Good-Bye 2008!

This picture is of a home in Bay View. The residents of this community are only allowed to be at their homes from about May to October, so they shutter the windows during the fall and winter. Check the front door on this house. It always makes me think the owners love Bay View, are sad to leave, and can't wait to return soon.

It is the last day of 2008. It has been a hard year for some, and a worse year for others. Here in Petoskey, it was interesting. Starting this blog made me look at Petoskey in a different way. I'm looking forward to 2009, as I'm sure most people are, waiting for things to change and hoping that this year will be better. May you all have a safe, happy and healthy New Year!

Mid-Afternoon Sun

This may look like a sunset, but it is really about 3 in the afternoon. It is so rare that we see the sun in winter, so this is a special occasion. Winters are long, but there are times that the snow is beautiful. Hope you all have a day with a little beauty in it!

A Little Surprise!

I went to the hospital the other day and was surprised to find this little garden in the courtyard. In the summer, I'm sure it is cool and green, but now it is snow-covered and still quite pretty. Just a little surprise in the middle of the day!

Oh, What a Beautiful Day!

Merry CHRISTmas to all today! I've been really busy getting ready for today and it was great! Hearing my children say it was the best Christmas ever was priceless and made up for many days filled with preparations. This photo was a beautiful shot of nearby Walloon Lake that is very pretty almost any time of year, about 3 miles south of Petoskey. I hope you all had a wonderful day as well!

I Saw It!

However fleetingly, I did see the sun! We don't see the sun often during the winter; the snow clouds usually hide it, and it has been almost a week since the sun has shone (..where we can see it. I know it shines above the clouds...) and this time it peeked out just to make a beautiful sunset.

The Stockings Were Hung...

on the tree with much care... These are a few of my favorite things! The stocking is made of a vintage handkerchief and is so delicate. I have several of them and they are beautiful, each different and special. The gold "jewel" behind it is also one of my favorites as I love a little bling now and then!

Ever Wonder What it is Like?

To drive down a street in the snow? Now you can see for yourself! This the main street in downtown Petoskey, Mitchell Street. We lost quite a bit of snow on Sunday when the temperature was almost 40 degrees, but we are supposed to get it all back this weekend! Four inches today and still coming down. But I have to admit it makes things look pretty...

Oh, Christmas Tree

I do love the ornaments on my Christmas tree. I have been collecting them for many years, all whites, gold, pearl, and a little pink as well. This heart is hand-blown iridescent glass and is so delicate and glittery. Love it! Hope you enjoy your Christmas season just as much as we do!

You know it is snowy and windy outside when....

You can't even see the neighbor's house a few hundred feet away! (Their house is right in the middle of the photo; you can just make out their window if you look closely enough.) It is extremely snowy, windy, and icy here today. So much so that we can't get out of our driveway at the moment. When the wheels of your car spin in the driveway, it is a good idea to stay home! Hope you all have a warm and safe day!

Bright Lights, Small City

Our city may be small, but there are a few homes that have really nice light displays. This is one of my favorites, with all the icicle lights put to good use! Hope you enjoy it as well.

King of the Hill

Did you ever play that game as a kid? If you lived around snowbanks, you probably have. You find the biggest snowbank, climb to the top, and proceed to push everyone else off so you can be the "king" or, in my case, "queen", of the hill. Since you were bundled with snowpants, boots, hats, gloves, coat, and scarf, it never hurt to fall down and roll down the hill. Fun times. (By the way, those are 20+ foot light poles right above the snowbank! These are huge!)

Looking Up

This dome is in the ceiling of a church. I love the stars in the dome and when just this light is on, it is very calm and quiet. I've tried to count the stars from time to time, but the count never seems to come out the same. I just enjoy the stars and the quiet from time to time anyway.

Looking Owlish

At the Open House, a local group that takes care of owls that are unable to live in the wild had a few to "meet and greet". These two were Chilly and Belfry. Belfry is a barn owl with a white face. She had been born around humans and thinks she's related to them. Chilly was hit by a car and has lost her left eye and could not survive in the wild. They were both very calm and curious, even when my daughter came over to pose for a picture. Belfry was about a foot tall, but Chilly is only about 7 or 8 inches tall. They were very interesting to see so close up! To learn more about these birds, and others in the sanctuary, check here: http://www.seenorth.org/NorthWings.htm

Snow, Snow, Snow

Today we actually had some sun. I saw it! But we also had some snow. We have almost 2 feet in some places, which is a lot for December. But we don't have to dream about a White Christmas, we can live it!

Open House!

