Good Times

I am so lucky for the small moments when I get spend time one-on-one with my children. As we rode home this afternoon through the misty rain, my daughter told me all about Five Nights at Freddy's and why it was much too scary for her to even consider playing. Oh yes, and she asked about the mating habits of earthworms. 

Sometimes I have to wonder how she manages to breathe between all the chatter. Right now I'm trying to soak up every minute of it because I know, someday soon, she won't choose to ride home with mom any more... 

'Tis the Season

This time of the year, if you are coming to the island on the first boat or leaving on the last boat, you're bound to see lots of carts like these.

You'll also see numerous plumbers, electricians and carpenters either gearing up for or winding down after a long day of hard work; getting the numerous island businesses up and running doesn't happen over night...

Happy Birthday

Unbeknownst to me, my children set an alarm and got up at 4:30 this morning - just to make me breakfast for my birthday. Awwwwwwwwww, so sweet...

Unfortunately, they burned the toast which set off the smoke detectors at about 4:50. After things quieted down, my heart rate returned to normal and a new batch of bread was toasted, I sat down and enjoyed my delicious breakfast.

Proud Moment

This is the first year the Mackinac Island Public School has had a robotics team. And wouldn't you know it that the very first year the team competed they earned a spot in the National Competition! Yesterday, before we'd even asked, donations started pouring into school. Before noon today, local folks and businesses had pledged $7000.00 to send the team to St. Louis. I am so impressed with how our community has rallied around these kids. 

Just another reason I'm proud to call Mackinac Island home!

Missing March

April arrived the other day and it hit me that I hadn't posted here once during the month of March...

March was a busy month for us.

We dissected deer and pig hearts,

spent the night at school for a "camp out,"

and got pranked by Allen for April Fool's Day. (S, of course, had to make sure his father knew exactly how he felt about the toothpaste filled Oreos.) 

We also drove down state to pick up a few of  our favorite summer friends. Last summer "The Girls" arrived in mid-June, but this year we thought the weather was nice enough that they could arrive a bit early for their summer "vacation" from the farm.

Not my best plan because I am currently working diligently to make sure the water in their unheated coop doesn't freeze as the nighttime temperatures dip into the mid-teens. They stay nice and toasty snuggled in their down parkas, but water doesn't stay liquid for long at 18 degrees Fahrenheit (about -8 degrees C.) 

More on my no cost solution to that problem another time...