Up North Newbie

Time for a New Hello....

2010-07-24T15:56:00.001-04:00

Life has decided to rev up a bit for us, and we're on a new trail. To continue following our journey, visit our new blog: www.MontanaMountainview.blogspot.com.

Cheers!

Dan and Sondra

It's Time to Say Good-bye....

2010-06-22T19:23:00.002-04:00

Aahhhhh... Life. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, there's a giggle echoed in the wind and things change.

So, Things Change, and we move on. On to a new page, a new leaf, a new place, a new reality.

It's time to move on.

So good-bye to the postings and musings, and best wishes to you and yours.

May your days be peaceful and your life a calm one.....

Ten Things that Make Me Happy...

2010-02-27T20:28:00.010-05:00

My daughter Rachel bumped me on her blog to write this post.... it was fun coming up with the list!

1. A "project." Some get finished; many don't (say good-bye to the never-finished punch-embroidery thingy I've been holding on to for 3 years). Right now it's a book I'm writing (started it a year and a half ago, and let it 'rest' for a bit). It gives me something to lock my brain onto.

2. My handsome hunk-a burnin' love. It's been such a treasure to travel my life with him. You are my knight in shining armor....

3. The smiles of my daughters... both glow with an inner light.

4. A Dan Gibson song... I love nature mixed with music!

5. Ooey gooey warm chocolate brownie melty stuff...

6. America's Funniest Home Videos- always a good pick-me-up.

7. The burst of creativity/art that is waiting to be found by the voyeur.

8. Listening to waves lap on the shore- so fulfilling!

9. The first cup of coffee in the morning- no cheating on this one. Fresh-ground goumet beans, sugar, cream (no fake stuff or milk).... pure heaven.

10. My goofy yorkie-poo Tucker; lovey-dovey, full of self-righteous confidence, part clown. He makes me laugh.

February....

2010-02-16T13:36:00.002-05:00

Need I Say more? :)

Some Good Internet Entertainment for all of you....

2010-01-30T09:05:00.002-05:00

Thanks to my daughter Rachel's blog, who first shared this little gem, there is a charming website that shares all those 'precious' family photos we'd rather forget. You'll have to scroll a bit to find this beauty.... who says a home is not a castle?

http://www.awkardfamilyphotos.com/

Blessings to You and Yours...

2009-12-23T21:10:00.002-05:00

Let It Snow....man

2009-12-06T18:21:00.003-05:00

Winter has come! And in celebration, here's an homage to the ever infamous snowman that we all know and love......

Mackinac is Mackinaw.....

2009-11-29T21:45:00.003-05:00

Many have heard of Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel. Most of those not from Up North will pronounce this word with an 'ack' on the end, but alas.... it actually is pronounced with an 'aw'. It just is.

Some have said it's because the Indians pronounced it that way in their language. I'm not so sure... I think the English (or French?) just spelled it wrong, and didn't want to admit to their mistake afterwards.

To make it even more interesting, there is a Mackinac Island with a town on it, and across the water on the mainland is a city called Mackinaw City. Mackinaw City is newer. One might think we Americans named the newer town 'Mackinaw' to right the previous wrong, but the story I got while visiting was the spelling was different to simplify mail delivery.

We had a fun visit to both places while Erika was here in October. Here's several photos of the Island and the city on the island.... (by the way, the only transportation on the island is by foot, bicycle or horse.... quite fun!).

Fall and Family- Good Times

2009-10-21T20:28:00.005-04:00

We just finished a lovely 2 week visit with our daughter Erika, who flew over the pond from her home in Edinburgh, Scotland. My parents came up to see her, since it had been 2 years since they were together.

We all became a bunch of 'leaf peepers', and the leaves were beautiful!

Cheers to you and best wishes for a lovely Autumn season....

More About Sakena Yacoobi

2009-09-20T19:32:00.005-04:00

I got to meet Dr. Yacoobi, or 'Ustad' as she is called from her employees with the Afghan Institute of Learning. (I think 'ustad' means 'teacher'.)
She has won a number of national and international awards for leadership and human rights. Her travel schedule is punishing- she is traveling almost non-stop to conferences, forums, and back and forth between Afghanistan and the United States.

