Finally posted something new…

Added a link to a small photo gallery of pictures from our fall 2015 trip to the U.P. We visited Indian Lake, Historic Fayette, Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor as well as St. Ignace on our way back home.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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Alaska Vacation Slideshow

Myrtle Beach Sunrise

Just a little animated gif from our sunrise pictures taken at Myrtle Beach.

Sunrise at Myrtle Beach

Vacation September 2012

Hello from Myrtle Beach. Can’t believe we are finally here. We are enjoying relaxing and “recharging”. The sunrise is beautiful. We also are enjoying the fruits of North and South Carolina thanks to friends and the Myrtle Farmer’s Market.


Below are some Southern Treats that we are enjoying during our stay:

A friend of ours in North Carolina sent these home-made “fruits of her labor” with us. We have been enjoying them on the road (especially the strawberry preserves with bagels and cream cheese). The pickled jalapenos are not for the faint of heart! They are potent and guaranteed to clear out your sinuses!

We have never seen real Muscadine Grapes here in Michigan. Got these today at the farmer’s market in Myrtle Beach. They are mainly used for wine, but they taste sweet with the thick skin that tastes somewhat like a tart Granny Smith apple.

Most people associate Chestnuts with Christmas, but they are in season right now in North Carolina. They are encased in a prickly husk (called a burr) and fall out of the tree where the burr splits open on the ground. Thank goodness for that- as it is, a serious nut gatherer would need some thick leather gloves to bring in a proper harvest! As these burrs are tennis-ball size, it is amazing to me as to it’s natural selection process, i.e. what type of animal would have been the one to get it caught in their fur to carry it (and its seeds) to it’s new destination- a wooly mammoth or bison? I wonder if someone has thought of this question. Heaven knows dog Barkley has carried in his share of small backyard burrs! The next evening after harvesting, we enjoyed those sweet Chestnuts on the grill- yum!

Finally, real winter weather in Michigan !

Finally, we actually had a good freeze and a nice light snow. A great day to cozy up indoors and watch our winter friends at the bird feeder. It is interesting how the squirrel uses his tail to shelter him from the snow while he is eating- now we know what a squirrel’s tail is good for!

Barkley also is enjoying the snow (and chasing the squirrels!)

We are also enjoying the black-capped chickadees swooping in for a free meal!

Happy Winter!