tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45370520358868010432024-03-05T10:41:25.415-05:00My Kitchen, My ViceSomehow or other, life always comes back to the kitchen.Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-16818312669733150822017-06-16T09:31:00.001-04:002017-06-16T09:34:14.943-04:00Join us tonight at the Ypsilanti Book CrawlWhat do these images all have in common?<br />
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Find out tonight at the <a href="http://aabookfestival.org/home/2017-festival/2017-book-crawl/" target="_blank">Ypsilanti Book Crawl.</a> We will be at the <a href="https://www.ypsilibrary.org/using-library/locations-hours" target="_blank">Michigan Ave Branch</a> of the library sharing our book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1546573283/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mykitchenmyvi-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1546573283&linkId=acf0e3a9ce692270967167bb1f40159d" target="_blank">Screen-Free Summer </a>and hosting a discussion and Activity Buffet. The event is part of the Ann Arbor Book Festival and our portion is sometime between 6 and 7:30pm.<br />
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One of my co-authors and I have prepared a reading in shared voices, which promises to be fun.<br />
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Come, taste, and see!Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-56336342853666286962017-05-15T12:43:00.001-04:002017-05-15T12:56:07.703-04:00Announcing our latest project: Screen-Free Summer book!Do you ever have an idea, an idea that you <i>just know</i> wants to be realized? This idea came to us one morning when we were all home, at least one of us nursing a head cold. We cleared off the table in flurry, rolled out about 4 feet of butcher paper, and started spewing ideas. The outline came together in less than an hour, and the final product in just a few weeks. <br />
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Here it is, our first non-fiction paperback and e-book! <br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Screen-Free-Summer-Endless-Device-Season-ebook/dp/B071NRG6KT/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494865445&sr=1-1&keywords=screen+free+summer" target="_blank">Available on Amazon</a>, of course.<br />
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It's 261 ideas for summer fun that do not involve a screen, tablet, computer, or device of any kind. Not because we are against devices and the benefits they offer, but because so much of life requires screens these days, and we find it refreshing to be away from them. And, because sometimes we need permission, inspiration, and empowerment to go against the norm.<br />
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<i>We hereby permit you, inspire you, and empower you to encourage your families to step away from the screen this summer!</i><br />
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We'd love to hear how it goes. Post your experiences and more ideas for screen-free activities here or on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Screen-Free-Summer-Endless-Ideas-320171191730624/" target="_blank">our facebook page</a> (yep, there's a bit of irony there, but hey).<br />
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And if you find anything of value in the book, please consider leaving an Amazon review. That will boost the book's ranking and give us warm fuzzies.Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-22144038098140023872016-11-28T21:56:00.000-05:002016-11-28T21:56:53.600-05:00We must love the bees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">SPRING</span></b><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YUO655bFgKL-fgG9VAhdYkRdhW29h2cyAqOVtKs7VQ2Bk1B4_AB8zoXd24wQgCIN2huUxwRKpY_EdXCTLfqmzM8eIlpsZclSiIHceEXvoH5YpSb5EhCfazpEr5plYaNVU6KOWdhkPoU/s1600/IMG_6844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YUO655bFgKL-fgG9VAhdYkRdhW29h2cyAqOVtKs7VQ2Bk1B4_AB8zoXd24wQgCIN2huUxwRKpY_EdXCTLfqmzM8eIlpsZclSiIHceEXvoH5YpSb5EhCfazpEr5plYaNVU6KOWdhkPoU/s320/IMG_6844.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the bees first came to us, they arrived in the white mini-hive.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We put the bees from the mini hive into the main hive.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We checked on them a few weeks later. See our veils, gloves, and long sleeves?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We lift out each bar to check if it contains brood (baby bees) or honey.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bees are doing great! The queen is laying eggs and worker bees are being born every day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the brood nest. See the thick caps on the cells? This is where the eggs grow to become larva (baby bees).</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">SUMMER</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the days and nights are hot, the bees cool off by sleeping outside! This is called "bearding."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a beard! They usually go back into the hive by morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's important to have a container of water for the bees to drink. A shallow dish with rocks works nicely.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bees stand on the edge of the rock to drink the water. This always reminds me of wildebeests!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-8n3py8uDG76k1QkcjOv0RAtZdzLq1wqhMz43-7v8q9NZ0dEzwLa1WwCw4CuBJ4HDNCaERsK02Hqaf1eRPjp09Sryn3v8u6p9HfKvekCu9rAVpVHBifQNl5LhhF9K-cL8C-TjrVTby0/s1600/wildebeests.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-8n3py8uDG76k1QkcjOv0RAtZdzLq1wqhMz43-7v8q9NZ0dEzwLa1WwCw4CuBJ4HDNCaERsK02Hqaf1eRPjp09Sryn3v8u6p9HfKvekCu9rAVpVHBifQNl5LhhF9K-cL8C-TjrVTby0/s1600/wildebeests.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBW4WL3VHvaEEgqGj0f6zCQeF_I5aHqQIlV2_c6KY_hLbC-TOognX7-8HiT2ecmWq7CeaVLTVWzDp5WcHalV2VuwRP3HUF06t1RHLAS-GlrzwsZoPWCiwbosQIzBBWaE9SVoUAfP2qXQ/s1600/IMG_7935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBW4WL3VHvaEEgqGj0f6zCQeF_I5aHqQIlV2_c6KY_hLbC-TOognX7-8HiT2ecmWq7CeaVLTVWzDp5WcHalV2VuwRP3HUF06t1RHLAS-GlrzwsZoPWCiwbosQIzBBWaE9SVoUAfP2qXQ/s320/IMG_7935.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to watch the bees coming and going. They spend most of the day foraging for nectar and pollen. Nectar is what becomes honey when some of the water content evaporates. Pollen is the food for the baby bees.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevZB3zSmlXYvu1Z4lZrySGGOaRNXBK0OJnOLnQBmcDiltwkWyfAk7DOGYB9e4x8RLgIaJ_9rQUJSDPKJh4ZrBwe-Hz3NU9-14sDCu0OYOby2Pbgd8Jkca6tkgc3Vk_TiFe7e5-0W1Qbc/s1600/IMG_7787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevZB3zSmlXYvu1Z4lZrySGGOaRNXBK0OJnOLnQBmcDiltwkWyfAk7DOGYB9e4x8RLgIaJ_9rQUJSDPKJh4ZrBwe-Hz3NU9-14sDCu0OYOby2Pbgd8Jkca6tkgc3Vk_TiFe7e5-0W1Qbc/s320/IMG_7787.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are some honeycombs, cut right from the bars.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIyRAs8x1xmm50ImmWjAwuJl2C-JgRtyuD_GihGCTBDsPrR4wNolSN3bIJIZbuFHwmceH1xTGSCE564G-sW-r4j-5vba0d0PUvfrNO4roLqwIiUftCJcA_RJ90QDOyQWf3Gf0zEArouk/s1600/IMG_7788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIyRAs8x1xmm50ImmWjAwuJl2C-JgRtyuD_GihGCTBDsPrR4wNolSN3bIJIZbuFHwmceH1xTGSCE564G-sW-r4j-5vba0d0PUvfrNO4roLqwIiUftCJcA_RJ90QDOyQWf3Gf0zEArouk/s320/IMG_7788.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We cut the caps off the cells to let the honey out.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIrEpUkgXt60BNFqXzK1jhHHaQAzHVCeZU1hb_SLCy6ll1ebfdOyBZ7HujxWjB42DevNKVpZiYyO-HDwHT6TZynLHCkb4I1sXCI5Ufr0zSk9rNvj77-Xe7xBRUsoxp0rW5QzKisLwyXg/s1600/IMG_7790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIrEpUkgXt60BNFqXzK1jhHHaQAzHVCeZU1hb_SLCy6ll1ebfdOyBZ7HujxWjB42DevNKVpZiYyO-HDwHT6TZynLHCkb4I1sXCI5Ufr0zSk9rNvj77-Xe7xBRUsoxp0rW5QzKisLwyXg/s320/IMG_7790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We mash the honeycomb gently.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFUet2oZvasBltZZ9AQ6igpEQoSiP7nQ2WNm5D58YHen30myWvzShXfNrejdN2IuI2DBItakyB2-C2a7WrsUJeasTUbZpcZlaf9QmAgY5sN70w65ea7c4gB9DJ1l3_YYiqG4F2c5dlAk/s1600/IMG_7793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFUet2oZvasBltZZ9AQ6igpEQoSiP7nQ2WNm5D58YHen30myWvzShXfNrejdN2IuI2DBItakyB2-C2a7WrsUJeasTUbZpcZlaf9QmAgY5sN70w65ea7c4gB9DJ1l3_YYiqG4F2c5dlAk/s320/IMG_7793.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we pour it into sieves and let it drip into a clean bucket.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ANgbnhhJYYPOp3ZCIf3kVsGKHYvAKBjb6FqucqZjKfgJD63kSTuWixVxARyZtEPJIMIt0425hhW0eidTFswIdIGMxz3utc642g-MAvvZiSJQV02PIC9h9C5pQ-YqvdUvXE9YLcDz7yI/s1600/IMG_7794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ANgbnhhJYYPOp3ZCIf3kVsGKHYvAKBjb6FqucqZjKfgJD63kSTuWixVxARyZtEPJIMIt0425hhW0eidTFswIdIGMxz3utc642g-MAvvZiSJQV02PIC9h9C5pQ-YqvdUvXE9YLcDz7yI/s320/IMG_7794.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The honey drains down and the wax combs remain. These can be made into candles or lip balm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4E1l9Npt7Yp_AYnFh1zLzxoI0ziKTJkN0bU-_FPDk-ZSuXP9cY4PDDGMufsTTikUGffj0lv8fxpU7Nlr4bdgGEM-BeP8GyM9GJ_SK2NCiffzhql7xYLiY6qmybqrkKCegCbHKbEgfpaE/s1600/IMG_7795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4E1l9Npt7Yp_AYnFh1zLzxoI0ziKTJkN0bU-_FPDk-ZSuXP9cY4PDDGMufsTTikUGffj0lv8fxpU7Nlr4bdgGEM-BeP8GyM9GJ_SK2NCiffzhql7xYLiY6qmybqrkKCegCbHKbEgfpaE/s320/IMG_7795.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We pour the honey from the bucket into jars and use it throughout the year for tea and baking.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">FALL</span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszDkkcTdB02eftdGx1dUrcppuvJutNhiQXi8aj-6ZvhnKXMAzxcvQAXrdp_Lvj7iLpyThMIMXj7AGJWnJoGPpcNvEiTKWN5jHlU1wgmuLiosc6_I8-ZcWxzKqDnhuVMtmMN0INXuwYGE/s1600/IMG_7333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszDkkcTdB02eftdGx1dUrcppuvJutNhiQXi8aj-6ZvhnKXMAzxcvQAXrdp_Lvj7iLpyThMIMXj7AGJWnJoGPpcNvEiTKWN5jHlU1wgmuLiosc6_I8-ZcWxzKqDnhuVMtmMN0INXuwYGE/s320/IMG_7333.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To keep the bees warm, we fill a pillowcase with dry leaves and set it under the roof of the hive.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWcODJCEQtVx4fxXncCH9RmecFwYDBWWRfoK2rQQs1L9eMsPAIKXw5q9Iv6fU0VbcMfsdSiXtPiCfpwrPNvmYCLaz5RlYTU9xja5Xbpa4aM3sa4dqlp_-BAPV6tQcTkCMsknZiHTFMRI/s1600/IMG_7334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWcODJCEQtVx4fxXncCH9RmecFwYDBWWRfoK2rQQs1L9eMsPAIKXw5q9Iv6fU0VbcMfsdSiXtPiCfpwrPNvmYCLaz5RlYTU9xja5Xbpa4aM3sa4dqlp_-BAPV6tQcTkCMsknZiHTFMRI/s320/IMG_7334.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also block off most of the entrance so mice don't get in.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">WINTER</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC38keg7I9nP3bIH1_R7tPpXXNbWtIVa7cO5Gf1OUnhP2IO5X8ebR4gXSgrL4rkRGHyvK1unS4BymSuzjXg8w7a2fv_oMvgxO7jojkWsU88LPTxkQhnWc1XhduvdXStx_OzBZVRdu6lSE/s1600/IMG_7466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC38keg7I9nP3bIH1_R7tPpXXNbWtIVa7cO5Gf1OUnhP2IO5X8ebR4gXSgrL4rkRGHyvK1unS4BymSuzjXg8w7a2fv_oMvgxO7jojkWsU88LPTxkQhnWc1XhduvdXStx_OzBZVRdu6lSE/s320/IMG_7466.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a warm day in winter, the bees will make elimination flights.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPpsBvYE37ReQGP-iXbTlnaWyolpabmzYlfZGWCxxgfDFc3q_2cV1QEJ992sVeAj3pVPP-30subc_DaS-c7kjoqSafH34I_UkyilCxlNFJwoWmuYJZmGZqy6o902nzCDeU2yQ3U8COOo/s1600/IMG_7467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPpsBvYE37ReQGP-iXbTlnaWyolpabmzYlfZGWCxxgfDFc3q_2cV1QEJ992sVeAj3pVPP-30subc_DaS-c7kjoqSafH34I_UkyilCxlNFJwoWmuYJZmGZqy6o902nzCDeU2yQ3U8COOo/s320/IMG_7467.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They also push any dead bees out of the hive.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> SPRING AGAIN!</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfo_-Q9yO2di2iW3TRx436-iFRCTd4bdHWz3uiEQkoOIwlqh_EqaVCjC1_zBhvHO81Y4tzY0s7W3F5QVkkEnKrAIhccV519uk5jXZa-J8CBExBoSux-QX3uW_94Lxi6JmRfTnqYVPFYgo/s1600/IMG_3704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfo_-Q9yO2di2iW3TRx436-iFRCTd4bdHWz3uiEQkoOIwlqh_EqaVCjC1_zBhvHO81Y4tzY0s7W3F5QVkkEnKrAIhccV519uk5jXZa-J8CBExBoSux-QX3uW_94Lxi6JmRfTnqYVPFYgo/s320/IMG_3704.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freshly made comb. Will the bees fill it with honey or brood?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifZdeRJ42fG7wYM-9k85mgJAOs6qLYGehPKXto-hNAEat939j0PJFvBuh5ys4_LEKAkHt3WpjIFqRo90WwNjZxOK5JYuX7j7cvcGLXmFr7ugPcvRrmRWEtaBjZMGyeYmc2KcZlKN6cm0/s1600/beebirth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifZdeRJ42fG7wYM-9k85mgJAOs6qLYGehPKXto-hNAEat939j0PJFvBuh5ys4_LEKAkHt3WpjIFqRo90WwNjZxOK5JYuX7j7cvcGLXmFr7ugPcvRrmRWEtaBjZMGyeYmc2KcZlKN6cm0/s640/beebirth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bee being born (coming out of its cell).</td></tr>