She is a quiet, unassuming woman with iron-hard determination. Her passion and dream is a future Afghanistan where women and children are literate, have good health care, and can learn skills to maintain a family lifestyle. She is Muslim, and believes in the equality of men and women that is referred to in the Quran.

Here is a great video that shows a bit of what Sakena is accomplishing:

More About My Job....

2009-09-20T18:38:00.003-04:00

I work for Creating Hope International. It's a nonprofit that is the USA partner for an Afghanistan nonprofit called Afghan Institute of Learning. Their purpose is to give educational and health improvement options for Afghan women and children. CHI also does work for a group of Tibetan Bon refugees in India.

Toc Dunlap is my boss and the executive director of CHI. She worked in the Peace Corps years ago and served in Afghanistan. While there, she met the Afghan family of Sakena Yacoobi. Sakena wanted to go to a university in the USA, and Toc worked with her to overcome the challenges to get there. After that, Toc went back to law school and then spent several years working as a lawyer. Toc then spent a number of years working in Pakistan with the International Rescue Committee.

In the ensuing years, Sakena got her degrees at 2 universities and was a health consultant and teacher in the US. She then spent three years in Pakistan working with Afghan refugees for a couple of organizations.

In 1995, Sakena founded the Afghan Institute of Learning. In addition to education, AIL was the first organization to offer human rights and leadership training for Afghan women. AIL supported 80 underground home schools for 3000 girls in Afghanistan after the Taliban closed girls’ schools in the 1990s. AIL was the first organization that opened Women’s Learning Centers for Afghan women—a concept now copied by many organizations throughout Afghanistan.

Using their grassroots strategies and holistic approach, AIL now serves 350,000 women and children each year through its training programs, Educational Learning Centers, schools and clinics in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since 1996, over 6,700,000 Afghans have benefited from AIL’s education and health programs.

In 1996, Toc and Sakena worked together to form Creating Hope International. CHI works on behalf of AIL to prepare grant proposals and reports for existing grants from companies that support the work of Sakena and AIL. The Afghan Institute of Learning funds all its programs from private and corporate donors. Organizations like Nike, the Oprah Network, and Abbot have allowed AIL to continue their important work for the Afghan women and children.

Two interesting and dedicated women, two nonprofits that do great work. I learn more everyday, and I only become more impressed....

Autumn is a' coming......

2009-09-06T19:56:00.003-04:00

On September 2nd, I noticed a funny thing.

Our firebush by the deck was starting to have a reddish tinge in its leaves.

Over the next couple of days, flickers of color started to pop up in singular trees among the forests of green.

Fall is here in the 'up north' country.

Today, the Sunday before Labor day, I saw the oranges, red, and golds beginning to creep along in earnest among the tree population.

Wow! I'd heard from a number of people that Northeners love their summers, even if they are short. And this summer the grumble has been "what summer?" since it's been rainier and cooler than normal. But I'm only now starting to realize how fleeting and brief summer really is......

A Perfect Afternoon

2009-08-30T16:11:00.008-04:00

Today was finally sunshine... after days and days of drizzling rain.

(Is this normal? No. Since we moved up here last January, I've consistently heard "I've never seen weather quite like this!" The winter was unusual, the spring was unusual, and the summer is unusual. I'm trying not to take this personally; it seems since our arrival the weather has been 'different'. No one has looked at us suspiciously...yet; I'm sure it's all coincidental.)

The weather was glorious- golden sunshine, a breeze blowing through the trees, at high of 65 degrees. The perfect day to...... take a nap.

"What?!?" you say, "but the weather..... the fresh air, the wonderful opportunities to enjoy the outside!"

Aaah, yes..... but it was also the day for a Perfect Nap. That rare combination of cool breezes and refreshing slumber, with clear refreshing dreams. When you wake up and feel like a new person. At peace with the world and ready to take the world on. Yahoo!