Last night was Petoskey's downtown Open House. The stores stay open late and have goodies available, Santa shows up to light our Christmas tree, and the Petoskey High Steel Drum band plays! It is so much fun. They close the streets off to cars, and hundreds of people come and to watch the fun, listen to the music, and have some incredibly yummy goodies!! (I will have to say that the Spoon Foods Bread Pudding, the Eggnog Gelato, and the Perry Hotel's roast beef are my perennial favorites!) It is fun to see all the people, walk around in the gently falling snow, and have fun with family and friends!

For the Birds

Again today it is snowing fairly hard (at least we can see the neighbors yet!) and looks like it will continue for several more hours. I haven't been to town in a few days, but this is the view from my back window; snow, snow, and more snow!! Tonight is our downtown Christmas Open House though, and we are all really excited. It is the start of Christmas for me!! (I guess I do need to fill the birdfeeder again before I go.)

Mending Fences

You might think that this is a problem, but it really isn't. The shorter parts of the fence are the actual fence--the taller parts are just snow! This gives new meaning to the phrase "snow fence"!

WinterBerry

Red berries show up wonderfully against the snowy ground. It has been snowing here for several days and a weather report says we are under a winter storm warning for the next 3 days and are to get several more inches in addition to the foot of snow we already have. This should be interesting....

Truly a Winter Wonderland

This time of year is so pretty with the snow all piled up on the branches. A walk through the woods is just lovely, and very quiet as well. This beauty only happens when the snow falls heavily but there is no wind to knock it off the branches. Today, we get to enjoy this beauty because tomorrow it may be gone. A good lesson for every day of our lives, don't you think?

The Hiatus is Over!

It has been a busy week and I had to take a little time off. But things are back to normal a bit more and the pictures are back. This picture I took last night as I anticipated not being able to get out much today. (Turns out I was right, more on that tomorrow.) It was snowing quite heavily when I went to town, as you can see!

3 Weeks Later....

Another picture of Curtis Park. There was ground showing in the picture I took November 5th of this same spot! Well, the ground should be back in only 5 months or so. And then there will be grass again, and green...*sigh*. But for now, the snow is here and that's that. (Can you tell it's not my favorite thing? I do love it at Christmas time, but after that, I'm ready for Spring.)

Mystery Solved!

The wait is over and the mystery is solved. It is a fir tree just before winter lit by a sunrise. It was a beautiful yellow color and so brilliant in the early morning sun. I hope you enjoyed trying to figure it out!

Pop Quiz!!

Can you guess what this is?? I'll reveal what it is on Thursday evening.

But on a Nice Note...

the Christmas lights are up downtown! They put them up before the snow comes in the fall and they are really lovely at night. Each light has its own garland with lights and some of them even have wreaths. I am really looking forward to this Christmas season, even if snow has already arrived.

It's Official...

Snow is here, most likely to stay. It isn't much yet, but probably will be added to each day for the foreseeable future. I'm not quite ready yet, I must admit. I just got out our gloves and mittens last weekend!

Late Fall

It isn't the most beautiful time of year, but it is quiet, almost contemplative. The noise of traffic is less, the number of people drops, and the silence is restful. It is like taking a deep breath before you set out to work; a gathering of thoughts and pulling in of peace and warmth for the months ahead.

When Sunset comes at 4:45...

...You know it is getting late in the year. During the late fall, (before Dec 21st), there are times when it is still dark at 8:30 in the morning, and dark by 5:15 in the "evening". But, then again, by that time of year, just seeing the sun is nice.

Signs

The City put up these arches a few years ago. This one is not downtown, it is over the river from downtown, but near a new stairway that the city built to make it more accessible for those walking. It is a gorgeous area to go for a walk and comes out quite close to the bike path as well. I think for a visitor, it would be nice to know where the bayfront parks are and how to get there. You'll have to let me know what you think..

What a Difference a Season Makes!

I posted a picture of the Clocktower back on August 5th when all the trees were leafed out beautifully and the day was sunny with blue skies. This is November. Very few sunny and blue skies days, no leaves. I got lucky today with blue skies, but snow is coming soon. Hope you all have a sunny day today, no matter where you are! (And enjoy it for me, it is snowing this morning.)

Sunrays from Heaven

I just love these sunrays when they shine through the clouds. They are so beautiful that I just have to sigh in contentment when I see them. *Sigh*

Yesterday seemed to be a good fishing day...

...since another fisherman caught these salmon as well. I again had to ask, since I know nothing about fish that can be caught around here. There were more, but these were still, and therefore easier to photograph! The man told me that someone caught one here the other day that was over 40 lbs. That is a lot of fish! I guess October is the best month for catching salmon, but I think I'll leave that to the experts.

I finally caught one....

...a picture that is!! This is John, a local fisherman who caught a large steelhead (rainbow trout--I had to ask) and was quite happy about it. It was full of energy and flopped several feet in my direction, which I quickly vacated. I like fish, but filleted, skinned, and deboned are best for me!! Congratulations on a fine catch, John!