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Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-91282278655089389972014-09-04T21:09:00.000-04:002014-09-04T21:09:04.834-04:00You know life is full when...You know life is full when.....<br />
<br />
....... there isn't much time to write about it.<br />
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It's hard to believe that weeks have turned into months since I last spent some quality time writing about the happenings of this vibrant family. And it's not for a lack of vibrancy. Quite the other way.<br />
<br />
Well, there was a creative <a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2014/09/playing-in-his-presence-little-womens.html" target="_blank">women's retreat</a>, a bit of asthma, a <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/maycie/an-ohio-news-anchor-performed-a-cover-of-let-it-go-from-froz#3heh1h1" target="_blank">polar vortex</a>, a touch of pneumonia, a handful of students, a<a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2014/09/triumph-for-pool-kids-triathlon.html" target="_blank"> kids triathlon</a>, a pack of <a href="https://dogvacay.com/the-yarden-puppy-palace-dog-boarding-205752" target="_blank">delightful dogs</a>, a <a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2014/09/michigan-vacay-july-2014.html" target="_blank">road trip</a> or <a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2014/09/historic-america-vacay.html" target="_blank">two</a>, and the regular amount of birthdays.<br />
<br />
I'm hoping to reflect more, wonder more, and zoom through life a little less.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dIDvS1Q_a8hyphenhyphenMiNrJ4cs8KHAKyHPWPzYACynuvuPFLt9SjH_0xtpd0KFFBA_I4V0X9Wc2pSup8H6lBFSVhpeYY9013UgH-eFYxcr52VCAf0wF2dAjX_j92-u-xjfWzXYLAajgCgI8wQ/s1600/IMG_7699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dIDvS1Q_a8hyphenhyphenMiNrJ4cs8KHAKyHPWPzYACynuvuPFLt9SjH_0xtpd0KFFBA_I4V0X9Wc2pSup8H6lBFSVhpeYY9013UgH-eFYxcr52VCAf0wF2dAjX_j92-u-xjfWzXYLAajgCgI8wQ/s1600/IMG_7699.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-73228732373908030562014-09-04T21:07:00.004-04:002014-09-04T21:07:58.284-04:00Triumph for the pool: kids triathlon!They did it again. The kids triathlon fundraiser.<br />
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Swim.<br />
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Bike.<br />
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Run.<br />
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So fun!<br />
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<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-84000218067639828002014-09-04T20:45:00.000-04:002014-09-04T20:45:03.263-04:00Historic America VacayVirginia and DC called, and we answered. Actually we were invited to a wedding of a dear, long-lost friend, so we decided to make a proper trip of it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukhvr0vaFki_4rQuEszGNPGYAWa9Ic89Sv9DOxBEt-xwQNChNZlmlB1Z8N4SpR36fdtbbObMcfha6WXHb4LkTxFQLVMxiEFGhmQMKBvFiBwaOMSW5JVykGqMP-brrBj209QspivceWX8/s1600/IMG_7639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukhvr0vaFki_4rQuEszGNPGYAWa9Ic89Sv9DOxBEt-xwQNChNZlmlB1Z8N4SpR36fdtbbObMcfha6WXHb4LkTxFQLVMxiEFGhmQMKBvFiBwaOMSW5JVykGqMP-brrBj209QspivceWX8/s1600/IMG_7639.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allegheny Trail</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nAeBvm4g9xHYiDSr_gSFvyJFuWaNeyNEZvij3TXOXwEUtn64vas4faunh9qOcx6kL8XkRW2yhD0U08gWACbkLJP9rP1bFOHFC6vR4RoiIgFzkhjYPcU1yzkM-mQgOkt7wTVqEdrtBw0/s1600/IMG_7641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nAeBvm4g9xHYiDSr_gSFvyJFuWaNeyNEZvij3TXOXwEUtn64vas4faunh9qOcx6kL8XkRW2yhD0U08gWACbkLJP9rP1bFOHFC6vR4RoiIgFzkhjYPcU1yzkM-mQgOkt7wTVqEdrtBw0/s1600/IMG_7641.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">look out point somewhere in West Virginia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffZHG_8VdZdMUQhJMBCPVdhJm4Zf0kYWTye4oZWD3V4hsnD4jlHBADo8exTt_p7da3BHlPfuzTKUxfyag7xLaS-FQgSJ4MW_z8BtkLhyphenhyphen8YrqbIMuUYFcq9cRXcX0RxXqVTdXcsgJL-h4/s1600/IMG_7647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffZHG_8VdZdMUQhJMBCPVdhJm4Zf0kYWTye4oZWD3V4hsnD4jlHBADo8exTt_p7da3BHlPfuzTKUxfyag7xLaS-FQgSJ4MW_z8BtkLhyphenhyphen8YrqbIMuUYFcq9cRXcX0RxXqVTdXcsgJL-h4/s1600/IMG_7647.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel of the Centurion, Fort Monroe, VA</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVUqWfqlTzpa0uO1-bU7Nm_WHO60y0gz-7DI-B2Meh1dKgpuCLhLBsT5b10gB152efNpqPQ7kLXbPCcePkG0wVy7qE0-i16icGexEK0gG4cJTvW-RnLGoeGN9LK1Lrm1SFiEHObPV5gw/s1600/10431229_10203740529968168_2743259626491223499_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVUqWfqlTzpa0uO1-bU7Nm_WHO60y0gz-7DI-B2Meh1dKgpuCLhLBsT5b10gB152efNpqPQ7kLXbPCcePkG0wVy7qE0-i16icGexEK0gG4cJTvW-RnLGoeGN9LK1Lrm1SFiEHObPV5gw/s1600/10431229_10203740529968168_2743259626491223499_o.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny and Carsten</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKpyU7r_GcDD_q37BOuOq3Dhp6JIO24EdMqv-hsaGEHVKVebDf5Y4l2dTFoiKxK9tyDLTx8x-etWJwuhoH7hby7ZEIUrFAMR2YLN34Yh0begGUg2wAuBzTunuTS-VNaSbDobkfqTzkhY/s1600/IMG_7650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKpyU7r_GcDD_q37BOuOq3Dhp6JIO24EdMqv-hsaGEHVKVebDf5Y4l2dTFoiKxK9tyDLTx8x-etWJwuhoH7hby7ZEIUrFAMR2YLN34Yh0begGUg2wAuBzTunuTS-VNaSbDobkfqTzkhY/s1600/IMG_7650.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Monroe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYY41zuF0AaeUWbtw2MrRFd0b3Kni98bhuGHhhSWaWHM4CAunN7779IF_ePe9EjeRvtti5my8b_g1Eg0ZzraZBLSStvSvKZH-MiiZxaJEV1D-wzVtIeALCek6tvUJnp5SOLT1zQgIIuM/s1600/IMG_7664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYY41zuF0AaeUWbtw2MrRFd0b3Kni98bhuGHhhSWaWHM4CAunN7779IF_ePe9EjeRvtti5my8b_g1Eg0ZzraZBLSStvSvKZH-MiiZxaJEV1D-wzVtIeALCek6tvUJnp5SOLT1zQgIIuM/s1600/IMG_7664.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Monroe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrolQih9_X1YbsGhwLT62tOrQ7kZIRp6qJecKlTq7kOLSNnlKAO1mKwvOHfIWC475sCPTUNSwmrdh5vbuy99jGCgYbtdSexJn6QlH-5mSAEdtmuztJozDcnNNGkNXN-c7XgLiEyy8aic/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrolQih9_X1YbsGhwLT62tOrQ7kZIRp6qJecKlTq7kOLSNnlKAO1mKwvOHfIWC475sCPTUNSwmrdh5vbuy99jGCgYbtdSexJn6QlH-5mSAEdtmuztJozDcnNNGkNXN-c7XgLiEyy8aic/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Monroe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8z_KvVsB8EE3dig_gotJva50MY1wF1GkCtbqP7xxWXfrYPjr1TFonjg4dSlrgKpY7Hz9MSSiyrm3EMriOQemHQyXPcT46CQzkUUA_kTdM-Do_qqWJXyi4nJdN_wPMMCJ95-7f_gGSAjM/s1600/IMG_7690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8z_KvVsB8EE3dig_gotJva50MY1wF1GkCtbqP7xxWXfrYPjr1TFonjg4dSlrgKpY7Hz9MSSiyrm3EMriOQemHQyXPcT46CQzkUUA_kTdM-Do_qqWJXyi4nJdN_wPMMCJ95-7f_gGSAjM/s1600/IMG_7690.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Langley Air Force Base</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5cpTpA3zo4AYn0WjIQmWoC8flLAaYzhcjYxvf5OPIDSumfKdWK6JK1DwK5OOPBdrixDG8bGrluGZdXv2G-CpGUw2bUSbXxj6kH8-Ku3S9ud4ZtGxfNP4npRzY8s3Hw7N9Gaf8AWPxY8/s1600/IMG_7693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5cpTpA3zo4AYn0WjIQmWoC8flLAaYzhcjYxvf5OPIDSumfKdWK6JK1DwK5OOPBdrixDG8bGrluGZdXv2G-CpGUw2bUSbXxj6kH8-Ku3S9ud4ZtGxfNP4npRzY8s3Hw7N9Gaf8AWPxY8/s1600/IMG_7693.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckroe Beach, VA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJNc4PcPk20D5uoB99a433BSwo9niR-MrtOMprpw8BbYhRhDOKxGZQ78cJOe-hAJHo3qyTphplHL157sJBOcQHPlKL01sBT6DMeCqmw5UYf35pVa8oXzKAl7ubKo5eckPEL7jPAysBg8/s1600/IMG_7701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJNc4PcPk20D5uoB99a433BSwo9niR-MrtOMprpw8BbYhRhDOKxGZQ78cJOe-hAJHo3qyTphplHL157sJBOcQHPlKL01sBT6DMeCqmw5UYf35pVa8oXzKAl7ubKo5eckPEL7jPAysBg8/s1600/IMG_7701.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colonial Williamsburg, VA</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWMQef3Ux2fvVUIOFbGWVxsaJ9NpmW4SFasDEP3LN_heM10eUsGYXz9IvvnGVc4UsfNQf8ebU7snN88smb1jINgtNRAX0u4nmaVShTwhiEOjEbYwZQqPdpdyJ15pJox6gk9RfSHc0p7Q/s1600/IMG_7704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWMQef3Ux2fvVUIOFbGWVxsaJ9NpmW4SFasDEP3LN_heM10eUsGYXz9IvvnGVc4UsfNQf8ebU7snN88smb1jINgtNRAX0u4nmaVShTwhiEOjEbYwZQqPdpdyJ15pJox6gk9RfSHc0p7Q/s1600/IMG_7704.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Williamsburg, VA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHAl58rXqE8OC7WaxD3VbQW3q0eBL9PxRnT6pBIQczZqsoU_XinYgSHhTgS1tM2UiPHR1mYpueAPq5YSCp98x9rRYih_tY7ShQaqHnTEGxJvETiv6Hs8PuaPPVNRvUw-n8mQwIfYOCoc/s1600/IMG_7705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHAl58rXqE8OC7WaxD3VbQW3q0eBL9PxRnT6pBIQczZqsoU_XinYgSHhTgS1tM2UiPHR1mYpueAPq5YSCp98x9rRYih_tY7ShQaqHnTEGxJvETiv6Hs8PuaPPVNRvUw-n8mQwIfYOCoc/s1600/IMG_7705.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">College of William and Mary, VA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1zKUAYEsIBZsvL-4FsQm7CaHGmnAUspH75QRvW1dMaQLpxlhYY7v1zs6Me-uY_QOomU-6vjWY7HcKcGriSReYoTBuKaXFz61qi8MoX9huik5tGgUZQvqE9JvIScAp18-sWGRcW1EAkA/s1600/IMG_7707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1zKUAYEsIBZsvL-4FsQm7CaHGmnAUspH75QRvW1dMaQLpxlhYY7v1zs6Me-uY_QOomU-6vjWY7HcKcGriSReYoTBuKaXFz61qi8MoX9huik5tGgUZQvqE9JvIScAp18-sWGRcW1EAkA/s1600/IMG_7707.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmP6LcTPX-ohB3uYohjkjnpNXLGQxXp9UnWV_UkbldFFF-sp2zLsN34zL1S_CBaL95yaFSnaydY9TKNoVXNfyOTIvsAr1Nj2ejkMOFGP1JX211hquAySNJ4JriYY1qwbdGa9osXKP8H-M/s1600/IMG_7709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmP6LcTPX-ohB3uYohjkjnpNXLGQxXp9UnWV_UkbldFFF-sp2zLsN34zL1S_CBaL95yaFSnaydY9TKNoVXNfyOTIvsAr1Nj2ejkMOFGP1JX211hquAySNJ4JriYY1qwbdGa9osXKP8H-M/s1600/IMG_7709.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yorktown, VA</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZdAsZXuZNWRMB8dle2OBcwxkw3NofXJD68bMUp4X-SBq3FcWLhCHtS74GmkbK14Ov4Dnsck7yyPAkrwLR5GRU-UUC4mBUuW8ub_JVRI3XVD0hddPAChUhR7cSRhi8gH0aosKTqZd18M/s1600/IMG_7710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZdAsZXuZNWRMB8dle2OBcwxkw3NofXJD68bMUp4X-SBq3FcWLhCHtS74GmkbK14Ov4Dnsck7yyPAkrwLR5GRU-UUC4mBUuW8ub_JVRI3XVD0hddPAChUhR7cSRhi8gH0aosKTqZd18M/s1600/IMG_7710.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yorktown Victory Monument, VA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7hFP0dcirIw_hf7-kL1whyphenhyphenbt0mCevPMfnzqC3qKsQ_FZmq_KaoA__xC95pyqU6AG_QuUlpyus5mi9xaNo9IeQ5oV6aV0hysfIeBgcZV2YiPWU6l2rAy_e4CgVeZmS27V4p-81GqV6co/s1600/IMG_7711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7hFP0dcirIw_hf7-kL1whyphenhyphenbt0mCevPMfnzqC3qKsQ_FZmq_KaoA__xC95pyqU6AG_QuUlpyus5mi9xaNo9IeQ5oV6aV0hysfIeBgcZV2YiPWU6l2rAy_e4CgVeZmS27V4p-81GqV6co/s1600/IMG_7711.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTnTjQrPz0YQ7FTICwZwsz8tyBXc_xe4bGdrSqjI-4aI3JAMOXTZzzoR5LQz8NGCZaLvL6K7PE7jarXyxNBceN3CRZt7UcP2jizFA4LKxgTOKeHjzhCkxD4R5AFJ1UBN4vRtHGVxeg2Q/s1600/IMG_7713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTnTjQrPz0YQ7FTICwZwsz8tyBXc_xe4bGdrSqjI-4aI3JAMOXTZzzoR5LQz8NGCZaLvL6K7PE7jarXyxNBceN3CRZt7UcP2jizFA4LKxgTOKeHjzhCkxD4R5AFJ1UBN4vRtHGVxeg2Q/s1600/IMG_7713.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRRef6TEepzAa1CUKEa29sZw6i8OkkCec5kv0miCmF_Bq0j6QhpkrBHiROUFGcNvOYYsEZXpFJKLh0oM4LVG_MDpwmO6zGKnAVpu4oekPM7t6HDmijtwR3fUI3uV_J1npu_omgAnA_X0/s1600/IMG_7714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRRef6TEepzAa1CUKEa29sZw6i8OkkCec5kv0miCmF_Bq0j6QhpkrBHiROUFGcNvOYYsEZXpFJKLh0oM4LVG_MDpwmO6zGKnAVpu4oekPM7t6HDmijtwR3fUI3uV_J1npu_omgAnA_X0/s1600/IMG_7714.