Road construction on M-52 begins today

In case you haven't yet seen the bright orange signs or the striped barriers, road construction on a small section of M-52 / Main St. in downtown Chelsea begins today (June 30).

The portion of the road that is closed is between Middle St. and the railroad crossing. If you're not familiar with the street names, this is the area right before the Clock Tower. Traffic is re-routed to the side streets to the east side of Main.

What to Do When Your Mom Discovers Your Blog

While perusing the Blogger help files, I found this feature article: What to Do When Your Mom Discovers Your Blog.

Am I just pointing out the obvious when I suggest:

Don't put any incriminating information in your blog and then you don't have to worry about it.

Yes, I have done (and perhaps will do) plenty of things in my life I would prefer not to share with my mother. And I can safely guess that my mother has things that she would rather not share with her mother. It's the way of the world.

People, this is the Internet. I design websites for a living and I know what do to promote a site, and the security measures to take to hide or protect files on a website. Neither practice is fool-proof. The Internet is public domain, the search engines are optimized every day by hundreds of people to find your site, and there are curious and unscrupulous people who do the same. My advice? Don't put anything on your website that you wouldn't want your mom to see.

Still have an urge to blog your life? Use a pseudonym, don't mention anything specific about your family, your town, your employer. Oh, and don't bad mouth people who might take it upon themselves to divulge your secret identity.

You have the right to remain silent
Remember anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law... or by your mother.

(see also: How Not To Get Fired Because of Your Blog)

Celebrating the 4th of July - Find Fireworks Displays

If you're looking for fireworks displays in Michigan, check out this link to MichiganFireworks.com

The big event in southeastern Michigan is of course the International Freedom Festival, which will be held tonight (Wed. 6/27). This event features a huge fireworks over the Detroit River, which celebrates the U.S.'s Fourth of July (Detroit, Michigan) and Canada's Canada Day (Windsor, Ontario).

My family enjoys the fireworks display a little closer to home. We take the short scenic drive from Chelsea to Manchester, Michigan to see the fireworks at Carr Park. We went last year, and despite the rain, we had a very nice and relaxing time. Here are the details:

Manchester Fireworks Display
Tuesday July 03, 2007 at dusk
Carr Park
600 W. Main St.
Manchester, MI
Admission: Donations appreciated
Phone: (734) 428-8572
http://www.manchestermensclub.com/

Another favorite near Chelsea is the fireworks display at Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter.

Hudson Mills Metropark
Tuesday July 03, 2007 10:00PM
Admission: Vehicle entry permit
Music from 7pm - 11pm
Phone: (734) 426-8211

Leslie's insider tips for fireworks outings:

• Get there early and bring what you need to be comfortable walking and sitting for quite some time.
  
• Bring bug spray
• Go to the Dollar Store and buy the kids some glow sticks. You can buy them at the event, but they are pretty pricey.
• Bring a plastic grocery bag to put trash in.
• If you arrive early enough to get a good spot, there will be quite a bit of waiting til dark. Bring a book, magazine or playing cards.
  
• Use the potty BEFORE you need to. The lines get crazy.
• Bring a flashlight. It's hard to find all your stuff when it gets dark!
• Pack light. Remember you have to carry everything back to the car when you're tired and it's crowded.
• Don't bother looking for a parking spot close to the display. Look for a parking spot that will allow you easy access OUT.

Have fun!

The last t-ball game of the season

With mixed emotions, my son is playing his last game of t-ball this evening. He is sad that t-ball is over, but happy that coach (aka Daddy) is buying ice cream at Twisters after the game.

This six-week team sport is for ages 3-4, and is run through Chelsea Recreation. They do a great job over there at Chelsea Rec, and I am continually impressed with how smoothly that place is run.

This is the third year my husband has coached t-ball, so he is one of the veterans by now. When asked what it is like coaching 3 and 4 year olds, he explains, "It's a lot like herding cats." To bring someone like him with decades of experience playing and coaching ball, into a team of preschoolers and game rules like "no outs, no score, and everyone hits" is somewhat amusing, to say the least.

My favorite moments? When the kid on second base thinks he's playing the outfield, and goes to chase the ball instead of running to third. I think I'm going to miss t-ball, too.

Things To Do In Chelsea when it's HOT

We are expecting a high of 92 or so today. When I dropped off my kids at their respective camp activities this morning, it was already hot and muggy.