A Place to Relax

It has been so nice here this week that I have been out enjoying the sun and warmth--we only have to wear short or long-sleeved shirts during the day!--and drove by a great picnic park. Curtis Park is off the beaten path and not many know about it even though it is only 3 blocks from the highway. It is an open space with nothing but trees and grass.

Almost Over....

at long last. I don't know about the rest of you, but this day seemed to take forever to get here. (Or maybe the fact that campaigns have been going on for 2 years!!) I am glad it is done. I was one of those who stood in the booth today as I voted and my pen hovered over the presidential dots for a long time. I couldn't decide which of the candidates I disliked the least. I finally chose a dot and filled it in. My vote was counted, but in the big picture, probably won't make much of a difference. But, I voted, and for that I am proud.

A Last Look

The pumpkin season is about over. We had lots of fun carving our pumpkins last week as well as making salted pumpkin seeds!! I think they turned out well this year. This is probably the last week for them as the weather turned so warm that they are starting to mold! (Not a problem we've ever had before, I assure you!) But I am NOT complaining. I can stand a few more days without breaking out my winter coat and gloves. I even enjoyed my hammock for a little while this afternoon! Enjoy the day wherever you are!

Halloween was Fun!

We go to a care facility in across the bay to go trick-or-treating every year and this year not only the kids had fun dressing up. My hubby and I dressed up like a king and queen, while my daughter was a hula dancer and my son was his version of Batman. It was fun and they came home with lots of candy. (Thankfully, they don't care for chocolate too much, so mom and dad get to share as well!) It has been a busy week with 2 birthdays in my family, as well as Halloween. Hopefully things will be quieter next week!

I wonder...

what makes certain trees fall at certain times. I know there is rotting going on at times, there could have been damage done by wind, disease, bugs, or birds, but the beauty of fallen trees is different than those that are standing. I wonder why.... Just my thoughts today.

First Snow of the Season

Okay, this is not my favorite time of year, but here it is anyway. Snow in October. It is a surprise and people usually aren't ready for it quite yet. Around the end of November, you usually start to expect it a bit, but October, not so much. The earliest I've ever seen snow around here is October 10th, so this isn't totally unusual. The good news? It is supposed to be 57 degrees here tomorrow!! Just in time for my sweet girl's birthday. Hooray!

Out of Town...

I was out of town a few days this weekend, a short getaway for ladies. It was nice and quiet (most of the time!) and lots of fun. We went to a nearby city, Mackinaw City, for our getaway. One of the main attractions of the city is the Mackinac Bridge, which is pronounced the same way as the city (and the Island as well). Here are a few pictures. I took several close pictures, walked back to my car, turned around, and saw that a freighter had just gone under the bridge sometime within the last 3 minutes! So, I raced back and took the second picture as well. The freighter went from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron just that quickly.

The Mighty Bear

Of course, some might not think that it is mighty, but the Bear River does get strong in some areas with the water a loud torrent. Especially here near the bridge, it can look like rapids. The water is quite deep here in places, and the salmon swim here as they spawn. It is fun to watch them suddenly jump out of the water as they're trying to get further up the river. Hopefully one day I'll get a picture of them jumping, but they are hard to catch, as the fishermen around here can attest.

A Compass to Guide Us

This was a place we spent quite a bit of time this summer, the library. This is the entrance that is a really beautiful rotunda and has a gorgeous compass rose in the center. My daughter loves to read, almost as much as I do, and we were there at least once a week, sometimes more during the summer. I'm so proud of her. She was in the Summer Reading Program and came in first for reading 271 books! And she was gone for 2 weeks this summer! She worked really hard and learned a lot about new places and things in which she was interested. So, visit the library and you might meet us there!

We have something new!

I saw this sign being put up a few weeks ago when I was in town, but only saw "gourmet eatery". I thought it was a little strange that another gourmet eatery was coming to town, as we already have several that are awesome! (Roast & Toast, Julieanne Tomatoes, Feast, among others) So, imagine my surprise when I drove by again and found out what this gourmet eatery really was! I don't have any pets, but I imagine those of you with pets would love to bring them here for a nosh once in a while. I wonder though... do they have separate areas for dogs and cats? Or does everyone get along well? Might need some more investigation

Winter interest

It may not look like it now, but these are very good to have around in the winter. They create interest in the garden, they are a bright spot of color in a very white world (which can go on for several months here), and sometimes they are food for the birds. Right now, they are just beautiful berries that don't show up well against the red leaf backdrop. But their time is coming!!

Can't get enough..

of all the fall colors? Then you're in the right place. This is for all of you who don't have the yearly change of color outside their windows and yet still enjoy it. Maybe this weekend we can actually make some piles and do some jumping!! More of the leaves are off the trees and on the ground now, so we'll have to see if it stays dry.