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Image: "RedishPinkish" by iwishmynamewasmarsha used under CC BY-NC 2.0 / Cropped from original

Growing up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, July 4th was always the actual start to summer; the lakes would finally be warm enough to swim in, you could usually count on not needing a jacket during the day, and the tourist traffic in town would finally increase to a steady stream instead of a trickle.

With the June we’ve had this year, I’m having flashbacks to those childhood days as here we are, closing in on the 4th, and we’re only now getting some steady warm weather! For me, the 4th of July has always meant beautiful sunny days, barbecues, parades and fireworks at dusk. 

Continue Reading "Planning your 4th? We can help!" →

I love home décor but dislike the dent it puts in my wallet. I realized this very quickly when I went on a shopping trip and came out with nothing. From that moment I decided that my goal this summer was to use things I already owned, repurpose old furniture, and use cost-effective items to decorate. 

Continue Reading "DIY: Home Décor" →

As the selector for the adult audiobook section at the library, I spend a lot of time listening to books on CD, Playaway, or my phone (through Hoopla or My Media Mall). With such a large variety to choose from, it can be difficult to know what to pick, especially since audiobooks can take a significant chunk of time! (Anyone who’s ever picked up a behemoth 25-CD audiobook knows what I’m talking about. Les Miserables, I’m looking at you.) 

Continue Reading "Listen to Audie Award Winning Audiobooks!" →

Image: “Spotted Joe Pye Weed” by Peter Gorman used under CC BY / Cropped from original

Spring has sprung – well, at least it did for a few days -- and my thoughts have turned to my back yard, where we will spend a majority of our free time this spring and summer.  On this 45th anniversary of Earth Day, I am thinking about how to make our yard the beautiful green place we’ll enjoy while also making it “green” in the environmental sense.

Last spring we were new to our house, so it seemed like every day there was a new bloom or flowering tree making its debut – I was thrilled to find that we had hyacinths and tulips early in spring, and then the lilacs (my favorite!) showed up, and then the gorgeous peonies!  The previous owner had a real green thumb and put in a variety of plants and flowers that bloomed across the seasons and we were able to enjoy a beautiful flowering yard all the way through fall.

Continue Reading "Make your greenspace greener" →

My husband and I both grew up in Michigan -- I hail from the Upper Peninsula (UP), and he grew up in Southeastern Michigan (but with a deep love for the UP and all things outdoors.) Early on in our relationship we discovered we also shared a love of camping; our families had both spent a lot of time camping on family vacations when we were kids. 

Continue Reading "A-Camping We Will Go!" →