Posts tagged ‘northern Michigan’
spring break
It’s spring break in northern Michigan. We took the weekend to have a mini “up north” getaway with some good friends. We weren’t basking in the sun with a cabana boy bringing us fruity beverages, but it was nice to get away. It was particularly refreshing to be away from ye ole Internet too so I’m going to extend that a bit this week. Happy spring, lovelies!
scenes from the nest: snow day!
We finally got some real snow here in northern Michigan. The “blizzard of 2012″ seems to have moved on east and now the sun’s revealed a twinkly blanket of white. A virtual snow globe! Or is it the other way around and a snow globe is a virtual snow storm? Hmmm. Anyway, just a few chilly pics for you today. We’re off to sip some hot cocoa and “fix” some more puzzles. What’s happening in your nest today?
Return to Sand Mountain
I’m not really a nostalgic person; I don’t usually try to relive great moments; I also don’t really enjoy sitting around and chatting about the “good ole days.” But when Chris suggested heading out to the Dune Climb, aka Sand Mountain, I jumped at it. But it wasn’t really because we had such a great time there earlier this fall. It was because it seemed daunting to take our whole family of four (!) out there and I knew it would do all our spirits (and lungs) good to GET OUT. And we did it! And had a great time. Every time I get out with both girls and get home safely without any complete meltdowns or disasters, I feel like I won the lottery. Maybe not a big, retire-now-and-travel-the-world lottery, but a decent one. Yes!
Happily cool and rainy
Wet, cool fall has decided to officially arrive in northern Michigan after making a brief appearance then quickly running away for the blazing hills for about two weeks. It’s actually quite a relief because I don’t have the guilt of not playing in the backyard when I’ve got a mountain of indoor projects that I’d like to tackle. Funny how that works, isn’t it? After a trip to the grocery store and long enough at our local children’s museum, we’re settled back in our nest while the rain coats the windows outside. It feels good. Looks like this weekend will be chilly and rainy too and I’m looking forward to lots of indoor (nesting) projects like figuring out what I want to do with this surprise bounty of October tomatoes. I’m starting with about six pints of salsa and then moving on to tomato jam if I have some tomatoes left. Any other ideas, lovelies?
What fun things do you have planned for your weekend? Are you looking forward to a lazy weekend in your nest? I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Bundling up in northern Michigan…
a visit to sand mountain
So apparently we live a hop, skip and a jump from America’s “most beautiful place,” according to Good Morning America. That’s right, the Sleeping Bear Dunes are just a short drive away, but it’s a funny thing when you live somewhere that people plan a trip across the country (or world) to experience and it’s right in your backyard. Daily life gets in the way of playing tourist and you don’t make time for these magical places. It’s not that we take it for granted, well maybe we do, but often we just don’t take the time to get in the car to explore when we can walk down to West Bay and play in the surf and sand. So we decided to take the little birdie to climb the “sand mountain,” or more officially known as The Dune Climb. She had a blast! Well, of course she did, because really now, who wouldn’t? It’s 150 feet of sand, sand, sand. Blue skies, crisp air, Mama and Papa all to herself, running and jumping. Bliss. First thing Wren said when she woke up the next morning was, “Mama, I want to go back to sand mountain again today.” Yeah, me too.
It made us thankful for where we are able to live and for this precious time just the three of us have left together before another little birdie joins our nest. Next fall we’ll have a baby crawling around with sand-filled thigh rolls. Oh my! Life sure is crazy.
Happy Fall! Click on.
This photo was taken at our wedding – it’s been seven years this weekend, yahoo!
Happy fall, lovelies! My favorite season is officially here. Welcome pumpkins & bittersweet, apple cider & cozy scarves, curried squash soup & jeans, wool socks & beautiful leaves. I’m fond of sharing with people that I think summer is really a bit boring with its predictable and hot palette of blue, green and brown. Fall is so dynamic in northern Michigan with its sweeping storms, ever-changing clouds and wild colors. Green turning to orange, yellow, red. And pops of aubergine! It’s odd to be so full of vigor and yet death and dying at the same time, no?
As Zane wrote the other day, we’re also now entering my birthing season (!) so welcome to you too, little birdie #2. We look so forward to meeting you. And soon! Today marks 35 weeks. Where has the time gone?
Do you have plans this weekend to nest, harvest, pick a bushel or two of apples, watch a football game or plant some hope-filled bulbs? If you have a few minutes while you’re cuddling up inside with a mug of hot cocoa, click around here.
- It’s officially here and not a second too soon. Northern Michigan’s premier yarn shop now has an online store. Gasp!
- So yeah, I have a new blog crush. I LOVE her home. In fact, I’m inspired to paint all our walls white now…
- Did you see the feature on our bike commute to Wren’s school? Happy little birdie, happy Mama.
- Not from northern Michigan, but want to have a taste of it? Check out Traverse Gourmet. Yum.
- It’s Pflaumenkuchen and roasted tomato soup season. A couple good ones from ye ole archives.
Enjoy your first fall weekend! XO
the summer list
Welcome, summer! We’re happy you’re here. So here goes, my lazy summer list 2011. Won’t you please join me, lovelies?
- eat outside more than inside
- make pizza on the grill
- make a yummy vegetarian/vegan bbq dinner that anyone would like
- learn to appreciate (beat? ignore?) the heat. Got ideas? Gin doesn’t count.
- get work done early in the morning before the little birdie wakes up and the fun (err, mayhem) begins
- enjoy my annual corn dog at the Cherry Festival
- can and/or pickle something from our garden. Note: yesterday, I made this amazing rhubarb & rosemary jam with our rosemary so that kind of counts, but since it was before the official beginning of summer, we’ll have to try something else…
- pick strawberries and blueberries to put up (freeze, jam, bake?)
- become a regular at the beach. Bag packed in the front closet, ready to go!
- say bye-bye to the little birdie’s diapers. This process has begun, but I’m thinking it will be easier in the summer?
- wean the little birdie. This could generate several posts so we’ll just leave it at that right now…
- enjoy the growing baby bump and the last few months with just the one little birdie: happy/sad, sniff sniff, smiles.
- eat a huge, fresh sandwich from the Village Cheese Shanty in Leland
- take Wren to the Northwest Michigan Fair. “Goin’ to the fair, goin’ to the fair, goin’ to the Northwest Michigan Fair!”
- stay up late to be awed by the Perseid meteor showers in August
- dance with the little birdie at the Cedar Polka Fest. She is going to LOVE it!
- take in a few films at the Traverse City Film Festival
- read a book. A whole book! Any recommendations for something beachy and easy, but not trite?
- Say “no” to too many more commitments. It’s tough to do, but it’s no fun to be over-scheduled in the summer, right?
Happy longest day of the year, lovelies! Any fun pagan rituals planned for tonight? Since I get up a bit after 5, I’m not much fun after 9 at night, but I’m going to try to stay up late to enjoy the longest day. Because as Chris likes to remind me, it’s all downhill from here to a long, dark winter…
Do you have a lazy summer list to share too, lovelies? Please send me a link and happy summer to you.
{this moment} first beach day 2011
{this moment} inspired by Soule Mama. A moment to pause, savor and remember.
Earlier this week, we couldn’t take the mid-90s anymore and we headed to the beach for an evening swim. First beach day of 2011, woot woot! Hard to believe it even happened because–I kid you not–I am in wool, jeans and a scarf today. It dropped 45 degrees in about twelve hours after that steamy evening. Northern Michigan, you don’t fail to keep me on my toes.
Have a wonderful weekend, lovelies!
