Fall in Michigan

Fall in Michigan.
Oh how I love thee.
Let me count the ways.

The start of the Michigan State University semester - the students are back, the student rental houses are full, the stores are busy, the place is buzzing with activity.

College Football.  Michigan loves it's College Football and I'm an MSU Spartan.  This year MSU is host to the MSU v UofM game.  Each year since 1953, the winner of the Michigan-Michigan State game receives the Paul Bunyan Trophy, a 4-foot wooden statue of the legendary lumberjack. Michigan State has had the trophy sitting in it's case for the past three years and I know we plan on keeping it this year, too.

(I wrote this days ago hoping to publish, but alas I didn't.  However, I'm happy to report that my Spartans did indeed win that game and keep the trophy!)

Fall means LEAVES!  Lots and lots of leaves of varying colors and sizes falling from the sky and rustling on the ground.

When leaves are on the ground you can hear things.  You can hear a squirrel digging for acorns, cats running through the grass or friends coming to the door.

Cool weather is almost guaranteed, but sometimes you get that amazing Indian Summer where the temperatures are way above average and the sun shines bright.  It's an incredible event because just when you thought your summer activities were over, you get a quick do over!  My MIL and FIL spent several days relaxing by the pool during this years Indian Summer which lasted nearly two weeks!  Unheard of.

Drinking apple cider and picking out pumpkins.

Allergies.  Yep, I'm allergic to Fall.  The dust of the leaves, the decay and the rain of Fall do a number on me.  It's really hard NOT to jump in the leaves!  I suffer every year and I keep coming back.  The beauty of it is intoxicating and I have to do it again.  (OK, so I don't love allergies, but it's expected in my version of fall)

My birthday.  Now my birthday will take place whether I'm in Michigan or not, but it's always nice to have a little birthday celebration when I'm in town.  This year the celebration was for the two year old, Scarlett, who was born just two days before my birthday.  It was fun being a part of her birthday this year.  I'm going to celebrate mine with a few folks in Jacksonville.  It seems I've met several folks who also share a Libra birthday with me. 

Hope you have enjoyed the things I love about Fall in Michigan. 
Have a great day!
Kristin

POTD - BWL Smoke Stacks

POTD - BWL Smoke Stacks

©2011 Kristin Corlett

Industrial buildings, electrical towers, utility poles, street lights...all of these fascinate me.  I like the symmetry of them I think, but also the use and decay of these items.  The Board of Water and Light (BWL) power station and smoke stacks are an icon in Lansing and something I love to photograph each time I come to town.  A new plant is soon going to take the place of this one and Wynken, Blynken and Nod will be shut down.  I'm almost terrified, OK, so I'm being a bit dramatic here, but I'd hate to see these stacks torn down.  I have no idea of the future of the BWL smoke stacks, but they will always be a part of my memories of Lansing, MI.

Enjoy!
Kristin

(Used Pioneer Woman "Colorized"action on the photo)

POTD - Pumpkin Tendrils

POTD - Pumpkin Tendrils

©2011 Kristin Corlett

My sister picked out a pumpkin from the Uncle John's pumpkin patch that had these lovely dried tendrils still attached.  It really is the little stuff that gets me so excited.  I guess it runs in the family because she picked this particular pumpkin because it had the little curls.  I wish I could stick around Michigan longer to actually witness the carving of the tendril pumpkin, but that's just not going to happen.  I go home on Monday. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Weed Seeds

POTD - Weed Seeds

©2011 Kristin Corlett

This late in the season, it's rare to find a dandelion puff ball in the yard, but my niece found one and brought it to me.  I immediately got my camera out and thought it might look really cool with the fall color backdrop right there for me.  I think I was right, it does look cool.  (If I do say so myself!)

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Stella

POTD - Stella

©2011 Kristin Corlett

The middle one, the lovey one, the brown-eyed one.  This is Stella.  She had been sick for the past couple of days, so I waited to get her close up on a day when she felt better.  We were on our way to the farmer's market for their fall harvest event when I asked her to stop for me.   Stella smiles and laughs and giggles all the time, but it's hard to get her to smile for the camera.  Thanks honey for doing such a great job for your Tottie!

