Just Barely

On Mackinac Island this morning, we woke to a beautiful blanket of white snow. It probably won't last, and it really is just barely enough, but the kids were thrilled to hop on with Papa for a quick ride to town. Keep your fingers crossed that we'll get more tonight...

Mackinac Moment

We woke to fog on Saturday morning. It made for a beautiful walk as we headed to town for the first boat off the island. My daughter chatted away happily as the two of us walked together, while my son and husband discussed their current set of audio books - the Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. They walked behind us so I couldn't hear their conversation - since I haven't read the books yet. It's killing my son not to reveal all he knows, but he's trying...

The Gales of November

Have you ever been up to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum on Whitefish Point? I've lived up here for 20 years now, and this fall was my first trip to the museum.

We took all of our elementary kids up there on a field trip recently and they all really loved it.  For many of them the bell from the Edmond Fitzgerald was the highlight of the trip. It was cool, but I thought the two-ton Fresnel lighthouse lens that floated on liquid mercury (for virtually friction-free rotation) was also pretty amazing.

 

We also got to visit this place, which happens to be right across the street from the museum. I can't wait to bring my two little ones back next spring during the raptor migration. An afternoon at the museum and an evening of owl banding sounds right up our alley...

More Fleecy Goodness

One day this past summer, I needed to stop at the fabric store. I try not to
drag,I mean take, my children into the fabric store because we all end up having a dreadful time. But on this particular day I was in desperate need of something and I wasn't going to be off the island again for a while, so we just had to stop. As we walked past the fleece to get to whatever it was that I needed, my daughter asked, "Will you make a me a kitty blanket? I love kitties."

I replied with a quick, "I don't know honey. Enough fleece to cover your whole bed would be expensive."

"But Mama, I only want a little blanket to snuggle with." And then she pointed to the big red sign and said, "I think it's on sale Mama. That 'S' word says sale, doesn't it?" How was I supposed to argue with that! So, of course, we left the store with 60 inches (a little more than two meters) of buttery soft kitty fleece to make a little square blanket for her to snuggle with. When we got home I rounded the corners with a dinner plate and used my serger to finish around the edges.

We also picked out some fabric to match my son's bedroom. I mean, come on - I would have been in big trouble if he hadn't gotten him a blanket as well. It's been so chilly in the house this fall, I've been glad we have them. Fleece is no nice and cozy to snuggle under, don't you think...

Fleecy Goodness

It's been so chilly here these past few days, I had to make myself some new fleece socks. I tend to live in my Birkenstocks when I am in the house, so warm socks are a must. My daughter is perfectly happy running around a 65 degree  house (about 18 degrees C) in just her undies, but my old feet just can't take it. Really, none of me can take it - I'm always wearing a fleece or sweater or something when I'm home.  I get cold just watching her...