Summer Vacation in the Upper Pennisula...A Whole New World

In June, the boys and I joined a group of about 12 families for a fabulous camping experience in Michigan's Upper Pennisula. The trip was part of a National Park Service Program to expose families from Detroit to the National Forest System in Michigan. The group photo was taken at Taquamanon Falls. Here is another pic of the falls. The water is a copper color from the tannins in the oak leaves that line the area.








Our itinerary included Hartwick Pines where we hiked among old growth forest areas that included white pines, oak and maples trees. The Park's educator grew up in the Detroit area and was excited to share the park with us.








We arrived at our home base at Clear Lake Education Center located in Hiawatha National Forest at about 4:00 p.m. The camp site was well equipped with plenty of cabins, a building for meetings and media center and one with a full kitchen and eating area. We were welcomed by two Park Rangers (Mimi and Dave) and were assigned cabins. My boys and I shared a cabin with the Moore's and Dixon's -- three moms and seven boys, ranging from 6 years old to 17 in all!! We are all pictured here with Mr. D...he and his wife were the trip organizers.


We spent a whole day hiking in Hiawatha National Forest where we learned how the habitat here contributes to a healthy eco system and how we (humans) are impacting the forest-- both negatively through pollution and positively through conservation efforts. Although it was raining most of the day, we made the best of it.


This lighthouse was at Pictured Rocks National Shoreline. It was foggy that day but still beautiful. We toured the lighthouse, as well as the historic home that had been restored and learned about the bootleggers who operated in the area because of the proximity to Canada... that's something Detroit and the U.P. have in common!

We had a chance to try six different activities in one day including kayaking, mountain biking and fishing. My favorite was the kayaks and I have since gone kayaking several times.

Evenings were a chance to share a meal, make new friends and play games.

All in all, it was a great trip and one we will remember for a very long time. Thanks to the National Park Service and trip organizers, Delashon and Nick Dicrese, Lisa Perez and Ranger Dave!!

Knitting and Stitching and Sewing, Oh My!

I learned to knit and crochet as a child but hadn't done so for a very long time. A couple of years ago while on my annual Ladies Camping weekend, I was inspired to pick up some yarn and needles. A number of the women were brought their knitting and crocheting projects. One of the women who had back surgery in the past year had knitted and felted a huge number of bags. The ones she had with her were beautiful. When I returned home, I decided that I wanted to relearn to knit so I could make a felted handbag. So, I went to the store and bought some yarn, needles and a "teach yourself to knit" book.

I now have a collection of knitting and crocheting books and patterns and tons of yarn. My favorite place for yarn and great instruction is City Knits. They are located in the Fisher Building in Detroit. They also have a store in Mt. Clemens. Their website is http://www.cityknits.com/
Always on the lookout for local sources for anything that I want to buy, I attend a Lavendar Festival and discovered not only locally raised yarns from alpaca and sheep, but also beautiful knitting needles made from Michigan hardwoods. This summer while we were up north, we took a trip to East Jordan, Michigan, home to Stonehedge Fiber Mill. Here are a couple of photos. Debbie McDermott is the owner. She gave us a tour of the farm and mill and we met her herd of about 50 sheep (She called each one by name!)

We also met a pair of African Geese named Lucy and Desi and a young rooster who responded to Khairi's "cock-a-doodle, do"

I took a sewing class last spring with the goal of being able to read a pattern and do simple projects... probably more handbags and totes! More on that at another time. So now, I knit and felt bags, have made a few more bags from old wool sweaters. Decided to try make bookmarks and glass cases. Learned some simple embroidery...

I have accumulated about a dozen finished bags and an assortment of bookmarks and glass cases, so...

Last summer I decided that the time was right to begin selling my bags, so I now have a website on Etsy, a forum for selling handmade and vintage items. I have also done a couple of custom orders, which has been fun. My clients pick the yarn colors, fabric for the lining and pendant. I have sold a few bags, but I am not spending much time these days on it, which is ok. I mostly knit, etc. as a creative outlet, anyhow. I have made many gifts for family and friends and just bought enought yarn to knit myself a sweater. As soon as I have time to start it...

It's a Farm Thing- Summer Vacation 2009

I love living in the city, but always enjoy vacationing up north in Michigan. We have such a beautiful state and I want the boys to appreciate how people live in other parts of the world, so we are starting right here in our home state. Thanks to my friend, James, we have had access to his cottage which is about 3 1/2 hours from home. It is in Oscoda County and most of the surrounding area is rural. The boys can fish right off the dock on James' property. Theo did a great job of teaching his little brother how to fish. Khairi caught several fish with his "Lightening McQueen" fishing pole, including a 14" small mouth bass (we threw her/him back in.)

Last year, I became friends with Jill, who lives across the road and this year, she invited us on a field trip. She took us to an Amish bakery and country store. The bakery was a small house that you entered through the front screen door. On the counter were these wonderful breads, pies, cookies and cinammon rolls. All the items had price stickers on them. There was a can on the counter with a sign that said "Put your money in the can." We bought some cinnamon rolls and then headed down the road to the country store. Now, if you are not familiar, the Amish are a close knit community that shuns many of what we would consider necessities (cars, electricity, phones, etc.) The country store is a little unusual because it is open to the public. Although, unless you know someone who lives nearby, you would not likely find it on your own. I purchased a 10lb. bag of unbleached flour and some chocolate.

I asked Jill if she knew where I might buy farm raised chickens. My family and I do not eat strictly vegetarian, but we don't eat conventionally raised meat. (Read Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan or Fast Food Nation by Eric Schosser or Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver for more on that topic). We spotted a postcard on the board in the store that stated "Chickens. Call Mary. Phone Number" I called and Mary indicated that she raised chickens on her family farm and had dressed and frozen birds available. We headed over to meet her at her home.

We arrived about 15 minutes later and were greeted by a young Menonite woman and her dad. This part of Michigan is also home to a large community of Menonites, who also live very modestly. (Although many do drive, have phones and electricity, etc.). I purchased three chickens. Mary's dad offered to show us around the farm. I'm not sure who was more excited... me or the boys. Mr. T took us out to the cow pasture, where about a dozen cows moseyed over to us. A couple of them even let us touch them. Mr. T explained that he raised cows, pigs, chickens for meat and he processed animals from the surrounding farms. We met a couple dozen pigs that were outside in their large pen. Inside the barn were the most beautiful Rhode Island Red Chickens. Mr. T went into the chicken area and brought out two warm, just laid eggs for the boys. He then took them into another area of the barn where they could see and hold two-day old baby chicks. We talked about the work of the farm, how the animals were cared for, etc. He also told us about his missionary work to Haiti. We finished our visit by admiring Mrs. T's garden. She came out from the house to harvest some onions for something she was cooking inside.

Mr. T invited us to come by again and we said our good byes. I got the feeling that Mr. T does not generally give "tours" to people who come to buy chickens from his daughter. I felt definitely felt honored.

Theo, Khairi and me hanging out with Mr. T's cows.

Fishing at dusk on Moon Lake.

The view of Moon Lake from the back deck.