Friday, August 6, 2021

BENTONVILLE EXPEDITION!

As a native of Arkansas, I have made dozens of "expeditions" to Bentonville over my lifetime ( www.VisitBentonville.com ), but none of them carried the sense of excitement and anticipation of the trip there on the last weekend of July, in 2021.   That was the weekend my precious granddaughter, Kaitlyn, was marrying her fiance, Logan.  The venue chosen for this sacred ceremony, was The Ballroom at "I" Street (www.theballroomatistreet.com)
The original structure at this location was a two-story colonial-style home, built in the 1930's.  After the current owners purchased it, they added a large event space in the expansive back yard.
I snapped this photo of Kaitlyn and Logan, as we gathered Friday night, for a rehearsal of the wedding ceremony.
Logan's paternal grandparents made the trip to Bentonville, from out of state, and I was glad to get a photo of them with the soon-to-be-wed couple. 
The groom and his mom looked very happy on the night of the rehearsal:

Likewise, the mother of the bride (on the left) was radiant, beside her sister, who flew in from Arizona.
After the "going through the motions" of the ceremony at the rehearsal, the family made the short drive to Fred's Hickory Inn (www.fredshickoryinn.com) for a lovely rehearsal dinner, hosted by the groom's parents.

The next morning, I was up early to get a walk in, before the summer sun made being outside uncomfortable.  The day before, I had noticed what looked like a park and small lake, across the highway from the wedding venue.  I decided to go over and explore what this space included, and found a fantastic community space, called Osage Park (www.peelcompton.org).

In addition to the concrete sidewalks that encircle the lake, there are board walks that will take the visitor through sections that are more wooded.
As I strolled the various locations of the board walk through the wetlands, one could see how some invasive species and non-native plants, were choking out the small trees that were trying to get a start.


In the photo below, notice how this invasive, "bitter" root, has wrapped itself around the straight-growing plant, in such a way that will eventually destroy it.  I realized this could be an illustration of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verse that says, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."  (Hebrews 12:15)  It crossed my mind how important this advise would be to the young couple getting married across the street, as well as the dozens of types of relationships that would be represented at the ceremony---parent/child; siblings; grandparents; aunts and uncles; cousins; friends; neighbors; work associates, and wedding ceremony vendors. 


Meanwhile, back at the wedding venue across the street, workers were busily getting the reception hall set up for the special gourmet dinner planned for later that day:
The place settings for each guest showed meticulous attention to detail.  The wedding planner responsible for turning these details into something of beauty was called Buss Event Planning & Design (www.buzzevents.biz).  They did a FANTASTIC job!  Their attention to detail, even included a specially designed covering for the dance floor, complete with the initial "D" in the center:
That same flower design on the dance floor, was also on the wedding invitations!
Inside the two-story home on the day of the wedding, the bride and bridesmaids were getting ready on the first floor, and the grandmothers of the bride and groom, used that time to get acquainted.  Meanwhile, up on the second floor, the groom and his groomsmen were doing whatever guys do, whenever they get together---watch a big screen television!  (Since I was not permitted upstairs, I do not have any photos of their activities!)
The bridesmaids and house party gals were able to relax, once they had their wedding attire on, complete with professional hair and makeup treatments.
It was a whirlwind of activity for the mom and dad of the bride, but I was able to snap a quick photo of them together, when they stopped by to chat with the grandmothers.
We were also able to chat with Kaitlyn, while she was still in her slippers, and before she put on her wedding gown.
The ceremony was very meaningful and touching, and the bride and groom were wired with microphones so that their vows were recorded on the wedding video.   Those spoken vows are forever recorded in the keepsake video prepared by Anointed Media (501-247-7804).  You can see more of their creative work by following them on Instagram. 