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBuIYcdgXtPZXqMSdKt5yNWj-znku5-IXut7DdRF_swiupkT4NghHVHrhFbcFAV7oT3sITyCjQ2FgOC7JjB6FzQ75RBYpIR7LHjdJrI8bWiOgTcleFyvbUkNCdJsyeO2YInOd1C-OoBk/s1600/IMG_7716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBuIYcdgXtPZXqMSdKt5yNWj-znku5-IXut7DdRF_swiupkT4NghHVHrhFbcFAV7oT3sITyCjQ2FgOC7JjB6FzQ75RBYpIR7LHjdJrI8bWiOgTcleFyvbUkNCdJsyeO2YInOd1C-OoBk/s1600/IMG_7716.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes, that's a cannonball from the Revolutionary War</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCt5gsTvMAWSRxiqAaHGT0YjuceuCE4tMOXUYTHYbvLDFllSiwmcdowOJvBuRIiF3rcQo22OmzQiMzu8o1YdYKkoalwNCq2NkV1H_0lQBLABmBy8w2PgIxU36piYmbrxdI1HDAbmEbwMk/s1600/IMG_7721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCt5gsTvMAWSRxiqAaHGT0YjuceuCE4tMOXUYTHYbvLDFllSiwmcdowOJvBuRIiF3rcQo22OmzQiMzu8o1YdYKkoalwNCq2NkV1H_0lQBLABmBy8w2PgIxU36piYmbrxdI1HDAbmEbwMk/s1600/IMG_7721.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our hosts</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAldT-jk9BTllGDgjy9QArW1gyXguchJXV4psP1g61TAmK-TfT8oDU-17mZJmMZ4JjXwUwa7XueXov75dDtiI9yPdRQiCbs2cTJhYhl8t_TBCjUyLebejBnjAjicnUgjcxGYkNIiB3hU/s1600/IMG_7724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAldT-jk9BTllGDgjy9QArW1gyXguchJXV4psP1g61TAmK-TfT8oDU-17mZJmMZ4JjXwUwa7XueXov75dDtiI9yPdRQiCbs2cTJhYhl8t_TBCjUyLebejBnjAjicnUgjcxGYkNIiB3hU/s1600/IMG_7724.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Archives, Washington D. C.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9OuXS9LpIvFoZ3LylOaScwMqObTXUy4mqlq_Wz6FNcavre1afA7XyWU58dJdXe4UBEDSTytU93L20J3ts-l5ZN5aAUmhq7V9gCANxLOwxm8w_rPZzmHSYw1rhcTGj-T7HwwGQ3g8kRQ/s1600/IMG_7728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9OuXS9LpIvFoZ3LylOaScwMqObTXUy4mqlq_Wz6FNcavre1afA7XyWU58dJdXe4UBEDSTytU93L20J3ts-l5ZN5aAUmhq7V9gCANxLOwxm8w_rPZzmHSYw1rhcTGj-T7HwwGQ3g8kRQ/s1600/IMG_7728.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington Monument</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizk-03bmWEP3gFLAeVYtYKRvwSNRhGlIZWXCbv4FwqYFk-zdX0PuW8pBWr4VFibU-QmGJ64Jl78Xf7Nyuu0MruEDRY0oK2gUn8AQKr3-zv7lI9L9l_azEUxBLesqwDJ-kXO4EQEe2vYY/s1600/IMG_7729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizk-03bmWEP3gFLAeVYtYKRvwSNRhGlIZWXCbv4FwqYFk-zdX0PuW8pBWr4VFibU-QmGJ64Jl78Xf7Nyuu0MruEDRY0oK2gUn8AQKr3-zv7lI9L9l_azEUxBLesqwDJ-kXO4EQEe2vYY/s1600/IMG_7729.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the White House is back there</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecSFnG7qeMIf2ZajvLV3ELBCLMCEDoSGeMNmsAIionsl58vYSe2LYqwpcy8xOFVeJjMAKCSWPS4j36QWi9M-aKzvRf7G8mwMvS_gQ-m5wVaeRBScEVQaV2NJNogN_Eoh-V5QViDx9E4g/s1600/IMG_7730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecSFnG7qeMIf2ZajvLV3ELBCLMCEDoSGeMNmsAIionsl58vYSe2LYqwpcy8xOFVeJjMAKCSWPS4j36QWi9M-aKzvRf7G8mwMvS_gQ-m5wVaeRBScEVQaV2NJNogN_Eoh-V5QViDx9E4g/s1600/IMG_7730.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Lincoln Memorial and the reflecting pool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1mZxTMSgD-EHSRtQlf8-F6YOubgqRBLDSw1LjuO15t5ZZhKk4tX7rbLHjT3eLzUBN8lopL33GCOQyoT6uIYI9SWlzPWWGvQbiPuNtJ2PgyZTpSwKDU21hcnPTvh9WqM4cFP-lnJFMY0/s1600/IMG_7731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1mZxTMSgD-EHSRtQlf8-F6YOubgqRBLDSw1LjuO15t5ZZhKk4tX7rbLHjT3eLzUBN8lopL33GCOQyoT6uIYI9SWlzPWWGvQbiPuNtJ2PgyZTpSwKDU21hcnPTvh9WqM4cFP-lnJFMY0/s1600/IMG_7731.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Capitol Building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiis_KnIgmqnwRLDFZrAmCbbpFeERXCeDdkYNvOATPZCvt0p-vfLswPdc7ELa3nlIsrCTetSK35OX9uW7LXPY09mw5tkH3tq2TyY8E8QBawf8vejz7JW_VtawFcP1scycUPxQR-koTaU/s1600/IMG_7736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiis_KnIgmqnwRLDFZrAmCbbpFeERXCeDdkYNvOATPZCvt0p-vfLswPdc7ELa3nlIsrCTetSK35OX9uW7LXPY09mw5tkH3tq2TyY8E8QBawf8vejz7JW_VtawFcP1scycUPxQR-koTaU/s1600/IMG_7736.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">metro station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb6_h_4DWei_sWmj_ubv34qFvSf_BwzYoaOXj6IOigxI8_kp_FYI7EhirmIcO4QrSScOk6c8wrtiMBCkeEizn1D-wkdZHRLVLUpulP1_CUIkq2b3lVzSNLCvfBU9Schzx-YdQfOToZFs/s1600/IMG_7737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb6_h_4DWei_sWmj_ubv34qFvSf_BwzYoaOXj6IOigxI8_kp_FYI7EhirmIcO4QrSScOk6c8wrtiMBCkeEizn1D-wkdZHRLVLUpulP1_CUIkq2b3lVzSNLCvfBU9Schzx-YdQfOToZFs/s1600/IMG_7737.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an entire outbuilding dedicated to spinning and weaving</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Vernon, VA</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air and Space Museum, D. C.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Fredericks</td></tr>
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<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-8334976742490473772014-09-04T20:15:00.001-04:002014-09-04T20:15:42.933-04:00Michigan Vacay, July 2014Alpena called and we answered.<br />
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<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-41489881129696671082014-09-04T20:10:00.000-04:002014-09-04T20:10:03.900-04:00Playing in His Presence, a little women's retreatA place to relax, get inspired, express something, connect with others, try something new, discover yourself. <br />
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That's what this women's retreat offered. A place to play with art in the presence of God.<br />
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It's hard to capture on film all that was happening internally with the 55 women who attended. But here are some pics that show some of the many activities that took place over the 36 hours of the retreat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinterest Hair!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jump Rope!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB_mImts2xpaZscWC3enZvfXSIQ_tqO0NDPGVhA126mDnAHMw24uDT4Pcot3onYQKPMZDynb0r1i1dddu7KAMo31ku6VcvrstPHG45l41qN8vnmHOqE6BoLkpuCILOk4KgZBt3QAOld0/s1600/IMG_20140125_151817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB_mImts2xpaZscWC3enZvfXSIQ_tqO0NDPGVhA126mDnAHMw24uDT4Pcot3onYQKPMZDynb0r1i1dddu7KAMo31ku6VcvrstPHG45l41qN8vnmHOqE6BoLkpuCILOk4KgZBt3QAOld0/s1600/IMG_20140125_151817.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Personal Collage!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zLLL_qm84xLrQb1pUIziwDzbt0N6Ghe2T_sB4vmQt_KJTQZvzG3WqlVQ2czOwyH0L1FaZx0-1cni6qge1UnkVzoVBHSJbPifcERWNEETuZRJFUuLxMJIq14tgDqHhAAYqTn6iYufdws/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zLLL_qm84xLrQb1pUIziwDzbt0N6Ghe2T_sB4vmQt_KJTQZvzG3WqlVQ2czOwyH0L1FaZx0-1cni6qge1UnkVzoVBHSJbPifcERWNEETuZRJFUuLxMJIq14tgDqHhAAYqTn6iYufdws/s1600/photo-1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unity Loom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtGpNqh_68h1apuppjASO5pbQfqjgRI8WcsGF5PzfEdydwSJuIxbP89tC3HYqzDS2VvWcKIh6hcOviorwsScqb9C-fqCYba2BE1D8xQLm5Khoa17HUR65GXTKkB7cZ89ixkFOT5yzcVA/s1600/photo-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtGpNqh_68h1apuppjASO5pbQfqjgRI8WcsGF5PzfEdydwSJuIxbP89tC3HYqzDS2VvWcKIh6hcOviorwsScqb9C-fqCYba2BE1D8xQLm5Khoa17HUR65GXTKkB7cZ89ixkFOT5yzcVA/s1600/photo-2.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished product from the loom</td></tr>
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There are several other really great pictures on Drop Box, but try as I might, I can't manage to post them here. Suggestions?</div>
Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-77886961593292307002013-12-24T13:11:00.000-05:002013-12-24T13:11:43.540-05:00So this is Christmas...<br />
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Here's our Christmas card and letter to you!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMnWooxDASRrm5UYCSY6C-pLDe0_B1-8vh5EePcQz4M6Ghyphenhyphen83fWzld5VmdFc-3fqjnktP4ZNaKi-_aHKpDtkPn1CzVUODO4kZqcro2Nw7ysyaHJzmEaR6JKXqVVW3NtBlquymoStuENQ/s1600/IMG_7390_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMnWooxDASRrm5UYCSY6C-pLDe0_B1-8vh5EePcQz4M6Ghyphenhyphen83fWzld5VmdFc-3fqjnktP4ZNaKi-_aHKpDtkPn1CzVUODO4kZqcro2Nw7ysyaHJzmEaR6JKXqVVW3NtBlquymoStuENQ/s320/IMG_7390_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Josi is in 2nd grade, still plays the violin, and is a weekend warrior, when she gets to indulge in her two loves: books and nature.</div>
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Abi has been having a great year so far! She is in fourth grade and is nearing the end of book seven in Suzuki flute. She has been spending time with the family animals and has visited Chicago on a bus! (written by Abi herself) </div>
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Darel became a high school choir teacher this fall and is enjoying his new position. He built a treehouse in the backyard and went fully vegan as of this summer.</div>
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Keri remains mostly a mom, but has delighted in helping the school earn the Michigan Green School Certificate with an Emerald distinction. She also has stepped up her teaching and learning by taking on a few tutoring students. She saw her little urban homestead grow with the addition of a honeybee colony. She also had bangs cut, so she is getting reacquainted with her blow dryer. </div>
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We're hoping for a happy and healthy 2014 for all of you!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1_po90fpZ9FdV3Xxvz3tfnnhqmxAkIZPsfA2sGTcnZ4lvhP0mjgI_GETyIXXEvwhwDToLkDDb3QABRb0czjj8ynaw5oPSGW7-qLMIbKKW4bUpcNc-_tZFWGUqnb8uzZRXYbBT_CbTpM/s1600/IMG_7400_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1_po90fpZ9FdV3Xxvz3tfnnhqmxAkIZPsfA2sGTcnZ4lvhP0mjgI_GETyIXXEvwhwDToLkDDb3QABRb0czjj8ynaw5oPSGW7-qLMIbKKW4bUpcNc-_tZFWGUqnb8uzZRXYbBT_CbTpM/s320/IMG_7400_2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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with love - the Middaugh family</div>
Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-16521671469103465532013-10-17T11:08:00.002-04:002014-09-04T21:29:19.562-04:00A little something I've been thinking about.As you can see from the list on the right, there is no shortage of reading going on in our home. Actually many of the books listed are listened to in the car, while several others are being read on the couch. One person in our family is even known to read 3 books at once (one for upstairs, one for the main floor, and one for 'other' of course). And it's no secret that we are <a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2013/07/there-is-house-in-our-tree.html" target="_blank">big</a> <a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-my-marriage-works.html" target="_blank">fans</a> of the <a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-library-tells-me-about-myself.html" target="_blank">library</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9OQdVfKIxIPRuADzgYSQ9WcNIhyphenhyphennceXk6N9pCf531G6UDAvmNNBeVFN3lwzu4NTcqQzj5TPWSsLQ0u7LlZoQNIU4S7C98CTLlOvt68d8IHSh3BUGWFc3GT_YqVN70mXrR0DlJ6tjlok/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9OQdVfKIxIPRuADzgYSQ9WcNIhyphenhyphennceXk6N9pCf531G6UDAvmNNBeVFN3lwzu4NTcqQzj5TPWSsLQ0u7LlZoQNIU4S7C98CTLlOvt68d8IHSh3BUGWFc3GT_YqVN70mXrR0DlJ6tjlok/s320/IMG_0774.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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So it's no surprise that I'm really enjoying this latest library loan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAv3PGVddUCZ_-V6r_Lve4Ox5mKpHulUxd_cBy2pLYB8kA1dOfRRWxETYRO-pVRU8bl_9-PGzVmsHT6YmzwXsP4sleGpEKKfcQvfIXSyJsyB7Q_JL74LP_5ifsxpd7lYuzj984rieYss/s1600/51TJr51d+EL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAv3PGVddUCZ_-V6r_Lve4Ox5mKpHulUxd_cBy2pLYB8kA1dOfRRWxETYRO-pVRU8bl_9-PGzVmsHT6YmzwXsP4sleGpEKKfcQvfIXSyJsyB7Q_JL74LP_5ifsxpd7lYuzj984rieYss/s320/51TJr51d+EL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Over the years I've read many personal finance books. I figured it was my way of contributing financially to our family since I stepped away from my career 10 years ago to raise kids. (Has it been that long? My, how time flies when you are doing laundry! Not.) I've read Dave Ramsey, The Millionaire Next Door, The Automatic Millionaire, and others. And, yes, I've learned a thing or two from each one.<br />
