Thursday, May 16, 2013

Color by the creek

The edge of our creek and half of our property has wonderful yellow flowers again.
They are Marsh Marigolds.
There are bursts of yellow throughout the property.
This is the largest burst of yellow we have ever seen.

They enjoy cedar swamps and creeks, and we have both.
If we do not get snow again this weekend, maybe we can enjoy all of this color for awhile!



Friday, May 10, 2013

Welcome Our Newest Visitor


 Tonight we welcomed a new visitor to our bird feeders.
He is an Indigo Bunting.
Our Kitchen Table Bird Book says that he is a rare sight to behold.
They generally stay away from humans.


He is such a pretty addition to our feeders.
He contrasts well with the Gold Finches and Cardinals.

It is hard to believe that he winters in Central America,
then flies all the way back to live her for the summer.
That is a lot of frequent flier miles!

Monday, May 6, 2013

The Great Turtle

Just in time for the spring tourist season at Mackinac Island,
welcome The Great Turtle to our sugar cookie collection.
This sugar cookie comes with a cute turtle cookie cutter.
Decorating these cookies will be so much fun for kids!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

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!


Saturday, April 13, 2013

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!

Monday, April 1, 2013

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...

Friday, March 29, 2013

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!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

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!