Is It Really Spring?

 Look what I found in my front yard! 

Flowers!

 The hyacinths smell so pretty!

These white flowers are so tiny, but so pretty!

God's work is amazing!

Matthew 6:28

See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

March Travels - Part One - Two Will Be Later

Creekside Grains Adventures - Part One

March travels took us over the Mackinac Bridge to the Upper Peninsula,

so we could attend the Minneapolis Gift Mart.

As you can see by the image on the bridge below,

the weather was gorgeous.

Mackinac Island is in the distance, waiting for the summer tourists.

Our first night took us to Norway, Michigan

where we found the most wonderful place to stay for the night.

The Viking Motel.

It was like being in a time warp.

The bathroom was 1950's decor, with pretty blue tub, sink and toilet.

 We did not photograph our room, but the floors were 1970's shag carpet

and the bedspreads were shades of 1990's.

 It was spotless and so much fun and the price was great!

 We thought we hit the jackpot with our room,

until we went to the lounge the next morning.

As you can see by the furniture, it was 1950's modern.

We visualized the veterans and hunters playing cards into the night.

We will definitely stay there on our next trip to Minneapolis.

 

Once we arrived, it was a busy week of meeting new gift store owners, 

and catching up with current clients.

Michael is pictured here at the booth.

 

Our trip back to Traverse City was another story.

We made it safely to the Upper Peninsula, 

when the winds came and the snow came and the ice came.

This was our view for several hours.

Michael was white knuckle driving.

We arrived home exhausted, but grateful that God delivered us safely.

April adventures to follow in a few days!

New visitor

I looked out my kitchen window this morning to see one of these hanging out in our cedar tree.

I had never seen one this close before.

It is a sharp-shinned hawk.

He was pretty to look at, but I do not want to see him this close again. 

When they hang out by my window, they are too close to our bird feeders.

They want one of our birds for breakfast.

He can have the mice from the fields, but he can stay away from my bird friends!

It's Snowing

April 1 - This is not an April Fools. 

It is snowing. 

It is 30 degrees. 

I wish I could say April Fool, but I cannot!

Some day, spring will come...

Four Feet of Snow

This was taken last Thursday afternoon.

There is still a four foot snowbank behind me. 

The actual snow on the ground was about two to three feet.

Some of the snow has melted in the past two days,

but it will be awhile before we see any other color than white on the ground.

Last year at this time, the hyacinths were in full bloom. 

They had better wait a few more weeks before they show their pretty faces!

Spring?

I peeked out the living room window yesterday morning and found these flowers,

all dressed up for spring. 

Hard to believe that they can grow so soon

when a three foot high snowbank is only a foot away from them. 

I also saw tiny green sprouts of the hyacinths peeking out of the brown dirt and leaves. 

Will spring actually arrive in TC?

Soon I will post an update of my snow bank.

It is still there and still very high.

Flowers in the front yard next to three foot snow bank and a four foot snowbank in the back.

Welcome to Traverse City!

M and M

Meet Maureen and her twin sister Megan.

Maureen has been working with us for the past few months.

She also works two other jobs and attends NMC.

Maureen is a busy girl!

Megan has been in Wisconsin at college, but came home for spring break.

We were blessed to have both Maureen and Megan work with us this week.

Their great smiles and wonderful sense of humor made Creekside Grains a happy place to be this week!

I especially like Megan's blue gloves that look just like blue hands!

Close Encounters of the Four Legged Kind

 We were eating dinner, when Michael noticed movement by the deck.

There was one of two fawns enjoying dinner, just three feet below the deck.

The other fawn was wandering in the creek.

Mommy was close by, keeping watch.

 Baby dined for a long while and we stayed in the house so we would not disturb him.

They finally wandered away, so we could leave the house and get back to work.

What an interesting array of critters that we get to watch.

Well Stocked Cupboard

I tried showing this image last week and it disappeared.

Here is a well stocked cupboard from a Creekside Grains fan in Wisconsin.

You never know when you need to bake and Tim is ready for that moment!

Thanks, Tim!

Too Much

Our friendly squirrel is at it again.

While I was in the house preparing my lunch,

I looked out the window to see Mr. Squirrel preparing for his lunch.

We had two leftover beer breads that I put on the deck

for the birds to enjoy.

Mr. Squirrel decided that he wanted a loaf of bread.

He grabbed it, put it in his mouth, 

then made me laugh out loud,

hysterically!

The bread weighs at least two pounds.

Mr. Squirrel weighs the same.

He was trying to lift a loaf of bread that was way too heavy for him.

The bread stayed in his mouth for about five seconds

before it fell out of his mouth, off the deck and onto the ground.

A muffin like the one below is one thing, 

but an entire loaf of bread was too much for him.

Our critters are so entertaining!