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But none of those comes close to the paradigm shift that this book presents.<br />
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And I love it because it makes sense. Even though our family doesn't have much money or worldly assets, I really do feel like we live abundantly. I sometimes joke that we are "rich in eggs," "rich in music," or "rich in firewood!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieif-mnvAyP9y6DfUPJPh_0V9CMZqh4szKpuY261iPCFNW781BDGLXr79GLBlDLr7TjVPNio55vzVQEj5aLaP_WT-phLs6ZVxg9Royw1UKbYBNWjCABLabSuXMRTdTlfJqRQ0vp_NE8Oo/s1600/IMG_5139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieif-mnvAyP9y6DfUPJPh_0V9CMZqh4szKpuY261iPCFNW781BDGLXr79GLBlDLr7TjVPNio55vzVQEj5aLaP_WT-phLs6ZVxg9Royw1UKbYBNWjCABLabSuXMRTdTlfJqRQ0vp_NE8Oo/s320/IMG_5139.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXS7r8zTnhyJeQcRNegcW83Zktl42F8aAvZBIbG2t9FpZA8YoYbVADa3t6nRUq-vm_HahM8B86CC7mmLTXCkOn37haNxHzDZVc-NY7rDIApvF0V7RDIRgDIPkb-My9oLbZ9BwH5aX7CE/s1600/IMG_6829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXS7r8zTnhyJeQcRNegcW83Zktl42F8aAvZBIbG2t9FpZA8YoYbVADa3t6nRUq-vm_HahM8B86CC7mmLTXCkOn37haNxHzDZVc-NY7rDIApvF0V7RDIRgDIPkb-My9oLbZ9BwH5aX7CE/s320/IMG_6829.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAYhVDY8v_o8jiXoGbUYaiRgGeOSmFnpEcurs7Fq9ck_RbhfccNfgjd1-zAcnB_30q2IvbjPpUeZ9kUWNhpdf_zQ6ufqIPib_XT00LR143MnXxIrGxARA_z-g2q0eLg_YpTXGHfMCOts/s1600/IMG_8795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAYhVDY8v_o8jiXoGbUYaiRgGeOSmFnpEcurs7Fq9ck_RbhfccNfgjd1-zAcnB_30q2IvbjPpUeZ9kUWNhpdf_zQ6ufqIPib_XT00LR143MnXxIrGxARA_z-g2q0eLg_YpTXGHfMCOts/s320/IMG_8795.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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But back to the paradigm shift. For starters, it's frustrating to read financial books that were written before the Great Recession (are we still calling it that?) because I find them irrelevant. It's also unsettling to read books that advocate for more, more, more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG8P86cr8pDDZzx779zY-64aMn_KHnzNtf7VkQWh-z0SnstYGT15xh77Gk1SNBCwSU18D8fdHI08yz745UESbPNeZQo8yZ_NKgWtsUAI-ruYqPgGy6IHEuFv8LoUTrivVzXBCsM3tPi4/s1600/51TJr51d%252BEL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2%252CTopRight%252C1%252C0_SH20_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG8P86cr8pDDZzx779zY-64aMn_KHnzNtf7VkQWh-z0SnstYGT15xh77Gk1SNBCwSU18D8fdHI08yz745UESbPNeZQo8yZ_NKgWtsUAI-ruYqPgGy6IHEuFv8LoUTrivVzXBCsM3tPi4/s320/51TJr51d%252BEL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2%252CTopRight%252C1%252C0_SH20_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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This book brought up so many points that seem healthy and sustainable. I'll share with you some notes that I found myself scribbling as I read.<br />
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Page 22 "Reimagining wealth is not only beneficial, but inevitable... to proactively usher in this transition is better than having it imposed upon us." I agree!<br />
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Page 22 The author wonders "if the assumed version of wealth...actually bespeaks a certain poverty." Yes! I have sensed this all along! The author questions the notions "time is money" because it tries to monetize time and "it takes money to make money." Do you own your time, or does your time own you? Happiness comes from being in charge of your own time. Think how you feel stuck in a traffic jam! (We're happy as long as we've got our book on tape!)<br />
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Page 58 The author describes the life of a friend, a life that is "profoundly abundant in ways that have become increasingly rare in contemporary America: freedom, community, choice, good health, and simple happiness." In contrast, the irony "is that we trade real wealth for illusory riches."<br />
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Page 90 It's tricky to navigate modern life because "the current monetary policy seems to monetize and commodify almost every aspect of our well-being."<br />
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Page 99 "The workings of our money system and the manner in which it pits us against the environment, each other, and ultimately ourselves is so nonsensical that it becomes repellant" which sheds light on <a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2010/11/saying-yes-to-christmas.html" target="_blank">my aversion to Christmas</a>.<br />
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Page 131 To improve our monetary system, we "need only to reimagine and revalue ourselves." That sounds like fun!<br />
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But the biggest takeaway from this whole book is the idea that money is debt, and with every mortgage that's given to an eager family, our dollars are deflated because the money that's loaned to buy the house was just created out of thin air, and in turn increases inflation. Which makes the tradition in some countries of giving a home to your child as a wedding gift, seem much smarter.<br />
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So, what to do now? Rethink that mortgage. Question the American Dream. And consider a<a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2010/12/trash-free-christmas.html" target="_blank"> homemade</a> <a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2012/12/so-this-is-christmas.html" target="_blank">Christmas</a>.<br />
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How about you?Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-74579440478464163942013-10-09T11:05:00.002-04:002013-10-09T11:05:55.323-04:00Goodbye, Mad EyeToday we said goodbye to one of our backyard chickens, named Mad Eye. She came to us <a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2012/03/theyre-here-first-week-for-our-chicks.html" target="_blank">in the mail</a> when she was just one day old and we quickly saw that she had some kind of eye disorder. But she lived a fine life all these months, pecking and scratching with the rest of the flock. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq07lhBuiPVQqw670iXSqpeDGLvkYu_8aDsS9QgFqI0CR-Lr3lYBxgYg_0BqzDRmNW7QxGCAVcjH0Ce1Y61AQdEShNJRnVrVYDkn57aKfiyY83tYA10tF6d2R92PJuZkm5qKOj76bMMg/s1600/IMG_4641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNq07lhBuiPVQqw670iXSqpeDGLvkYu_8aDsS9QgFqI0CR-Lr3lYBxgYg_0BqzDRmNW7QxGCAVcjH0Ce1Y61AQdEShNJRnVrVYDkn57aKfiyY83tYA10tF6d2R92PJuZkm5qKOj76bMMg/s320/IMG_4641.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">She's maybe 2 months old here.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LeT1nKDWPEuOm2G6epbB4xWF-4D6Lh5jWV_6n-DZ_HcWt5Nx9cqcquR-YAv90uQyBUMIiwNWCdBKQF4ww0hpQj6UbONOdwf2-dWdXb8rc5hJcbEBhKPYg0GtAZIZjckZzCrMh4t6HTE/s1600/IMG_5750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LeT1nKDWPEuOm2G6epbB4xWF-4D6Lh5jWV_6n-DZ_HcWt5Nx9cqcquR-YAv90uQyBUMIiwNWCdBKQF4ww0hpQj6UbONOdwf2-dWdXb8rc5hJcbEBhKPYg0GtAZIZjckZzCrMh4t6HTE/s320/IMG_5750.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mad Eye is the brownish one in back.</td></tr>
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She even laid plenty of tasty eggs! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you tell which eggs came from the backyard and which came from the store?</td></tr>
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Then about a month ago, her special needs started to get the best of her. So today she went to chicken heaven, where I'm sure there are plenty of fat slugs and cracked corn to keep her satisfied. And no ladies chasing her around the backyard with antibiotic eye drops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZTa4eOufFJaUFvQMzMHc5RJbgoJP_8QgoIiCC14JBfgNDgcoUqj-byMUSsFjLP5B8xRvvYjRR2cYfCtqzrRI7z6SQ2qEDcjyRNTX3WFZDEdx8xu7NJWkdi1qT70Ja05PTRTzWtqYwVE/s1600/IMG_4966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZTa4eOufFJaUFvQMzMHc5RJbgoJP_8QgoIiCC14JBfgNDgcoUqj-byMUSsFjLP5B8xRvvYjRR2cYfCtqzrRI7z6SQ2qEDcjyRNTX3WFZDEdx8xu7NJWkdi1qT70Ja05PTRTzWtqYwVE/s320/IMG_4966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Goodbye, Mad Eye.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlRxSab0CjFhu1jK6NBD7HT5bVJPlzDhGfH9ip5yCsdNcAIFJnfU6hza4yCYBxGgE9oXDCYDdQynSmMGVN6f5g2_SEfMbipAuM0xxHpwOr7r4Ac3vq77aArgdaT53ccPH-595nL1Q6vc/s1600/IMG_4574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlRxSab0CjFhu1jK6NBD7HT5bVJPlzDhGfH9ip5yCsdNcAIFJnfU6hza4yCYBxGgE9oXDCYDdQynSmMGVN6f5g2_SEfMbipAuM0xxHpwOr7r4Ac3vq77aArgdaT53ccPH-595nL1Q6vc/s320/IMG_4574.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is, a few weeks old.</td></tr>
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Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-57942159123253548822013-09-23T14:31:00.001-04:002013-09-23T14:36:25.695-04:00Weekend WeddingRecently we had the opportunity to make a quick trip to Chicago for a wedding celebration of a dear friend of ours. The Music Man and I also treated it as our 15 year anniversary getaway, which just means that we went out to eat once or twice instead of packing our meals. Romantic, I know.<br />
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We zoomed on into town just in time for the potluck, musical, gardenish ceremony in an old converted fire house.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see how eager we are to dig into the potluck?</td></tr>
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After that, we dined and reconnected with <a href="http://boydsnest.org/news/" target="_blank">friends</a>, then retired to our lodging (<a href="https://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank">airbnb</a>, anyone?).<br />
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What's one of the best things about Chicago? Both the locals and visitors agree: the lakefront, of course! So I rented a Divvy bike and tagged along Music Man's morning lakeside jog. <br />
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I admit I underestimated the difficulty of using a camera while riding a bike.<br />
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We even joined the tourists for the Architectrual Boat tour and grabbed some Garrett's popcorn before heading back to Michigan, to our kids, to our animals, to our back-to-school reality.<br />
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But what a sweet wedding weekend it was.<br />
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Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-47601439853279842972013-09-03T09:35:00.001-04:002013-09-03T09:35:48.881-04:00More Michigan!Michigan is such a great state, isn't it? We decided to take advantage of a free couple of days and explore a little bit more.<br />
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First stop: Lansing and the Capitol building.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stars at the very top are the size of a dinner plate!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We loved the intricate details of the decor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Furniture was all moved around because of renovations.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the Capitol building needs to have its carpet replaced!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside detail of the door hinges</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">courtroom with furniture stuffed into it</td></tr>
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After our quick tour of Lansing, we headed northwest to Grand Haven on Lake Michigan.<br />
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Even cloudy skies can't stop this bunch from having fun!</div>
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Grand Haven has a quaint trolley that drove us around the city, highlighting interesting facts. We learned that several of the homes were mail-ordered from Sears & Roebuck.<br />
