Recent Blog Posts

We make the most out of our warm Michigan summers by hitting the beach as often as we can. Beautiful Gun Lake at Yankee Springs State Park is just a few minutes from our house. We swim there as many as three times a week once school it out. Lake Michigan is about an hour away, and we make several tr...
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Michigan is a large state with a long history, and the list of famous native sons and daughters is a long one. It includes everyone from famous inventors to artists to politicians. Here are just a few that are household names around the country. 1. Francis Ford Coppola, the famous Hollywood directo...
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Planning a trip this summer or maybe just headed up north for a long weekend? Make traveling a breeze with some fun new travel accessories from Grandpa Shorter's! Whether you are in need of a stylish new toiletry bag or maybe a small crossbody purse while you're out and about exploring north...
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School is officially out for summer here in northern Michigan. Myself, along with many parents worry that some of the academic progress our children made over the school year will be undone by summer learning loss. At the same time I don’t want to spend the summer sitting at the kitchen table with...
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Lighthouses have such a romantic, mysterious pull, a light in the dark, bringing mariners safely home through the storm. Their unique architecture is graceful and beautiful. They are a symbol of our rich maritime history and a record of the people whose lives followed the currents of the water. Mic...
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Because my son is a musician who plays largely original music, I’m a big fan of other up and coming bands that do the same.  With no musical talent of my own, I marvel at the innately heartening sound of an original song, appreciating the process of creation. Turns out National Publi...
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Sunshine and warmer weather means biking season is upon us.  Northern Michigan is of course a great place to pedal, with bike trails, off-road routes, and plenty of blue highways stretching north and south, or east and west from lake to lake. Riding can be dangerous, however, particular...
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Summer is on the horizon here in northern Michigan. Yes, we might have seen snow flurries last night but hopefully those will soon be a thing of the past! May is only a day away and I am definitely ready for summer! Summer in Petoskey is my favorite time of year. There are so many great things ...
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All around us now, sunshine and rain are greening up our lawns and our woods, making this a great time to appreciate all the natural beauty of the area. Another a perfect way to appreciate all that beauty is to celebrate National Love a Tree day, which comes around May 16,  smack in th...
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My son, the movie buff, and I were discussing the latest movies, which got me thinking about all the films either made in Michigan or with an active Michigan theme. It makes us proud to live here. There is a rich vault of Michigan films, a couple of which are particularly noteworthy. Th...
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