Field Trip

On Friday the 4th, 5th and 6th graders got a chance to tour the Icebreaker Mackinaw. It was really interesting. It's one of those local attractions that most of the island kids (including mine) had never visited before. I think the ship looks pretty much like it did when the Coast Guard was using it; it almost looks like they just walked away and left everything behind. There were manuals on the shelves and equipment in the cupboards.

The kids got to tour the ship, a ham radio and navigation demonstration, as well as a question and answer session with a gentleman who served aboard the vessel in the 1970s. (He was the coolest part of the tour for me.) After we disembarked we headed over to our favorite lunch buffet: BC Pizza!

 

The kids stuffed themselves with pizza, bread sticks, and cinnamon sticks and then it was off to the Jack Pine Lumberjack Show.

 

The jokes are corny and I'm quite certain the guys decide who will win each event before the show begins, but they kids loved it. And the lumberjacks really climb the poles, chop logs, and carve with chain saws - which the kids thought was really cool. But I think the kids' favorite part was the autograph session after the show.  Each lumberjack had a big marker and was willing to sign big chunks of - scrap wood for the kids. 

 

 

Plus, we found out they're going to have log rolling classes for kids this simmer. My son is really interested, so I think you may just find us by that pond on Tuesday and Thursday mornings this summer. I'm hoping to stay dry...

 

It's Not Everyday a Wizard Turns Eleven

Since my daughter was turning eleven we just had to celebrate Harry Potter style. After we turned the dining room into the Great Hall with spell books, owls, and snakes,

my husband made the cake, The Monster Book of Monsters, out of homemade modeling chocolate. (Yeah, he's that awesome!)

The best thing about this party was I was able to borrow or inexpensively make almost everything. (Kind of handy that we had March is Harry Potter Month at school a couple of years ago. Oh yeah, and that I'm a hoarder.)

My favorite part, was the "bewitched" candles (translate that to: suspended from clear Command adhesive hooks with fishing line.) I made them out of toilet paper tubes, hot glue, white spray paint and cheap battery powered tea lights. They looked really cool.

It still hasn't hit me that she's eleven. When did that happen???

Content

The art of being happy lies in the

power of extracting happiness from

common things.

 

Henry Ward Beecher

Cathartic

Sometimes when I'm frustrated, angry, disappointed  or have just had a long day, the simple act of pausing in the garden helps me let go and find peace. I'm not sure how I got lucky enough to have these beautiful wild flowers pop up in my garden, but I am very thankful for these beautiful trillium.

Changes

Things are changing in our neighborhood. Mackinac is experiencing a  housing crisis, so the Island school is building a duplex to house teachers. 

I may be a wee bit biased, but I'm excited at the prospect of new neighbors!

Breakfast

This morning I dusted off my grandmother's crepe pans, and with help of this recipe made a darn good breakfast. Every time I make them I remember why it was such a special treat when Grandma Mary made them for us...