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Another beach in Grand Haven.<br />
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We spied on this beach exercise class. Hey, ladies, if you need another workout, I've got some firewood that needs chopping!<br />
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It happened to be the week of the Coast Guard Festival.<br />
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We toured one of the ships and learned its main purpose was to break up ice in the Great Lakes.</div>
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We also drove in to Grand Rapids and visited the Frederick Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park. Wow, those are some serious gardens.</div>
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There seemed to be artwork everywhere, even on the ceiling of the museum cafe!<br />
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Here we are, enjoying some ice cream at Pfaff's Pharmacy in Grand Haven, one of the oldest soda fountains around.<br />
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Back to the beach!<br />
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On our way back home, we stopped in downtown Grand Rapids, this time to discover some murals, a war memorial, and the local library.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwn-UYisDr5abM2oYNteasLiK4uCG5j26vZkHDFT4joYTSGHzA-HMvPpPP1yVBhyphenhyphenzy3LjZQuFfC4KsHpAjHe_qpylzm64Jdp0WrnqdhIxp5Lri2ytmPV_9YQGLGA0r4DhjdO39Imb8ag/s1600/IMG_7118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwn-UYisDr5abM2oYNteasLiK4uCG5j26vZkHDFT4joYTSGHzA-HMvPpPP1yVBhyphenhyphenzy3LjZQuFfC4KsHpAjHe_qpylzm64Jdp0WrnqdhIxp5Lri2ytmPV_9YQGLGA0r4DhjdO39Imb8ag/s320/IMG_7118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHaIy0KX0qwlLtQXX9GTRPNUhuWXj-R2IJlYY7189h6fBqqQPtX2qS04RgBqxi9zGD0d6bdvk_Y8j3DGm8Qrug64eFzzd9Md_VdVD57Kuk0rf0gTroxTSD8eSPGndIIkn-BJ0K6bVEGE/s1600/IMG_7117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHaIy0KX0qwlLtQXX9GTRPNUhuWXj-R2IJlYY7189h6fBqqQPtX2qS04RgBqxi9zGD0d6bdvk_Y8j3DGm8Qrug64eFzzd9Md_VdVD57Kuk0rf0gTroxTSD8eSPGndIIkn-BJ0K6bVEGE/s320/IMG_7117.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the power of love overcomes the love for power, there will be peace.</td></tr>
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Oh, Michigan, there's so much to see!</div>
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<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-87686980172806777722013-07-28T16:31:00.000-04:002013-07-28T16:31:46.670-04:00Must. See. Michigan.This summer, I've been overcome with the feeling that my family needs to get out and explore a bit of our great state. Rumor has it that my older child will be studying Michigan history this year, so I thought it best that her experience include more than just a couple of trips on Detroit's People Mover and a dip in one of the many Long Lakes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">summer, 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyX0ou1AV1mFiJO696ORrONlBjCGMy1VM3NAqGY1DcZtByq_FUv4Oypia8uzezZZJjiOVIby6qwjWELcQlBVW9qlJnyV9IuhjglKwN5rlygBpIZIstmcVaAECcXhvUuYP15qVkD1sXi0/s1600/IMG_5004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyX0ou1AV1mFiJO696ORrONlBjCGMy1VM3NAqGY1DcZtByq_FUv4Oypia8uzezZZJjiOVIby6qwjWELcQlBVW9qlJnyV9IuhjglKwN5rlygBpIZIstmcVaAECcXhvUuYP15qVkD1sXi0/s320/IMG_5004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long Lake, near Alpena, MI, July 2012</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGP_gbOn3QYL5YrhGptN6OctOE_3NO8xQgXtJi2uVVRowvrMaldoLI4uaAhd_mdKfgK4zsaQHYYolduEzpssanRMEIWlgsFadIsBP9fTEa5KLZgs4aNx7rsnvTAWLNnL_dhG3HVxKmyQ/s1600/IMG_5007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGP_gbOn3QYL5YrhGptN6OctOE_3NO8xQgXtJi2uVVRowvrMaldoLI4uaAhd_mdKfgK4zsaQHYYolduEzpssanRMEIWlgsFadIsBP9fTEa5KLZgs4aNx7rsnvTAWLNnL_dhG3HVxKmyQ/s320/IMG_5007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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So we piled in the car and headed north.<br />
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First stop, Suttons Bay to see my almost-93-year-old grandmother. She is Pure Michigan, having left the state only once (to my knowledge) for a grandson's wedding in St. Louis about 15 years ago. Having been an artist in her earlier years, we thought it would be fun for her to participate in the scheduled craft activity. She mostly watched<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQ6tJkiNgQNE4Sr3pVL5wTtw7AhvdXS7281B1M2i4NFRk0OEd3ihT2fsFTSw0D8l9c5_ZdzMWRVJnXChQn7lz0JMJ_Lwn3F0fND7obmHcvDpEjZbCksKY1Be2LYrez6_etbe3BV9jmEM/s1600/IMG_6984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQ6tJkiNgQNE4Sr3pVL5wTtw7AhvdXS7281B1M2i4NFRk0OEd3ihT2fsFTSw0D8l9c5_ZdzMWRVJnXChQn7lz0JMJ_Lwn3F0fND7obmHcvDpEjZbCksKY1Be2LYrez6_etbe3BV9jmEM/s320/IMG_6984.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCpunEWnQ1pu5eSYk_D3BvDSAwBV70sQcb6V3oUCa3AdSxvjrx1LlZ9UoUdGzeWYbaji_qCsKJu2e-p8yQLAXIsT29i-eUT1cXVgvHmIU194qEZ60qOrvLcJjePajikKCdsLLLv2WUIY/s1600/IMG_6986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCpunEWnQ1pu5eSYk_D3BvDSAwBV70sQcb6V3oUCa3AdSxvjrx1LlZ9UoUdGzeWYbaji_qCsKJu2e-p8yQLAXIsT29i-eUT1cXVgvHmIU194qEZ60qOrvLcJjePajikKCdsLLLv2WUIY/s320/IMG_6986.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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as did my older daughter and Music Man.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVhNu2ws5pFX65dBvrgSNdmxJkZbs-6GhDOhydeg-NBL9apkU296SHiT3PxjyEEkOq7Xs9GZ2p9L_MI3MnLCdWQ5ez0iozemPOfSC4ItWZUWo5ZHXDUmykyEpEo_9m8di503ms6zyKHk/s1600/IMG_6985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVhNu2ws5pFX65dBvrgSNdmxJkZbs-6GhDOhydeg-NBL9apkU296SHiT3PxjyEEkOq7Xs9GZ2p9L_MI3MnLCdWQ5ez0iozemPOfSC4ItWZUWo5ZHXDUmykyEpEo_9m8di503ms6zyKHk/s320/IMG_6985.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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These hands have created and cared for so much and so many over the years, but that day, they were still.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA1wFI3ukJISr9rDXLfV5X_TpO5JaFCSWfDro8ybz3ZwaXPULVJPBPiB_HzoluWmGy0dFE7JiIQi4QVdsvum0SKAU0ciyR3D8cwBDtZULhcpg_9FTuFODbsyM9nCytaTsMlDd0lASTEg/s1600/IMG_6978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA1wFI3ukJISr9rDXLfV5X_TpO5JaFCSWfDro8ybz3ZwaXPULVJPBPiB_HzoluWmGy0dFE7JiIQi4QVdsvum0SKAU0ciyR3D8cwBDtZULhcpg_9FTuFODbsyM9nCytaTsMlDd0lASTEg/s320/IMG_6978.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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After that, we headed to Glen Arbor and the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Here we are on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgf7fxklsOPBl88jJX4xklkNb_mkXAayunDxyYKqAZcuBI3JTwzfEOaSHpdfvDHHfoKkeD-ZRsZFtmKftUejLvDcUno9Glq8xAxp_MkAcsO5g5UO_wijP5dRFLWqmhRBKNwvyMFWlF_fg/s1600/IMG_6989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgf7fxklsOPBl88jJX4xklkNb_mkXAayunDxyYKqAZcuBI3JTwzfEOaSHpdfvDHHfoKkeD-ZRsZFtmKftUejLvDcUno9Glq8xAxp_MkAcsO5g5UO_wijP5dRFLWqmhRBKNwvyMFWlF_fg/s320/IMG_6989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Who can resist dipping your feet in Lake Michigan?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLCwn-irwaggjK4Gx-eyOmwlWUAHzLVaM_C5QO1HUE43XX02zz5wGR_WNm2RyGxMVIdapgCa20WSHunYCez7No76SKf-OMYL8CY8vRoHufycgz-l5vQqXItpRo3IfmCAAQZKMh_sZCNU/s1600/IMG_6988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLCwn-irwaggjK4Gx-eyOmwlWUAHzLVaM_C5QO1HUE43XX02zz5wGR_WNm2RyGxMVIdapgCa20WSHunYCez7No76SKf-OMYL8CY8vRoHufycgz-l5vQqXItpRo3IfmCAAQZKMh_sZCNU/s320/IMG_6988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next morning, there happened to be a 5K race, so Music Man suited up and joined in. Luckily, he was one of the few wearing neon orange, so he was easy to spot! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLao-DLLpxbNYraD3efrm7hrsdK9zpepkgVFUxQ-FRVIN18V0v6-UdLvFpdu10n-X5MfhoCECHB4RXOc1Y33lpxgFEGuSY07ZKQMJMfTrpoGS3UWXjYN4Sbjc8aiXrckfWL_Fxmu4y58/s1600/IMG_6994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLao-DLLpxbNYraD3efrm7hrsdK9zpepkgVFUxQ-FRVIN18V0v6-UdLvFpdu10n-X5MfhoCECHB4RXOc1Y33lpxgFEGuSY07ZKQMJMfTrpoGS3UWXjYN4Sbjc8aiXrckfWL_Fxmu4y58/s320/IMG_6994.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The start and finish lines were at the Cherry Republic, a store devoted to all things cherry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfiqKO40-SSg9IydhI64o58iAaWVKBOoIYWvfS1YIJNOUf5dTcdRE6OEqWonXdYk2dZaicznLxw3PN4oDzeDaylnISrYPK2SkJcqxUsKyOTpPZ9FV-0EghaMnzq8Ltp75TR0S8SnmbP8/s1600/IMG_6999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfiqKO40-SSg9IydhI64o58iAaWVKBOoIYWvfS1YIJNOUf5dTcdRE6OEqWonXdYk2dZaicznLxw3PN4oDzeDaylnISrYPK2SkJcqxUsKyOTpPZ9FV-0EghaMnzq8Ltp75TR0S8SnmbP8/s320/IMG_6999.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the afternoon, we climbed the dunes. The sand! The breeze! The views! This is Michigan.<br />
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We also visited long lost relatives for a little farm tour and dinner at their sweet home in Northport. Cousins! Second cousins! Horses! Rabbits! Bantam chickens! Stop action movies! Lasagna! Acres of cherry trees! This is Michigan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDn-15lo-G9Z5u29KKgiMgCiG-r8ZqJq-yTnAme-adrnZzVRhp2HbWMzioUOfSrpcHayy8Ui0U2DndjY6kOWe1ATQ094OBPZlS1i9kB1R1t_BeyqAWEeMs87cJ3-guZnWSgzcjXC4KsM/s1600/IMG_7008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDn-15lo-G9Z5u29KKgiMgCiG-r8ZqJq-yTnAme-adrnZzVRhp2HbWMzioUOfSrpcHayy8Ui0U2DndjY6kOWe1ATQ094OBPZlS1i9kB1R1t_BeyqAWEeMs87cJ3-guZnWSgzcjXC4KsM/s320/IMG_7008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next on the itinerary was Mackinac Island, so we drove to Mackinaw City, caught the ferry to the island, and explored the downtown. Within minutes, we were seeing fudge being made and strolling through the public library.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfziAGbzKcTm8fCgg7SEc-bWi8CcJ7tLIV1aULr7BaBuhSD4KV6bsiyhHgWPF6LGtD8GSOdirHxwftwSNpA3YW_UCd6Bs4egrZdrShPeTMYml0ZQA5cmpErC8nqy2-qGROa8k3NBNfXzU/s1600/IMG_7010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfziAGbzKcTm8fCgg7SEc-bWi8CcJ7tLIV1aULr7BaBuhSD4KV6bsiyhHgWPF6LGtD8GSOdirHxwftwSNpA3YW_UCd6Bs4egrZdrShPeTMYml0ZQA5cmpErC8nqy2-qGROa8k3NBNfXzU/s320/IMG_7010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We decided to rent tandem bikes and spent about an hour training ourselves to maneuver them. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WXX2p5cn2Oas6Vr7m83R8lqUZkUkmzBPb5OD-gcFIn1VCFjc2einyLoGGw73LgLAuMv8C2oZtqeJp2fsdjwUSvj4MZq2XyNYb0GyWN6QdnlQA8p7x-5fhxkfQdylPk6rM3-FpdL7NwU/s1600/IMG_7016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WXX2p5cn2Oas6Vr7m83R8lqUZkUkmzBPb5OD-gcFIn1VCFjc2einyLoGGw73LgLAuMv8C2oZtqeJp2fsdjwUSvj4MZq2XyNYb0GyWN6QdnlQA8p7x-5fhxkfQdylPk6rM3-FpdL7NwU/s320/IMG_7016.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Our efforts paid off and we cruised around the island, viewing the water, the trees, the Grand Hotel, the Governor's House, the hills, the horses, the Arch Rock, the fort, and the little neighborhoods. This is Michigan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98qk77mqXt2y3JhJx8WbvUp7PtMEO6JAXRze1TnPFchVMbb18KYwG2HQlk9s8CblPWLO5ZjlkeMrY9zf1AuY5s4xcbFVRSB-6FuPlapjp6_MmJ4xXhmzA9Dl7XWKcPL3Di82R8k_DJrY/s1600/IMG_7011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98qk77mqXt2y3JhJx8WbvUp7PtMEO6JAXRze1TnPFchVMbb18KYwG2HQlk9s8CblPWLO5ZjlkeMrY9zf1AuY5s4xcbFVRSB-6FuPlapjp6_MmJ4xXhmzA9Dl7XWKcPL3Di82R8k_DJrY/s320/IMG_7011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tired and happy, we ate a fun dinner, and carried Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream cones onto the ferry towards the mainland.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFRBXx8dyG9x2ow8xyOyhyphenhyphenGAb3csFcoeOURqr0v-AVVqLTiyzmZNckrEKxP4Cd423xpcmvy6rXmOCGW7lGXUDwhyf88ubXoW7otlo-0BmdLGLpbRUrL7oM9krTq8WznzexLGta7hTqwE/s1600/IMG_3264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFRBXx8dyG9x2ow8xyOyhyphenhyphenGAb3csFcoeOURqr0v-AVVqLTiyzmZNckrEKxP4Cd423xpcmvy6rXmOCGW7lGXUDwhyf88ubXoW7otlo-0BmdLGLpbRUrL7oM9krTq8WznzexLGta7hTqwE/s320/IMG_3264.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Josi, age 7</td></tr>
