Annie Lang's Blog!

There's nothing quite like an Autumn day out with the girls because you just never know what you'll discover until you get there!  This year, downtown Howell, Mi was our destination and we took the scenic route to treat ourselves to all the vibrant colors of the season.  Our first stop of the day was  Black Iron Coffee Roasters and we were greeted with the aroma of freshly brewed artisan coffee to start the day right.  There were plenty of tables to choose from and the coffee was nothing short of amazing and served up with style in hearty mugs!  I happened to choose their maple cappuccino which I highly recommend for a chilly autumn morning.  You can also purchase their coffee and gifts from their online website .    Unlike cookie cutter chain stores, there's something special about boutiques because they invite store browsers, tend to easily engage in friendly conversation and their staff members seem more than happy to answer questions and make helpful recommendations. 

Now that the days are growing shorter and the nights have turned cool, it's the perfect time of year to venture out to enjoy the summer flowers and sunshine before they fade away.  Applewood Estate was the ideal destination to casually enjoy the spectacular gardens and beautiful estate vistas this historic site offers to the public for free.   Applewood is a hidden gem located in the cultural district of Flint, Michigan and has been meticulously preserved and maintained by the Ruth Mott Foundation as a tribute to the legacy of Charles Stewart Mott and his many contributions to the Flint Community.  Applewood is the historic home of C.S. Mott and his family.  It is not a grandiose mansion, but rather a warm and welcoming country estate home with sprawling gardens, a greenhouse and interesting historic architectural features. Though it only takes a few hours to tour the gardens, it's time well spent as you leisurely tour the apple orchard, numerous flowering gardens, visitor'