Recent Blog Posts

Hi everyone! With summer finally winding down here in Northern Michigan I am still in baking mode. The temps have been unseasonably cool and it honestly feels like fall right now. I'm hoping it warms up again and I keep hearing that it will, but for now I'm content using our garden fresh zucchini i...
Read More>>

School starts in about a week here in Petoskey and I am in FULL back to school mode. New shoes and school outfits have been purchased. Backpacks were dug out this last week and deemed 'good enough' to use again this year and my husband is about to set up our kid command center near our entrance by ...
Read More>>

Northern Michigan is a popular destination for fall color tours. Blazing reds, oranges and yellows paint the abundant forest and look even more vivid against the blue backdrop of Lake Michigan. If you’re headed up here this autumn, add a few stops at the local wineries to your itinerary. Michigan�...
Read More>>

Families have been road tripping to Niagara Falls ever since Henry Ford’s Model T rolled off the assembly line in Detroit. The youngest children, to Grandma and Grandpa, and everyone in between, are awed by the roaring waters that drain four of the five Great Lakes. Niagara is just a one day driv...
Read More>>

Fall is coming at us and there is nothing we can do to stop it - so, why not just embrace it? Fall staples in your wardrobe are very important as you want to be able to walk into your closet and come out with a look that is appropriate for any occasion in any season. This is a variety of looks a...
Read More>>

Hello again, friends! With fall being right around the corner and school starting soon, if it hasn't already for you, we are all pressed for time and making dinner some nights is just an absolute chore. I love to cook, especially from scratch, but sometimes I just don't have the time to cook a meal ...
Read More>>

Hello, everyone! Last week's easy summer Cherry & Black Bean Salsa Recipe got me thinking about this week's recipe post. My husband keeps bringing home these giant zucchini's his co-workers have growing in their backyard gardens. I think summer has pretty much peaked and we are in the downward ...
Read More>>

Islands are scattered throughout Michigan’s Great Lakes, but only a few are accessible and provide amenities for visitors. Most of the islands below are accessible by ferry, and many of the ferries will even transport your vehicle and RV. Whether you’re looking for a unique day trip or a quiet, ...
Read More>>

Hi Friends, This is my mother's scone recipe. She has been making them for decades - I remember waking up to the smell of scones when I was a kid. Recipe for Grandma Otto's Almond Scones Ingredients: - 2 cups flour & a bit extra - 1/2 cup sugar & a bit extra - 2 ts...
Read More>>

Hi, everyone! Can you believe it's already mid-August? School officially starts in less than a month here in Northern Michigan and the countdown has already begun at our house. The kid's day camp ended last week (wow, that went fast!!!) and now I'm in back-to-school mode. Most of the other kids that...
Read More>>