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Zora

POTD - Zora

©2011 Kristin Corlett

Zora would prefer to be left alone to play games on the computer, watch TV, draw, write and illustrate her stories...well, pretty much she wishes she didn't have sisters that mess with her stuff.  That's very important to a seven year old.  Zora took a moment out from playing a computer game to look at me.  Thanks Zora, I really like this one.

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Scarlett

POTD - Scarlett

©2011 Kristin Corlett

Scarlett peeking between the balusters of my Mom's stairway.  It's blurry but I don't care.  Scarlett runs so much that's about all you see of her anyway - just a blur.

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Life Jackets

POTD - Life Jackets

©2011 Kristin Corlett

My niece, Zora, asked me a few days ago if I would take her to her swim lesson at the YMCA on Thursday.  How I could I refuse such a simple request?!  Of course, I'd take her, but on one condition...I was going to need her cooperation when it came to picture taking.  She agreed.

Thursday arrived and since we arrived early she got to play in the wading pool.  A couple of times she said, "Take a picture of me doing this, Totttie!"  So I did.  (I was a very happy Auntie to say the least.)  While she was getting some direction from her swim instructor, I wandered off to this delightful display of safety.  I fell in love immediately.  I do enjoy a nice row of similar objects, but I was loving the few life jackets that were of a different color.  That made me very happy.

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Ten Years

POTD - Ten Years

©2011 Kristin Corlett

This is for my Mom.  She is involved with the Peace Movement in her community and this weekend is the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan.   They have made up ten signs, to represent the ten years.  (I'll write a whole blog post on that later today) The handles of the signs are vintage - they are lathing strips that came out of an old house.  The tops are painted white to match the white posterboard, but the handles were left original.  I like the age of the wood and the nail holes on the ends of some of the pieces.  My Mom had these all laying out on a table and I saw them as I was coming down the stairs yesterday morning.  I told her thanks for helping me choose what my photo of the day would be! 

Enjoy!
Kristin

The Mitten State

I'm leaving in just a few hours for one of my favorite places in the world!  I was asked where I lived in Michigan by someone here in Jacksonville and I put my hand up to point.

I pointed to Lansing, MI.  and she looked a bit confused.  I said, "Didn't you know that Michigan is shaped like a mitten?"  She didn't know.  tisk tisk!  So I'm here to give you a teeeeny bit of education.

Lower Michigan is shaped like a mitten.

The state of Michigan can be formed by using two hands.  I usually don't do the UP one (the Upper Peninsula) because then I'd need another hand to point to Lansing.  But I usually do demonstrate the entire state at some point in my conversation.  I was born in the UP, so I'm not one of those who forgets that part.

There's even a book about my beloved mitten state.  I didn't know about this book until I started finding photos for this post.  Guess I'm going to have to find the book and see if it's something my nieces might like.

There's even a clothing company called "The Mitten State" and they have some very cool items.  I could even become an affiliate and for everyone who goes through my link and buys something, I get a little money.  Hmmmm.  Well for now it's just a link to their place :0)  I'll look into the affiliate thing later.


So all of this is to tell you that I am letting my husband & kitty fend for themselves for a few weeks, while I go to the airport and get on a plane destined for Michigan, where I will stay for two weeks.   I am normally excited to go home, but for some reason the past two days I've been nearly spinning with JOY!  I want to go home, I want to see my parents, my sisters and my nieces!  I want to see some friends and BOB is coming out this weekend for a two and a half day visit!  I'm just overjoyed.

I bet that my blog posts will be hit or miss the next two weeks, but be prepared to be overloaded with pictures of my nieces.  I'm taking all of my lenses and am looking forward to annoying the heck out of them with the camera and without!

Have a wonderful beginning of October and I'll be back in Jax for my birthday.

I'll be waving at the U.P. and Annie!

