May 2011 Blog Posts (27)

"It looks like the ocean!"

As I drove my tiny blue Volkswagon Beetle, stuffed to the roof with everything I need to survive, down Munson Ave. and caught my first glimpse of the Lake Michigan shore since last summer, I knew I was…

Slacklining: you can do it anywhere, all you need are a couple of well-placed trees, and a little balance.

My brother, Frank, got a slackline for Christmas, and this "spring" we set it up in between two trees in our yard. I was surprised at how tough it was to balance…

Chateau Chantal Wines Chosen for James Beard Foundation “I Cook Michigan” Dinner in New York City

Chateau Chantal’s 2010 Hawthorne Vineyard Pinot Blanc and 2008 Pinot Noir have been chosen, along with other Michigan products, to star in the upcoming July 20 Michigan themed dinner at the James Beard Foundation in New York City. …

I've lived in Buckley about 23 years and have been in love with the town's Memorial Day parade for about that long, as well.

The parade is a half-hour, west-to-east on M-37, Buckley's main street. It's all fire-trucks, bicycles, horses and antique cars and tractors.

And…

Since I wrote about my fungus failure, I’ve been inundated with offers to take me to some Very Secret Spots. I have to confess that strangers wanting to blindfold me and drive me into isolated areas make me a wee bit nervous.

One offer, however, had me grabbing my mesh bag and lacing up my hiking boots. He is, none other than, The Morel Whisperer.

 …

A hike through the woods starts out innocently enough, with foamflower, celandine's and violets of all kinds. Then, from a side trail of Old Baldy we take in a tremendous view of Lake Michigan with the Frankfort lighthouse in the backgound (not clearly visible in the photo).  But somewhere nearby an invasion…

It started one of those long dark Leelanau winter evenings when the library ran short of new spy novels and the jaunt into town turned into a sleigh ride. After the national news I found my way to HGTV’s voyeur mainstays:  House Hunters and House Hunters International. Here couples tour three properties from which they must choose their ideal new home or vacation retreat. At the end of the show they pick their favorite, sign on the dotted line and are shown…

Switchback Concert and Dance—Sponsored by Short’s Brewery

As we build the Unsalted Sailing brand and website, we thought it made sense to discuss the vision behind this idea in a bit more detail.

It’s no secret that people love escaping to the Caribbean for their sailing adventures.  And we don’t blame them, we love doing the same.  In fact we’ve already got a cat booked for November out of the BVIs and we can’t wait.

However, sailing the Great Lakes, and especially sailing Lake Michigan out of our homeport of…

Living as a college student from September through April, I come back and want to sink into summer as soon as the weather lets me because going to school at a land-locked University in southern Michigan really makes me miss Northern Michigan. When I was growing up, my parents, my brother and I would have beach days. My mom would pack a cooler full of food, my dad would get the beach umbrella, and my brother and I would run to the car, ignoring the plastic stagnant air as we waited…

Small Space

Many people make the mistake of thinking that smaller rooms require lighter paint colors to brighten them up. Actually, it's just the opposite. As strange as it may sound, smaller spaces appear larger when painted a darker color. Darker colors hide ceiling lines and corner…

For those of us who live in Northern Michigan, the saying "My home is your vacation" is common and true. As locals, we know it's beautiful here, because we're here to see the first cherry blossoms pop, we get to keep watching the sunsets when everyone goes back downstate. We see the first maple leaves ignite with flaming colors in the fall and we brace ourselves as the first snowflakes dust the ground. Nevertheless, it's always nice to get compliments about how beautiful our home…

It has been brought to my attention that I have been inattentive when it comes to maintaining my blog. Guilty as charged… with extenuating circumstances.  Fortunately, no one has noticed except some nice English-challenged person named Nancy who has expressed a fervent desire to start a correspondence with me by sending some pictures of herself.

Now, as to those extenuating circumstances.  Recently, I decided to search out an old love – looking for real estate in the Grand Traverse…

Okay, so that was my Frankensteins monster impersonation (sorry, my nerdiness cannot always be contained), but it's a fairly good description of what I (and hopefully some of you) will be doing this summer. Garlic mustard is a terrible invasive species threatening our beautiful…

Northern Michigan’s social and stylish urban cycling tour. Celebrating our lovely community and a common affection for tweed, wool, steel, leather and chrome (no lycra, please!).

 

The Inaugural Tweed Ride will take place on Saturday, May 21, 4:00 PM, gathering at the Open…

"You don't have a soul, you are a soul." -CS Lewis

For some reason that is the first thought that comes to mind when I see something as beautiful as cherry blossoms in the spring.  A little bit of hope popping up all over the green carpet grass. It's good for the…

Every spring, I promise myself that I'm going to top-dress my garden with compost during those few grey weeks between the last snow and the first sprouts. To date, I've not pulled it off. I'm not sure what the previous year's distractions may have been. Perhaps planning my daughter's…

There was lightening and thunder last night which, in my book, means it’s spring. I’ve been warned about planting my flower boxes until Memorial Day but I’m pretty sure I can toss the flannel jammies.

I’m used to a good ole Southern Spring. It’s about two weeks of moderate temps and hellacious weather.

There are lots of wildflowers blooming everywhere, thanks to Lady Bird Johnson. Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush and Black-eyed Susans. Ha-chooo!…

Things heating up around the office here for the Red Hot Best Bash, a shindig for a good cause (actually three good causes!) that we’re throwing Tuesday, May 17 at Turtle Creek Casino.



All proceeds from ticket sales go to benefit three Northwest Michigan nonprofits: The Manna…