For housekeeping first - I edited the format on this blog so I hope now that the paragraphs are all split up like they are supposed to be. I had not realized it for a while that they were all lumping together in one long novel of a blog..when I did figure it out I did not know how to change it. Very simple so I hope it is easier to read now.
So my son Jon came up last weekend and we headed out to Black Rocks to jump in. Jon decided he was not going to already and I had reservations. Neither one of us has ever been crazy about jumping into water off of rocks from high places. Tony and his son had no problems whatsoever. So, Black Rocks Fail for me, I did not get to cross it off the bucket list! Presque Isle Park was very busy that day and so was Black Rocks itself. People lined up along the top, gathering up whatever courage they could find to jump into the chilling waters below. Chilling. Let's talk about that for a second. Jon and I walked into the lake so I could get pictures of the guys jumping in. After 5 minutes, our feet were numb. When they get numb you can just keep going because you can no longer feel anything! LOL. Tony and his son jumped in a few times, along with other people - college aged, middle aged and even older. It was a fun day. We went to Lake Superior Pizza, one of our favorite little spots and broke Jon in on the experience of a fresh pizza roll.
Wednesday night was the Highway Clean Up for the HBA where I work. It was great to see so many people show up. We had 14 people there this year and the picnic was great even if there was a mosquito or two here and there. I met some new faces and was glad to spend time with some familiar ones.
The week flew by. Not sure where it went folks but July is almost over. So I have to comment, when it gets above 90 up here, do Yoopers start melting? I heard it is not too common that it gets very very hot and when it does, they flock to the lake. And flock they do. I was out at Black Rocks last night picking rocks and taking pictures for a house project I am working on and it was just packed. There must have been 50 people there. But again, gorgeous. I would love to take a giant picnic basket out there, a thick blanket to sit on, a pillow and a thinner blanket for when it gets chilly, bottle of wine....just watch the sun set, watch the stars come out. Some day.
So August 1st, Tony and I will have been together one whole year. Holy Wah, isn't that what Yoopers say? Don't worry, I haven't gone Yooper. I just can't believe some days how very much my life has changed in the past year. I went from being in a place where life was humdrum. I was going thru the motions every day. Stuck in a job that I really liked but with no advancement, healing from a very crappy divorce.....and just living day by day. I had no idea what the rest of my life was going to be like. Now, I live up here. In the U.P. of all places! With the most amazing man I know who puts up with my whining, my girlie but I am a bad ass attitude, my broken parts, and I am sure 100 other annoying things, but he puts up with it all....who would have thought someone as wonderful as him would have fallen in love with someone like me....and shared this whole world up here with me. I thank him all the time for sharing the lake with me, for sharing Black Rocks. It really has put life into perspective for me and if this is any indication of what the rest of my life is going to be like, then I am good right where I am. Someday I am sure I will open my big mouth and make a silly bet with him that I lose....and end up with a Yooper Girl sticker on my car.....oh lord help me hold my tongue! Anyhow, we are planning dinner and dancing and hopefully that weekend going on the Pictured Rock cruise over in Munising (Thank you Rosemary!). I am looking forward to it. Oh and I found a new wine at Coco's I am going to shop for - Mango Moscato - sparkling. YUM!! I loved it!
Positives this week - my diet has been working, well kind of. Lost a couple of pounds here and there. I cheat. I deal with it. I got to spend an amazing weekend with my three boys who I love dearly. Even though Tony's son is not mine, I love him like he is my own. I can never replace his mama, nor do I ever want to or intend to but my mother hen instincts just kick in when it comes to those two boys. They are so much alike in some ways and so different in others. I love that Jon loves the scenery up here better than out in Wyoming where is Grandma lives. Ha, take that Grandma. :-)
Off subject. Plans tonight, Pizza Hut in Ishpeming. Maybe someday I will figure out how to get pictures on this blog.
Tomorrow - the sweetie and I are going to relive our youth and travel to Oshkosh, WI and go see Def Leppard in concert! One of our songs is by them so it will be very awesome. Young kids watch out. Middle aged rockers who wanna be young again for a day coming through!!!! :-)
Have a great weekend Yooperland. Find joy in your journey this weekend, wherever it may lead to, and hopefully, it leads you to the lake.
xoxox
~S
Friday, July 17, 2015
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Beaver Island
So, I hope everyone's Fourth of July was as fun as mine. Beaver Island with a bunch of friends was amazing. So before I go down that road and tell you all about it, let me remind my readers that if you are getting this in your email, please check out the actual website. There is much more. :-) www.sarahslifeupnorth.blogspot.com. Thanks!!
