Recent Blog Posts
Most fans of Ernest Hemingway know he had a strong connection with Northern Michigan where he spent every summer until he was in his early 20s. He wrote about those places from his childhood in his semi-autobiographical Nick Adams stories, and the Michigan Hemingway Society holds its annual con...
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It's already the first week of December here in Northern Michigan and Petoskey residents are gearing up for one of our fabulous annual traditions that officially rings in the holidays here in Petoskey: the Downtown Petoskey Holiday Open House. This Friday, December 4th, 6-9pm Petoskey downtown ...
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Looking for a quick and easy recipe to get rid of all that extra turkey this holiday season? Look no further! Today on the blog I'm sharing with you a recipe my kiddos actually brought home from school last week along with an adorable turkey craft they worked on in class. It's a delicious and e...
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I always thought I knew how to wrap a present - I discovered I was terribly wrong - after watching the queen of gifts show me how.
Watch this short video tutorial and let Jennifer Shorter, Owner of Grandpa Shorter's Gifts, teach or refresh you on wrapping a present properly. This is a skill tha...
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Yes, Michigan moms are tough. We’re resilient and resourceful. We can stuff one kid into snow pants and tie another’s scarf at the same time. We can clear a vehicle of the night’s ice and snowfall in two minutes flat and get everybody to school on time in our four-wheel drive SUV, even thoug...
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You've probably finished off your turkey by now, and Christmas is just a few weeks away. Carols are playing, and we're trimming trees and decking the halls. Grab a cup of eggnog and read up on this Michigan Christmas trivia. It might come in handy as a conversation starter if you find yourself at a...
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Hello, friends! Today on the blog, I'm sharing a recipe with you for homemade beer bread and a delicious garlic dip to serve with it. This bread is super quick to make and perfect to serve guests this holiday season as an appetizer or too give as a gift to friends and family. The garlic dip recipe...
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Hello and welcome back, friends! Thanksgiving is only a few days away (already!!) and the temperatures here in Northern Michigan are finally plummeting. It's that time of year where I'm starting to wear multiple layers and starting to crave yummy, homemade comfort foods, like homemade chocolate ...
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Did you know Michigan ranks second in the country for the number of ski areas state-wide? Some of the best are located right here in Northern Michigan. The first significant snowfall of the year is forecast for this weekend, which means the 2015-16 Ski season is about to get underway. It’s time to...
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Recently Ryan, Carl and I met my sister-in-law, Jennifer Shorter and her family in Vancouver, BC for the weekend. Jenn as many of you may know is the Owner of Grandpa Shorter's gift stores. In our group we had 6 parents, 2 grandparents and 5 children ages 4 to 13 years old. Vancouver is loca...
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