A Weekend of Wine Tasting
on Nov 7, 2009 in Wine friends Brys cottage lake Michigan photos A couple weekends ago we went up north to go wine tasting with some friends.  Housing (right on Lake Michigan!) was graciously provided for us by a relative of one of the couples.  The two little cabins beside one another were adorable, overlooking...

A Must Have Craft for Your Kids
on Nov 2, 2009 in Art Being Green Christmas Crafts Kids christmas gift idea craft enviroblox green monsters A couple weeks ago at the grocery store, I wandered over to the clearance kids toys.  I had no kids with me – otherwise this would have been shopping suicide.  I already get enough “Can I have this?  Can I have that?” questions j...

My Tasty Combination
on Oct 21, 2009 in Food Wine coffee donuts food combination pairing pizza pop popcorn steak white zinfandel Popcorn and White Zinfandel. Is that wrong? I’ve never heard of anyone else enjoying that combination, but for some reason it has been my latest evening indulgence. And just on a quick side note – it can not, I repeat CAN NOT be microwave...

Move Over Martha Stewart
on Oct 19, 2009 in Food apples applesauce canning martha stewart orchard Pioneer Woman Last week, after our trip to the orchard, I attempted canning for the first time.  I canned applesauce with my mom several years ago, but have always been intimidated by the thought of doing it by myself.  Thanks to my good neighbors Jane and Janet...

Family Trip to the Apple Orchard
on Oct 14, 2009 in Fall Family Husband Kids Outdoor fun apple orchard cloudy coats gloves October pumpkin rain september sun September was the most gorgeous month – tons of sun, perfect temperatures.  October has been quite the opposite.  I think there has been two days this month that it hasn’t rained. I love fall weather and I actually love cloudy, rainy we...

Open Water No. 24!!!! (ArtPrize – Part 2)
on Oct 9, 2009 in Art City Family Kids alien ArtPrize lakes oceans Open Water photograph Ran Ortner I am so excited this today because my favorite piece of artwork within the ArtPrize competition won last night!!  I know it sounds cheesy and maybe a little weird but I was watching the announcement/ceremony via live feed on the internet and couldn&...

Art Art Art – ArtPrize 2009 – Part 1
on Oct 8, 2009 in Art City Fall Family Husband Kids Outdoor fun ArtPrize competition artwork camera pictures bridges river people Pettite Passe Terrance Karpowicz The Grand Dance David Lubbers Nessie on the Grand Imagine That Tracy Van Duinen Moose Bill Secunda nails There is a gargantuan art competition in our town right now called ArtPrize.  The grand prize winner actually will be announced tonight.  It has been great for the city, a great activity for people of all ages and great for artists to be able to ha...

Football Frenzy
on Oct 6, 2009 in Fall Family Football Husband Sports frenzy injuries As fall rolls in, so does football. In our home the guys watch football, they play football, we listen to football in the car.  I’m not saying its an obsession necessarily but more of a favorite past-time, for sure. Now that J-Money is in 2nd...

I Love Fall
on Oct 4, 2009 in Fall Family apple crisp apple pie candles candy corn carmel corn chai tea chocolate chip muffins cozy fire pumpkin This is a short post but I just wanted to proclaim that: I LOVE FALL!!! I feel like our home feels coziest in the fall – cool, cloudy weather outside, fire inside, candles lit, the smell of dinner filling the air.  And of course I love love l...

My Husband Lied to Me
on Sep 29, 2009 in Husband Running breezy emotions hades Summer sunrise weather wind My dear husband, Ryan, got up at 6:45 to run this morning.  As I was preparing myself to run around 8:30, I asked him how the weather was.   He replied, “a little breezy but you warm up as you get going”. I don’t know if I’v...