Kristin

All the photos were pulled from Google Images and the second picture was altered as the line wasn't going to where I lived, it went to whomever designed the photo lived - and I just couldn't have that!

Mom's Kitchen

Awhile back I my photos of the day were the little stools and the next day I had the wooden crate that said bull dog on it next to this green cabinet.  I was asked if I could show off the rest of the kitchen.

My Mom remodeled the kitchen two years ago and these are the photos that she took. 

The storage and counter tops are minimal, but after using the kitchen for a few events and when I come visit, I find it easy to use.  My mom has it all figured out and she loves the way it works for her, so that's the only thing that really matters.

The kitchen was designed around that custom table.  It's a great piece.  There's now a big red and black rug underneath the table. I guess it hadn't arrived yet when she took this photo. 

The kitty knows that heater vent is under the sink cabinet.  She loves this spot.

The large windows are lovely. It makes the kitchen a bright place where you can look out over the back yard. This area has been constantly changing since this photo had been taken.  Several different chairs have been put to the longevity test but now a part of a sectional couch is in here, replacing the rocking chair.  The cafe table has been taken out and a small rectangle table has been brought in.  The cat sits on that table, too!  The rug has stayed though.  It's a great rug.

This is the stove area.  Not sure if you can see it, but there's a pot filler on the wall.   It's a very cool fixture and so handy to fill up a large pot.

So that's my Mom's kitchen.

Happy Mother's Day to all those that celebrate the day!
Kristin

POTD - Dancing Goat

POTD - Dancing Goat

©2011 Kristin Corlett

This is one of two Dancing Goat signs that hung on the exterior of the coffeehouse in downtown Lansing, Mi.  It now holds an honored spot in my Mom's garage.   For a business that only lasted four years it sure has stayed in our hearts and minds for a very long time.    We closed the Dancing Goat coffeehouse in November of 1998.   The Goat, the blog, will celebrate five years on August 30th of this year.  Good Times.  Real Good Times.

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Water Works

POTD - Water Works

©2011 Kristin Corlett

A flower on the door of a boarded up water works building in East Lansing, MI.  It was raining pretty steady when I finally got my opportunity to pull in and get this photo so I didn't investigate how the flower was made or why it's been there so long.  I do believe that I saw this in October and maybe it's been there longer than that.  That seems like a long time for what looks like a paper flower. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Bright Sky

POTD - Bright Sky

©2011 Kristin Corlett

One of the things I love most about winters in Michigan is the bright sky in the middle of the night.  Usually that occurs when there is snow on the ground, cloudy skies and a bright moon.  On this particular evening the skies were cloudy, there was almost a full moon but no snow.  Maybe there was just a lot of city lights that lit up the clouds.  I have no idea, but it sure was lovely.

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Blue Sky at Night

POTD - Blue Sky at Night

©2011 Kristin Corlett

When I left my sister's house at 9pm, the sky was so blue!  I'm really not sure what atmospheric condition is or was going on that produced the beautiful cobalt blue - maybe it was just sunset.  I choose the Board of Water and Light building, also known as Wynken Blynken and Nod (Photo of the Day in '09), because I thought it would look really great against that blue sky.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Can I come in?

New Kitty hates to be locked out of the guest bedroom. 
She will scratch and paw at the door. 
She will put her entire front leg under the door like she's reaching for a magic lever that will open the door.

When all that fails, she gets her face right down and tries to give her saddest eyes.
Pleeease let me in!  I want to be near you!!

I'm allergic to the kitties, so the guest room is off limits to them.
so after a few minutes of pleading she sits up, hoping I will forget that she's there and open the door.

and pretty soon she gives up, but not for long.

I'm in Michigan for a week, while my husband holds down the fort in FL. 
It's 90º in Jacksonville and barely 40º here. 
My toes are cold.
New Kitty is working on keeping them warm.

Have a great day!
Kristin

POTD - The Deer Family

POTD - The Deer Family

©2010 Kristin Corlett

Those deer need to move a little bit, they've stood so long that they've got snow on their backs!