Then.... we watched a classic movie: The Devil and Miss Jones. Lots of fun and worth every minute of being a bum.

On to a grilled steak dinner on the deck with the sunlight dappling on the table, and a bit of wine, and Tucker dashing after the latest toy.

A Perfect Afternoon.....

Mama Deer and Her Two Fawns

2009-08-23T09:23:00.005-04:00

We like to feed the critters outside the deck by our family room doors and watch the wildlife come by. The squirrels and chipmunks are regulars here, and we occasionally get turkey, raccoons, crows, and deer. While Paul was here visiting, he managed to make this video of a mama deer and her two fawns:

And just for Paul Skinner in merry Scotland (Dan says hi), here is a photo of turkeys just outside our door:

Tucker is Getting Bigger...

2009-08-23T09:08:00.005-04:00

Several of you have asked for updated photos of our yorkie-poo Tucker. He's 3 1/2 months old now, and his ears have gone from floppy to upright. Here he is....

Shortly after getting Tucker, I got a job as a contracts administrator for a non-profit with an office in Bellaire called Creating Hope International. They do the administrative work needed in the USA for an Afghani-based non-profit called the Afghan Institute of Learning, whose focus is to support and develop schools, learning centers, and health clinics for Afghan women and children. It's pretty neat stuff, and it's rewarding to be a part of a group that's making a real difference in the world.

Since Tucker is so little, I had to find doggy day care for him. Between that and house breaking, I have to chuckle to myself as I've been carried back to the 'baby' stage in life in many ways....

Cherries in Cherry World....

2009-07-25T21:34:00.004-04:00

Traverse City is the cherry capital 'of the world'- that's right, the world.

And if TC is the cherry capital, then we are living in the Cherry Kingdom.

There are acres and acres of cherry orchards, cherry fruit stands, cherry juice, cherry pie, cherry pills, cherry salad dressing.... this list goes on and on. AND right now it's prime cherry pickin' season.

Rachel and Paul spent a good day plucking the little beauties......cheers!

More 4th July Parade Photos....

2009-07-10T23:20:00.002-04:00

Welcome to a new family member...

2009-07-07T21:57:00.003-04:00

Say hello to Tucker, our new puppy! He's a wee little thing, and so far, absolutely adorable....

Good Ole Fashioned July 4th

2009-07-07T21:51:00.002-04:00

The Central Lake parade on the 4th was the heart of Americana- lots of fun floats, a single marching band, and anxious kids waiting for candy that was thrown to the crowd.

Armor Express had their own float honoring all the divisions of the military....

The Ladies Were in Drag....

2009-07-07T21:49:00.003-04:00

OK, I stand corrected again.

The turkeys weren't 'ladies', they were actually young boy turkeys (called Jakes).

They had me fooled...... I guess I should have looked for their adam's apple...

Three Ladies Come A' Visiting

2009-07-02T20:31:00.003-04:00

We may have mentioned to some of you while talking on the phone that wild turkeys are plentiful up here. Dan sees them just about every day while driving to work.

These three fine ladies have visited our wild animal food stash a couple of times, and were definitely having a good time on this grey day.....

AND Let's Talk About The Wildlife...

2009-06-21T21:11:00.004-04:00

When we first saw our home, it was winter, and it was covered with snow.

Then we started working on it in (what was up here) very early spring, and I noticed the woods were absolutely quiet- no animal sounds.

As time went on, we started to hear birds, etc..... and there I had hope that there would be wildlife.

After we moved in, we put out birdfeeders with food- unfortunately, the birds never got to it. We started getting visitors... first chipmunks, and black squirrels, then gray squirrels, then..... this visitor:

A very canny raccoon indeed- she quickly figured out how to dump ALL the birdseed onto the ground, and then the party of critters began.

We gave up on the birdfeeders, and just scattered seed/corn/etc for all visitors. Over the days, we had the squirrel/chipmunk contingent, wild turkey, Missy Raccoon, 2 porcupines, deer, a hawk (more interested in the chipmunks than the seed), and other critters? in the dead of night. It's been a lot of fun watching them.