So far this summer, it has stayed somewhere between comfortable and tolerable in our 100+ year old home without central air. After living here for 7 years I've gotten 'the system' down to a science. The system involves knowing when to have windows open, which fans to turn on, which blinds need to be shut at certain times of the day. etc.

But during the day, rather than being cooped up in our dark and comfortable house, it's nice to go out and DO something. Here are some ideas of things to do in Chelsea when it's HOT:

• Ice skating at the Arctic Coliseum in Chelsea. Need I say more?
  
• Open Swim at Beach Middle School - for the most part, I am a big fan of OUTDOOR swimming, but with very young kids or old wimps (like me), sometimes it's even too hot for that. Call (734) 433-2260 for pool information.
• Hang out at the library. I am just thrilled with Chelsea's new library. It is beautiful, well equipped and just really a nice place to hang out. Not to mention all the events and activities that go on there nearly every day.
• Ice cream! Lots of options: Scooples or Zou Zou's in downtown Chelsea, or Twisters by Pierce Park are the big faves.

Another favorite activity of mine for hot days is to go to the movies. Me and the kids just might go see Shrek 3 this week, come to think of it!

In the meantime, I'm off to make some iced tea before it's time to pick the kids up from camp.

See also: Places to Go In Chelsea, MI

Become a Part of Chelsea's Heritage

As part of Chelsea's Key Ingredients exhibition at the McKune Memorial Library, the community is being asked to submit favorite recipes for a heritage cookbook. Submit your recipes by July 1, using this form (PDF link). They would love it if you share a bit about the recipe, whether it has a significant meaning to your family, or how you came across it. The project is being organized by the Friends of Library.

This is the kind of community project that literally goes down in history. I can imagine in 80 years, some young family moves into one of Chelsea's historic homes like mine. They are curious about the home's history, and go to the library to do some reserach. Somehow or another, they come across this Heritage Cookbook from 2007, and get a kick out of all these "old fashioned" recipes from local residents in the 'olden days'. It makes me laugh to think about it, because I have been touched and amused to read commemorative books, such as "Chelsea's First 150 Years: 1834-1984," while researching the history of Chelsea.

Both my husband and I love to cook, so we will be submitting recipes for posterity. I think mine will be either "Nana's Baked Beans" or "Leslie's Banana Bread" (recipes and stories to follow....)

• To learn more, visit the McKune Memorial Library website. Don't forget.... the deadline is July 1!

• Also see: Family Recipes Have Fascinating History (Chelsea Standard, 6/21/07)

The 'no moms allowed' camping weekend

This weekend, my husband and the kids are enjoying their second annual 'Dads & Kids' camping trip. They left Friday afternoon and headed up to Pinckney Recreation Area to meet up with good friends who are very generously sharing their pop-up camper. There will be three dads and 5 or so kids -- no moms allowed. I suppose they will spend the days eating hot dogs and potato chips, playing in the sand, and doing whatever Dads and kids do together that makes moms worry. Worry? You mean about sunburn, mosquito bites, allergic reactions to who-knows-what, ticks, kids being homesick, getting cold, getting hot, not drinking enough water...? Nah... not me.

I must confess that I do not really know where Bruin Lake is, and that I have never even been to Waterloo Recreation Area. That's not really my thing. However, I can direct you to all the good stores and coffee shops, locations of the local art galleries, and who can deliver dinner. While I do miss my family, I am quite content staying home.

The kids are probably better than fine with their perfectly capable Daddy, but since when has that stopped a mom and (ahem) control-freak from worrying? Our buddy who owns the pop-up camper is practically a professional camping expert, and was telling us how easy it is to set up the camper once you get the hang of it. He bragged that he could get it parked and completely set up in 20 minutes. His wife, who is my friend and kindred spirit, bragged that when she goes away for a weekend, in 20 minutes she can have the valet bring up her luggage, open the mini bar and have room service ordered. So, she and I spent our Friday evening together with good wine and good food.

Needless to say, the 'Dads & Kids' weekend is good for the moms, too.

Thoughts on Blogging

When I started this blog, people began asking, "What is a blog?" "How to do I start one?" "Will anyone read it?" If blogging appeals to you, I think the best thing you can do is start reading blogs. Pinpoint what you like, don't like, what inspires you, and find your own voice.