After the couple was united in marriage, it was time for the countless photos of the couple with various members of the family. The photo below shows the bride's side of the family.  The professional photographer was Courtney Garret, and her website is www.courtneygarrett.com

The professional photo below shows the groom's parents and sister, beside him.  The bride's parents and brother, are beside her. 
And of course, there were dozens of professional photos of the bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, and ring bearer.  However, the photo below is taken by an amateur---me!  It is a favorite of mine because it showcases how cute the flower girls and ring bearer (cousins of the bride) looked in their wedding party attire. 
Can you believe so many beautiful ladies and handsome men were able to all arrange their schedules so they could celebrate the marriage of Kaitlyn and Logan??!!
There was wonderful dance music inside the reception hall and lots of video to record their antics.  However, I joined up with some of my peers to enjoy a time of visiting outside, under the majestic oak trees.
There were ample seating areas in the back yard to accommodate those who could not keep up with the young whippersnappers on the dance floor!
After the couple had their last dance, it was time for their "send off", amidst sparklers and fireworks!

Even after dancing for hours and visiting with all their friends, the bridge and groom did not look the least bit tired!

The brunch hosted the next day by the bride's parents, was a time to reflect on the many blessings of this experience, and the bride's parents' back yard provided the perfect setting for doing that.


 The newlyweds were able to stop by, before they left for their honeymoon.  This provided the perfect opportunity to get a photo of my brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, who had all traveled from out of town, to be present for the wedding of their beautiful niece:

After the family photo, Kaitlyn and Logan changed into their "traveling clothes", to make the drive to the airport, before leaving for their honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico.

 I am ending this blog, with a photo of the wedding venue, along with the sign that says, "One Way".  It is a reminder to me that the devil likes nothing better than to destroy loving relationships.  However, Jesus tells us there is ONE WAY to live, and that is to love God and love one another.  Loving relationships can be destroyed when "bitter roots" are allowed to take hold.   So keep that "weed whacker" ready to get rid of any "bitter roots" that try to become entangled in our relationships. Doing so will give us "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia
 

ADDEMDUM:  The bride and groom had a special Bible set out at the entrance to their wedding venue, asking guests to highlight their favorite verse, and sign their name beside it.  I am hoping Kaitlyn and Logan will highlight Hebrews 12:15 after they read this blog post, and sign "Grandma Tricia" beside it!




Monday, August 2, 2021

FERRY TALE EXPEDITION!


Several years ago, I read there was a car ferry that transported folks across Lake Michigan, connecting the states of Wisconsin and Michigan.  Since it has been "on my radar" ever since then, to take that ferry trip, I was delighted to get the opportunity to tour the many tourist attractions of the Wisconsin town where the ferry docks, and get an in-person look at the vessel.  Once I checked the weather prediction to be assured no bad storms were on the horizon, I called the toll-free number (1-800-841-4243) to pay by credit card, and book passage for me (and my vehicle) on the ferry.  In preparation for boarding the ferry, I positioned myself at a comfortable spot along the shore, so I could see the Badger as it approached Manitowoc.  Even if I had not had my eyes fixed on the horizon for its approach, the deafening blast of its horns as it approached the wharf, would have alerted me to its presence!  My thoughts were, "Hallelujah!  My ship has come in!"
It is a tradition to get your photo taken with the badger statue, situated beside the ferry.  There was a bicyclist at the statue when I was there, and I offered to take his photo with the statue, in return for him taking my "iconic" photo pose with uplifted arms.  The statue is appropriate,  as a badger is the team mascot for the University of Wisconsin, and the ferry is named the S.S. Badger.  


That sidewalk you see passing through the lawn in front of the ferry, is a reminder to say one of the wonderful amenities of this area, is the paved, hiking/bicycling/walking trail (called Mariners Trail) that connects Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to Two Rivers, Wisconsin.  It is a beautiful way to explore the entire six-mile Lake Michigan shoreline that exists between the two communities.  The Mariners Trail winds through 50 beautiful flower gardens, beach access areas, and picnic areas.  You can get a glimpse of the abundant and fun activities/attractions in the Two Rivers/Manitowoc  area by visiting their website at www.manitowoc.info

The gray vapor you see coming out of the smokestack of the SS Badger is a good time to mention that it is the last coal-fired passenger vessel operating on the Great Lakes.  

