Self-portrait

Detail

Storytime

Joy

Hosanna

Bold

 It's good to try new things. It's good to venture beyond the comfortable and familiar.

My kitchen door needed a fresh coat of paint. Instead of choosing my Artisan White, I decided to experiment with color. I had painted the other side of the door maroon to match the trim on the house and I really liked it. So I decide to do something scary--I decided to choose a full, bold, intense color for the inside of my door.

With fear and trembling, I opened a pint of Mike's Marina.

I have to admit, I'm not completely happy with my blue door. But, I'm still glad I tried something different. Besides, I can always paint it again. 

Soup tureen

I scored a soup tureen at the second-hand shop this summer. Now that the weather has turned cooler, I am looking for an opportunity to try it out. 

Schedule

My teaching schedule this semester is not what I prefer. I'm trying to make the best of it, but I really hope it changes next semester.

Apples

on my apple tree

A time

to be done

Another view

of the Cookie house

Doggy window

Charlie has a chair under the window, so that when he's in the garage he can see outside. 

Kitten

Naomi's mama cat produced a kitten on the back porch. Her offspring is completely black except a contrasting white tip of its tail. 

Maxed Mini

Experiment

I am experimenting with converting sweet apple cider to apple cider vinegar. The brown liquid has reached the second stage--my sunroom smells of fermented apples. 

Sugarloaf Mountain

Last weekend Amanda and I hiked to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain where we looked out across Lake Superior. It wasn't the Michigan we are used to seeing.  

Texture

Apple time

Mini shoot

The Big Mac seemed like a great place to photograph Amanda's MINI Cooper. 

Sweet peppers

These babies rarely make it out of my garden.

Sweet Water Cafe

Finally, a good cup of coffee.

After our cruise, Amanda and I stopped at the Sweet Water Cafe in Marquette, Michigan. Amanda had heard about the "slow food" restaurant on NPR several years ago. We were not disappointed. The food was delightful and the atmosphere was calm and relaxing. 

Pictured rocks

Amanda and I ventured to the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore cruise on our weekend get-away to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Much to our disappointment, on Saturday the fog was so thick we couldn't see the sandstone cliffs. But, we did receive a full refund, so we ended up with a free boat ride.  

The other cruise boat nearly disappeared into the fog. On the return trip to the bay, a ranger retold the story of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I was pretty sure that my uncle wouldn't have appreciated hearing the chilling tale while in the middle of fog on Lake Superior. 

Grand Island East Channel Light

Pretty girls

Beautifully created

'shroom

Drippy

Handful

or is it mouthful?

Good dog

Charlie is learning to be such a good dog that he even gets to come to picnics at the blueberry farm sometimes. 

Peaches

 from bushel baskets to canning jars

Coop

Libby's hens have quite the swanky accommodations in their new coop. They have a spacious, high-rise apartment with adjoining enclosed garden. The inside boasts a no-mess floor at a fifteen degree angle to support easy egg removal, as well as suspended feeding and watering troughs. Natural wood tones reflect the practical, down-to-earth feeling of the entire structure.

Peaceful