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.  

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?

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.

Mackinac Island Moments Podcast

Our local Fire Chief, President of the School Board, and life-long Island resident Jason St. Onge recently started hosting a podcast called Mackinac Island Moments. He asked me if I would be willing to come on and talk about the school.  When people find out I'm from Mackinac they always have questions about the school, so how could I say no.

If you're curious about the Mackinac Island Public School, pop on over and listen. (The episode is about 30 minutes long.) If you still have questions, leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer them.  

 

Happy Birthday Quilted Turtle

Today is The Quilted Turtle's sweet sixteen! It doesn't seem like I've been blogging that long, but my very first post was on February 10, 2008. (And yes, I still have that table runner.) During those 16 years I've written 1,276 posts about just about everything, but mostly Mackinac Island life.

By far my most popular post is Homemade Superhero, in which I shared the pattern I created to make my daughter a cape for Superhero-Princess Day at school. Someone saved it on Pinterest and its now been downloaded thousands of times. 

I've received the most questions regarding my post about my daughter's Captain Underpants costume. I still get emails with questions asking for a more in depth explanation about how I created it.

Most of my posts don't attract much attention, but it makes me happy to journal about my life, so I'll continue. I've actually started getting my blog printed in yearly editions. Just in case Google ever decides to discontinue Blogger, I'll still have a copy. I hope, when my kids are older, they will enjoy leafing though the pages, and remembering long forgotten snippets of their days on Mackinac.

Finish it February: Stained Glass

This February I've been trying to get projects finished. Sometimes they get put off to the side and they sit for a while. Sometimes life gets in the way, other times you get bored. This project got shut down by the Covid 19 lockdown. I was part way through a class when the mandate came down so it sat. And without the class and the instructor, I didn't get back to it. I tried to finish it last winter, but clearly I didn't quite make that deadline. This year I tried again.

My only issue was, I had left it out in the shop so long, one of the kids at school cracked a piece of the glass. Luckily a windshield repair kit did a really nice job and I didn't have to take it apart to replace the piece. (I still notice the crack, but the textured glass makes it hard to see if you're not looking for it.) In the last week I've managed to get it finished, cemented, polished, and hung.

I don't know if I will ever become a serious stained glass artist, but I'm really happy with how it looks in my sewing room window.

One project down, 2,437 more to go...

Finish it February: Basement Clean Out

My husband has been gone this week. (He had some "use it or lose it" vacation time so he decided to spend some time visiting his mom.) I decided it was a perfect time to make some headway on the "Hell Hole" also known as our basement. While I didn't finish the entire basement, I did finish a section of it, so I'm calling that a win. I managed to get seven bags of junk and garbage bagged up for trash day. That's on top of the almost 20 boxes I packed up to donate to the thrift shop. It feels so good to have all that crap out of the basement, though it's going to feel even better after the trash dray picks it up today!

Odd

It's been an odd week. We generally don't get fog in the wintertime, but Mackinac Island has been blanketed in fog since Monday. I miss the old days when the foghorn ran whenever it was foggy. Now, ships have to key their radio on a certain frequency to turn it on, so we hear it much less frequently. No foghorn today, but we did get to hear three or four freighters sound their horns as they passed by.

I May Have a Problem

I see Mackinac Island everywhere.

I've seen it on the dray, on on the street, 

and now I'm seeing it in my dinner.

What would Freud say?

Do I have a problem?

Yum Yum

 

Store made pizza in January may not be a big deal to you, but to those of us living on Mackinac Island this winter, it's a huge deal! Being able to get hot, fresh, not-made-at-home pizza in January is a real treat! Island Slice has never stayed open in the winter, but I'm guessing they decided to this year due to the numerous building projects going on. We'll see what they decide to do if / when the boats quit running, but until then my daughter and I are going to get pizza once a week just because we can.

Sitched

 Every year I try to have my students sew an ornament as a gift for their family. This year they made mini-quilts. And I have to say, they did an amazing job. 