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We spent the night in Cheboygan and explored a bit of Lake Huron's shoreline before driving back downstate. This is Michigan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxRDcqVK8sX8NfXaNSjBylsK8FcCgS9AWq6jMErxLLGaKMvugj1r00hA9OruO3YQq19Ibv2CdmSdouk33-33RfltWo6raVTIVZTPPsDgOXp85qgCcZ8y4r1Xjoz0R39NmoNYo3nhSk8I/s1600/IMG_3278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxRDcqVK8sX8NfXaNSjBylsK8FcCgS9AWq6jMErxLLGaKMvugj1r00hA9OruO3YQq19Ibv2CdmSdouk33-33RfltWo6raVTIVZTPPsDgOXp85qgCcZ8y4r1Xjoz0R39NmoNYo3nhSk8I/s320/IMG_3278.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qSUQfC10qHWMYE3CxOjpDDSXE24My0PECaLXRSA-lWzJAOa-WynAzlNm3I6g53JhkC3bFmipYgL1qCTehjpsoFnOxT-OQRTnss2KPesI59zxN-o_AbvGBHZhh21jGC7QjlZlzbonPiw/s1600/IMG_3275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qSUQfC10qHWMYE3CxOjpDDSXE24My0PECaLXRSA-lWzJAOa-WynAzlNm3I6g53JhkC3bFmipYgL1qCTehjpsoFnOxT-OQRTnss2KPesI59zxN-o_AbvGBHZhh21jGC7QjlZlzbonPiw/s640/IMG_3275.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">can you see the Mackinac Bridge?</td></tr>
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We stopped for lunch in Gaylord and I heard myself asking the restaurant's hostess, "We're looking for something to do in the area, and I heard there is ... elk viewing." "Yes, there is totally elk viewing!" she exclaimed and gave me directions. It turns out there is a large herd of friendly elk and a few fallow deer a mile or two outside of downtown Gaylord. Michigan safari!<br />
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We were glad to return home after such a fun and unique view of our state!Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-5133045215837092492013-07-21T19:46:00.000-04:002013-07-21T19:46:21.321-04:00There is a house in our tree!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When this drawing appeared on the fridge one morning, we knew the requests to build a treehouse were getting serious.</div>
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And why not? We're a family of nature lovers, and with such a quirky backyard already, we thought a treehouse was starting to make sense.</div>
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So we chose a tree.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9XQkObZqfqcVPWy3J7ANWh0sgu_7UIqjDSHcxCcNxk2IdskMziIWrWp6MJb6azQxLX6GCABHau5SJU31LjVN2CKwoSIS1_x5gTUyWhlu3yI8CZ_l_JrCNIQrHPvP7cFi86dBb7MJV8c/s1600/IMG_6864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9XQkObZqfqcVPWy3J7ANWh0sgu_7UIqjDSHcxCcNxk2IdskMziIWrWp6MJb6azQxLX6GCABHau5SJU31LjVN2CKwoSIS1_x5gTUyWhlu3yI8CZ_l_JrCNIQrHPvP7cFi86dBb7MJV8c/s320/IMG_6864.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And checked out books from <a href="http://www.ypsilibrary.org/" target="_blank">our beloved library</a>. It turns out the summer reading program this year has a DIY focus, so we were right up the library's alley.</div>
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We were gifted some leftover wood and some overflow enthusiasm from another creative family, and within a day or so, the frame went from Driveway to Tree.</div>
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Soon after that, the floors and the rails.</div>
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And after hammering about three million nails, the treehouse could hold our family.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyCd4ABdd1K-VNt8Bj3K8_PA6oda2Bjl-bGxXFdkksL8aomv663Z3kwrX6j_Mzx6AC0vwE8et_tZWjl9967cxHScybEYcCZdHQjxIoKKJ0EfIXqJxtk-vGRrchcuEquViPxwGSzkvjpo/s1600/IMG_6876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyCd4ABdd1K-VNt8Bj3K8_PA6oda2Bjl-bGxXFdkksL8aomv663Z3kwrX6j_Mzx6AC0vwE8et_tZWjl9967cxHScybEYcCZdHQjxIoKKJ0EfIXqJxtk-vGRrchcuEquViPxwGSzkvjpo/s320/IMG_6876.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We added a rope ladder, a banner, and a basket with pulley.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEPt-4WFiefrZqoIiUKPrkXEUVisAY8n8Azn6U3y0QwdYoLK4bqve5gpw7oNKXAYAUC3ygTlT0zaTbCCJ_9PHsDIeY6OJfL0R9BYRVMukTNQ-XoMYEoQD0wu-fW8qYv8bVOLhRsEsbUg/s1600/IMG_6933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEPt-4WFiefrZqoIiUKPrkXEUVisAY8n8Azn6U3y0QwdYoLK4bqve5gpw7oNKXAYAUC3ygTlT0zaTbCCJ_9PHsDIeY6OJfL0R9BYRVMukTNQ-XoMYEoQD0wu-fW8qYv8bVOLhRsEsbUg/s320/IMG_6933.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The roof? The tree itself!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdhaC035rS_GSNUpfnn5bo6bWM5d58doVXxhEAiStx89wDX3JL98zwBCeV_7v_43yvjRffsKhyphenhyphen0Y38wM7PGtVh-K6Jb_peKRBj1_FPFtcjZWl8QBnam3q-TSmv3Yoq6lbsui3shQG78A/s1600/IMG_6930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdhaC035rS_GSNUpfnn5bo6bWM5d58doVXxhEAiStx89wDX3JL98zwBCeV_7v_43yvjRffsKhyphenhyphen0Y38wM7PGtVh-K6Jb_peKRBj1_FPFtcjZWl8QBnam3q-TSmv3Yoq6lbsui3shQG78A/s320/IMG_6930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Home, tree, home!</div>
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<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-31471877311319463632013-07-08T23:03:00.000-04:002013-07-08T23:03:39.595-04:00Busy as a bee!About 3 weeks ago, a colony of honeybees arrived and they are here to stay!<br />
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After seeing all the documentaries and hearing about the plight of the honeybee, we decided that putting a hive in our yard and welcoming a colony of bees was the next step for our little yarden. But not wanting to try this alone, we decided to enlist the help of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YpsiMelissa?fref=ts" target="_blank">Ypsi Melissa</a>, a local bee mentor.<br />
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Here she is helping to ready the hive by placing empty honeycomb scraps on the top bars of the empty hive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35NNwLVADZTcEfT_urOLuVEANe3j2PpMnF7umX7IjoZng6OHMl2NnsSmruXGdaOlzhL5lrkCUH0F0NvSIpfLzWhZe1jXpKjo39kf-mWvLq0PagX0aTtKnNDOoAh2IqsLwDDSIcOmgQnw/s1600/IMG_6828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35NNwLVADZTcEfT_urOLuVEANe3j2PpMnF7umX7IjoZng6OHMl2NnsSmruXGdaOlzhL5lrkCUH0F0NvSIpfLzWhZe1jXpKjo39kf-mWvLq0PagX0aTtKnNDOoAh2IqsLwDDSIcOmgQnw/s320/IMG_6828.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A month or two ago, I drove all the way out to Jackson to pick up a hefty top bar hive from <a href="http://www.stellerapiaries.com/" target="_blank">Steller Apiaries</a>, a local leader in natural beekeeping. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkzyX3f7fRbX9vpkVNNoTErGE046zGuVZ9DVRQczPpfb5kjAYU1Eqkmzgq-IORe8Vi7X7Ty3VByPbJofDCEbLxpKsT-2fEtpHlnkzC2DJPh2CFNPuPE0HfFEayDTcJnlcYIk1dG2z5H8/s1600/IMG_6699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkzyX3f7fRbX9vpkVNNoTErGE046zGuVZ9DVRQczPpfb5kjAYU1Eqkmzgq-IORe8Vi7X7Ty3VByPbJofDCEbLxpKsT-2fEtpHlnkzC2DJPh2CFNPuPE0HfFEayDTcJnlcYIk1dG2z5H8/s320/IMG_6699.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I especially like this hive because of the observation window on the side, which lets us see what's going on in there without disturbing the busy bees.<br />
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The bees came in this white nuc box, with the queen in a little queen cage. <br />
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Installing the frames of comb into the hive was trickier than we had thought it would be, so when we checked the hive today, we were so happy to see signs of health (pollen being brought in, lots of brood cells, egg cells, and new comb that the bees had made in the last 3 weeks).<br />
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One aspect of bringing all these animals into our yard is that many of the old fashioned sayings and idioms are coming to life. Dirty as a dog, all cooped up, and making a beeline are just a few. There are so many more that we are experiencing firsthand. In fact, during the transfer of the new bees from the nuc box to their hive, I heard some intense buzzing and realized that I in fact did have a bee in my bonnet!<br />
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Today my bee mentor asked me if I had chosen a name for our queen yet. I'm leaning toward Miriam, a sweet Jewish name that reminds me of the Isrealites' longing for the land that flows with milk and honey. Since our little plot of land is sort of producing eggs and honey, I think the name fits.<br />
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Good work, Miriam and daughters!<br />
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Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-50547356177150548322013-06-09T21:19:00.001-04:002013-06-09T21:19:47.306-04:00And then there were none.<a href="http://mykitchenmyvice.blogspot.com/2013/05/no-love-allowed-meat-chickens.html" target="_blank">You might remember</a> that a few weeks ago (seven actually), I brought home a little box full of Cornish Rock meat chicks. Since we were loving our laying hens so much, we thought we'd try the full range of chicken-ness and decided to give meat birds a go. The chicks ate and grew and ate like crazy, quickly transforming from these fuzzy little puffs<br />
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to chickens that clearly needed bigger quarters<br />
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to birds that were ready for the butcher.<br />
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I had mixed feelings about this. We tried not to love them. Really, we did. We did not snuggle them, name them, or whisper sweet nothings to them.<br />
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But, in the process of feeding them, watering them, moving them outside for daytime, moving them inside for nighttime, protecting them from harm, keeping them warm enough, and shielding them from direct sunlight, I have to admit that a tiny bit of love was starting to take root.<br />
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And yet, at 7am this morning, I loaded them up in the backseat and drove them to the butcher.<br />
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It was a charming place, a farmhouse with a few small barn-type buildings and the requisite pick-up truck. <br />
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The farmer and his wife were welcoming and did a quick, clean, and thorough job. Within 15 minutes, my chickens were loaded in the cooler, packed on ice, and ready for dinner. <br />
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This, I was prepared for.<br />
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I was not prepared for watching the farmer do his job just 10 feet from me. I was not prepared for the sounds. I was not prepared for the barn cats helping themselves to the scraps. <br />
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I was not prepared to feel this emotion which was borderline love. <br />
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The farmer took one look at my troubled self and said kindly, "Is this your first time?" All I could do was nod and blow my nose.<br />
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I pulled myself together enough to drive home and show the cooler to my waiting family. We decided that in order to move past the events of the morning, we needed to allow one chicken to fully serve its purpose, so into the crockpot it went.<br />
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I chose a recipe with a curry rub, because the smell of curry seems to take all bad feelings away. We left the house for an afternoon birthday party, and by evening the meal was ready.<br />
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Tender, fragrant, clean, tender, chickeny, juicy, and did I mention tender?<br />
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Alive, these chickens were bad at so many things. They were not charming. They were not pretty. They were not smart. They did not even like to walk around and peck at bugs, like good chickens are supposed to. But as a meal, they have finally found something they are good at. Dinnertime is their moment to shine.<br />
