Walking

While I was walking to town the other day I noticed something in the road. Don't see it? Here, let me zoom in...

See it now? It is a Eastern garter snake - a common snake on Mackinac Island. This little guy was completely unafraid of me. I kept walking closer and closer, until I was almost on top of him.

He just sat there, proud as can be, for a long time. Once he finally realized I was there, his head popped up in surprise and he slithered away.

Wait, What?

Did you know Meijer stores in Michigan sell Sex? Yup - Sparkling Sex no less. I snapped this picture and immediately thought, "Dad is going to think that's hilarious." And then, I remembered... 

Which was actually kind of a good thing because it meant that I hadn't been thinking about my dad at that exact moment, which is a step in the right direction. That first week or so, he was on my mind, literally, all the time. I'm not on the verge of tears all day anymore - another  step in the right direction. 

I know absolutely nothing about wine (I call my friend Michelle with all my wine questions) but apparently Sex is made by a winery in Suttons Bay, Michigan (near Traverse City.) It is described as "a fruit forward rosé with light red berry aromas and a balanced finish." Sex can be yours for $17.00 a bottle. The question is, is it good sex? I may just have to buy a bottle and find out.

The Potato Olympics

We needed a fun yet academic way to wrap up this school year and the Potato Olympics fit the bill perfectly. Potato Olympics you ask? Why yes!

First, the kindergarten through sixth grade students selected a potato and transformed it into an athlete. Next, each potato got a backstory and important measurements were taken.

The fifth and sixth graders spent time discovering what the term "an average potato" meant as they analyzed the length, girth and mass of all 20 potatoes. They investigated mean, median, mode, range and created line plots as they looked at the data.

Finally, it was time to coach the potato athletes to greatness! We held multiple events including:

the balance beam, 

bowling, 

the high jump,

and weightlifting.

The potatoes also competed in downhill skiing, the long jump and a relay race.

We all had an absolute hoot with these activities! While the athletes were taking a break the kids even got to play Potato Potato French Fry (Duck Duck Goose) and Hot Potato. Mrs. Lisk has decided we need to end every year this way; next year she wants a baked potato bar for hot lunch on the last day of school to celebrate the gold medal winning potatoes. Sounds like a good idea to me! (Just as long as we celebrate them, by not eating them. Those potatoes were a little worse for wear after all of those events.)

A Lilac a Day - Day Ten

 

I was worried when the lilacs opened this year. It seemed early to me and I was worried they'd be gone before the Lilac Festival. Thankfully, they timed their opening perfectly and have been lovely all week.

A Lilac a Day - Day Nine

 I love these pink lilacs. They always open just a little later than the other lilacs in my neighborhood.

A Lilac a Day - Day Eight

Dewy lilacs on my walk to school.

A Lilac a Day - Day Seven

Every day the smell on Mackinac is getting better and better. Enough lilacs have blossomed now that every time you walk past a lilac tree, the smell seems to follow you for a while.

A Lilac a Day - Day Six

Today was the first day of our last week of school. For the first time, in a very long time, I am looking forward to the end of the school year. I just need a break; from everything - no organizing, no planning, no prepping. Just me, my chickens and my garden...

A Lilac a Day - Day Five

I love this picture. It's like I can almost smell them, and there is something about those tiny yellow centers. I don't usually notice them.

A Lilac a Day - Day Four

My dad's been gone a week now. I know it is going to take time to grieve, but I miss him. He always read my blog, so today I am trying to find joy here...

A Lilac a Day - Day Three

I noticed these white lilacs just starting to open near Grand Hotel's bike parking lot. 

A Lilac a Day - Day Two

Since the lilacs are just starting to open, you can't really smell them yet.

A Lilac a Day - Day One

One of the ways I am trying to be OK is to find joy in little things. Lilacs are one of those little things that make me smile.