So, Friday morning we all crawled out of bed at 3 am. Ok, maybe my better half crawled. I moved like a slug or a sloth....slithering out of the covers and through the bedroom. Not a morning person. Everything had been packed the night before, a few things left to throw in the car but none of us were moving too quickly. We had a 5 hour drive ahead of us. We finally left at 330 am. The kid and dog in the back seat and Tony driving. It was actually a pretty ride. We had to drive down to Charlevoix to catch the 0830 ferry over to the island. It seemed like the drive was taking forever and time was moving slow. We made one stop to a McDonalds for a pee break, walk the dog, grab some grub and onward. Once we hit Hwy 31, everything slowed right down. Construction. Ugh, on a holiday weekend, come on. So that put us behind. We got to Charlevoix, quick unloaded the car and Tony ran to park it, which was about 1/4 of a mile away. We waited and waited. There is usually a shuttle that would have brought him back but of course the bridge went up and traffic was at a halt. It was at about 830 ish am that we saw him running in our direction the same time that we heard "Last Call for boarding!" Good timing.
The ferry ride over was beautiful. A sailboat here or there, gorgeous sunny day. Well I made one rookie mistake. I left all of our booze with our luggage to be packed on the boat!! :-( No beers for us on the way over! Oh well. Next time we know! Once we got to the island, two of our friends were there waiting for us, one I already knew from home and a new friend - our host (well, him and his parents hosted us). SO, piled into the pick up truck and down the block to the market, beer run, dog food, etc. Then back in the truck. My better half and a friend in the bed of the truck in nice comfy wooden chairs just chillin. Bartender was quick and on point. It's the island. It's allowed.
Beaver Island is a beautiful place, to visit and I would imagine to live as well. It is only about 12 or 13 miles long and about 6 or 7 miles wide. There are trails through the woods that make for a beautiful ride. There are roads long the lake that make any little journey a breathtaking one. And every sunset is more amazing than the last. The little shops are unique, attracting all kinds of tourists. One very neat place we stopped was the Toy Museum. I honestly cannot remember if that was what it was called or if there is an actual name for it but that is what we called it. FILLED with old toys, from my generation, from your generation, from the generations of our parents and grandparents. It was pretty neat. There is an airport, where packages are delivered and flights run in and out of. There are 2 lighthouses I believe, one we went and visited and it was beautiful. I love lighthouses and to my delight, so did Sarah, our gracious host.
So I normally do not drop names in my blogs but I feel the need to here. Andy Stone is a friend of Tony's and has been for years. His parents, Sarah (Rohner) and Jeff Stone own the house we all stayed at. IT was just beautiful. You could have used it as a bed & breakfast! The enclosed porch wrapped around facing the lake, it was so peaceful. I loved it and I really hope to go back sometime and be able to do some shopping and touristy stuff. I absolutely loved their garage - above the 2 car garage was basically a little apartment with a lighthouse 'tower'. AMAZING! I had to pick my jaw up. There were lighthouses everywhere in the house. Love love loved it. She has wonderful taste! And there were books everywhere, I love reading too! They were so gracious and kind to let all of us invade their home, it really was a good time.
We took the island tour, all except a couple that had not shown up yet. We saw the big Birch tree, the big Rock, all little spots that are on the map. Even Sarah's house is on the map and Andy's Trail (although Tony and I found out the next day that you need a chainsaw to get down Andy's Trail). We dipped out toes into Lake Michigan, cold as you could stand it. Still not as cold as Lake Superior but cold. We socialized, we drank. A few of the boys took that latter activity to heart. LOL The food was great and the company was even better!
The only thing we missed was the actual July 4th party at the neighbors house. We did show up to say hi, make an appearance, met some nice people, saw another beautiful house on Lake 'G' and ate some great food, but the guys were having fun with bottle rockets and fire crackers and Jaymee, our dog, was scared out of her mind, shaking and trying to hide. So instead of just comforting her and being selfish and having fun, we decided to say good night and head back to the house. We made a mad dash through a short trail of mosquito infested forest and then chilled out for the night. No fireworks for us, but that is ok.
A weekend most memorable, a bunch of new friends I hope to keep in touch with and a very very long sleepy ferry ride home. Next time - fly or bring the booze and food on the ferry on the way over! :-) And shopping next time! :-)
Of course, going back to work this week has been crazy hectic so I did not have time to blab until now. Still hunting for part time work for additional income. Still loving my job. :-)
~Here's to good friends, good food, and conversation...;-)
~S
So, Friday morning we all crawled out of bed at 3 am. Ok, maybe my better half crawled. I moved like a slug or a sloth....slithering out of the covers and through the bedroom. Not a morning person. Everything had been packed the night before, a few things left to throw in the car but none of us were moving too quickly. We had a 5 hour drive ahead of us. We finally left at 330 am. The kid and dog in the back seat and Tony driving. It was actually a pretty ride. We had to drive down to Charlevoix to catch the 0830 ferry over to the island. It seemed like the drive was taking forever and time was moving slow. We made one stop to a McDonalds for a pee break, walk the dog, grab some grub and onward. Once we hit Hwy 31, everything slowed right down. Construction. Ugh, on a holiday weekend, come on. So that put us behind. We got to Charlevoix, quick unloaded the car and Tony ran to park it, which was about 1/4 of a mile away. We waited and waited. There is usually a shuttle that would have brought him back but of course the bridge went up and traffic was at a halt. It was at about 830 ish am that we saw him running in our direction the same time that we heard "Last Call for boarding!" Good timing.
