New music for my ears!

This is going on my summer playlist!

Along the shore

Traveling home from vacation is still beautiful when you’re in Michigan. We drove down the coast past Charlevoix and Elk Rapids and Traverse City.

 

We also stopped at the scenic overlook on M-37 for the Hodenpyl Dam Pond. It has a lot of steps. A lot. I think it was somewhere around 120 steps but it’s entirely possible that I blacked out and miscounted. I just know that it was a lot of steps. But the view was beautiful and peaceful once you made it to the bottom.

 

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Further evidence of adulthood

At least in this case it’s my sister and not me. (although I found it funny too)

A watery day

Where the storms that we feel in this cold world should cease,
And our hearts, like thy waters, be mingled in peace – Thomas Moore

  

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I’m an adult

Who makes adult choices when it comes to her soap needs.

Animals!

…or sort of animals. I’m such a wilderness girl.

   

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Petoskey

    

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Getting away

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Race cars and memories

I can hear the race cars tonight at Spartan Speedway. The track sits out in the country between Holt and Mason and for all of my life, I've been able to hear the roar of the cars every Friday night during the summer.  When I was younger they sounded like the roar of dinosaurs or a fierce battle just out of sight. When I got older, I understood what the noise was coming through my windows and the sound was familiar. It meant I was home, and things were normal. Tonight, as an adult, the roar of the cars sound like memories.

My uncle was a huge fan of races and he was a staple at Spartan Speedway. To me, the two have always been tied together, my uncle and races at Spartan Speedway. I was lucky enough to be able to go to the races with him a couple of times, sitting on little foam seats and desperately pressing my hands against ears that were assaulted by noise despite the ear plugs I wore. To be honest, I was bored. Oh, I enjoyed seeing all the people, and getting concession stand food and I enjoyed getting to spend one-on-one time with my uncle...but racing just don't interest me all that much. The fond memories I have of the races have nothing to do with cars and everything to do with the people.

Earlier this year, my uncle passed away. He had been sick for a long time, sick enough that he hadn't been able to go to the races and sit in the stands. Before he was hospitalized  he had made it out to the track whenever he could...even being driven in his car right up to the wall so he could sit in his car with his oxygen tank and still see the races. The races were important to him and he was important to me. Tonight I can hear the roar of the cars and the sound is a memory. A happy reminder of a loved one lost.

GUESS WHAT I JUST SAW?

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS! IT WAS AMAZING! I WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN RIGHT AWAY!

EVENTUALLY I WILL BE LESS CAPSLOCKY. BUT NOT TONIGHT!

Flower power!

Planted flowers today during a beautiful day. Loads of sun, cool breeze and only one ladybug tried to dive bomb me! Yay!   

What I'm listening to right now

Space Brain

Today is the day when Colonel Chris Hadfield returns to Earth. The commander has changed how people view the International Space Station, engaged children, teens and adults all over the world and has successfully used social media to make space exploration and science accessible and entertaining. I'm going to miss seeing his pictures on Tumblr, miss reading his thoughts about the world and seeing it from a different perspective. It's been a wild ride and it will be cool to see how the ISS, NASA and the Canada Space Agency use this new interest to promote themselves and space exploration.

Tonight I'm listening live as the Soyuz capsule is landing and it's bittersweet. Here is the video of Colonel Hadfield singing Space Oddity...from space. Isn't living in the future amazing?

A different kind of mother

When most people are taking their moms out for brunches, buying them flowers or posing for pictures, I'm sitting here watching Expendables 2 with my mother.

I'm so grateful that I have a mother who raised me well, who loved me and cared for me. I'm especially grateful for a mother who instilled in me the enjoyment of violent action films. Thanks, mom!

Pineapple Sage

It’s a plant that smells like pineapple. PINEAPPLE SCENTED!

(the smaller plant smells like plastic)