By Staff
We are entering the last phase of summer – Labor Day seems to be the grand hurrah.
The dog days are past, the relaxed pace of summer is gone.
And once again, we moan, "Where did summer go?"
Still, there is a lot of porch sitting left if we take the time, and comfortable temperatures will stay around for a while longer.
And of course, weekends still lend leisurely moments and opportunities to get out and about.
A couple of weeks ago I took time away from the office on a Monday, and Naomi and I motored over to Three Oaks to visit the Featherbone Factory.
We've merely passed through that small town on our way to Chicago and never really paused to look around.
Three Oaks, like Dowagiac, has been renovating the downtown area. It was interesting to see some very nice results.
As I've mentioned, our destination was the Featherbone Factory featured in the South Bend Tribune a few weeks ago.
While we were specifically looking to purchase some items for our garden, we also discovered a well-stocked display of boutique items and antiques.
Featherbone was all that the article purported and more.
And, yes, we bought several items for our garden – stepping-stones and miniature frogs.
There was so much to see in the shops that we will definitely make more trips there in the future. By the way, the owner's father, upon learning that we were from Dowagiac, complimented our city for our own renovations.
Lunch was a delightful experience, as well. We ate at Bailey's – an eclectic type of place named after the owner's dog.
The dog (Golden Lab and Chow), by the way, has been to the restaurant only once.
Cheery yellow walls surround booths and tables dressed in maroon tablecloths with crossed white butcher paper for placemats. Mismatched chairs are arranged at the tables.
The staff was friendly and very efficient; the service was slow. But then, we wanted good food, not fast food. Actually, the food was very good to excellent in my book. I had (big surprise!) the meatloaf sandwich that was so large that it "done lapped" well beyond the bread (baguette) and had to be eaten with knife and fork.
Before our sandwiches were served, we enjoyed homemade lemon pepper soup with slices of summer squash – a novel and delightfully new taste for us.
The drive home was uncomfortable because of the heavy lunch – but momentary discomfort was a small price to pay for delicious food.
Another very nice eating experience is enjoyed when we're at our cottage and drive into the town of Hart for brunch at Brooklyn Bagels.
The small eatery is designed to reflect small New York City restaurants with black and red dcor and exposed silver heating ducts. The bagels are huge!
I never knew there was such a large variety of bagels or that so much can be sandwiched between the halves. If anyone is interested in partnering with me on a franchise, let me know!
I'm writing this not on my porch, but at the soccer field, waiting for my granddaughter to finish practice. I'm hungry-can't you tell? I must stop thinking about food!
The field is full of parents, coaches and players.There is a happy clamor in the air.
All of this reminds me that I'm now in "fall mode," even though we still have a couple of weeks left in summer.
School is in session, schedules have become less relaxed and our attention is focused on routine and a multitude of responsibilities. This is as it should be.
Still, I savor the smells and tastes of summer, knowing that that season will return, even before we know it. I will be sure to make the most of it when it comes 'round again.