51K IPA

Mr.U&I discovered an IPA in the beer cooler of the only grocery store in my summer town. Brewed in Marquette, MI, we obviously had to try it. And, boy-oh-boy, was it ever delicious. It made for an excellent sipper while we enjoyed an afternoon of beach-laying and jet-ski-watching. I thought it was really neat that the proceeds of the sale went to preserve recreational trails, too. Very fitting.

Roses

Hunter gave Sam&Syd&Me roses when we were in the UP.

They bloomed beautifully for Valentine's Day.

Sleepy Pups

Our puppies play hard & sleep hard.

These little snugglers go crazy till they can't keep their eyes open

then crash as close as they can to whoever is nearest.

So silly&adorable.

Snuggled into sam

Smooshed under mommy

Dori & Fiona snuggling each other

Dori pouting about sleeping in her cone

Pier Visit

Sam&Syd wanted to go see the pier covered in snow, but since it was freezing we figured we'd have some drinks before heading out into the cold. So we drank and played cards until we felt we'd be warm enough to enjoy the views. Mostly we just laid in the snow and looked around - afraid to get too close to the edge - but we definitely took in the scenery. Then, of course, we went back to drink and play cards some more.

UP Quirks

Syd&Sam wanted to head back to the UP for a trip to see Hunter's band play their first gig. So we headed up after work on a Thursday - loaded up Sam's car with our pups&bags and headed north. I was hammered and missed most of the show ...I was there just not coherent. Woops. It was a good&random trip with cards&FridayNightLights and mac-n-cheese&fireball and an early morning hunt for a lost sister who's clothes lead me up the stairs to the place I figured I'd find her.
Wild nights in my summer town ...in the winter.

"ish" is an acceptable time to post

the "pickle barrel" is a local monument

santa look-a-like has a bottle of wine to himself

Miners Sight-Seeing

We went on an excursion to the Pictures Rocks National Lakeshore - Miners Falls, Miners Castle, and Miners Beach. Syd was really pumped about all the touristy-sites on her first-ever trip to the Upper Peninsula. I can honestly say that I've never seen these places before. I've hiked the lakeshore, but these were new to take-in and so beautifully, well-worth the drive.

Miners Falls

Miners Castle

Miners Beach

GideonMonster

My friend Hunter stopped by the house on Saturday afternoon

with his buddy's Golden Retriever.

I almost couldn't breathe with excitement to play with him!

He was the cutest boy in the world and so so playful!

We sat in front of the hotel for a minute

and he found what shade he could while we waited

then we went down to the bay

so he could fetch some sticks in the cool water.

I'm absolutely positive

that I'm going to make the best puppy-mom in the world

someday.

I jumped in after Gideon - fully dressed - to snatch his stick

and covered myself in sand while wrestling it from him.

And he definitely fell in love with me

and my willingness to embrace the day with him.

The most handsome golden I've ever met

completely stole my heart this weekend.

Beach Bonfire

After a long night at the bar, a group decided to hit the beach for a bonfire. I'm pretty sure I stole some firewood... or obtained it in an unadmirable way. Whatev. We drank&danced by the fire then skinny-dipped in Lake Superior. KayakTim was there, Corissa&Jennifer were there, Kinlaw was there. It was wild. We watched the sunrise and a photographer caught our fire on film underneath the Northern Lights. Just another night in my summer town.

Superior Beach Walk

We walked the beach from the falls to the campground - a first for Syd&Joe.



4th Drinks

Syd&I made Sangria - with the help of my mom.

Everybody loved the Sangria - except my mom.

4th Food

Food at the 4th of July potluck is always the same and always perfect.