Tradition.
I love that word. It brings to mind memories of times past and
occasions and activities that were so special, unique, or fun that they
became incorporated into our souls and repeated over and over again. (Cue the music!)
No season seems to echo the thought of tradition more to me than the winter holidays.
November wasn't another banner month for reading but everything I read was worth the time.
I still love a four-day weekend now as much as I did when I was working. It's a different vibe, time to relax -- or work your tail off -- or see people you love. And mine was splendid.
While I don't start decking the halls till Thanksgiving, my official start to the holiday season is the annual Northville greens market, which I always attend with my friend, Jan, like THIS LAST VISIT in 2019.)
We missed it last year for Covid reasons, but this year we ventured out to do our traditional day -- the market, shopping at our favorite store (Gardenviews), lunch at a favorite restaurant and then a stop at Trader Joe's!
If you are living in one of the countries celebrating Thanksgiving, I hope yours is a happy one.
And if you're not, remember --
Any day is a good day to find something for which to be grateful.
I had the most delightful experience recently, which I mentioned in an earlier post. I was invited to a master's class in theatre design at Michigan State University to share some of "my story" and my commitment to the arts. The assignment for the students was to listen carefully under the hypothetical idea that I was a wealthy major donor funding a re-do of a grim auditorium lobby. Their assignment was to design the lobby and a gown for the grand opening, that reflected what I shared in class.
Among the thoughts I included in that talk were little obscure facts about me -- love for history and art as well as theatre, a passion for bright colors, bad feet (no heels, please!), the integration of community and university and some of my favorite things.
A number of you have asked if I have any of the items I sell at Mistletoe Market available for online sales and the answer is now -- Yes!
Our Mistletoe Market was a great success, for both me and the other six vendors. I think we all came home energized, tired, and with new friendships, and you can't beat that!
I have come to terms with the fact that I probably won't reach my book goal (or page goal) this year. While some months have been filled with books, September and October were marginal at best and November doesn't look much more promising. But most of what I read was very enjoyable.
Apart from Thanksgiving in the U.S., can anyone really pin much reliability on November? To me, it is a busy month and it's over before I know it, leaving me even more harried before the December holiday season. It could be sunny and 60. It could be snowy. Mostly it is just drab.
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| Pumpkins on the china cabinet |
I haven't shared much home dec these days because for the most part, I haven't had a lot of clear surfaces to photograph! But some of the photos here are from this year's decor, most of which got up late!
We can't say we've had a dull October. After coming home from the lake, we had a day or two at home before Rick took off on his bike for Oberlin and the day after, I met him on the way. You know the rest -- the Oberlin visit and Jeff's wedding. Two days later we were headed to metro Detroit to spend four days toddler sitting.
Pam did a fun post recently about her past Halloween costumes. I don't have as many as she did, but I did have fun going through the archives and finding a few. This one was from the early days!
In all the craziness of the past few weeks, I never got this posted! So before a color tour is a thing of months past, here are a few photos from my last visit to the lake in early October.
We didn't get to see as much of the Cleveland Zoo as we might have on a zoo-only visit when we were at Jeff and Lauren's wedding. But we did catch a few animals! My favorites are the giraffes.
I have not been in public crowds for a very long time and I was very apprehensive about our visit to Cleveland. But my cousin Jeff was marrying the lovely Lauren and I wouldn't miss that for the world. Well, yeah, I probably would have if Covid was as bad as one year ago. But with the vaccine and booster, an N95 and another to put over it, and the promise of sitting at a vaccinated table after the outdoor wedding ceremony, I was good to go!
We have been more or less gone and offline since October 7 and if you've noticed that comments haven't been replied to (I'm pretty sure I won't catch up, so just know I appreciate each and every one), or visited, my apologies! I'm not sure I'll catch up there, either, but I'll do my best! And where were we? First stop, Ohio!
Our trip began on a rainy day as we headed toward Oberlin, Ohio. This small town is about 35 miles west of Cleveland and is the home of Oberlin College.
When I shared our visit to Petoskey in July, you might recall that we stopped at Crooked Tree Arts Center's beautiful gallery. The featured exhibit was Michigan artist Heidi Marshall and I fell in love with every piece of hers that I saw. This forsythia was a favorite. Just look at how those colors pop!
As we come close to wrapping up the 2022 series of Postcards from the Lake, I thought I'd take another look at some of my favorite birds from the past few months. I never did get a photo of the blue jays that loved the bird feeder neighbor Jim made, but I was lucky in catching (albeit a tad fuzzy) my friendly chickadee.
Oh, the colors of October. I love those earthy rusts, browns and oranges and when you are lucky enough to find a fascinating pumpkin farm, it's all the better. So, when Susan suggested we go to Pond Hill Farm, of course I was in!
Rick had a follow-up with his kidney surgeon in Petoskey, so we did another road trip!
It was a beautiful day for the drive. The color wasn't peak but when you see a spot like a field of sunflowers, you've got to smile!
The other day I got up and started checking a somewhat neglected and far too long queue of email when I noticed a new one from my friend, Holly, whom I'd seen a few days before at lunch. "There's a painting workshop in Boyne City on Monday. Interested?" Well, yeah!
So, off I went for a day that included not only a delightful workshop but -- in the hours after -- a walk through this charming northern Michigan city, about 45 minutes from the cottage.
When watching the yahoos hired to take my neighbor's dock and boat ramp work away is the highlight of one's week, you know it has been an odd and unexpected week!
When I came north about a week ago, it was with the idea that Rick would join me as soon as he could. I was thinking within a few days and so was he. But he's been up to his eyeballs with painting the duplex, doing repairs and loads of stuff outside -- not to mention (hopefully) getting a new tenant booked and ready to move in. I realize I really miss the guy! But one does what one must, like adding a lantern to the mantel!
Traverse City, Michigan, is the largest city in Michigan's north, and it sits beside the beautiful Grand Traverse Bay. It's a popular vacation destination with its annual cherry and film festivals and offers a number of cultural activities. It's also known for its Michigan wines and the many vineyards on the Mission Peninsula. Most of the photos here show the beauty of that area.
On this gloomy morning, Lizzie and I are taking advantage of what might be the last porch day for a bit. We woke to a warmer morning than expected and took the computer to the porch, catching up with all of you. It wasn't a bad day and when a butterfly flitted by, I ran out to the beach to photograph it, dancing cheerily between this weed and that.
Happily back at the cottage for a bit and wondering when we'll go from green to red and orange. I can see hints in some of the trees but it will be a few weeks yet before we hit full fall color.
I don't know what happened. I woke up and it was September.
And now, we are well into it. One can feel it in the air at the lake. The temperature dropped dramatically, there was one almost full-day of rain. The lake is quieter after Labor Day. Boats and docks are being pulled from the water, despite the fact that September will bring many gorgeous (and hopefully warmer) days.
After a banner reading month in July, I slowed down a little for August, with seven books on the list. This month they were all mysteries.
I'm back at the lake, finally! And look who welcomed me back!
Rick will join me for an extended time when he wraps up his annual Dalmac bike ride (Lansing, MI to Mackinac City, 100 miles a day). He's captaining a tandem with his friend Nino, pedaling behind. (Or not, as the case may be!) This early September is lovely and I wanted to be here sooner but life got in the way. You just have to fly with the birds and go with the flow.
