Those were the good old days

The day after the 4th, Wendell took us to a great used bookstore in downtown Detroit - 7 floors of old books - Nirvana! We reined ourselves in and only bought five or six - could have stayed there all day. On the way out, they have free books and Adam found a Life magazine from the 1940's for free. I remember paying a hefty sum for one when I was directing "Cover of Life" which took place during WWII.

We then met Laura and Lynda at Greenfield Village which is a wonderful collection of old houses and businesses which are restored in a beautiful setting. Here you can see Laura and Adam with the old water wheel behind.

What a lovely setting

There are artisans demonstrating crafts such as glass blowing -

Jeff and Wendell watch glass blowing

We watched them make a gorgeous paperweight. Here you can see the oven which is kept at 2000 degrees to keep the glass pliable.

2000 Degrees!

All around the village are costumed characters who are doing the kinds of things people might have done in that particular time period. Here, a game of croquet was being played.

Those were the good old days

People passed in period vehicles (which you can also ride in) and even a penny farthing bicycle came by

Penny farthing bicycle

This was so called because the relationship of the wheels was the same as a penny and a farthing.

There was a great animated clock which I tried to get a video clip of, but I always just missed the time

Always just missed it

We enjoyed lunch at a reconstructed old tavern which serves the same kind of food as they served in the 1700's. Salt was served in a bowl, and pepper (due to the high cost), had to be asked for. Here we all are with our server

Lunch for all at the Old Tavern

Adam and Laura had considered having their wedding at Greenfield Village at one point and this would have been the church for the ceremony

This church almost had the wedding

A lovely garden is out in front of the church with a motif of hearts

Garden in front of the church

This plaque had poetry around the edge.

Plaque

Everyone but Wendell got their picture taken here in front of the church, but of course, Wendell was taking the picture.

Everyone but Wendell

Although the majority of the homes and buildings are American, there was a gorgeous Cotwolds cottage where one could have tea in the garden.

Cotswolds cottage

Surrounding the cottage was the typical riotous English country garden

An English country garden

Wendell took our picture in the garden

Like a ruddy painting

and we took a picture of Laura and Adam out front. Adam joked that he just needed to come up with a SOLD sign to put in front of the cottage and he and Laura could move in.

All it needs is a SOLD sign

Some of the actual building from Edison's laboratories at Menlo Park have been set up at Greenfield

Edison at work

We even saw the Wright Brother's orignal cycle shop with many of the artifacts surrounding their famous flight.

Wright Brothers Cycle shop

We have to return to Greenfield Village as we ran out of time before we could see all the sights. It is well worth a trip.

Later I got this picture of Adam and Philip - Laura's brother playing Wii in the library.

Wii with Adam and Philip

Jul 5, 2008

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