Today, we got an awesome treat- Missy Raccoon stopped by with her 4 babies. The photos are terrible (taken through a door), but the babies were precious.

That's the mammal category. Here's a cute photo of a little frog in the garden:

And of course, let's not forget the insect world. This year has been a record outbreak of tent/gypsy/canopy caterpillars. We've had thousands of the latter crawling around- they start out in the tops of tall trees, and will soon become white butterflies/moths. It's been pretty creepy.

And the latest are the dragonfly hordes. They are harmless, and avoid humans, and actually not too pesty, but there are literally hundreds flying around...

Last of all, this was not on our property, but here's a photo of a pileated woodpecker- they are big suckers! They are in our area, and we hear them knocking on the trees. This was one we saw alongside a road when taking a drive:

FINALLY... House Photos!

2009-06-20T10:55:00.009-04:00

Finally, finally, finally! I know it's been over a month- my apologies. Unpacking (for the 3rd time in a year), organizing, and having family visit just left me tuckered out. AND getting the paraphernalia found to get the photos from the camera to the computer... whew! Here you go...

Front of the home

View from the driveway

Side view of house

View from front deck

View from side deck

Living room

Living room from stairway

Dining area

Kitchen

Kitchen... and yes! Wallpaper!

View towards living room

My office area

Upstairs hallway

Our bedroom

Dan made our headboard- solid cherry

Second bedroom

Third bedroom/storage

Dan's office/space/"man-cave"

It's a walk out basement area

View of lower deck/bath

Total of 3.5 baths-good for company!

Love the fireplace!

We spend most of our time in the family room

View of second deck where we feed the wildlife and watch them

Looking back through the home- great open floor plan

We're surrounded by trees and really enjoy the quiet. Lots of wildlife here... squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, porcupine, wild turkey, hawk, and deer have all come to visit our daily scattering of wild feed off the side of the house. About 1/2 mile away is the Shanty Creek lodge with ski slopes and an 18 hole golf course designed by Arnold Palmer (too bad I don't ski or golf!)

It's mid-June up here, and the iris and phlox are still in bloom. It's been a cool spring, and we're wa-a-ay behind the cycle of things further south.

Let me know how you're doing... would love to hear from everyone! :)

Six Days and Counting....

2009-05-14T16:49:00.004-04:00

The painting is done, the carpet is in, we've made endless trips bringing our stuff over.... and yes, we're nearly ready for our Final Move. I say 'final move' and knock on wood, because after 3 moves in 1 year, we're ready to stay for a while.

Wish us Luck- we're weary and will welcome your good thoughts and wishes. I've been asked many times for house photos- I promise to post them after our move in. It's been too torn up and chaotic. I want to share our new home in our best light!

In the meantime, I wish you and yours a warm and green Spring....

Love is A'Twitter Up North

2009-04-21T18:32:00.005-04:00

With the arrival of Spring, signs of avian romance are plentiful in our daily travels. The swans and Canadian geese are coupling up, the songbirds are starting to arrive and sing their songs, and the turkeys are ganging together to watch the males display and strut their stuff.

After sharing my earlier shock at seeing two turkeys in our current citified back yard, I've since watched turkeys by the roadside at the airport (with city all around), as well as gaggles of turkeys in the fields and woods.

Dan and I were excited to notice an osprey nest at the top of a phone pole last week, where mom is studiously sitting on the nest and dad is busy bringing home the yummies for the little ones. We also saw a young bald eagle sitting atop an old barn.

On the same drive just east of Torch Lake, there was a large green farmer's field (perhaps winter wheat?) dotted with white spots that turned out to be seagulls sitting in the greenery. There had to be at least a hundred or more, and upon closer examination they were also coupled up. That made me wonder- where do seagulls have their babies? When I googled this question, I got the answer that they make nests in rocky cliffs. We don't have rocky cliffs up here, and I think for some mysterious reason this large field has become a seagull mating spot. If I get this confirmed, I'll let you know....

Shades of Blue....