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Thank you, chickens, for feeding my family tonight.<br />
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<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-33188936847424954722013-05-04T20:18:00.000-04:002013-05-04T20:18:30.998-04:00Booktalk at Nicola's. Well, that was fun!Have you been to the great little bookstore called <a href="http://www.nicolasbooks.com/" target="_blank">Nicola's Books </a>in Ann Arbor?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXH7F1QS6fvNSMO1789vUdWZ14CsVmRa-XG2W_L4gSUDPqbnfkl0diqAdAbu3sgxcnlV4NLeVecPeMxZLyQN2n7X0dv5T__i1SmEkvHYQ13_h21_VOlRbeh6Bw5i_iO4U1f5axVxFIME/s1600/IMG_5314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXH7F1QS6fvNSMO1789vUdWZ14CsVmRa-XG2W_L4gSUDPqbnfkl0diqAdAbu3sgxcnlV4NLeVecPeMxZLyQN2n7X0dv5T__i1SmEkvHYQ13_h21_VOlRbeh6Bw5i_iO4U1f5axVxFIME/s320/IMG_5314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The first time we went there, my older daughter turned to me and said, "No offense, Mom, but I want to live here."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxNRC8mPD8cLjVXqhPlWGr7UQnbqMwmZELy53Eq6stzecDaK4YkD2W78A3SyqLqbYzZZKUWUYCXURlAoe56QAhskBcD_eF-QIjv4FqLS5xdOidKx4l5C39Wn0HSz74uJx7fhMuNVa8so/s1600/IMG_1172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxNRC8mPD8cLjVXqhPlWGr7UQnbqMwmZELy53Eq6stzecDaK4YkD2W78A3SyqLqbYzZZKUWUYCXURlAoe56QAhskBcD_eF-QIjv4FqLS5xdOidKx4l5C39Wn0HSz74uJx7fhMuNVa8so/s320/IMG_1172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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They have cozy chairs for enjoying the many unique, charming, and beautiful books they have there. They host book signings and storytimes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHlipHL2gIl78Ob-ey01GLmNJE2_LBNiiyQgrisFxrOoobpQC3C-FzShJinN1-iV1BrRsjgtXYuAvaJdbL0PIahKwgLjWAPJEOkeegotUx0avlCsw-GWBn2mipso9pEEC-MBwtstsWww/s1600/IMG_4591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHlipHL2gIl78Ob-ey01GLmNJE2_LBNiiyQgrisFxrOoobpQC3C-FzShJinN1-iV1BrRsjgtXYuAvaJdbL0PIahKwgLjWAPJEOkeegotUx0avlCsw-GWBn2mipso9pEEC-MBwtstsWww/s320/IMG_4591.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are the girls with Christopher Paul Curtis a couple of years ago.</td></tr>
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A few months ago they started carrying My Detroit Garden, my little children's book from 2012. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA39I0FBIGkpe1zSF_gX_uur1jyIVG9NNUfAB02TkKELeQL3u5fe5Z2gwcgsBFU9ze_Eb_dn-xQ8XoC4sSj0rUSQR3R7DvPbcbpfj4HfAeqxzTIBCYZUnlSK2c84qag_V_kqccfwWSxzw/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA39I0FBIGkpe1zSF_gX_uur1jyIVG9NNUfAB02TkKELeQL3u5fe5Z2gwcgsBFU9ze_Eb_dn-xQ8XoC4sSj0rUSQR3R7DvPbcbpfj4HfAeqxzTIBCYZUnlSK2c84qag_V_kqccfwWSxzw/s320/IMG_1170.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For a while, My Detroit Garden was displayed right next to Michele Obama's gardening book!</td></tr>
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And, they agreed to let me share My Detroit Garden and a seed planting activity this morning!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7L4DfNaf_YGrHcBPsOHWYhu99y6JMqM4mmswJStVbeJJrKxsTw7gufZN5mjjJR8ZB5GKIl0utbAsHSGLoVpuq_4LFRVXvBJCnU9sfsZ62bSzvkC5VJg12XE1z9-9iJFBaSDO8k4FsDs/s1600/IMG_6702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7L4DfNaf_YGrHcBPsOHWYhu99y6JMqM4mmswJStVbeJJrKxsTw7gufZN5mjjJR8ZB5GKIl0utbAsHSGLoVpuq_4LFRVXvBJCnU9sfsZ62bSzvkC5VJg12XE1z9-9iJFBaSDO8k4FsDs/s320/IMG_6702.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the storyteller chair.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrWpDheW00zylWUt69cJToTHKZ2Fw2csc_UthQ2p_luh9REKjZCYhyqDGxkafqdFZmNB9dhnM1rVRSCSqkwRGajbiDj7-3DaKZJNnHbSJxev0ir0w10rFpNrY_OYDofrG_km3zpQ_JJU/s1600/IMG_6709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrWpDheW00zylWUt69cJToTHKZ2Fw2csc_UthQ2p_luh9REKjZCYhyqDGxkafqdFZmNB9dhnM1rVRSCSqkwRGajbiDj7-3DaKZJNnHbSJxev0ir0w10rFpNrY_OYDofrG_km3zpQ_JJU/s320/IMG_6709.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40Vkhlc6bAp1mfKQpdyka6TLBSEhOMK7LejJfPPHvRuoZik7fpPou5fdOpd0PhMO-EXfqKR9kkrfHzsyd7BO3p95bWkMUwOjSVoTvFJB-TOyuXnIqKV44PxyZ6tClRbT8bsVzgz2qP3c/s1600/IMG_6711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40Vkhlc6bAp1mfKQpdyka6TLBSEhOMK7LejJfPPHvRuoZik7fpPou5fdOpd0PhMO-EXfqKR9kkrfHzsyd7BO3p95bWkMUwOjSVoTvFJB-TOyuXnIqKV44PxyZ6tClRbT8bsVzgz2qP3c/s320/IMG_6711.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love a few seeds and some soil?</td></tr>
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Thanks, Nicola's, for a fun spring morning!<br />
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<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-49660877420472179272013-05-04T19:49:00.000-04:002013-05-06T21:00:48.564-04:00No love allowed: meat chickens<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Almost on an impulse, I brought home 7 meat chicks last week.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It started a few months ago when I found myself avoiding making dinner whenever chicken was on the menu. The boneless, skinless chicken breasts that we were in the habit of buying seemed more and more spongy to me, and didn't resemble at all the lovely hens that were decorating our backyard. At all. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8UwdyCDba6AsKczSkk3Zb_sDdups4KdnKMcrXVOUawHvN8rXsg3SScC2bOw_cbCt6tu52wToqFD5DNMVKirp9NoPMD6FIXlYpj2DrMIj8bh7cXn7RtrzKihlANjm8KV3mUUY3HWARCM/s1600/IMG_5751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8UwdyCDba6AsKczSkk3Zb_sDdups4KdnKMcrXVOUawHvN8rXsg3SScC2bOw_cbCt6tu52wToqFD5DNMVKirp9NoPMD6FIXlYpj2DrMIj8bh7cXn7RtrzKihlANjm8KV3mUUY3HWARCM/s320/IMG_5751.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I contemplated meat chicks, chickens that are bred specifically to become tasty dinners. They only need about 8 weeks to grow to a good butchering size, which is a bonus because our little backyard homestead is already over our city's chicken limit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4FZ3hZqkWR588XyPhy8YbSokzgfmYPNsBro-NOEN7qIZmgi_vcwvlStVZg4c3SKBvx3jGN-H6TAMg9OeISiDirsUw4pERlAdMjbGnrHGOK1RhEfGUXChiC7Cyjb0hRdRpzGY7L8PozM/s1600/IMG_5753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4FZ3hZqkWR588XyPhy8YbSokzgfmYPNsBro-NOEN7qIZmgi_vcwvlStVZg4c3SKBvx3jGN-H6TAMg9OeISiDirsUw4pERlAdMjbGnrHGOK1RhEfGUXChiC7Cyjb0hRdRpzGY7L8PozM/s320/IMG_5753.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So with strict instructions not to name these birds, not to love them, not to even cuddle them too much, I surprised the family with 7 fluffy, yellow chicks under the brooder lamp in the kitchen last week. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJTtbTiaRzLO10F5eMXBOZyZBMH455p1ZrlIFipojAZLVgTdw9d3pT9ujxTZQpVUzcUZfTQLNixH5lMN1K76NTgaaHPoXFHfVTE2cjQYT0N_TVhzFK51UmXJjOl1WxkVMSOqcez5ZzhQ/s1600/IMG_6678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJTtbTiaRzLO10F5eMXBOZyZBMH455p1ZrlIFipojAZLVgTdw9d3pT9ujxTZQpVUzcUZfTQLNixH5lMN1K76NTgaaHPoXFHfVTE2cjQYT0N_TVhzFK51UmXJjOl1WxkVMSOqcez5ZzhQ/s320/IMG_6678.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9PB0enSWhxGR4rgTNDWNXLvm0Ul6GQA4LH36uKIcEQ72LktcUn3YX5DI4cXQ1R92OEnlK-LHUBVd3x8EzABxMPT8wd3xGbP6aZLG5g-EQ395Ov6_HbhQwgEr3hKau-8RieuzS0NRepM/s1600/IMG_6684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9PB0enSWhxGR4rgTNDWNXLvm0Ul6GQA4LH36uKIcEQ72LktcUn3YX5DI4cXQ1R92OEnlK-LHUBVd3x8EzABxMPT8wd3xGbP6aZLG5g-EQ395Ov6_HbhQwgEr3hKau-8RieuzS0NRepM/s320/IMG_6684.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now that we're one week into this meat chick experiment, I realized I shouldn't have worried. There is no love. The cuteness only extends as far as the fluffiness, which is quickly being replaced with dingy white feathers. There is too much odor to allow for oohing and ahhing. And the spunky scurrying that we had with our eggs chicks has been replaced with unattractive laying around, sometimes with their heads resting in the feeder.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is no love.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Music Man asked me what breed I bought. "This breed," I said, as I pulled up a Google image of a Cornish Rock.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seven weeks till dinner time!</span><br />
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Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-84607013974175580512013-04-20T16:49:00.000-04:002013-04-20T16:49:49.760-04:00Destination: ChicagoThe Music Man has been taking his 8th grade choirs to Chicago for 5 or 6 years now, and this year we got brave enough to go with him. One hundred singers, 40 parents, 6 staff, 3 charter buses, and us 3 family members make for an eventful weekend trip.<br />
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We boarded the Spirit of Chicago for a lunch cruise. <br />
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And danced!<br />
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We visited Millennium Park,<br />
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including the Lurie Gardens.<br />
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We walked across the street to the Art Institute.<br />
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We met up with some long, lost friends at the Shedd Aquarium</div>
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and saw some beluga whales,</div>
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some grumpy fish, </div>
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and some amazing jellyfish.</div>
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After that, it was to the top of the John Hancock building</div>
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for a fun performance.<br />
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The next day was for visiting Navy Pier, including the ferris wheel</div>
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and the indoor gardens.<br />
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Chicago, we hope to see you again! </div>
Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-81783179591555160472013-03-23T20:26:00.003-04:002013-03-23T20:26:38.494-04:00Seven!Someone has just turned seven over here. Well, she's been seven for a few weeks now, but we're all still getting used to it.<br />
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The theme? Sea creatures. Not that she particularly loves any animal that lives in the sea, but a few months ago we came across <a href="http://makingitlovely.com/2012/04/25/how-to-make-a-succulent-sea-terrarium/" target="_blank">an idea to make a little terrarium in a jar</a>, plop a plastic sea creature in there, and presto you have a mini ocean garden.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygt4nblMYnerXtGplcjzqweLJKgVCJ51sEzdXSH_ssBYjrgaln65KEMgWqYQlGzQoy9Eg5-834Ju4wSGFzB4tqhoWRzR6hK0hDiUC0Eyjb3Mv-Bq8jSWUrBi_sYF0MNhXt3vxAzJOKZ4/s1600/IMG_6315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygt4nblMYnerXtGplcjzqweLJKgVCJ51sEzdXSH_ssBYjrgaln65KEMgWqYQlGzQoy9Eg5-834Ju4wSGFzB4tqhoWRzR6hK0hDiUC0Eyjb3Mv-Bq8jSWUrBi_sYF0MNhXt3vxAzJOKZ4/s320/IMG_6315.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We happened to have, oh, a million extra jars around here, so this craft we could manage.<br />
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By the way, when did birthdays start having themes? When I was a kid, the theme was cake and a few presents. Every year.<br />
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Back to the sea creature theme.<br />
