Growing Our Life in Northern Michigan
I think that almost the most difficult part of a difficult time is trying to return to everyday life. During the crisis, a person (or family) is in survival mode. He runs on high alert and finds the energy to do what needs to… Continue Reading “Returning”
When I got home from the hospital last Thursday evening, I got on Google Maps to consider my route to the hospital the next day. I told Google Maps my origin and destination and then moved its highlighted route to change to the street… Continue Reading “Message Received”
There is a saying that goes “When it rains, it pours,” and that has been true for us both literally and figuratively this week. At 6:30 a.m. yesterday, EJ messaged me that he had felt very dizzy at work so the wife of the… Continue Reading “When It Rains, It Pours”
Yesterday was Labor Day, which is a federal holiday in the USA to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the work and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. Many people celebrate with cookouts–a last hurrah before… Continue Reading “Days of Labor”
As I wrote in my last post, Millie went missing and Theo seems lonely so we posted at the Michigan Barn/Working Cat Program that we are looking for two barn cats to adopt. Multiple people responded and for a short time, we thought we… Continue Reading “Some Good In This World”
Our weather is feeling very autumn-ish. Although the daytime temperatures are mostly in the low 70s to mid-80s, there is an underlying coolness that signals that summer is nearing its end. Last night the temperature dipped down to 45 degrees for the first time.… Continue Reading “A Friend For Theo”
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!”
Three or four times lately, I’ve heard an odd sort of thumping in the house. I didn’t know what it was, until finally…Wait. First, let me tell you that our house has an unheated hallway connecting the house and the garage. At one end… Continue Reading “Monsieur Mouse”
The hen I’ve nicknamed “White Feather” because she has white feathers among the red, is lingering on–but just barely. I didn’t really expect her to last so long. She’s been looking like a grizzled old dog. I’ve read that chickens only last 7-8 years… Continue Reading “Wren, Hen, and Coons”
It’s been a very dry summer–at least for us. On radar, we often watch large areas of rain go right past us without hitting us. Because of the lack of rain, I have to go out ever day to water EJ’s vegetable garden and… Continue Reading “Mean Girl and White Feather”
Ej had 5 days off last week. Three were his normal days off, one was for the July 4th holiday, and one he took off as a vacation day. We spent the five days working around our place, getting several tasks and projects done.… Continue Reading “Only Us”
I didn’t write this (H/T @KGenevieve445). It’s being shared on Social Media. I thought it was really good and worth keeping in mind as we in the USA celebrate Independence Day. FREEDOM ISN’T FREE Today we celebrate our Independence which came at a great… Continue Reading “Independence Day”
We live in a beautiful area in Michigan that attracts many vacationing tourists. We actually have many seasons: the regular Spring-Summer-Fall-Winter seasons as well as Tourist Season, which includes seasons for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, off-road vehicles, and color tours to enjoy the autumn colors.… Continue Reading “The Fourth Weekend”
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”
It is mostly Summer now. I say “mostly” because we have more warm days than not, but most mornings and some days and nights are cool enough that I still wear a jacket. Actually, Summer seems to stay firmly fixed in place around the… Continue Reading “Mostly Summer Now”