2009-04-17T09:19:00.003-04:00

This week has been lovely- lots of sun, warmer temps, and we even have crocus blooming! We're a bit behind the rest of the world, but Spring is finally here. (And yes, there is still some snow laying around!)

We are now the happy owners of our new home in Bellaire, and busy getting the home ready for our next move. We'll be there full-time late May. Right now we're working on some paint, carpet, getting small things over, wallpaper removal, etc.

While driving back and forth, I've really enjoyed looking at the water. We've got Clam Lake, Torch Lake, Bellaire Lake, Intermediate Lake, and the Grand Traverse Bay. What's amazing to me is the color of the water up here. It's not the 'blah blue' I'm used to seeing in Ohio and Indiana.... it's shades of aquamarine, and peacock blue, and caribbean blue, and azure, and turquoise. It's definitely different- and beautiful......

Turkeys and Arts 'n Crafts

2009-04-08T16:44:00.009-04:00

Last Sunday I was getting a cup of coffee in the morning and looked out the window to see two wild turkeys casually walking through our back yard.

Now.... this won't be quite as surprising in our new home, since we have woods all around us and we're a bit more remote. But in this home we're in the city limits, in a residential neighborhood, with traffic, kids, dogs, etc.

I guess this is all part of 'Up North' living!

We still have snow on the ground, but in patches and piles. We are on the verge of doing a yard cleanup of the house we're renting.... I bought a rake Monday, was ready to go at it Tuesday until I woke to an inch or more of snow, and then..... I hurt my back. It was nasty- I could barely move, had major pain, and was at a complete loss as to what I had done.

This morning, I went to see Dustine Murphy, my chiropractor (and coincidentally, my daughter Rachel's friend since high school- small world!!). The reason for my back snafu?- arts 'n crafts. Yep, you got it. Arts 'n crafts.

It seems that spending several hours sitting in a chair, hunched over cutting and pasting, while designing and adding to the creative world, can totally lay you out. Who knew? Forget the dangers of skiing down a hill, or lifting weights, or gardening. Arts 'n crafts can be a silent killer...... :) Hmmmm.... I see the title for a talk show news segment....

Today

2009-04-03T13:23:00.002-04:00

Today is a purple-and-brown day (purple turtleneck and sweater, brown velour pants- warm and cozy)

Today is a let-your-hair-do-whatever-the-hell-it-wants and part-your-hair-on-the-wrong-side day.

Today is a watch-the-snow-fall-and-listen-to-classical-music day.

Today is a stare-at/avoid-the-collage-you're-making-because-you-might-'ruin it' day.

Today is be-a-voyeur-and-peep-at-all-the-creative-artists-online day.

Today sits pregnant, waiting for something to begin....

Sand Dune Safari

2009-03-30T20:41:00.006-04:00

We took a day trip to see the sand dunes west of Traverse City on Saturday. What a pleasant drive! Gentle rolling hills, stands of trees and orchards, and finally.... the great Lake Michigan!

The dunes are b-i-i-g.... lots of climbing and exercise for those hiking types. Here's a couple of photos to give you a perspective:

Then.... on Sunday we got 7+ inches of snow. Goodbye dirt... at least for a while.....

A Blatant Cut and Paste

2009-03-26T21:30:00.005-04:00

Nope. it's totally not original. But fun. And... need I say more?

Waiting.....

2009-03-26T10:19:00.004-04:00

This last month has been interesting. Dan's had a heavy travel schedule, so I've had a lot of time on my hands. We're in a holding pattern waiting for our house to close, and there is not much to do until that happens. Other than keeping our current house clean and doing daily chores, it's been a time of 'limbo'.

I've spent most of my life having lots of activities and little quiet time. I have to admit, I like this spell where I can do as I please. Sleep until 10:30 am (oh my!), spend 6 hours at a scrapbook store playing with paper, go for a walk down a new street and path, sit and watch TV reruns of MonsterQuest...... spend time thinking about my place in life and the path that I'm on.... I can definitely say I have more balance and less stress. I truly appreciate the lull in the road.