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We invited seven friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi05p7-6qpiv9Wqi1T1Uct9T_f5tdMVEn96CYWjJGdDioLW6yjomDOSbGHyzrMR6UxkSNcE9CGFvoQBjVKywfKvpUldiU9CkqlW-uNdWOXjpQfR5OcNl63-zGhWoYgI0pAriwc_HattA/s1600/IMG_6323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi05p7-6qpiv9Wqi1T1Uct9T_f5tdMVEn96CYWjJGdDioLW6yjomDOSbGHyzrMR6UxkSNcE9CGFvoQBjVKywfKvpUldiU9CkqlW-uNdWOXjpQfR5OcNl63-zGhWoYgI0pAriwc_HattA/s200/IMG_6323.JPG" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeNBZXcjWLxY2fctIiKrizu1f1POPQ4LSXivXnDrnN3dJkufeTS-CLV174qCqDUljUn7lk12-30wD3URI_UD-lvn9Zlf3M_CcgPaENQOy50_6xipHd_vYJEzE357Vsgd3cAgSrtEY2Kw/s1600/IMG_6324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeNBZXcjWLxY2fctIiKrizu1f1POPQ4LSXivXnDrnN3dJkufeTS-CLV174qCqDUljUn7lk12-30wD3URI_UD-lvn9Zlf3M_CcgPaENQOy50_6xipHd_vYJEzE357Vsgd3cAgSrtEY2Kw/s200/IMG_6324.JPG" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ziztBIqMTrzKLG2vZmmfwk7bfSMBRT5uZKCIIllBQ7urLXmZTfaJI2bXr1jeQUMNAemtVq8JNJuOc3_HPeGhXzRiqJg76hJ99a1AYyZK9tR17FBxG7PEyGE1y-R6Jw-RnQBUJVhSx5w/s1600/IMG_6325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ziztBIqMTrzKLG2vZmmfwk7bfSMBRT5uZKCIIllBQ7urLXmZTfaJI2bXr1jeQUMNAemtVq8JNJuOc3_HPeGhXzRiqJg76hJ99a1AYyZK9tR17FBxG7PEyGE1y-R6Jw-RnQBUJVhSx5w/s200/IMG_6325.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWya-Vd4oNub9pfo0PwA1tusLSPtKVaR0QYNA1Et94S2v4kn77a0Hx6_K9cWsTD8KnVdPGXxIdOTx4rkSM8TPrSK122owE1gWKIUe7U4G3nEl7GmgsiPtaPgEydiLEvZuVNrujaxCowMY/s1600/IMG_6327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWya-Vd4oNub9pfo0PwA1tusLSPtKVaR0QYNA1Et94S2v4kn77a0Hx6_K9cWsTD8KnVdPGXxIdOTx4rkSM8TPrSK122owE1gWKIUe7U4G3nEl7GmgsiPtaPgEydiLEvZuVNrujaxCowMY/s200/IMG_6327.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVujLXKlNFgzy1LV534KaXLzCHzLhVkBTEfnFVYHQ3-yhsFWxnmH1s3kBPxAImGfdO5b9o30wKU8Hvp1X8_noZRChE8U6Zg31L0cje_GXKpaqayPSab_69h87gZeLY0pTZI1ZjJwRXns/s1600/IMG_6326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVujLXKlNFgzy1LV534KaXLzCHzLhVkBTEfnFVYHQ3-yhsFWxnmH1s3kBPxAImGfdO5b9o30wKU8Hvp1X8_noZRChE8U6Zg31L0cje_GXKpaqayPSab_69h87gZeLY0pTZI1ZjJwRXns/s200/IMG_6326.JPG" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX_JGsCNe5mf8XcxnLQhrQMb-tGfrVoH7zcrarVUKnv_H0VAnWAenqf8JhIIJpO0fbbT4lPzaoUR-08eby0zjRXXj7eJ8mk_k_vTAvIoXVB2Ku-LAQoauwZ3nZrx3cPz0Xn-ZwZPvsZ4/s1600/IMG_6328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX_JGsCNe5mf8XcxnLQhrQMb-tGfrVoH7zcrarVUKnv_H0VAnWAenqf8JhIIJpO0fbbT4lPzaoUR-08eby0zjRXXj7eJ8mk_k_vTAvIoXVB2Ku-LAQoauwZ3nZrx3cPz0Xn-ZwZPvsZ4/s200/IMG_6328.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FK0pqGOkchAeDYXw5YDiMs8bkQYt13M5btu1pIIgAf5Q_IWg4N92EtZvWODl-QoAls88vVRYqOIN-p2oYg64RkXJwIMvrcWWVa_xasLUI-sWvN3c1MDDqHcnb3dFpHe9Q-Np-H7IGTs/s1600/IMG_6329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FK0pqGOkchAeDYXw5YDiMs8bkQYt13M5btu1pIIgAf5Q_IWg4N92EtZvWODl-QoAls88vVRYqOIN-p2oYg64RkXJwIMvrcWWVa_xasLUI-sWvN3c1MDDqHcnb3dFpHe9Q-Np-H7IGTs/s200/IMG_6329.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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We had Pin the Arm/Leg on the Octopus.<br />
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Go Fishing For a Fabric Fish.<br />
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Red Pepper with Hummus Octopus.<br />
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<a class="PinImage ImgLink" href="http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/appetizers-snacks/healthy-snacks/garden-octopus-907351/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f2f0f0; color: #cb2027; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; display: block; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="hummus & bell pepper octopus" class="PinImageImg" data-componenttype="MODAL_PIN" src="http://media-cache-is0.pinimg.com/550x/80/4f/c9/804fc9cdd6f8b6447de6463d00b9a39f.jpg" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.22s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-out; background-color: #f2f0f0; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 260px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: none; min-height: 75px; opacity: 1; width: 260px;" /></a><br />
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And Sea Creature Cupcakes.<br />
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Happy Birthday, little sea creature!<br />
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<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-58344686123729394992013-03-20T09:06:00.000-04:002013-03-20T09:06:07.746-04:00Pickles, my first real attempt at wild fermentationI should have known I was in for an adventure when I saw the book title: Wild Fermentation.<br />
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As luck would have it, I came upon a $4 crock at a thrift store and mini cucumbers on sale at the grocery store on the same day.<br />
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So for the first time in my life, I found myself making a brine, dunking some cucumbers, garlic, and dill, and then walking away. For 5 - 7 days.<br />
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They turned out way too salty for our tastes. But we just soaked them in plain water for a day or so and they mellowed out nicely. Can I try that with my dog?<br />
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Now, if my house will ever get to 70 - 80 degrees and stay there, I'd like to try making kombucha!<br />
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<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-46118305630579385712013-03-09T13:14:00.000-05:002013-03-09T13:14:45.598-05:00Another reason to visit the Matthaei Botanical GardensWe've been visiting the <a href="http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/" target="_blank">Matthaei Botanical Gardens</a> for as long as I remember. <br />
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My mom took my brother and me as kids,<br />
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we had our firstborn's baby pictures taken there,<br />
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<br />
and now we try to go once a season. <br />
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<br />
The indoor tropical conservatory is a soothing respite from the cold, gray winter. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjy2_py8PyjsVdLZ512xE_tloeBP9ofG_K79x1vhWxoxLti1VhyphenhyphenA5Y2Fc2sB9ukTEnrDQe6Jcjd5GCwuuWuN9oOlXJv6Lw4Oq_Qe4BkNoH6icouvXfFxBY4DKQnYFR1P8znr4edc5aLT4/s1600/IMG_1484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjy2_py8PyjsVdLZ512xE_tloeBP9ofG_K79x1vhWxoxLti1VhyphenhyphenA5Y2Fc2sB9ukTEnrDQe6Jcjd5GCwuuWuN9oOlXJv6Lw4Oq_Qe4BkNoH6icouvXfFxBY4DKQnYFR1P8znr4edc5aLT4/s320/IMG_1484.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo taken by Abi, age 9</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And the sprawling gardens outdoors are a creative place to spend a summer morning. They have beekeeping workshops, plant sales, and walking trails. <br />
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There are photo ops at every turn.<br />
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<br />
And now, their gift shop is carrying My Detroit Garden! <br />
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<br />
Thanks, Matthaei, for supporting my little book!<br />
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Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-89703863418940899302013-02-04T11:44:00.000-05:002013-02-06T21:17:40.322-05:00The Four-Finger Flapper goes to Sunday SchoolRemember those fun cootie catchers that we made when we were kids? Sometimes we called them 'four-finger flappers' and they served to amuse us by telling us our benign fortunes. As in: <i>your day will be filled with laughter</i> or <i>you're going to marry a prince</i> or (puzzlingly) <i>you have freckles</i>.<br />
<br />
My daughter came upon one of these in a kids magazine. She was absolutely taken with this toy, offering to read our fortunes over and over again. I found myself being increasingly unsettled about this simple plaything. I heard myself explaining to her that <i>the fortunes are pretend</i> and <i>you can't count on them</i> and <i>don't trust things that you read in magazines</i>.<br />
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Then I closed my mouth and opened up the craft supplies and my sacred text.<br />
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The results: the four-finger flapper goes to Sunday School!<br />
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Inside, instead of wispy promises, are words of truth and well-being. <br />
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Words my daughters can count on, trust, and look for their fulfillment.<br />
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With promises like this, they can read my future all day long.<br />
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<br />
Update: here are the verses that I used. <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">You are fearfully and
wonderfully made!</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It says so in Psalm 139.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">God has plans to prosper
you and not to harm you.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It says so in Jeremiah 29.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">You have the mind of
Christ.</span> It says so in 1 Corinthians 2.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It says so in Psalm 37.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">Your citizenship is in
heaven!</span> It says so in Philippians 3.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">You are the work of God’s
hands, like a potter shapes clay. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It says so in Isaiah 64.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">You are a child of God,
shining like a star in the universe.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It says so in Philippians 2.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Apple Chancery';">May you grow into a woman
of God, clothed with strength and dignity</span>,
just like it says in Proverbs 31. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4537052035886801043.post-71906106389013091012013-01-24T14:08:00.000-05:002013-01-24T14:08:32.941-05:00Use What You Have, insulated lunch bagA friend of mine handed me an insulated grocery bag and whispered, "Let's talk."<br />
<br />
Her daughter needed a lunch bag to bring to preschool. The mom had an insulated grocery bag with a top that didn't latch anymore. She asked if I could help her, and could it please involve purple fabric.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOhrC6fsGcVmT6ajHVUN4gUKCC_O93z7g54Hkdi2U88r-xTaVE85bymKt7VzC6lPExTUFne3u7NSA5cDk-Szvyvtz19BZemVb2av6nbg8kGWqejy1jec-dRspEAHb0sa8J6kkv5eJUqY/s1600/IMG_5992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOhrC6fsGcVmT6ajHVUN4gUKCC_O93z7g54Hkdi2U88r-xTaVE85bymKt7VzC6lPExTUFne3u7NSA5cDk-Szvyvtz19BZemVb2av6nbg8kGWqejy1jec-dRspEAHb0sa8J6kkv5eJUqY/s320/IMG_5992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yes!<br />
<br />
So we found a style that she liked and fit into my ability level. Then I spent a sunny winter afternoon with my sewing machine.<br />
<br />
The result:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAF205u7qYexcFxZM4-8Ps8-e0zvS-cmMsmX0E0Aeg8krKbg-S7YrAizN3eb2W1sLYcsnoja_iJqUrirZzQJWQDfSFi4sHyuWuF719KCXdq-WVl-xpexxnd9OBQJC8lUbtTto2gH3VSFA/s1600/IMG_5995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAF205u7qYexcFxZM4-8Ps8-e0zvS-cmMsmX0E0Aeg8krKbg-S7YrAizN3eb2W1sLYcsnoja_iJqUrirZzQJWQDfSFi4sHyuWuF719KCXdq-WVl-xpexxnd9OBQJC8lUbtTto2gH3VSFA/s320/IMG_5995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetyCXynSmk1VJEuN0KBZ9iAlz5-iwI0gMvGDnDxR_u0TAoe0mVg1f6vG90H_DskxU_Ap6Q8TJnQeHEzWwOIjfdvvjFaGjDaegRJzzcwSVTe2riGs5aN7IEbTNFX9giIXDfZpJnv3H4oE/s1600/IMG_5997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetyCXynSmk1VJEuN0KBZ9iAlz5-iwI0gMvGDnDxR_u0TAoe0mVg1f6vG90H_DskxU_Ap6Q8TJnQeHEzWwOIjfdvvjFaGjDaegRJzzcwSVTe2riGs5aN7IEbTNFX9giIXDfZpJnv3H4oE/s320/IMG_5997.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DeZ77TCQOLin7hKs-mHOcOwLWOVnETszwu6BxCgXnPR-4VMlbnMz2pig0dACIkhyzIqtX_LZxcvfoMxnfxOwcoJGxrlMglm8nH4uVLH5NUBn2yQ8RXgvl63G8PZ7fZRZrUFAEweOJq4/s1600/IMG_5998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DeZ77TCQOLin7hKs-mHOcOwLWOVnETszwu6BxCgXnPR-4VMlbnMz2pig0dACIkhyzIqtX_LZxcvfoMxnfxOwcoJGxrlMglm8nH4uVLH5NUBn2yQ8RXgvl63G8PZ7fZRZrUFAEweOJq4/s320/IMG_5998.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Because the insulated bag is from Ikea, this just might be considered an Ikea-hack!</div>
<br />Keri M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05176564191614024045noreply@blogger.com1