some of the grandies
upstairs
near the bunk-bed room
pajamas on
unwinding
problem-solving
still full of energy
after a long day
spent enjoying and exploring
the water and sand and gardens and lawn
way up north
on a warm and breezy
michigan night.
look at your feet. you are standing in the sky.
when we think of the sky, we tend to look up,
but the sky actually begins at the earth.
~diane ackerman
family climb at the sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore – empire, michigan
through the generations, murdick’s fudge on mackinac island
has been recognized as an iconic michigan favorite.
—
with 17 fudge shops on the celebrated historical mackinac island of michigan,
all offering free samples,
there is an ongoing rivalry between 6 rival companies,
each claiming to be the best.
my suggestion is to try them all to make it a fair contest
and decide for yourself.
—
mackinac island fudge festival | august 21-23, 2015
while fudge was not invented on mackinac island, mackinac island’s fudge has become the most popular fudge in america. this festival celebrates the creamy goodness with events such as Dining Under the Influence of Fudge, Fudge on the Rocks, Michigan Craft Brew Beer Tastings, Great Turtle Slow Ride and the coveted “Daddy, I Want the Golden Ticket” vacation giveaway.
happy national fudge day – june 16
—
save the earth. it’s the only planet with chocolate. ~author unknown
MACKINAC ISLAND
Covering 3.8 square miles, Mackinac Island is located in Lake Huron at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between Michigan’s Lower and Upper Peninsula. It is only accessible by ferry or plane. • The island was home to Native American settlements before European exploration began in the 1600s.
It also was a key site for the Great Lakes Fur Trade and was home to Fort Mackinac, built by the British during the American Revolutionary War. It was the scene of two battles during the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, the island became a popular tourist destination and summer colony, and that popularity gets stronger by the summer.
The entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Battle sites, historic buildings, the fort, and dozens of additional diversions, including Original Murdick’s Fudge, entertain visitors.
Because automobiles were banned from the village in 1898, and from the park in 1901, on-island transit is by foot, horse, carriage and bicycle.
—
image credits: mackinacisland.com, originalmurdicksfudge.com, michigan.com
and thanks for being in a the shape of a mitten
so i can always show where i’m from
or where i’m going
or where i got lost
and thanks for both peninsulas
i love both of you
and thanks for being surrounded by the 5 great lakes so i never go thirsty
and for being so close to canada so i can travel internationally
i know you’ve had some rough years
but you look pretty good for your age
at least to me.
how many minnows are in there?
what’s that thing?
is that place far away?
how many different colors are in there?
where did the sun go?
why is that bigger than my head?
who’s turn is it?
—
sittin’ on a dock on a bay…..
address:
on glen lake up north in michigan
a windy day
at empire beach
on lake michigan
by sleeping bear dunes
the more time i spend in the “always interesting” world of online dating, the more i’m amazed by the many options and specialized sites that appear. npr recently featured the latest in michigan dating sites: yooper. singles.com.
for those of you not familiar with the state of michigan, it’s made up of two peninsulas. the lower peninsula, and the more remote and rustic, upper peninsula. the upper peninsula (u.p.), is where the ‘yoopers’ live. originally settled by the native americans, and later the cornish and finns who came to work in the mining and logging industry, they have their own dialect, and have tried off and on to become their own state. much to their dismay, they are still a part of our state as of this posting.
one of the food mainstays for these hardy working people were pocket sandwiches/pies known as pasties. filled with root veggies, and with or without meat or fish, a pasty is considered an art form in the u.p., with recipes passed on through generations.
and just like people from every culture all over the world, yoopers are on the universal quest for love. thus, their site was born, and just like every other dating site, it has its own slant, target demographic, and set of parameters. to register you’re required to answer a series of questions only a yooper would love:
a) how do you prefer your pasty served?
naked, with ketchup, with gravy
b) favorite color?
carharrt tan, real tree camo, duct tape grey
c) interests?
wearing plaid, bear wrestling, outdoor snow activities, chopping wood, home brewing
d) favorite great lake?
and then there’s the pitch:
At Yooper Singles we will match you with a quality Yooper. Each of our members is looking for a long lasting connection, that’s deeper than Lake Superior. Every year, dozens of single Yoopers seek love in the vast forests of the Upper Peninsula and along the beaches of the Great Lakes. Yooper Steez pioneered the dating industry in the Upper Peninsula by launching Yooper Singles and within days, YS has served as many as eighteen Yoopers, across all fifteen Upper Peninsula counties. We continue to redefine the way single Yoopers meet, flirt, date and share pasties, proving time and again that you can make love happen in the Upper Peninsula and that lasting relationships are possible. Our members aren’t only serious about finding flannel, saunas, and pasties, they also seek love. Yooper Singles puts you in control of your love life; meeting that special Yooper and forming a lasting relationship, where you can live happily ever after … in a log cabin. Whether you’re interested in Lumberjack Dating, Fisherman Dating, Finnish Dating, Native American Dating, or just finding someone to share your venison with, we can help you find the date or relationship that fits you best. Search free through all of our online personals. Literally, dozens of single Yoopers in your area have posted their dating profiles on Yooper Singles. Young and old alike, bearded and not, from everywhere around the world, there is a Yooper waiting for you. Find your Yooper today!
and the reviews:
I have finally found my lifetime sauna partner — Toivo
Thanks, for helping me find my lumberjack— Jane
love, eh?
maybe i’ve been looking on the wrong peninsula?
i do really love the great lakes and pasties and accents.
still not sure about the bear wrestling though.
Right now, I’m as single as a slice of American cheese.
Nick Cannon
credits: npr/stateside, yooper.singles.com, michigan pasties
I didn't have my glasses on.... 