Every once in a while I find a great blog that inspires me to make mine better, and I always add it to my daily RSS Feeds. Other times I stumble on a blog that is so awful that I shake my head in dismay. This happened to me recently, and I won't go bad mouthing others, but it got me thinking, "What makes a bad blog?" In my opinion, there are 3 characteristics that make a bad blog

A bad blog....

1. ... is poorly written. What constitutes bad writing is subject to opinion, but it's too bad when a blog with interesting content is unreadable because it is missing punctuation and is full of misspelled words. There are stylistic reasons to ignore conventional rules, of course. But I don't think some people realize that sloppy errors detract from their message.
   
2. .... is not updated regularly. Whether "regularly" means every day or twice a month, your readers need to know what to expect. There is nothing worse than finding a blog article you like, and returning to the site day after day, just to find that it is still the same. It doesn't take long for your readers to give up and move on.
3. ... does not have purpose. Probably the most important characteristic of a good blog is the content. Who are you talking to? Why should they care? My cousin started a blog related to her recently diagnosed medical condition. She throws in personal tidbits, but the main purpose is to share her story and connect with people who have similar ailments who might otherwise feel very isolated. Her blog may not appeal to the masses, but it definitely has a purpose. The worst reason to have a blog is because "everyone else is doing it" or because someone told you that you should.
   

Things To Blog In Chelsea?
My blog? Sometimes it seems that I am just talking to myself (hey, at least someone will listen!), and other times I am proud to be providing a personal perspective of Chelsea that friends, neighbors and visitors can relate to. My goal for all my Chelsea projects is to inspire people to get out there and participate in keeping our great little town going and growing.

Questions?
As always, feel free to post a comment or contact me if you want to learn more.

It's baaaaack! Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights

Bored? Not a chance, if you're in Chelsea this summer. This week we are looking forward to the kick off for Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights. The weekly mini-festival on the sidewalks of downtown Chelsea started a mere 2 years ago, but it feels like it's been a summertime tradition for ages. The event features live music from talented local musicians, street performers such as magicians and jugglers, face painting, horse-drawn carriage rides, special events at the shops downtown, and a mini-art fair to boot.

Not just once, but weekly!
Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights is held from 6:30 until 8:30, every Thursday evening from June 21 til August 30.

Now, don't be silly and mark this on your calendar for just one of the upcoming Thursdays. You'll want to mark this as a standing appointment on Thursday evenings from now til the end of August. Why? Even on a hot day, the weather after 6:30 p.m. is pleasant, and it's just a really nice way to unwind at the end of a day. Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights is a fun, low-key event that is both entertaining and relaxing.

Leslie's Insider Tips:

• Plan ahead if you're having dinner downtown. If you have the great idea to eat at one of the downtown Chelsea restaurants to start off your evening, just know that you're not the only one who thought of it! Expect to get there early, or plan some flexibility in your schedule.
  
• Where to eat? One of my favorites is Cleary's Pub, where you can grab a beer and a great meal. I also love the food at Mike's Deli and Zou Zou's. Don't forget about Scooples, either. In addition to being an ice cream parlor, they also have a tasty sandwiches and specialty hot dogs. The Common Grill is of course always a good choice, and it tends to be a little less busy on Thursdays than on weekends. The Chamber of Commerce website lists the contact info and location of many restaurants in Chelsea.
  
• Bringing the kids? One fun idea is to take them to the TreeHouse in the late afternoon to play and have an early dinner. Their new expanded menu has something for everyone. Admission is $6 for the kids and you can come as go as you please on the same day. When the sidewalk entertainment starts at 6:30, you'll be all parked, fed and ready to go check it out.
• Where to park? There are many free parking lots in Chelsea. The ones at the top of my mind include the parking lots behind the Common Grill, behind Cleary's, next to Heydlauff's, the Clock Tower complex parking, behind the library and many options for free street side parking as well.
  
• One last thing about Sounds & Sights .... Did I mention that it's FREE?

Is it Thursday yet? :)

P.S. If you're familiar with Chelsea, you know where all these places I'm talking about are located. If you're coming from out of town, feel to email me for specifics. There is also a street map of Chelsea on the Chelsea Festivals website.

Happy Father's Day!

To all you guys out there who are called Dad, Daddy, Father, Grandpa, Pop, Gramps, Grandfather, and the rest, I wish you a very relaxing ... or fun!... day.

I am very blessed to have one of the best Dads in the world, to be married to one of the best dads in the world, and that I personally know many of the rest of the best. Happy Father's Day!

