Most of June was spent in my hometown of Petoskey, Michigan - and it was DEEEElightful!
Even though June is on the early side of tourist season, there's still a lot going on Up North.
Art!
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| Sculpture near the Boyne City farmers market |
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| Taz-Tortoise stare down at North Central Michigan College sculpture garden |
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| Taz keeps Hemingway company in Petoskey Central Park |
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| Plein Air display during Petoskey's Gallery Walk festivities |
Music!
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The amazing Petoskey High School Steel Drum Band plays for Petoskey's summer Downtown Open House
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| PHS Drum Corp starts the Bay Harbor Vintage Car Show parade |
Books!
(aka what's summer without reading?!)
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| ...no better place to read... |
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| Taz's favorite Little Free Library - complete with a dog treat mail box! |
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| Little Free Library at my old elementary school! |
Car & Boat Shows!
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| Serious boat envy - the 1940 "Pilgrim" |
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| Kendall's fave of the Vintage Car Show: the Lutz |
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| pjv fave: the Thomas Flyer |
...and, of course
Food Festival! The Taste of the North!
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| Taz, oh so hopeful he will get a taste too |
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| Somebody spoils that puppy! |
In the midst of all this June frivolity, Kendall had a birthday!
To start the day:
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| An early morning birthday walk with Mister Taz |
And what is a birthday without presents?
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| Genuine Irish cap from pjv |
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Paul's present to K - a trip to Drost's, K's favorite chocolate shop.
Taz appreciated the waiting bench out front. |
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| Sasha's gift - made-in-Portland catsup, K's favorite elixir |
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| Portland catsup gets K's seal of approval! |
And to finish off the day:
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| Sunset on a lovely birthday day |
Visits & Visitors
(or: what made this trip to Petoskey extra special!)
Boulder friends Mort & Lysa - friends we first met in 1978 when Mort & I were in grad school together - finally got to see first-hand what this Petoskey town they had been hearing about for four decades was really all about. What a treat to host them in our Ptown home.
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| The classic Petoskey Stone Search activity |
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| The equally classic Readying for Sunset Watching activity |
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| And the farewell to Petoskey and happy birthday Kendall greeting as Mort & Lysa head out for more travels |
Next up! Visits with Murphey cousins!
First, John came up to Petoskey for a quick visit that included a walk around town, lunch at the Back Lot food truck extravaganza then a walk back home along Bear River.
A week or so later, Kendall and I returned the favor with a day trip to the Murphey cottage for a delightful visit with John and Marcie and visiting cousins from Germany, Carmen & Lennart and their children, Noah and Rebecca. Lots of good conversation, yummy homemade pizza and a stroll along Lake Michigan.
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| Marcie demonstrates pizza building technique |
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| John, the master of the pizza oven |
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| The gang feasts! |
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| We stroll while Taz herds the waves |
And back in Petoskey a few days later, Carmen & Lennart and family spend the night (more Petoskey Stone hunting & sunset watching activity) on their way to Mackinac Island
And the rest of the time? Well, it was pretty much about
walking, running, and admiring the lake!
Lots of Taz runs:
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| Running high during most of the month |
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| Along Bear River |
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| Midway along the Bay |
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| West along the Bay |
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| East along the bay on a wild and windy day |
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| Bay View Woods run... |
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| ...'twas a tad muddy |
Got to try a new (to me) trail! The North Eastern State Trail!
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| Through farmland - complete with wild turkeys in the field |
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| On high alert for deer - saw more deer along this trail than I had seen in decades of running |
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| Yayyy!!!! Done!!!! Time for treats!!!! |
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| At trail's end - Alpena - and amazing mural to pose in front of |
Taz's very most all-time favorite pastime: Herding waves.
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| Near our house (our "secret" let-Taz-run-in-the-waves spot) |
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| One last wave herding adventure the morning of our departure |
Quiet times in north country
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| A misty morning |
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| Peaceful morning, peaceful lake |
The day is done
Beautiful sunsets can be found all over the world;
the sunsets over Little Traverse Bay are exquisite.
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Kendall and his camera.
We were out there admiring the sunset almost every night while in Petoskey. |
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| Mort & Lysa & Kendall and the sunset |
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| Taz and the sunset |
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| Sunset over the Petoskey breakwater from the boat docks |
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| 'til next time! |
