We love House Salad with Olive Garden's signature Italian dressing♪

Olive Garden ITALIAN KITCHEN is an American chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine.

Family Style Dining... However, it is something for many of us (including Collie & Rose).

We often go to Olive Garden to eat House Salad, served with their signature Italian dressing. Its freshly sour taste mixed together with vegetables is the reason that makes us come back again. 

And freshly-baked Breadsticks. I can't resist the garlic butter scent that warm breads give off when I hold one piece in my mouth.

Salad and bread are so great that I could eat only these two with beer or wine without a main dish....if it is OK at the restaurant. Probably not..

So, I ordered a simple meal (almost a kind of appetizer) for myself.  Spinach-Artichoke Dip, a blend of spinach, artichokes and five cheeses served warm with house-made pasta chips.

Draft Bud light is mine♪     Collie, seated facing me, ordered -

Shrimp Scampi, I think. Creamy pasta tossed with sautéed shrimps and bell peppers... It seems that he customized the menu..?  :3  Looks good, though.

Like a vegetarian who can eat dairy products. Anyway, it must go with wine, too.

Collie's shrimp was great, too. ^^（←got Collie's food again...)

There are free refills for the House Salad.  It really tastes amazing! 

Would you like to go to Olive Garden?  I'd like to go!  I DO miss House Salad and Breadsticks.

Childlike innocence☆ Christmas Trees in Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, Michigan

Just as many people in Michigan do, I think Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is a fun place to go. It is an enclosed shopping mall, located in a region of Auburn Hills, a northern suburb of metro Detroit, Michigan, United States.

When you enter the building, you must feel as if you were at the amusement park, or the festival. Yes, it is an "excited" feeling. 

Looking at Collie who stands in black from a distance, I will come over the wall to explore.

Christmas Trees! 

Possibly it might be a pleasant surprise for you to know how Christmas Trees were displayed in the mall where you haven't been to. It is not large-scale, but something you find attractive. You smile with childlike excitement...

Collie let me stand in front of one tree to take a picture with his smartphone. I was still working in Japan on Christmas Day, but I was happy to see Christmas decorations here in the United States. In Japan, Christmas trees are put away after December 25th. 

Christmas spirit doesn't end on Christmas Day!   It exists all year round...! 

I really want you to experience SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium at least once.  It's pretty♪

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets has over 25 stores and restaurants that welcome you genially.

And it recalls childlike innocence.                        

Love and happiness,  Rose

a cozy stay-in date during day time

I was trying to find him, but he tapped me on my shoulder when I was looking at another direction. Collie is good at finding me. From Detroit Airport, we directly drove to his place. We just bought some food at Kroger he often goes to. Both were tired from work. "We can sleep in tomorrow!"

Saturday (late^^) morning...⭐︎ Some coffees and marshmallows from Japan, and protein bars and cookies I found at Kroger! Happy❤︎ I am eating each one a little at a time with coffee♪ 

This is a big hit!!! I liked it and brought 2 packs for myself later to bring back to Japan. Do you know Effie's corncakes!? Since sugar is moderated, you can eat it like a cracker topped with food you like, also, it is delicious as it is! 

Flowers Collie prepared for me. It is cute as ever. Sweet of you, Collie...❤︎❤︎

I asked him to take a selfie of us, - Rose holding those flowers + Collie -, and today, I'm thinking about sending the photos to him. How he will react, I wonder? 

We bought chicken and some vegetables yesterday at Kroger. I added all kind of vegetables into soup at home. I wanted to cook white cream soup on this visit.  All right, Collie liked it! (^o^)/

The grass is covered slightly with snow... Though it is cold, it is not very cold for Michigan winter. 

Relaxing afternoon on Saturday.  It was just 4 months ago. 

Leaving Tokyo to Michigan at the end of the year 2018

It must have been a bad timing... Collie was not in a good condition. Rather worse, in a bad mood. "But I will put back in a good mood until you come.", he said in the mail.

(- -)

There was a big chance to visit Michigan during New Year's holiday because I could be away from work for 10 days. I suddenly book a flight to Michigan. It was almost impulsive.

I know he is busy. New Year's holiday is not long in U.S.A. I planed to study at the dining table of his house while he was out at work. Still, I can see him when he is at home.

I stopped by WELCOME CAFE at COREDO Nihonbashi after work. I wanted to eat a strawberry sponge cake with rich fresh cream as a Christmas cake for myself.

Non-fluffy dough I love and it shows the cake is honest home-made. Lightly sweetened whipped cream is deliciously smooth on the cake.

I had a good time with my brother and his girlfriend at the Italian restaurant on Christmas Eve.

Quiet time at the cafe alone on Christmas Day is not bad. It's unusual for me to order tea. ww (That is because I enjoyed wine the day before.)

A cake of WELCOME CAFE is gentle to the body. It wonderfully went with Earl Gray tea.

As my father, who used to work at IHI talked about V2500 engines passionately before my flight, I took a picture of the inflight magazine.

On December 28th, I was in the Delta airplane going to Detroit. I can fly immediately once I put my mind to it.

I won't bother his time. So I didn't make any plans nor asked him to drive me to anywhere. I will just spend time at his house.

Because of my sudden trip, he had to cancel and reschedule his detailed examination at the hospital. I have a license, but I rarely drive. I am useless... (- -。

I am sorry.  I just wanted to see him.  If there was Collie, it was all right.