Believe it or not, pictured above is this year's fourth, fifth, and sixth grade class (minus one who left a day early for vacation.) So yes, the entire fourth - sixth grade is nine students (five fourth graders, two fifth graders, and two sixth graders.) Teaching three grades worth of material is a challenge, but at our little school sometimes our numbers force us to get creative. Luckily all nine of them are delightful and make me smile every day!

LOL

This little green bike cart caught my eye as we were heading to the boat to leave for Christmas Break. I have no idea who it belongs to, but it made me laugh out loud. It's totally something I would do.

You may also notice the complete lack of snow in this picture. Yes, it is almost the end of December and Mackinac Island doesn't have a lick of snow. Sigh...

She's Back

My students were thrilled when Camilla the Christmas Chicken returned this year. She loves spending time at school - especially when my students read to her.

Home

This week my son came home from college for his winter break. Even though she'll never admit it, I think his sister is happy to have him home. At least today...

Bazaar Donations

The Mackinac Island Christmas Bazaar is an annual fundraiser held the first weekend in December. All the money raised at the Bazaar is used to support local organizations such as the Mackinac Island Community Foundation. Since the Community Foundation is a huge supports of the school, the kids and I do our best to support them. 

This year the second - sixth graders folded trees out of tattered books destined for the compost pile. After folding, painting, and decorating, the trees were ready to be put up for sale. Their little forest may have only raised $100 for our community, but the lesson in donating your time to support causes you believe in was priceless.

Hooray

 Let the 2023 Christmas cookie baking begin!

(All of those cookie molds were thrifted for $3.00 or less.)

Only on Mackinac

My friend, Travis, took this picture this afternoon. It's how he got his Christmas tree home from Island's tree lot...

Yes, you can buy a Christmas Tree on Mackinac Island. 4-H brings them over and sells them to fund their programming.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from Mackinac! Just look at that plate. My husband, Allen, planned and cooked everything you see on that plate; all from scratch.  (I am so thankful for his skill and willingness to cook.) All I had to do was make the hors d'oeuvres and the pies for deserts.

When I asked the kids what hors d'oeuvres they might like, I got one answer: bologna pies!

They scream 1950's Tupperware Party, but they've been a family staple since my grandmother's day. Both my kids love them so I had to honor their request. I've searched online for a recipe to share, but I can't find one. These literally are just bologna and a cream cheese spread made with onion and garlic juice. 

Hand-Me-Downs

You have no idea how much joy this picture brings me. This is one of my second grade students and the shirt she's wearing originally belonged to a girl named BD. (BD is currently in her last year of nursing school.) BD grew out of it and handed that shirt down to my daughter K, when K was about five. (K is currently a senior in high school.) K wore it until it no longer fit and then we handed the shirt down to AK. AK wore it and then passed it on to two sisters - both with the initials LP. They enjoyed the shirt until they handed it down to its current owner - my second grade student pictured above. 

Six girls have played and learned in that same shirt; and when it no longer fits its current owner, I'm sure it will move on to another little Island girl. I love that the Mackinac Island community works that way. 

Student photo used with permission.

At Peace

When you live on Mackinac Island, you have to make peace with the rain. We spend a lot of time outside, so in the fall and spring that often includes rainy days. Don't worry - we all have gear to get through these unpleasant days. In fact, unless it is below freezing, my raingear is always with me; you never know when you're going to need it. And I'd rather carry it with me than bike home, in the rain, without it.

So this morning, rather than being frustrated about having to take K to the mainland for a doctor's appointment in a torrential downpour, I tried to focus on gratitude. What was I thankful for? The Cat was running! That meant our ferry trip across would only take 20 minutes instead of the 45 minute trip I was mentally prepared for. What a lovely surprise on an otherwise dreary morning.

For my walk home (still raining) I chose the less traveled path through the woods. Mackinac did not disappoint. Even on a gray rainy afternoon, Mackinac Island is gorgeous. It's hard not to be grateful to be alive when you get to walk home through this.