Hometown spirit at the big race on Sunday

While getting my oil changed yesterday at Victory Lane in Chelsea, the guys proudly told me that they'll be "working the pit at the MIS this weekend". Having no idea what they were talking about, I smiled and nodded and said, "Oh really?"

A few minutes later, after my brain had deciphered this information, I was duly impressed. Then I had to chuckle to myself, realizing that my old minivan was getting worked on by the same professionals who'd be the pit crew for Mark Martin (#6) at the Michigan International Speedway on Sunday.

I am pretty much clueless when it comes to sports. Ask me, "Are you watching the game tonight?" Whether it's the Super Bowl, a Red Wings or Tigers game, the finals of something or other, inevitably my answer will be "What game?" So you might surprised to learn that I've actually been to a NASCAR race at the Michigan International Speedway. Admittedly, I didn't know what I was getting into when one of my perky friends said, "Hey! I got free tickets to the MIS this weekend, let's go!" Honestly, it wasn't until we were almost there that I clued in and asked, "Are we going to a car race?" My friend nearly peed her pants laughing at me. But once we were there, I had a lot of fun. The enthusiastic fans and high-strung excitement that goes on at a huge event like this is really infectious!

So, I wish our Victory Lane guys good luck at the race. Me and my 4-year old son may indeed look for you on TNT this Sunday afternoon.

To learn more:

• Michigan International Speedway (MIS)
• Upcoming NASCAR events on TNT
• NASCAR.com

Taxes are going up again

I don't usually like to see Chelsea get a big headline in the Ann Arbor News. More often than not, it's not good. There is plenty of good stuff happening in Chelsea, but perhaps it's just not all that interesting to the rest of the region. (I wonder if the Timber Town renovation reaches the A2 News?)

So, this morning I get on the computer to read my local news feeds, and see "Chelsea raises millage rate for 2nd year in a row". The full article is not yet available, but there are some details printed.

Our taxes certainly help pay for very important needs and services, but with so many folks in the community getting hit hard by the Pfizer closing, the auto industry "re-structuring" and the rest, it's difficult to feel that much more strain on our household budgets.

I'll post links to the full articles when they are printed.

Timber Town... Better, Stronger, Safer!

Yay! It's all done! The new and improved Timber Town Park in Chelsea, Michigan celebrated it's 10th anniversary with a Grand Re-Opening Celebration this evening. After months and months of work by tons of volunteers and sponsors, the park is once again open to visitors.

This park was pretty cool before, but now it is awesome! You just don't see play structures like this anymore. It is over 12,000 square feet, with slides, ladders, tunnels, bridges, towers and more. There are swings, and monkey bars, a sandbox, balance beams. There is a ship and train depot, a wooden police car, and a firetruck that actually sprays water. There is also a volley ball court, a nice pavilion and plenty of green space for frisbee playing or whatever your family enjoys. And, of course it is all newly renovated and ready for tons of playtime.

Be sure to check it out this summer! You'll probably see me and my kids there. :)

• Learn More About Timber Town


• See more photos of Timber Town. Most of these photos were taken by my friend Sara and the rest were taken by me.

The Timber Town Restoration Finale

This is the big restoration weekend for Chelsea's much beloved play park and climbing structure, Timber Town. Timber Town was built 10 years ago by the Chelsea community, and once again the Chelsea community is working together at the park to make it make it better, stronger, and safer.

Remember that excessively rainy weekend at the end of May? That was the first big work day at the park. Community members skilled in woodworking, construction, remodeling and other related fields came together to replace hardware, build new structure pieces, fix broken boards, etc. Those brave volunteers faced the POURING down rain to make the equipment structurally sound and safe. I felt vaguely guilty, and very proud of my husband Mike and my friend Bryan, who *I* had volunteered for the job. (Sorry, guys! But thanks!) Their hard work prepared the structure for the next phase of the project, which includes sanding, sealing, weeding, lots and lots of mulch, and more.

Saturday morning, feeling unsure of myself and very unskilled, drove to TimberTown to see what I could do to help. I found LOTS to do, and it was fun to help. I spent a few hours sanding railings and pulling weeds. Had to leave in the early afternoon to take my daughter to a birthday party, and wished I could have stayed longer. I actually had fun! (Why isn't pulling weeds in my own yard any fun?)