At the current house we're renting, there's a big palladium window where I look out the top part in the morning when I wake up. On the tree branches is a solitary leaf that blows in the breeze, waiting for the change of season. I start the day with a smile.....

Time to Play

2009-03-19T21:43:00.004-04:00

Since I've had a bit of time on my hands, I've been spending time nurturing my creative side. I discovered a great web site that allows you to convert photos into 'instant art'... needless to say, I've been having a blast with it.

Swan Lake, Michigan Style

2009-03-18T14:30:00.005-04:00

As you can see from the post before this, Traverse City sits at the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay. This flows south in a small river into a lake, which the city folds around on all sides. At the south end of the lake is the Medalie Roadside Park.

I took a walk there today along the paths, enjoying the water that had thawed and the wildlife (the bay is still frozen). Besides Canadian geese and seagulls, there were about 40+ swans floating about.

Year-round swans are part of the habitat up here. There are both Trumpeter and Mute swans. And for a short time in the spring, the Tundra swan swings by during it's migration.

The Trumpeter swan has an all black bill, and are the world's largest waterfowl. They were one time plentiful, but human development and over-hunting paid a heavy price, and by 1933 there were only 66 trumpeter swans left in the west and Alaska. Michigan started an active re-introduction program in the 1980's, and by 2000 there were 400 birds in the wild.

The Muties are non-native and are bullies- they tend to take over and push all the native birds out of the way. They have an orange bill. While their babies (cygnets) are still in the nest, they can be quite agressive towards humans, pets, and boats.

Elk Rapids even has a giant swan statue for tourist photo ops. Say 'cheese'....

I See..... DIRT!

2009-03-16T21:29:00.005-04:00

The last 4 days we've had temps in the 40's and 50's. There still lots of snow cover AND the bay by the city is still frozen, but there are ALSO fields where the snow has melted and the brown dirt is coming through. The acres of cherry trees branches in the orchards have the slightest shading of red as the buds begin to grow.... Spring is around the corner. Hurray!

Now that I've been here a bit, let me share what I've discovered. The picture at the top shows the bay (in summer) and the peninsula in the middle of it. I'm told the bay is full of boats in the summer, including a couple of large schooners for tourists to give tours of the bay.

On the peninsula and the land to the west, there are about 19 wineries, along with tasting houses, B&B's, and a number of fine restaurants (also many good restaurants in town). Further west are huge sand dunes in a national park (we're talking 200 feet high). Many of the little towns along the way are dotted with art and craft shops- there's an active artistic life here. There's an annual Cherry Festival in July, and also an annual Movie Festival that is gaining acclaim.

To the east of the bay are a number of lakes, including Torch Lake (which National Geographic has labeled as the 3rd most beautiful lake in the world, believe it or not). There are miles and miles of fruit orchards and gently rolling hills. I can't wait to see all the trees in bloom.

Within an hour's plus drive of Traverse City are at least 8 ski slopes, and many golf courses. There's also 2-3 casinos. Fun for everyone!

There's a big movement up here for 'local sustainability'- basically, support your neighbor and what they do, so we can all make a living and survive. Unemployment is pretty high, and a number of businesses have closed, so it's a good idea.

It's going to be fun watching the world green up.....

"I Used To Have A Handle on Life, but it Broke"

2009-03-11T07:12:00.003-04:00

There's an insurance office in Traverse City that has a sign where they post cute quips and sayings for passers-by. I laughed when I drove past the above statement a week ago, and could definitely relate.

The last couple years were a roller-coaster of ups and downs. It was a time of discovering what was believed to be rock solid was often sitting on a shaky base. Making it through those earthquake-laden times and the aftershocks were interesting, to say the least. Learning to do it with a sense of humor was invaluable.

Most people don't like change. It's unsettling, nerve wracking, and the fear of the unknown is stressful. Personally, I don't mind change as long as I have a stable home-base.

However... moving that home-base three times in one year and moving to an entirely new area of the world has (to be honest) tipped the stress-o-meter scale several times.

My saving grace has been to search for the humor surrounding the setbacks and obstacles. A little laughter goes a long way.....

