Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Memories of my neighbor & friend, Anne Kulikowski




Anne Kulikowski, who lived in our old neighborhood on Lawnel Avenue, passed away on Sunday, June 21st.

I remember watching for her to come outside to sit in her lawn chair in the garage and would go across the street to sit with her and chat about the neighborhood. You knew summer had come when you saw her out on her chair.

She still had her accent from back home in Ireland, which I loved to hear.

She used to have a huge garden in her back yard and bring us raspberries which were so delicious.

But, the one thing I really remember about her, is the time she taught me how to make cabbage rolls. They were so delicious!

When I was a kid, I used to play with her granddaughters, Alexia, Alissa, and Aleah. We would play in the basement and dance to polka music. The one song we liked was 'Hey Baba Reba...Amy Chewin' bubble gum.'

In the summer, she would make us kool aid popsicles on a stick. Those were so tasty, too.

She also took us on the bus around town. It would pick you up on the corner of Lawnel and Leon Street. We would go to the old downtown mall, but would have to switch buses on Peck Street.

Anne used to enjoy watching Maggie sit on the chair looking outside the living room window.

When we attended St. Francis, we would look for her in the pew. She would always be holding her rosary beads and reciting the rosary.

A few years ago, Anne and I went down to St. Mary's cemetery where she showed me where her husband, Tony, was buried, as well as the baby section where her infant daughter, Christine was buried.

I am going to miss Mrs. Kulikowski. She was a wonderful neighbor and friend to us for many years.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Taste of Muskegon 2009









Sue & I volunteered in the ticket booth on Saturday from 11-2. That was the perfect time to work, as the crowds started out light and the weather was not blasting hot.
I enjoyed working at it and would do it again.

The County of Muskegon is celebrating its 150th year as an established county, so in recognition of this, the head Chef of the Baker College Culinary arts department, created a cake in the shape of Muskegon County. He had various landmarks around the county on there, all edible. The County commissioners were there too.

They served cake to the first 2,000 people. Sue and I also got a piece of the County cake. I got the piece with the Michigan's Adventure wooden roller coaster ride. It was made out of spaghetti with chocolate.

Cole's bakery made a 150 inch garlic bread which was to be the World's Record. So, hopefully, we will see it in the Guiness Book of World records. That would be pretty cool.

Michigan's Adventure - June 13, 2009







Kim, Alex, Nathan, and Alex's friend, Adam invited me to Michigan's Adventure for the day. The weather predicted rain, but luckily, it was sunny all day. We enjoyed the ride, Mad Mouse, as well as the water park. I got sunburned pretty bad on my arms. We had lunch at Coasters and pizza for dinner. It was great to hang out with my family for the day. They are always so much fun!

They stayed at our house over night. The boys enjoyed playing my Xbox 360. Maggie enjoyed having all kinds of people to play with. At night, though, she hid under the bed. I think she wasn't used to all of the hoopla in the house. lol

Sunday, we drove around Muskegon and went down to Pere Marquette. The water was 53 degrees. That was cold!

We had lunch at the MAC which was tasty. I love mac n' cheese. The boys were tired by then. Overall, the weekend was alot of fun.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

June 13-14, 2009: Michigan's Adventure with Kim & the boys

It was so nice to see Kim and the boys.  I enjoy the Gonyo family. They have always been so great to me.     We had a good time at the Michigan’s Adventure. They have the rides on one part and the other part is a water  park.       I got really sunburned, though.   My arms look like a lobster and painful.    So, I will be staying out of the sun for long periods of time as I am fair skinned.     I was surprised that Alex is scared to death of rides that have any kind of hill or a lot of motion.   He wouldn’t go on the roller coasters so he would wait for us to go.  Nathan doesn’t seem afraid of them.    Alex also brought his best friend, too.  His name is Adam and he seems pretty smart.   
We got ice cream at Marble Slab creamery last night before coming to our apartment.     They spent the night here which was nice.  The boys wanted to play my video game system so I had a heck of a time trying to find the games for it.   I found a car racing game so they seemed to enjoy that.    They also enjoyed playing with Maggie. I  don’t think Maggie is used to all of the hoopla so she would hide under my bed.     Alex and his friend slept in my room and Nathan and Kim slept out on the air mattress in the living room and me and my mom slept in her room.    Maggie went under my bed and we couldn’t get her out last night, so had to wait until she did.    She did sleep with Kim for a bit, but Maggie moves around so much, that Kim brought her to our room.  Maggie enjoyed having company.  She loves people.

Today, we all went down to Pere Marquette and walked on the beach and went down to the water. The water temperature was about 53 degrees so it was quite cold.    We didn’t go swimming but the boys played in the sand.  

Then, we went around downtown Muskegon and had lunch at one of our newer restaurants called the M.A.C. (the old Muskegon Athletic Club). They are known for their different kinds of mac and cheeses.  It is all gourmet. It was pretty good.    Then, we went by grandma's old house on Manz and along Henry Street back to our apartment.   It was sure nice to see them all.  I hope they can come more often.

We took a nap after they left and then Melanie Morse came over with her 6 yr old and 3 month old girls.    This is Jim Morse’s family  (Ron Morse’s son that is my age).   They stayed until around 10 p.m. We had a nice visit.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Pere Marquette

Today was just a lazy day for me which was nice, as I was busy all day yesterday.

Later on, we went down to the Beechwood Park and walked the bike/walk path that goes behind the water filtration plant and around to Pere Marquette. It is about 1.8 miles. It was a very enjoyable walk. Listening to the waves crash was soothing to hear, too.

We are truly lucky to have this beach. I think when I move, I will want to live not far from a lake, as I have grown up by one.