Recent Blog Posts

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner but we've started celebrating early. We've been enjoying Irish Soda Bread, Andes Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies (to die for!) and this past weekend a local Mardi Patty Gras Crawl. Who needs to go to Louisiana to celebrate? Not us! Downtown Petoskey held t...
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Spring is finally on it’s way to Michigan. Warmer weather is in the forecast, and the snow will soon be gone. Spring is still a little too early to hit the beach, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors here until the water warms up. One way is by visiting Michigan’s many zoos and ani...
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Have you tried paper placemats at your parties?  They really are a must and make any party look dramatic and memorable. They make for easy clean up after all the guests have gone and all you want to do is put your feet up and have a glass of wine. Here are examples and a few table settings by...
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Hi everyone! Last week Colleen shared her great-grandmother's Irish Soda Bread recipe, and today on the blog I'm sharing with you one of my go-to recipes for when you want something homemade and chocolaty. This cookie recipe is the perfect easy dessert for St. Patty's day but I also love that it is ...
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Hello friends! Spring is so close, I can almost taste it! We keep having these extremely frigid days but then every once in a while we will have a day (like yesterday) that will be in the mid-20's and it's almost spring like! Only someone from Michigan be crazy like that and think spring weath...
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My great-grandmother was Irish, and I'm fortunate enough to have a few of her favorite recipes that were handed down. One that I like to make often is her Irish soda bread. It will make a great addition to your St. Patrick's Day meal this year. One of the original rustic artisan breads, Irish soda ...
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Sylvie is a 17 year old gal from Montana that is living with us this winter to pursue her ski racing dreams.  In Montana she lives on a ranch run by her mother.  Sylvie is a tough girl and as the story goes the day after she was born she was strapped onto her mama's back so her mother could retu...
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Northern Michigan is widely known for its famous whitetails and hunting season come mid-November of every year. What is the first thing you think of when you hear whitetails? I often think immediately of my husband leaving for hunting camp for several weeks and often bringing home enough venison to...
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Happy Monday everyone! I hope wherever you are that you are staying warm! We had another 3 day weekend here in Petoskey due to the temperature being -32 on Friday morning. Brrrrrrr!!!!! Today's blog post brings you something a little different and something a little fun here on the Grandpa Shorter'...
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Your last name doesn’t have to be O'Reilly to dress in green and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. On March 17th, everyone is Irish for a day. Here’s a list of places around Michigan where you can listen to an Irish tune and raise a glass of green beer to St. Paddy. Grand Ledge - March 13th & ...
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