Be sure to visit TimberTown for their grand re-opening celebration starting at 5:00 on Sunday, 6/10. If you come early enough, you may be asked to pitch in and help. :-)

For directions and to learn more, visit the Timber Town Feature page on the Things To Do In Chelsea website.

Last Day of School!

Today was the last day of school for students in Chelsea. Congratulations to the class of 2007! (who actually got out of school a couple of weeks early)

My first grader actually cried at the end of the school day today. I tried reassuring her that we would have playdates with her friends, and that we have a really fun summer to look forward to. But she just cried harder and sobbed that it was her teacher she would miss the most! We have been very blessed to have wonderful teachers for the past three years, and we are crossing our fingers that the trend continues for the next decade or so in the Chelsea School District.

This summer should be a fun one for us. We don't have any big travel plans, and are just really looking forward to hanging out and having fun local fieldtrips and playdates with friends.

Of course, just like many others in Chelsea, I actually use my own Things To Do In Chelsea website to plan our family activities. There certainly *is* a lot to do around here!

U of M Survival Flight News

Yesterday afternoon, a University of Michigan medical transport plane crashed into Lake Michigan. There were no survivors. This is a heartbreaking loss for all of us in the Ann Arbor areas, and my deepest condolences go out to the families of victims.

Get the news and updates straight from the University Michigan Health System's website:

University of Michigan Survival Flight News Updates

There is a letter from the president, links to news articles, forums to send your condolences and much more information.

Why is the flag at half mast?

I go past the U.S. Post Office in Chelsea nearly every day. When the flag is at half mast, I often wonder for whom we are paying our respects. Today, I found on the Michigan.gov website a resource to answer that very question. It is a web page from Governor Granholm's Office called Flag Honors, where you can read the governor's proclamations of when, why and how long to lower the flag.

Today, the flag has been lowered to honor Army Private First Class Casey P. Zylman of Coleman, Michigan, who died on May 25, 2007 in Iraq.

It's very sobering to see the long list of Michigan residents who have lost their lives in the name of duty just this year so far. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to their family and loved ones.

Link: Why the flag is at half mast in Michigan - from Michigan.gov Office of the Governor's website

Eating local food... ONLY local food?

What would it be like if we ate food that came from Michigan? ONLY food that is from Michigan? I found the blog of a woman in Monroe, who is taking on this very challenge. [links below]

It is an interesting thought, especially in the midst of the Smithsonian's "Key Ingredients" exhibition at the Chelsea District Library. So I got to thinking, What would I do if I couldn't buy the various boxed and canned goods on my grocery list? And, what would I do if I didn't have access to a big grocery store?

I would venture to guess it would be a healthier way of eating. How would the cost compare? What would be some easy choices? What would be the difficulties?

There are some things me and my family are already doing in this regard to support our local communities:

• Purchase eggs and seasonal produce from the farmer's markets and farm stands (not always, but often in the spring/summer).
  
• Grow vegetables in our own garden. Just got 12 tomato plants from Merkel Gardens, as a matter of fact!
  
• Buy Guernsey milk, which is from a dairy in Northville.
  
• In addition, we almost always dine out in Chelsea, rather than drive out of town.

And some changes we could make:

• Buy meat from the Chelsea Market instead of grocery store. It is much higher quality, and therefore a bit more expensive. But eating less of it would be both a frugal and healthy choice. (The Chelsea Market is located on the corner of Main and Park St. in Chelsea.)
  
• Choose locally made bread. Mill Pond Bakery just opened up this spring at at 1534 Sugarloaf Lake Rd, just off Waterloo Rd. I bought some bread from them last week, and it was awesome. Comparable to Zingerman's, but less of a drive for us.
  
• Take note of products made in Michigan, and choose them whenever possible. For example, choose Jiffy products instead of Pilsbury. The Chelsea Milling Company is a major supporter of the Chelsea community. Pilsbury has likely never heard of us.

I will definitely give this more thought! Stay tuned...

Links of interest:

• The Directory of Michigan Made Products
• Michigan Farmer's Market Association - list of markets in region 7 (that's SE Michigan)
• Local Harvest - their slogan is "real food, real farmers, real community" and has some nifty tools to help you find where to buy locally grown foods
• Absolute Michigan / Food & Dining
• And last but not least, the blog that inspired this post The Place Where We Live, written by a Monroe, Michigan resident who is challenging herself to only choose locally produced food