal and found out that each dahlia has a name, like roses.  He puts the name tag into the bag of tubers when he digs them up each fall.  the next spring the flowers are replanted and the name is tucked in at the bottom of each plant.  He said that the colors remind him of girls' prom dresses.  We agreed!  How fortunate that he shares his garden with all the visitors at the apple farm.

Hal presented Zoe with a special dahlia.  She loved it!

I think the name of this one is "Exuberant"

"Go, and sit upon the lofty hill
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound." 

~ excerpt from "The Autumn" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1833)

"The summer sun is faint on them —
The summer flowers depart —
Sit still — as all transform’d to stone,
Except your musing heart."

~ excerpt from "The Autumn" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1833)

Coopersville, Michigan Farm Museum & Quilt Show

In early August, my dear friend Barb and I were excited to travel with Eagle Rock Tours to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the AQS (American Quilters Society) Quilt Week.  As you can see from our picture, we were in the company of lovely ladies who enjoy quilting, and as you can tell by the bags, who enjoy shopping.  What an awesome day we had at the DeVos Place Convention Center.

Coopersville Farm Museum

The next day after the AQS show our tour visited the small town of Coopersville, Michigan.  This hidden gem is a sweet country museum that has grown from originally a tractor museum to a community and event center.  To check out their well designed website:  CLICK HERE!     A list of some of their upcoming community events that is posted on their site - they sure keep busy!  

Petting Zoo ~ Chili Cook-off ~ Pancake Breakfast ~ Quilt Show ~ Doll Show ~ Art Galleries ~ Fall Kids Party ~ Tea Parties ~ Christmas with Mrs. Claus

~ Jam Nights ~ Bands & Buds ~ Rotary Club ~ Train Guys ~ Tractor Club ~ Coin & Collectibles Club ~ Quilting Circle ~ Tractor Show ~ Bake Sale ~ more!

The visit to Coopersville Museum and quilt show was a highlight for me.  Take a look at how the director of the museum, Lee Ann Proia, skillfully arranged the quilts around the other exhibits in the museum.   There were model trains, old sewing machines, tractors, barn walls, old wringer washers, wrenches, kaleidoscopes and more.  

Remember the old feed sack quilts?

This old wringer washer took me back to the days of watching my mom do the wash.

As you can tell by the pictures, this is not your ordinary quilt show.  It was a treat for the eye to see so many beautiful quilts displayed with such care in this rural museum.  What a delight to browse through these displays; I would love to go back again.  I would highly encourage anyone who travels to Michigan to stop by and visit the Coopersville Farm Museum.  You won't be disappointed.