Finding the entrance to the ferry boarding area is easy, as one just looks for this giant red/white fishing bobber along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Manitowoc.  The ferry boarding area is adjacent to the giant landmark. 

As I drove into the gated passenger boarding area, a crew member was there with a list that had my name on it, indicating I had paid the fee over the phone with my credit card, and was cleared for boarding.  They gave me this yellow card with my name on it, which they said to leave on the dash, along with my car key, and the driver window rolled down, as I said "Adios" to my vehicle.  


After I was out of my vehicle, this nice-looking young man got into it, and prepared to drive it onto the deck of the ferry that holds the vehicles.  This is a different procedure than what I have used on car ferries in Arkansas, Texas, and Alabama, where I drove the car myself onto the ferry.
I have jokingly mused that I have a condition called "V-SAD", which stands for "Vehicle Separation Anxiety Disorder", because it makes me uncomfortable to be without my vehicle!  So if any readers of this blog have similar feelings, be advised that once you get out of your car in Wisconsin, you will not be able to get back into it (or any of the items inside it!), until you have disembarked in Michigan, several hours later. 
Once you are out of your vehicle, you proceed to an area where your purse will be checked for things that passengers are not allowed to carry with them on board (such as weapons or alcohol).  Then at the designated time, passengers start walking onto the ferry, single file. 

The entry level deck of the ferry is for vehicles, so this means passengers must walk up steps, to get to the upper levels that are for people. 
 

At another checkpoint, this lady found each person's name on the passenger list, and clicked on their name to show they had boarded.  This device also had alerts to say if the passenger had indicated they needed mobility assistance.  There was another set of stairs, that had a chair lift, that could carry one handicapped person at a time, to the upper deck. 

Passengers who wanted to enjoy the outdoors, but be in partial shade, could opt for sitting along the side decks of the ferry.

Passengers who wanted full sun could stretch out on the comfortable lounge chairs along the upper deck.  Notice the beautiful blue sky, and the very flat blue water---those were both answers to prayers I had repeated frequently before my trip, because I get motion sickness, which is greatly aggravated by rough, choppy water!

Speaking of motion sickness, the blue, disposable buckets were located throughout the ship, for persons suddenly overtaken by the nausea/vomiting that some people experience on the water.  It is appropriate that a Gideon Bible is sitting next to it, because it can also be of help when a person is in "uncharted waters".  At the front of every Gideon Bible, there is a section that refers to which pages to read if you are sick, tired, scared, discouraged, lonely, etc.

Another remedy for motion sickness that some people find helpful are pressure point wrist bands, like the black one shown in this photo.  This is the wrist of the cruise director, who had the devices available at her reception area, that passengers could either buy or "rent" for the day.  When she saw I was trying to take a photograph of the wrist bands while they were still in their plastic container, she put it on as a demonstration of where they should be worn.  I did not use the wrist bands, as I had taken the over the counter medication, Meclazine, for motion sickness.  Thankfully, I did not have any issues related to this. 

While wondering around the ferry, I came across this small room, that looked like it might have once been living quarters for crew members, as it had a private toilet and sink, and was the location where the Gideon Bible was found.

I guess the reason I was so impressed by the fact there was a Gideon Bible on board, is because I once took a Carnival cruise into Mexico, and requested a Gideon Bible for my cabin   The maid told me they did not have any Bibles on board.  Furthermore, when I went to the Sunday morning chapel services, the priest who led the services said he did not have a Bible, and asked if anyone attending had one!!  This was before the days of Bible apps on phones, so it made me thankful I was part of a program called First Place 4 Health, ( www.FirstPlace4Health.com) that emphasizes Scripture memorization!


As you would expect, this big ship had a gift shop, full of toys, souvenirs, and nautical-themed gifts of every description imaginable.  Also, if you decided later you wanted a souvenir, you can order SS Badger items from their website at www.SSbadger.com

This is a photo of the museum that is a part of the ferry.  The television screen has a video running continuously that gives a history of the SS Badger, and details about its unique Skinner Unaflow steam engines.  This design enables the steam engine to provide efficiency that approaches that of a diesel engine.  (Apparently, this is a big deal, as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers designated the Badger's propulsion system as a mechanical engineering landmark.)  When chatting with the couple watching the video while I did, I learned that if you arrive at the ferry by motorcycle, you get to drive it yourself onto the ferry.  That is probably reassuring to both the owner of the motorcycle, as well as the crew members who are tasked with getting all the vehicles onto the ferry!


