Easter in Marquette

It's Easter Monday...it was sunny and beautiful out today, and about 35 degrees out, so still chilly. I went down to the lake after work, did the Lakeshore usual drive down to the park. It was like God put a nibble of something great outside the anthill.....all of the Yoopers were out in full swing today. They were jogging in winter clothes. They were walking very excited dogs. They were down at the water by the wall at the park, picking rocks, feeling the spray, the sweet kiss of the lake. They all came out to enjoy the sun.

Now, yesterday it was quite opposite. It was raining and dreary. We went to Big Boy for Easter dinner buffet and it was great, more on that later. After we ate, tony drove us down by the lake, to the beach. In the rain, we got out and walked the shore, ok we climbed down and got in the rocks and walked the shore. It was misting and beautiful. I ended up with rocks in my pockets again, no clue how they got there. Lol but it was a gorgeous day in the rain. Thanks honey.

So the Big Boy buffet...so we had a reservation. I love their food. We didn't feel like dressing up and spending a lot of money, we like nice family places. We got seated right away and our waitress got our drinks. The buffet was great, brunch is my fave. Breakfast and lunch all together. Well, all I had was breakfast. What was so amazing about the meal was not just the good food. The staff was spot on. About 30 minutes after we got there and were well into plate 2, it was getting busy. The cooks were coming out all of the time, filling up containers and making sure nothing ran out, wiping, cleaning, making sure that buffet looked great. The waitresses were all helping each other. Set up tables, clean tables, take away plates and seat new customers even if they were not theirs. And filling coffee religiously. The manager was walking around checking out everyone and everything. He circled the restaurant multiple times while we were there, nodding and saying hi to customers but not intruding on their meal, and making sure no one was without anything. I was in the restaurant industry for a long time. I don't think I have ever seen a wait staff work so well together, a cooking staff take that much pride in their work. Big big kudos to you guys on Easter. 5 stars out of 5.

A Year Later, Still the New Girl

So there is something to be said about living somewhere where nobody knows your name. No, I'm not in that bar in Boston. I'm still in Ishpeming. And I kind of love it.

I stopped at Phil for the first time today. Or Thils. :-) got some fresh fish for dinner. Went to the gas station and the grocery store. And no one knew who I was anywhere. How awesome is that. Not a care in the world because I am one of those people anyhow who doesn't give a damn what others think. I was getting stared at today by the senior generation of the opposite sex. Watch out honey. Hahaha

Off to make baked fish, steamed garlic red taters, salad, fresh steamed green beans, and I am sure I'll find something else to make.

Loving da Yoop. Xoxox

Big Bay Lighthouse B and B

So in the last post you read about the UP Builders Show. One part of me getting thru that was the help of my honey. He hauled all of my stuff for my 2 booths to the dome and dragged it to where I set up. He helped unload saunas. He directed traffic. He bought me wine. :-) I am spoiled rotten! Anyhow, for some little R and R, he took me to Big Bay Lighthouse B and B. Let me tell you this place was amazing. We were treated like VIP. We got a nice tour when we got there and then went walking around the grounds. Waking up Saturday morning was amazing. The view from our window was the sunrise. Breathtaking. We did go outside to watch too. Breakfast was made from scratch by the owners, Jeff and Linda. We had coffee, hot apple cider, tea, oj, cranberry blueberry juice, blueberry bread that was amazing, grapefruit with honey mint sauce, bacon, oatmeal blueberry pancakes yumyumyum. After breakfast we went up to the top of the tower for a view, again breathtaking, and then went for a drive. For lunch we ended up at the Lumberjack Tavern, the home of the Anatomy of a Murder book and movie. We met the owner, Jack, great great service Jack! So we ordered lunch. I had the LBJ...the lumberjack. Let me tell you folks I am picky about my burgers and this was, hands down, THE BEST BURGER I have ever had. Anywhere. We already have a trip planned to bring our two teenage boys back up to try it out. Anyhow, we got a good history lesson about the murder there in 1952. We talked and laughed and ate and had a great time. Thanks for shot glass Jack, we will definitely be back!!! If you want to take a nice drive, that burger it well worth the drive!!! After lunch we went hiking up to the top of Thomas Rock and that was an adventure let me tell ya, but since I am on my phone, we will talk about that another post. We had dinner at ThunderBay for the prime rib. I am not a fan of prime fib myself but tony had it and he loved it!! Back to the lighthouse to have wine and play cards. And waking up again to the most beautiful sunrise ever. We stayed in bed this time. Got up just in time for another fabulous breakfast.

I may do another post when I am on my computer and go into detail about the lighthouse. And maybe the sauna...well..maybe I will keep that for my other blog ;-)

Don't ever skip that day to just go take a drive or just go for a walk. We live in a place where it is just too damn beautiful to take for granted. Enjoy every minute of it.

...Shining my light on...-S

U.P. Builders Show/Sol Azteca...Good food, good company

The U.P. Builders Show, Sole Azteca and more.


So please bear with me...I am typing this on my phone and anytime that happens, the paragraphs get all funky, my phone starts auto correcting and it's a big pain in the ass.

So last weekend was the U.P. Builders show. This is put on by Jen from the Mqt Builders Exchange and myself, from the HBA of the UP. 2 people. And a committee to make all the big decisions for us. It was a LOT of work let me tell you. The months of planning involved and the organization, it is just crazy crazy. We had great sponsors this year, Eagle Radio Group, their whole team was fantastic...Rosemary and Kent, the Fatman, Ryan and Corey and the rest of them, they were great, we were very very happy. TV 6 did a great job with the interviews and showing their celebrity faces at the show!! The Mining Journal did an outstanding color ad this year that we loved!! And Bennett Media, the commercials omg we just loved them. The show was a huge success. Not as many numbers thru the door but we had a lot of competition that weekend, one of them being nice weather! All in all, it was awesome. Apart from my 35 hours a week at my office, I put in another 34 just working at the dome. I did not take off Monday I kept working. So by Friday, the 11th, I was done. 12 days, 98 hours, I was beat. So I took half a day off.

My lunch Friday was a great one...good company and great food! Rosemary and the Fatman from Eagle Radio joined me at Solar Azteca. My first time there and I was very impressed with the view! I indulged in a couple big strawberry margaritas and the Fatman joined me with his big one....go there and just ask for a big one. ;-) They are pretty big. So our conversation ranged from our kids and sports and schools, food and restaurants, and ended up somewhere around erotica...?? :-) I am proud to say I was Fatman first apparently. He had never talked to an erotica novelist before. Ha! :-) Great food, I will be back here...and great friends. Look out Marquette, if we all keep hanging out, there could be trouble a brewing......

Until next time...check out the next post about the Big Bay Lighthouse!

To good times and good friends...~S