Two Totally Different Galas

This past weekend while Rick was off skiing with his brothers in Utah, I had the opportunity to attend two very different fundraisers.

The first was at the Grand Rapids Public Museum for the GR public television station. It was a food-and-wine tasting, and really spectacular.

Tables with an assortment of wines alternated with all kinds of food tastings -- Sushi...(because I am the sushi strumpet...)

Gelato, salsa, chicken dishes, dips, chocolate, trail mixes, other snacks. It was a never-ending feast.

The wines were excellent, too. I wish I'd written more of them down in the little booklet they gave me. I don't know how many hundreds were featured. I didn't try this one, but loved the monkey labels!

But the real treat was the museum -- we have to go back and really "do" it. There was lots of natural history...

... and I loved the displays -- here are bits from a few -- you can see the diversity.

(I loved the hats and dolls!)

We kept watching the big clock to meet up. Time flew by. When we left, everyone got a rose.

Oh -- they said there were 900 people there. Pretty amazing.

The fundraiser for the Ebersole Foundation was smaller but warmer and for me, more fun.

The foundation provides a center far from the city on a large farm site so kids who might never get to experience the environment in a more natural, genuine way have that opportunity.

There was a silent Auction -- my friend Rhonda and I were bidding on having our friend Kate plant perennials in our yards. Rhonda won, but Kate graciously agreed to do both our yards, and so I bought that too!

And, I won two car detailing packages in the raffle. Since the expiration date is in June, I'll give one to Rick.

Let's just say that after carrying Gypsy in the car last summer, and all the tracking in, a good detailing would be pretty darned fabulous.

My friends Jane and Kip served as emcees, moving the live Auction along quickly. They're fabulous!

And I enjoyed being there with some of my Great Gang of Women (or the GGWs or the GGs!).

Rhonda, Jane and Kate ...

Mark and Jan...
And Kate's husband Mike (of Dissent Decree and Beyond Appearance) -- who was official photographer of both people and things! (Photographer at work!)

The centerpieces were wonderfully simple, with terra cotta leaves, made by young art students, sitting on branches resting in a bank of moss. I'm remembering that idea for another day!

Pals Judy and Dick were there briefly, too!That was before the camera came out!

Best of all, the organization made its goal -- topped it, in fact! Lots of kids will get to experience nature in a wonderful way.

As for me, it's back to the work-a-day world! But oh, what lovely events!

Raptor Rapture

A glorious Sunday. Perfect weather. Good friends. New experiences.


That’s what I enjoyed last weekend as we journeyed to the mid-Michigan countryside to spot raptors – the hawks, eagles, and owls that live in our woods, wetlands and even at times, in the city.


Rick had purchased a day of raptor viewing at the Ebersole auction and we finally managed to find a day when we – and our guide and generous donor, Dave – could schedule the jaunt.

Dave

Rick and our friends Mark and Jan and I met Dave at a car park and together we ventured off to find the raptors, whose nests Dave had previously scouted.


First stop, Great Horned Owls. Their nest was far from the road, and even with the scope it was difficult to see the babies, though Jan says she saw their tufted heads. The nearby windmill on the barn was handsome, though!



Then we had great fortune finding nests of red tailed hawks. We were able to catch these beautiful and massive birds sitting on their nests. No photos of those, but they were splendid!


After a picnic, we went on to enjoy watching harrier hawks dance around, and caught a glimpse of kestrels, herons and wood ducks, as well as an osprey nest at the top of a cell phone tower!

Happy raptor-watchers!

Raptor nests are huge and generally made of sticks, though at times they’ll use whatever materials are available. Dave has a bumper sticker that says “I brake for stick nests” and we can see why! He’s always on the lookout, though I think we picked the last possible weekend before the trees fully pop to do our excursion.



He said he had one last surprise for us and to follow him. We did, and he parked on the exit ramp of a busy expressway. We climbed the embankment on the opposite side of the highway and looking through the scope...


...we were fortunate to spot a part-albino red-tailed hawk.

Her mate brought in dinner, as she circled around and then we watched through the scope as she fed her two babies in the nest.

The pix of the albino are by Mark and Dave. The rest are mine (I’m better with people pix!) It was really a remarkable and rare event.

I feel so fortunate to have experienced this. It was truly a gift. Thanks, Rick for the experience and Dave for spending gas at $3.65/gallon and an afternoon taking us about!

We Were "There for the Bear!"

A lovely weekend at a great event – the Ebersole Center – which is a camp located in the woods and wilds about an hour or so from Lansing. Kids in the Lansing Public Schools attend the camp as part of their curriculum – for many, it is their first real experience “in the wild” as they experience science and nature firsthand. We were excited to attend the annual fundraiser, which included a silent Auction (I bought an astounding photograph of Santa Fe by Michael M. Smith – check out his website!) -- he also took the photo of me with Ebby the Bear! There was also a live auction (Rick bid high on a nature walk where you view “raptors”) and fun stops like the gold mine, where you buy a rock (that entitles you to a drink) and brush off the glitters. If the stone is gold underneath, you’re entered in a drawing for a diamond).

There was also a hog-roping stop. (I didn’t try, but Rick did!) He actually got the noose around it's horns!

There were also raffles (we didn’t win, but I didn’t NEED a dinner out, though I could have used the framing or car detailing!)
Here was the fun part – the dinner was very out-west, meaning beef stew, biscuits and baked beans served in a tin plate, peach cobbler with ice cream, and good salads – all served from the chuck wagon!

There was even a "campfire" nearby!

I love it – how many fundraisers do you get to attend where you can wear your jeans!

And the "set decorataions" were great -- wonderful old hats, serapes...

A good time had by all -- and good funds raised for a good cause!