The ferry ride over was beautiful. A sailboat here or there, gorgeous sunny day. Well I made one rookie mistake. I left all of our booze with our luggage to be packed on the boat!! :-( No beers for us on the way over! Oh well. Next time we know! Once we got to the island, two of our friends were there waiting for us, one I already knew from home and a new friend - our host (well, him and his parents hosted us). SO, piled into the pick up truck and down the block to the market, beer run, dog food, etc. Then back in the truck. My better half and a friend in the bed of the truck in nice comfy wooden chairs just chillin. Bartender was quick and on point. It's the island. It's allowed.
Beaver Island is a beautiful place, to visit and I would imagine to live as well. It is only about 12 or 13 miles long and about 6 or 7 miles wide. There are trails through the woods that make for a beautiful ride. There are roads long the lake that make any little journey a breathtaking one. And every sunset is more amazing than the last. The little shops are unique, attracting all kinds of tourists. One very neat place we stopped was the Toy Museum. I honestly cannot remember if that was what it was called or if there is an actual name for it but that is what we called it. FILLED with old toys, from my generation, from your generation, from the generations of our parents and grandparents. It was pretty neat. There is an airport, where packages are delivered and flights run in and out of. There are 2 lighthouses I believe, one we went and visited and it was beautiful. I love lighthouses and to my delight, so did Sarah, our gracious host.
So I normally do not drop names in my blogs but I feel the need to here. Andy Stone is a friend of Tony's and has been for years. His parents, Sarah (Rohner) and Jeff Stone own the house we all stayed at. IT was just beautiful. You could have used it as a bed & breakfast! The enclosed porch wrapped around facing the lake, it was so peaceful. I loved it and I really hope to go back sometime and be able to do some shopping and touristy stuff. I absolutely loved their garage - above the 2 car garage was basically a little apartment with a lighthouse 'tower'. AMAZING! I had to pick my jaw up. There were lighthouses everywhere in the house. Love love loved it. She has wonderful taste! And there were books everywhere, I love reading too! They were so gracious and kind to let all of us invade their home, it really was a good time.
We took the island tour, all except a couple that had not shown up yet. We saw the big Birch tree, the big Rock, all little spots that are on the map. Even Sarah's house is on the map and Andy's Trail (although Tony and I found out the next day that you need a chainsaw to get down Andy's Trail). We dipped out toes into Lake Michigan, cold as you could stand it. Still not as cold as Lake Superior but cold. We socialized, we drank. A few of the boys took that latter activity to heart. LOL The food was great and the company was even better!
The only thing we missed was the actual July 4th party at the neighbors house. We did show up to say hi, make an appearance, met some nice people, saw another beautiful house on Lake 'G' and ate some great food, but the guys were having fun with bottle rockets and fire crackers and Jaymee, our dog, was scared out of her mind, shaking and trying to hide. So instead of just comforting her and being selfish and having fun, we decided to say good night and head back to the house. We made a mad dash through a short trail of mosquito infested forest and then chilled out for the night. No fireworks for us, but that is ok.
A weekend most memorable, a bunch of new friends I hope to keep in touch with and a very very long sleepy ferry ride home. Next time - fly or bring the booze and food on the ferry on the way over! :-) And shopping next time! :-)
Of course, going back to work this week has been crazy hectic so I did not have time to blab until now. Still hunting for part time work for additional income. Still loving my job. :-)
~Here's to good friends, good food, and conversation...;-)
~S
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Happy 4th of July!!
So today is my Friday. It is actually Thursday which makes it even better. Tomorrow morning 0300, my family - minus my kids (one in Ohio and one working down in Omro, WI) are heading out to Beaver Island. Taking the ferry from Charlevoix to the Island. My better half has a great friend with a house there, well his parents do, and it is an annual thing. Thank you Mr and Mrs Stone(r) ahead of time. I am SO looking forward to a weekend away where I don't have to do anything except eat, drink and relax. Ahhhhh. I will update the blog on my return as to how life on the island went. I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th!! On the work side - I have met a lot of great people this week from HBA members to people in the community and I am excited as ever about my job, my role in the HBA. Exciting things happening - Golf Outing, Highway Cleanup, Backpack Drive for the Professional Women in Building, and the Contractor Demo Days. Looking for sponsors, door prize donations, exhibitors, all kinds of things so this is what I do. I organize and recruit. :-) Maybe this month I will get back with the Fatman and talk about things. Get my radio nerves a little boost. Speaking of Radio, I met Rosemary Smith, VP at The Eagle/The Point/The Bay whatever it is you listen to. She is a pretty awesome person. And she brought me girl coffee, she is a friend already. :-) Glad to have met her and will be working lots with her in the future! :-) Happy 4th! Watch where you put your firecrackers! ~S
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