A-h-h-h Cruel Winter.....

2009-03-09T07:09:00.003-04:00

We had a warm-up over the weekend, and for the first time since I got here in January, I was able to see dirt and patches of brown grass among the snow. The promise of Spring was dancing among the breeze. The evening news talked about how the snowmobile riders had retreated south, and the ski slopes held vigil with icy crusts and a few lonely skiers.

Then, last night around 5:30 PM, solitary flakes of snow started to fall. Within the hour the snow increased quickly. These were the teeny, tiny flakes that accumulate illogically before one's eyes. Dan and I watched, cozy in our home while dusk fell.

This morning I peeked out the front door while Dan got ready for work- yep, there was snow out there, but it didn't look too bad....

Until Dan went outside, and faced about a foot of snow. Then got the car stuck at the end of the driveway. Then had to shovel around the car, trying to get it loose. And then, after I bundled up to come out and help push the car, finally got free before I got to him....

Never say Nature doesn't have a sense of (sick) humor.....

B-r-r-r-r-r-r.....

2009-03-03T11:48:00.003-05:00

It's a bit nippy up here.....

The Grand Traverse Bay has frozen solid for the first time in 6 years, and Monday morning's temps ranged from nine to twenty degrees below zero.

There are ice shacks on the lakes with snowmobiles sitting next to them with men (mostly) sharing stories and catching fish- remember "Grumpy Old Men?"

If it's seventeen degrees and sunny, people walk around with their coats unzipped- it feels toasty!

It's fun to watch.....

(photo courtesy of the local Record Eagle newspaper...)

Ice Crystals...

2009-02-23T18:41:00.002-05:00

Snow is defined as "precipitation in the form of small white ice crystals formed directly from the water vapor of the air at a temperature of less than 32°F."

Lately, I've been appreciating the different kinds of snow.... in Ohio, snow is usually the icy, heavy variety that's accompanied by strong winds.

Up North snow has been different. Most often it's fluffy, cotton-candy stuff consisting of large clumps that drift down noiselessly onto the white blanket laying on the ground. When the winds kick up, it changes into tiny little snowflakes that quickly skitter around into drifts along the road. These pin-dots of snow fill the air, and seem too tiny to be able to accumulate much..... then, before you know it, inches have fallen and roads become slippery.

Here are some snow tips:
- The fluffiest snow usually occurs around 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Ten inches of fresh snow can contain as little as 0.10 inches of water and as much as 4 inches of water, depending on crystal structure, wind speed, temperature, and other factors.
- A single snowstorm can drop 40 million tons of snow, carrying the energy equivalent to 120 atom bombs.
- The Guinness Book of Records lists the largest snowflake at 15 inches across, a record held in Keogh, Montana, USA, since 1887.

A GOOD Hair Day....

2009-02-22T20:13:00.002-05:00

Ok, K.- this one's for you. :)

This is what it looks like when all the hair follicles are cooperating....

It's 'Up North', NOT 'Far North'....

2009-02-22T08:34:00.003-05:00

I stand corrected.

When I first learned I'd be transplanted from Ohio Buckeyeland to upper regions of Michigan, I told people I was moving Far North. It was far north to me- a seven hour drive seemed pretty far!

I've since learned it's Up North country, and the Far North is wa-a-a-y north in Canada, with tundra, ice flows, and the Eskimo/Inuit.

Interestingly, the largest collection of Far North Inuit art is Up North here at the Dennos Museum in Traverse City.

Go figure.....

SnowWalker

2009-02-18T21:07:00.002-05:00

When it comes to snow sports, I'm a virgin. I've never been on a snowmobile, I've tried skiing and cross country skiing once in my life (when I was a teenager), and I've never used snow shoes. Heck, it's been 15-20 years since I even went sledding!

So... I heard through the grapevine that my brother was howling with laughter when he heard we were going to try snowshoeing. Besides the fact I'm more than a bit klutzy, he knew my experience with the winter sports.

Imagine my surprise to find out I liked it! It was actually a lot of fun. The new snowshoes are lightweight and easy to use. It's good exercise, and relaxing (as long as you're not climbing up and down mountains....).

