Woot--another great meet up! I haven't met Ilana yet, but with Ann, Annie, Elery & Sherry I know that it was a spirited conversation with a great group! I wish I could have been there too because I know the delicious meal was peppered with laughter and fun! Love the surcies, especially salsa & beautiful embroidery!

Wish I could have joined you, it sounds like a perfect afternoon!

I love Greek food , and great gifts, too!

Linda

What a great group, I wish I could have been there.
Good food, fun gifts and nice people. Foodie get togethers are the best.

Nancy

Sounds like you had a great time! Nice that the fellas got to come along too.

And hats off to Ilana coming from Chicago!

What a great time! Love the finger claws. LOL.. as soon as I got a glimpse of that first pic I said..Annie's pics for sure. Heh.. the gyro is almost clear though and the pic of that gorgeous embroidered towel is quite clear. So much so I wondered if someone else took it. You guys all gave great gifts and I'm sure each appreciated them all. Thanks for sharing.

Nah, I took 'em all. Once in a while I slip up and take a clear one!

Linda, I wish you could have been along too. I would have sworn you took the pictures and they were blurry because you were drinking. (grin)

Annie

Sounds like big time fun. How about some blurry pictures of people?? I've got to make it to Michigan. This morning on Today, some place there was named the most beautiful spot in the US -- something like Clan of the Cave Bear State Park. HMmm, that doesn't sound right!

LOL, Pam, that would be Sleeping Bear Dunes. Ann was just very near there, it's up on the Leelanau Peninsula, just North and West of Traverse City. It's vineyards and little fishing towns and the State Park.

Sadly, erosion and nature are taking their course and in another 30 or 40 years, the "bear" will be gone. The Native American legend of the bear is that a mother bear and two cubs were fleeing a great famine in Wisconsin and were swimming across The Lake. The two cubs drowned and the Mama Bear was so sad that the Great Spirit turned both cubs into islands (North and South Manitou Island) and Mama into the giant sand dune, so that she could watch over them forever.

Come to Michigan, I'll show you "the Bear". There's about a 400 foot dune to climb, and you can slide/roll/jump down into The Lake, if you are young and agile (and foolish) enough.

And yes, I believe it very well may be the most beautiful place in the United States. Come soon, before all the tourists do....

Annie

Another great forum get-together. That's what makes this place special!

It was a wonderful time. Although I had met Sherry and Annie, I had not met Ilana and Ann. What wonderful people. We talked for about 3 hours and could have talked another 3. However, I'm not sure Steve and Elery would agree with that.

The gifts were really great. There is something special about getting a gift from someone you have so much in common with (cooking)!

Annie, Sherry, Ilana, Ann, thanks for the gifts and the great time!! I hope we can get togther again.

Pam, Michigan is a beautiful State. The Great Lakes, the orchards, the vineyards, the wineries, the farms, and the many recreational lakes. It's covered with green, blue and many other colors as the season's change. I feel very lucky to live here. Come and see us!

Karen

Foolish, yes, young and agile, no.

I had so much fun too. It was a pleasure to meet Ann and Karen and we all got along so well.

Ann and I caught up with our guys at the AirZoo and spent another hour and a half talking.

Here's one of the boys in the AirZoo shop (where they did a science experiment with coins)

Zeke is on the left, Max is on the right

{{gwi:1557601}}

Anooooothththther picture, Mom?

Shoot, I hit submit then reread the post and realized I accidentally deleted my thank you to everyone for the gifts.

Annie, I had to hide the cookies in the freezer or there would be none left. The salsa is in the fridge, yummmmm!

The garlic went into dinner last night and it is so wonderful to have fresh, fresh garlic. Jam on toast this morning...oh, my, Annie if you do recreate the recipe please share. Great choices, Karen!

Ann, the pepper you gave me is so, so good. I looked at it and thought..flowers? But they add such an interesting note. Loved it on my strawberry salad last night.

Hubbies, chatting and a great time... priceless!!

It was well worth the long hours in the car never mind what my daughter thinks. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Hello, MI (and IL) friends!
We're just now at the airport, on our way back home. It's been a crazy busy but wonderful trip. We've munched through much of our edible gifts (saved a couple of molasses cookies for the plane ride). Karen, Ilana, wonderful to meet you! Annie, Sherry, as always a pleasure to see you both.

I'll post some pictures when we get back home.
And for all of you thinking about a trip to MI... The state is beautiful (especially Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Leelanau Peninsula) but the CF friends there are the best reason to visit. It's always so great to go "home." See you next summer?

Ann

Ann, you know I'll be here. You just let me know when yu come to Michigan and I'll be sure to make it happen!

In the meantime, Elery is making noises about visiting his grandsons in California next spring, so you never know...

Ilana, it was really nice to see you again, and meet your DH. Elery really enjoys talking to Steve and I don't get to see Karen and Sherry nearly enough, although we live in the same state.

ame back to work the next dzy my secretary asked me where we went, she says we go to the "coolest foodie places ever" and she has made a list of the ones she wants to go to now. Maybe I should get her to join the forum...

Annie