Enjoy!
Kristin

Wild Goose Inn

It was a lot of fun to stay just a stones throw from my family and yet feel like I was truly on vacation.  My Mom gave us the gift of the B&B stay and I have to say that it was great! 

The Innkeeper, Al, had his hands full with Tom and I in the house, that's for sure.  My husband loves to talk to new people.  Several times I had to go downstairs to the livingroom and ask him to come to bed.  I just knew he was talking their ears off.

One evening, Al asked Tom to join him and another friend to the bar across the parking lot.  It was then that I knew that they enjoyed yucking it up with Tom as much as he enjoyed yucking!

The house is just beautiful all the time, but it's exceptional with the garland and lights.

Right out front is this bush that has been pruned and painted for the Christmas season.  I love it!  It's just so darned clever that I can hardly stand it.  I told Al that I loved it and he showed me his spray paint overspray dress shoes.  He said it was a bit windier than he had anticipated when did this project.  Oh, I've been there before.   This project was worth it though.   

The breakfast tables are set with a few items each morning.  The pottery vases with the Wild Goose logo are great.  The coffee mugs are made with the same pottery and the same color. 

The breakfast room is actually two rooms.  The rooms are not slanted, just the photographer :)  Tom and I sat in the far left hand corner, in the front room for each breakfast.  Funny how you pick a spot and then keep going back to it. 

Breakfast was coffee, juice, water, fruit cup, muffin, eggs any style, omelet or French toast.  I had French toast one day, eggs over easy another and an omelet another.  Tom had an omelet each day.  Not a bad dish in the house - we loved it. 

This morning in my own house, I was terribly bummed that I didn't have breakfast being made for me, so my husband offered to make it for me.  Thanks Tom!

The livingroom.  This was the source of lots of laughs and treats and chatting.  Since it was the holidays the Innkeeper had family stop by, then friends of his dropped in,  other guests sat in the livingroom and chatted and there was even a wedding there on Sunday.  This is one busy place.

You can go to the Wild Goose Inn site and get a virtual tour of the living room.  I never thought about getting photos of the living room in the daytime when the light was better.  My evening photos just didn't turn out - so the virtual tour is a great!

The stairway to the second floor has a really nice surprise.  If you look up, you can see this delightful mural in the cupola.   The second floor is where our room, the Summer Safari was located, but also Winter Eden resides up there as well.  The Summer Safari Room Virtual Tour shows the room where we stayed. What you can't see is that the bathroom had three skylights. Two in the double sink area and one right inside the shower. Even in cloudy Michigan the skylights let in a ton of light.

...and if you walk outside at night, you can clearly see the mural because of the windows all around and the light inside.  It's really wonderful and what a clever idea!

I give this wonderful Bed and Breakfast in the heart of East Lansing, MI two very enthusiastic thumbs up. If you ever find yourself in the area, please consider staying a night or two or three. Tell Al that The Goat sent ya :)

Wild Goose Inn
512 Albert Street
East Lansing, MI 48823
Call for Reservations
(517) 333-3334
www.wildgooseinn.com
Friend them on Facebook - Wild Goose Inn

POTD - Christmas lights and snow

POTD - Christmas lights and snow

©2010 Kristin Corlett

I love Christmas lights, I really do.  They make me so happy.  I keep my table top tree up for much longer than most people, but I love the way I feel when I turn on the lights each evening.  Outdoor Christmas lights in Florida are OK, but the best lights are the ones that have been covered in snow and then the snow melts a little around each light.  The snowy glow on the bushes is just magical.

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Fruit cup

POTD - Fruit cup

©2010 Kristin Corlett

The fruit cup that Tom and I have received each morning at The Wild Goose Inn has pretty much looked like this each day.  I don't eat the honey dew melon and magically I find myself with extra watermelon that I guess Tom doesn't care to eat.  The fruit cup is followed by a wonderful muffin and then our breakfast.  More on that this week.  For now I'll just tempt you with the fruit cup.

Enjoy!
Kristin