Dan took the mountain climbing option seriously a few days later- using the old-fashioned variety of snowshoes. These were built by my father many years ago. They are a little trickier- Dan only fell twice!

"There's No Place Like Home"

2009-02-18T20:54:00.003-05:00

Dan and I are ready to nest into a new home. It's been about 2 years since we've had a place where we can fuss and fiddle and keep things the way we want- first, we had to rearrange our old home to get it ready for sale, then wait for it to sell, then move to a rental that we knew would be temporary (so we kept a lot unpacked), then move to our current rental (that I desperately hoped would be a permanent fix), and finally, will move into the right place- our new home. I'm tapping my heels together, and looking forward to the day we can empty all the boxes!

Here's a couple photos of the place we'll call home- Dan's got a separate garage for his woodworking 'stuff', we'll actually have a garage for our cars, and we'll have Nature around us..... heaven!

Squirrel Wars

2009-02-16T17:09:00.005-05:00

Besides the gray and red squirrels I was used to in Ohio, there's a new cousin in town- the black squirrel. I was delighted to meet these little critters when I arrived. With the mounds of white snow everywhere, their dense black bodies are easy to spot.

In the woods out back of the house we're staying in, there is a black/gray squirrel-fest going on. It's fun to watch the many squirrel buddies scampering furiously from tree to tree and across the snow. Dan threw some cracked corn out back a couple of weeks ago, and once the squirrels discovered the treasure, we've had a party every mid morning.

There will be anywhere from 6-14 squirrels dancing, prancing, and shooing each other away from 'their' territory of the golden morsels. They take it all in good stride, and seem to be pretty agreeable about sharing a turn of being King of the Corn.

The other morning, while in our upstairs bathroom getting ready for the day, we saw this this little neb-nose above peering in at us- cheeky little guy!

A Bad Hair Day....

2009-02-13T11:53:00.002-05:00

February always seems to be the month of 'dead hair' for me. I'm not sure why- the cold, perhaps less moisture in the air.... whatever the reason, I can expect a period of dull, lifeless, flat hair that refuses to cooperate.

This last week was no exception. And on top of that, I had the onerous chore of finding a hairdresser in my new locale. After trusting my locks to Suzanne for the past 11 years, it was time to start over Up North style.

I think I got lucky, and met Risha (pronounced Ri-shay) at the Signature Salon in Traverse city.

Risha gave me a spiffy cut that smoothed out the annoying edges and (hopefully) will take advantage of my natural curl when it decides to come back.

No more 'Feb-head' for this lady.... :)

Cracker Barrel AND Culture- Whoo Hoo!

2009-02-08T15:34:00.007-05:00

Many people that know me well know I love Cracker Barrel restaurants. The last many years while living in Columbus, I wasn't near a Cracker Barrel, and would often plan trips to their vicinity with a stop to eat and enjoy their good food and atmosphere. My husband kiddingly called this my 'Cracker Barrel fix.'

Well, I was elated to find out that there is a Cracker Barrel in Traverse City. Yahoo! Last week, I visited the local eatery and enjoyed my new breakfast favorite- the Eggs in the Basket, eggs cooked on the griddle in the center of sourdough bread, and their yummy hash brown casserole.

I then went to visit the Dennos Museum center- yep, an art museum in Traverse City. They have a permanent exhibit of Inuit Indian art (over a 1000 pieces total in their collection, which they rotate), and several other exhibits, including ancient bronze art from the Mongolian and Asian grasslands (many created around 3000-5000 B.C.).

It was a very good day...... :)

"Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore..."

2009-02-08T08:50:00.004-05:00

You know you're in a new place when:

1. snow can crawl up the side of a house :)
2. everyone wears boots (designer shoes? Faa geddabout it!)
3. many of the squirrels running up and down the trees are pitch black, not gray
4. snowmobiles run down your street at night
5. gangs of wild turkeys can stop traffic on the roads
6. you see ads for ‘roof cleaners’ to remove the snow from your roof.....