Monday, March 11, 2024

Carhartt Army


This time of year, the first boat and the last boat often look like this - filled with workers. Many of them commute daily, so when the boats run all winter, as they did this year, it works out well for business who have construction projects.

Do you know what we call these hard-working folks?  The Carhartt Army. (Before hip-hop artists started wearing it and Carhartt became cool, the brand was well-know for its warmth and durability. It remains very popular with tradespeople who work outdoors.)

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Today


I took this picture today on my walk to the bank. Scenes like this are common on Mackinac in the spring - snowmobiles parked when there was snow, that now need to be driven on dry pavement to get them home. It's a typical scene at the end of March or early April but not typically in early March. I'll tell you, this has been the weirdest winter. 

And yes, when this happens we have little choice other than to ride the snowmobile home, scraping pavement all the way. Although we'd squirt dish soap on the slides, since without snow there's nothing to lubricate them as the track moves. (Slides are pieces of plastic that prevent the track from rubbing on metal as it moves. If the slides get too hot, they'll melt. The skis also have protectors called "wear rods." They are positioned at the bottom of the ski so they wear instead of the ski material.)

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Hello


Today was rehearsal number one for Mackinac Island Community Theater's newest production: Hello Dolly. After all the fun I had participating in Little Shop of Horrors, I tried out again. This year I requested a part without lines because I just didn't feel I had the time to memorize them, so I'm in the chorus. 


The weather today was perfect for a walk to MICT's new rehearsal space at Mission Point Resort.

Friday, March 1, 2024

Glorious


Today was a glorious day - calm, quiet, and sunny; a perfect start to a new month. And even though it's only March first, it really feels more like mid-April. The winter of 2024 has certainly been an odd one weather wise, that's for sure, but Mackinac looks beautiful in almost any weather.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Finish it February: Table Runner


I finally managed to finish  this Easter table runner, and in the nick of time, too. I say finally because I bought this fabric in 2008 at the same time I bought the fabric for this and this. It was one of those things I just never seemed to get around to, you know. There were always other projects calling for my attention, so the fabric just sat. And sat...

I actually packed up a couple of boxes of fabric to donate to the thrift shop when I was cleaning out the basement. I decided that since I hadn't gotten to any of those projects (in a very long time) it was time to bless someone else with the fabric. My hope is someone else can put it to use, because it wasn't doing anyone any good collecting dust in my basement.

Good thing I finished it this year, as 2024 may be the last year I will have a kid at home for an Easter dinner!

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Finish it February: Thread

As I've sewn this month, I've tried to finish off spools of thread leftover from other projects. I didn't manage to use all of them, but I did make a dent in the thread collection.

Friday, February 23, 2024

Finish it February: Princess Leia's Accessories


A friend and I have been working on costumes for  a Comic Con we plan to attend this spring / summer. I'm going to dress up as Princess Leia in her Rebel uniform from Return of the Jedi. My friend has a resin 3D printer, so he's been making the "hard" bits while I've been working on some of the "soft" bits. He printed Leia's blaster (NOT a real gun pictured below) but I needed to make her holster. Not something I ever imagined myself sewing, truth be told. Luckily I had the little one on the right to use for reference since I couldn't find a free holster pattern anywhere on line.

I also made a strap for her coms unit, 


and a pouch for her belt. It's significantly larger than the screen accurate version; I made this one big enough to hold my phone and a small wallet. If I was looking to join the Rebel Legion the inaccurate size would be an issue, but since this is just for fun it won't be a problem. The Rebel Legion folks take Star Wars costuming very seriously!

 

I'm not sure which Comic Con we'll make it to, but getting everything together has been a lot fun.  

Monday, February 19, 2024

Street Pizza


I popped into Doud's the other day to pick up a few things and was greeted by these happy folks; just standing there, on the corner, enjoying some delicious Doud's pizza. I have absolutely no idea who they are*, but they were pleasant as could be.

* Many people assume that everyone on Mackinac Island knows everyone else, but that isn't always the case; especially this winter. This year lots of projects are happening around the Island, so there are many new faces staying for the winter.  While it is true that long-term year-round Island residents know virtually all of the other long-term year-round Island residents, that doesn't mean we know every single person who decides to stay the winter.  

Friday, February 16, 2024

2024 School Valentines


Our school celebrates Valentine's Day and the kids really enjoy it - even my fifth and sixth graders like making and passing out cards. MIPS is so small that many of the students bring in cards for every student (and teacher) in kindergarten through sixth grade. This year I opted to 3D print flexible dinosaurs to give to my students, and the kids LOVED them! Of course I made a card to share, too. Cheesy, I know, but what is Valentine's Day without a few goofy cards?

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

My Funny Valentine


Out of the mouths of babes...

But, truth be told, there are occasional days where "tolerating the B.S." is what parenting teenagers is all about. Luckily those days are few and far between.