Growing Our Life in Northern Michigan
In my last post, written on October 7, I wrote: “We still have not turned on our furnace. We just might make it to our goal of not turning it on until October 15. Wednesday night the low is forecasted to dip down to… Continue Reading “A Bird In The Hand”
The last few months I have not felt very motivated at all. I often think of writing, and even plan blog posts in my head, but Hannah Joy interrupts me frequently when she sees me writing. She seems to dislike anything that takes my… Continue Reading “Our Hobbit Life”
Here we are, already in the second week of September. It feels like autumn. We’ve had our first frost although the temperatures are forecast to gradually warm up into the 80s. Even on warmer days there is a hint of crispness in the air.… Continue Reading “The Trapper, The Thief, And The Widow”
Time has sped by and we are already nearing the end of summer. Lately we’ve had slightly cooler temperatures which hints that it won’t be long before we switch from wearing t-shirts to sweatshirts. In some ways, this has been a difficult summer because… Continue Reading “Trapper TJ”
I’ve been enjoying the trail camera that I bought last February to spy on the wildlife on our property. Every now and then, especially during this season, I move the camera to a new location hoping to get footage of animals with their babies.… Continue Reading “Operation Rescue: Tufted Titmouse”
Last week, June 10, we had Frost Warnings in our area. I love living in Northern Michigan. In my opinion, there are very few negative aspects to living here. However, the one thing that is hard to come to terms with is that by… Continue Reading “Critter-Scaping”
Yesterday it rained and rained and rained all day long. Our soil is sand and water tends to quickly drain away so an all day rain was very welcomed and appreciated. EJ has been working hard in his vegetable garden in the mornings before… Continue Reading “Life And Limb”
I hope everyone had a nice Mother’s Day–or, at least, survived it. Mother’s Day can be a wonderful day for those who have close families, but I always think of those who struggle with this Day because they don’t have good mothers, they can’t… Continue Reading “Mother’s Day”
Yesterday our weather was sunny with temperatures reaching the high 60s. We were outside without a coat and the snow melted. Over night the weather changed and we got just about every type of weather imaginable: rain, thunderstorm, freezing rain, sleet, snow, and high… Continue Reading “Edward III”
After days of early Spring-like weather, we have returned to winter. Last I heard, we could get about 7 inches of snow. In my opinion, Michigan seasons are much like Hobbit meals: Instead of first and second breakfasts, we have first, second, and sometimes… Continue Reading “Hobbit Seasons”
EJ and I are always tweaking things. We do something, observe it, and then either continue it, stop it, or make adjustments. Last year at about this time, EJ made a couple new birdhouses to add to the three we already had. We then… Continue Reading “Dam It!”
It’s been very dry here this summer. Except for areas where the sprinkler hit when I watered the gardens, the grass was turning yellow like straw. When I mowed the lawn last Friday, the mower blew up clouds of sand. I made my own… Continue Reading “Chicken Run”
EJ has finished his first week of working first shift and is now beginning his second week. He is enjoying this shift because he is naturally a morning person and feels less tired and more productive. He enjoys the beautiful early morning drive to… Continue Reading “Cough, Wheeze, and Sneeze”
Last week we had three nights of frost/freeze warnings with temperatures that dipped into the low 30s. Each evening we had to cover up our tender garden plants. We do this every year. The temperatures have risen into the 80s, even touching 90 degrees… Continue Reading “Eight Years Ago Today”
Today is May 1st. Today it is Spring. Today it is Winter I guess you could say that it’s Spr-inter. A few years ago, I was amazed to learn that people in southern states are planting their gardens in February. February is winter here… Continue Reading “Happy Spr-inter”