Author Archives: Carol

This summer, I have tried to make my outdoor space welcoming to God’s creatures. First I planted red and yellow blossoms in my hanging baskets to encourage different birds. My neighbor has fed the hummingbirds that she loved. We hung a feeder for hummingbirds between two baskets. We were rewarded not with adult hummingbirds butContinue reading “Critter Visitors 329 words”

This week, raspberries were on sale in the store we shopped at. Pints of the fruit with a sign, “Buy one, get one free.” I bought two cartons, to make a pie.As a child, we always had a raspberry section in the garden. I recall it covered a area of 3 by 20 feet. CloseContinue reading “It’s Raspberry Time, August 17, 2026 358 words”

A Petoskey stone is found only in the Great Lakes area. The heaviest concentration of stones are found along the east coast of Lake Michigan shores.The stones were formed in the coral colonies of shallow sea waters that covered Michigan over thirty fifty million years ago, the Silurian period. Large grew in the tropical waters.Continue reading “What is a Petoskey Stone? August 10, 20266. 347 words”

Don’t let people convince you there is no global warming. Upper Michiganders would argue with that statement.In the beginning of March, the upper portion of the state experienced a winter storm that dropped 48 inches of snow in a day. That was in addition to the four feet already on the ground. Plow after plowContinue reading “Vacation Recovery, August 4, 2026 633 Words”

My brothers, sisters-in-law, and I have gathered in my brother Brian’s cottage during the first week in August for many years. Though we have lost some family members, we still eat brought goodies, reminisce, and laugh. Brian brings out all his toys for the lake: pedal paddle boat, canoe, and the rubber Zodiac. As IContinue reading “July 26, 2026, Packing for Siblings Week 549 words”

Today we celebrate National Lollipop Day. This treat has a long history. The ancient Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese created a honey, fruit, and nut mixture warmed over an open flame to produce a golden caramel-like confection. This mixture was rolled around a reed or stick to keep the sticky concoction away from fingers. Bamboo, reeds,Continue reading “July 20, 2026, A Sweet Day for Lollipops 437 words”

My brother Brian wrote an article about the waters of our hometown, Northville. I have used some of his stories with his permission. Thanks, Brian.FIRST, SOME WATER BACKGROUNDMy hometown is the headwaters of the Rouge River, with four tributaries converging into the Ville (Johnson Creek, Randolph Drain, and the upper & middle Rouge system).We alsoContinue reading “Hometown Northville Roots. 834 Words”

This July, our country celebrates the nation’s semiquincentennial. That same year, Detroit was celebrating 75 years of being a growing settlement.Father Marquette started the exploration of Lake Superior and the northern part of Lake Michigan. Sault Saint Marie and Saint Ignace were the first two French settlements in the Great Lakes Area. Other French explorersContinue reading “Detroit celebrates 325 years July 6, 2026 452 wordsin July July 6, 2026”

On the eve of the longest day, a small fawn was born in our little woods. She followed her mother to a neighbor’s yard as the sun set. Bathing the couple with golden light. I named the little one, Solstice.Last evening, an old tom turkey spent a half hour preening, fluffing, and spreading his wings.Continue reading “Babes at play June 29, 2026 325 words”

The maple chest of drawers was designed and handcrafted for Great-Grandfather Walter’s bride on her wedding day. It was one and a half meters tall and two meters across. The number of drawers, small on the top, with larger drawers on both sides and across the bottom, fit snuggly in their place. The wood cameContinue reading “Memory of a bureau June 22, 2026 584 words,”