One of the activities passengers can enjoy to pass the time, is bingo, and that is what this group is doing in this photo.  Notice also, the silver post sticking up from the center of the floor.  Those are charging stations for your electronic devices, and I made use of it, while watching the bingo winners claim their prizes, such as SS Badger mugs, t-shirts, etc.  

Although there was not a "lifeboat drill" as one has on a big cruise ship, there was an announcement telling the location of life jackets throughout the ship.  Also, I checked out the life saver rings, and had my photo with one:

These clocks tell the story about some unusual features of the SS Badger.  When it leaves Manitowoc, Wisconsin, each day at 1 pm, May through October, it is on Central Time.  When it arrives in Ludington, Michigan, four hours later, it is on Eastern Time.   It travels a distance of about 60 miles, in about four hours.  Its top speed is about 24 miles per hour.  It is unusual, as it is a registered historical site in two states:  Michigan and Wisconsin.  Although I had a vehicle on the ferry, it is possible for someone to spend the entire day on the SS Badger, with no need for a vehicle.  They would board the vessel in Michigan in the morning, disembark in Wisconsin around noon, then get back on the boat at 1 pm, to return to their starting point in Michigan.  If you had this plan from the Wisconsin side, however, you would need to plan on spending the night in Michigan, before your return trip to Wisconsin the next morning.

Some of the amenities of the ferry were not in use, because of the COVID19 Pandemic.  The last three items on these signs were accessible for seating, but there was no movie, gaming, or organized toddler activities scheduled on the day of my passage.
 

In addition to being on the National Register of Historic Places, the National Park Service also designated the ship a National Historic Landmark.  The Badger is the only operating ferry of its kind in the world, and the ship is an icon of car ferry heritage on the Great Lakes. 
 

This photo taken on the upper deck, gives a good view of the area where the "brains" of the ship guide it on its course.

The ship has its own cafe, and if you know the meaning of the nautical flag alphabet, you can read the name of it, spelled out in flags, below the letters.  The date of "1953" written on the life saver ring, references the fact that the SS Badger has been in service on Lake Michigan since 1953. 
 

The motorcyclists were some of the first to leave the ferry when we arrived in Michigan, so I was able to hear the familiar roar of those Harley V-twin engines, as they continued on the land portion of their journey.
 

I snapped this photo from my car,  to prove that I had, indeed, made it safely across the lake to the state of Michigan!


This highway sign as you leave the ferry, is a reminder that you have been on U.S. Highway 10 your entire time on the ferry.  It is just that this particular segment of Highway 10 goes across the waters of Lake Michigan!
 

Once getting my bearings,  I headed for the lakeshore, so I could get a sunset photo before I went to my hotel.  I had put a photo on Facebook when I was on the Wisconsin side, stating that if I made it to Michigan, I would post a similar photo, on the Michigan side.  So, as I approached the perfect spot along the lakeshore, I noticed a young woman there, who was just gazing into the horizon, as her companion talked on his phone.  Since the girl  was not involved in his phone conversation at the time, I asked her if she would take my photo.  She said "yes", and that is the photo you see here with my hands uplifted in praise to God for a safe journey  .   Then I asked her if she would like a sunset photo of her and the guy.  He was off his phone call by now, and they posed for a photo together, where she had her left hand extended, showing off a big, beautiful diamond engagement ring.  As I handed her phone back to her, I complemented her on the ring, and she told me, her boyfriend had just asked her to marry him, minutes earlier, just before he got the phone call.  So I asked if they would like a photo "re-creating" the proposal, in front of the setting sun.  They said , "sure"!  So that is the very last photo of this blog.

My "ferry tale" expedition ended with a "fairy tale" photo, and gave me MILES OF SMILES!  Tricia