going over the frozen lake to mackinac island, michigan, 1950s

once the only way to get there in the winter months

—

while inside:

The Mackinac Island library’s fireplace, which roars with warmth when the temps don’t soar. the fireplace is adorned with tiles that are works of art, and above the fireplace is a Shakespeare quote from “The Tempest,” which is set on a fairy isle, not unlike Mackinac. It reads,

“The isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.”

—

source credits Mackinac Island Library 2023, Michigan Historical Society

this company knows how to mix things up!

what did you wear during your covid meeting days?

here’s something that i wore one day (with pajamas)

to surprise and cheer up my teaching partners and class

when we met online during this very challenging time.

channeling my inner llama

—

‘if you’ve got it, flaunt it, and if you don’t got it, flaunt it.’

-mindy kaling, american comedian/actress

a little guy who i work with (age 5)

wrote this in his journal in response to my question

what a brilliant list.

translation:

1.kindness

2. goofiness

3. dignity

—

‘it is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.’

photo credit: Sushma Hedge

Nelson, Australia, Estuary Beach

Where the river meets the ocean…

‘This has got to be one of the most unique beaches I’ve been to! The Estuary Beach in Nelson as the name suggests is the meeting place for the Glenelg river and the Southern ocean. On one end of the beach, the slow moving and meandering river is noticeable whilst on the other the ocean with its roaring waves! This makes for quite a sight if imagined! The beach also features a giant Oxbow Lake. The sort of shells I found here were quite different from the other beaches around the Great Ocean Road and the Melburnian Bay. This beach would provide as an excellent example for those studying the journey of a river from its source to the ocean. I would highly recommend anyone visiting the area to drop by and have a look at this unique beach.’ – S

another week and yet another fun grandie experience

this time it was grandie j’s turn

 who loves the performing arts

a natural actor who loves to entertain

always ready to pitch in

and do what needs doing

to bring a show to life.

 in his school play,

beetlejuice jr., the musical

he played a bettlejuice clone

was also a mover, helping with props and stage setup

 what a colorful and lively show

the actors truly seemed to have as much fun as the audience.

bravo, j!

so glad to see you doing what you love.

‘the world is a complicated place, and there’s a lot of division between people.

the performing arts tend to unify people in a way nothing else does.’

*david rubenstein 
*(a busy guy, see below)

*David Rubenstein  is an American lawyer, businessman, and philanthropist. A former government official, he is a co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group based in Washington, D.C. Rubenstein is also the principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles (MLB).

Rubenstein is the chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the National Gallery or Art, the Council of Foreign Relations and the Washington D.C. Economic Club. He is a former board of trustees chairman at Duke University and the Smithsonian Institution. He served as co-chair of the board at Brookings Institution. In 2022, he became chair of the University of Chicago’s board of trustees.

grandie f whizzes by in the velodrome in detroit

loves to fly on his bike

 works hard for these races

he did wonderfully

 came in 3rd place overall

against opponents who

were older and more experienced

 what a huge accomplishment

keep flying high, f

‘push yourself again and again. don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.’

-larry bird

.word of the day is: ‘quafftide’ (16th century): the season for drinking.

also a pithy way of declaring that it’s time to relax.

works for hydropots (water drinkers) just as well.

*suzy dent

—

photo credit: elizabeth villanueva

deep within the winter forest

among the snowdrift wide

you can find a magic place

where all the fairies hide.

-author unknown

—

nichols arboretum, ann arbor, michigan, usa – winter 2025