Weekend away

There are some distinct advantages of being renters, and being new in town - few if any household chores, and no social commitments. Add furlough Friday to a long weekend, and it is the perfect reason to head out of town and begin to explore our new home state.
We started off a bit slow, some minor car trouble, but once all systems were go, we headed West. Our first stop, the capital. Lansing. The tour of the renovated Capitol building was amazing, the splendor and grandeur rivaling European castles in opulence. The optical illusions on the ground floor, the paintings, the architecture... no wonder it is a National Historic Landmark.

The guide book also told us all the pertinent facts abut the state:
State stone - Petoskey,
State Gem - Chlorastrolite
State Fossil - mastodon

Since the Supreme Court was not in session, we could enter the chamber

Optical illusion design on the ground floor

The hinge to the doors that open the Chambers for the State Senate Floor