Pictured Rocks hiking

WARNING:

There will be a lot of photos.

In da U.P. we played outside a lot.

Mex, Jenx, Jax and I pretty much moved at the same speed,

taking a photo here and there.

But Shax was a bit faster.

(She didn't take the pictures her dad asked for.)

 So, here we are, with me behind the camera--

and Shax way out in front.

 First stop was a pretty waterfall.

"ooooooohhhhh!"

 Second stop was a nice lighthouse.

"ahhhhh!"

We chose to ignore the warning signs about the

vast quantities of biting flies on this hike.

We may have regretted this.

But we sallied on.

The beach was rocky and sandy in turns.

Some of these rocks are agates. 

They were really pretty.

"eeeeee!" 

 Shax walked so fast

she got to sit amist the stream and wait

for the rest of us for a good long while.

But the middle of the stream deterred the flies.

So it was all fine with her.

 Next stop was a pretty overlook.

We were amazed by the water color.

 I thought it looked like the Caribbean,

so I tried to jump in.

And they all laughed at me.

Thanks for making this a fabulous trip, ladies!

{13July2012}

Tahquamenon Falls

I went with some of my great friends to the

Upper Peninsula of Michigan a few weeks ago.

Things have been busy since, so I'm just now

looking at photos.

And re-living this trip.

It was gorgeous.

First hike on Thursday was at Tahquamenon Falls.

Its highly recommended.

Beautiful scenery, semi-treacherous paths,

(we imagined bears among all the raspberries lining the path)

woods, water...what more could we have asked for?

 The Lower Falls

 One of the not-so-drunken boardwalks.

 The Upper Falls

The 'work out' stairs.

I think they were worth it, even if you don't work out.

{12July2012}

Miss Effie's

I mentioned Miss Effie's

a couple of posts ago.

I'd met the owner in the past

and found her delightful.

Going to her flower farm is something

that's been on the local to-do list for awhile.

 It was delightful.

 The kitties were charming.

 Sitting in the cornzebo

watching the sunset

was spectacular.

And chef Chris Grebner (along with his team)

fed us a fabulous meal.

{7 July 2012}

Yarn chandelier

 This project has been on my 'make it'

list for a loooong time.

With the July heat in Iowa I got it started, at least.

and I'm using up that extra yarn.

YAY!

{July 2012}

Good eats

Some of my pals and I went for a

multi-course

local

organic

meal at

Miss Effie's Country Flowers

 It was scrumptious

 Delicious

 Mouthwatering

 Sensational

And of course, dessert

was the best course.

(I got TWO scoops, thanks to inviting a dairy intolerant friend!)

I'd recommend

The Farmer's Table

to anyone, anytime.

{7 July 2012}

UP, up and up

 The next Colorado adventure:

going to Mt. Evans.

We enjoyed the vistas on the way up.

 Drove quickly by the lake...

 Hassled the wildlife with excessive photo-taking.

 Squealed over the pretty flowers.

And got artsy by the bristlecone pines.

It was a glorious day!

{23June2012}

Red Rocks

 So, I went to Colorado.

I actually went for 'vention,

But got some tourism, too.

I have a cousin who lives in a Denver 'burb.

And she's a most excellent tour guide.

Our first Wednesday am stop was Red Rocks.

We spent some time ogling the workouts going on in the ampitheater.

Oh, and ogling the scenery, too.

{27 June 2012}