Unusual Weather

Remember the Wizard of Oz? Remember when they're in the poppy field and the Cowardly Lion notices that it's snowing? He says, "Unusual weather we're having, ain't it?" I've used his line many, many times in my life. Since moving to the new house, we have occasionally experienced an interesting weather phenomenon that we've never experienced anywhere else we've lived. We consider it unusual, but it's due to that big body of water about a mile away from us - Lake Superior. It must also happen near other huge lakes and, of course, oceans. I'm talking about the fog rolling in. We've all heard that expression, but we actually get to experience it now.

We have obviously seen a lot of fog in our lives, but the way it sometimes comes in suddenly and fills the yard within a matter of seconds is really interesting to watch. I'm not exaggerating - thick fog filling the yard literally within a matter of seconds. It rolls up the driveway so quickly that I don't even have time to react and grab the camera for a quick video or photograph - even when the camera is within 6-10 feet of me. I took a few shots on one of those days recently, but it was almost an hour later. The fog was already beginning to lift by the time I took these.

 

We were sitting in the great room having some coffee one morning in May, and the same sort of thing occurred, except that it wasn't just fog. A weather front came off the lake and caused our sliding doors to be covered with condensation - on the outside - also within a matter of seconds. We were both looking out the doors and appreciating our view, and we both happened to look away at approximately the same time. When we looked up again seconds later, the condensation on the outside of the glass was so thick that our view was completely obstructed. Weird, huh? Never a dull moment up here!

We're taking our annual trip to Copper Harbor on Friday and Saturday to celebrate Independence Day. I'll try to post something on Friday morning before we leave, as Internet service is a little slow and spotty in the motel. The weather forecast is predicting a beautiful 4th, so we're planning to drive the Vette in the parade again. We have 14 lbs. of candy to throw to the kiddies! 

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Sunday Reflections

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Sneak Peek Friday - Progress

Did you ever have the experience when you were driving down a road you had traveled many times and suddenly noticed something you hadn't noticed before? And it had been there all the time? Or you were in a building you had been in many times and suddenly noticed something about the decor you hadn't ever noticed before? Well, the decor thing doesn't happen to me very often. I'm a person that notices decor. When we leave a restaurant, I can usually describe the pictures on the walls, the light fixtures and the color of the carpeting; Steve can tell you about the people at the other tables and what they were wearing and eating. So, it's funny that I walked through the door (in the background of the next photo) so many times without really seeing it.

That's the door leading from the laundry room into the garage. (I know that's an old photo, but it's the only one I could find.) Yes, I knew the door had some protective plastic on it with "FIRE DOOR" in all caps, but I had never read the fine print. I was in the laundry room last week when I suddenly noticed that fine print - instructing the installer to remove the protective plastic coating within 48 hours of installation. 48 hours?! Oh no! That door was installed well over a year ago! I was horrified! What was the significance of 48 hours anyway? The door had obviously not imploded after it passed that 48-hour mark. Was the plastic coating so adhered to the door by now that it would never come off? Ever? My mind was racing. Something had to be done, and it had to be done immediately! I obviously couldn't wait for Steve to come back up to the house from the barn for a consultation, so I had to take matters into my own hands. I quickly scanned the door - checking for a torn spot on the protective coating - a spot where I could begin peeling off that plastic layer. Got it! 

And I peeled. . . 

and peeled. . . 

and peeled. . . 

until the door looked like this.

To be honest, that only took a few minutes - literally - both sides. It came off easily. Easy schmeasy. Not even any residue left behind. No big deal. My heart rate returned to normal. What was with that 48-hour warning anyway? Scaring a person half to death for nothing.

As long as I was in the laundry room, I hung up my patriotic wreath.

Yeah, it's on the window. I have a multitude of door hangers (both suction cup and over-the-door types), but they're still packed somewhere - in the basement. I was lucky to find the wreath.

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Crisp

Today is:

New Sheet Day!

Don't you just love the feel of crisp new sheets? These have been packed away for quite a few years - waiting for this house. I bought them quite a few years ago, and never used them. I found them yesterday, so I finally took them out of their package and washed them. 

I'll admit - I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to making our bed each day. I'm also obsessive about turning it down each evening. I just can't seem to get comfortable if the sheet isn't properly folded over the top of the comforter. 

When I was a little girl, I used to position myself in the middle of my full-size bed, line up a couple of my dolls perfectly on each side of me, and have my mom tuck in the covers on both sides of the bed - tightly. I must have looked like a little mummy. I perfected a unique way of turning over without disturbing the covers or my dolls. 

To this day, I still turn over underneath the covers; Steve tends to take the covers with him.

Anyway, Steve indulges my obsession by waiting for me to turn down the bed each evening. He has learned that if he turns down the bed, I will walk back and forth organizing it properly around him. Of course, the stacking order of the extra pillows is always carefully observed. Steve has always insisted that having a "made bed" isn't important to him. That is - until he spent so much time sleeping out here in a roll-away bed by himself during construction. Shortly after I moved in at the end of March, he actually admitted (unprompted) that sleeping in a well-made bed every night was really rather nice. (I don't want to give you the impression that he's a slob - far from it. He did throw the covers up over his pillow every day, but that was about it.) So, his wife is obsessive, and he has learned to appreciate it a bit!

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Back in Business

I know, I know, it was bound to happen sooner or later. After years of heavy use, my bread machine decided to give up the ghost. 

I was expecting it to happen. It had been making some rather odd noises lately - clanging noises when it started or stopped kneading the dough - louder grinding noises during the kneading process. So I wasn't completely surprised when I heard a rather loud grinding bang and it came to a sudden stop - while I was using the dough cycle to mix up a batch of homemade noodles. Nooooooo! The horror of being forced to purchase "store-bought" bread tore through my body like a knife. OK, that was a slight exaggeration, but I certainly wasn't happy about forking over the dough for a new bread machine right now.

I thought about the matter for a week or so when I suddenly had one of those lightbulb moments.

Yes, the Internet has the answer to everything! Right? After just a few minutes of research, I figured out that the problem was probably a broken belt. Hmmmm. Could I find a place to purchase a replacement belt on the Internet? You betcha!

So, I had my darling husband take the bottom off the bread machine that evening. Voilà! A broken belt!

$12.94 and a quick Internet order later, and we're back in business.

Ahhhh, I love that aroma!

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Special Sunday Reflections

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Sneak Peek Friday - Caution!

Why is there yellow caution tape around the area in front of our garage? Is it a crime scene?

No, we're actually using it to prevent a crime.

What crime? 

Steve shooting our dog!

I previously shared some photos showing the new stone on the section of our driveway closest to our house. 

We stopped just short of the garage, as we planned to put a cement slab in front of the garage doors.

Well, the cement was poured last Thursday, June 11th. Matt showed up and got the area all ready for the cement truck. He even protected the siding on the house with black plastic. You can see the truck arriving in the next photo. Steve and Cocoa seemed quite interested.

Our friends, Marty and Bill, were in the Keweenaw for a few days and arrived a bit early for dinner, so they were able to join in the fun of watching the guys work. (Marty and Bill are on the far left. Marty is in the gray shirt; Bill is in the red shirt.)

Matt came back again the next day for more work. First, he did the short sidewalk that goes from the slab in front of the garage doors to the side door of the garage.

Then, he did the slab for the outdoor wood furnace. I was on the front porch and had to zoom in through the trees to get a photo of that.

Here's the cement truck leaving that area.

In order to prevent Cocoa from stepping in the wet cement, we had to keep her in the barn until Saturday afternoon. Thus, the caution tape! She's extremely curious, and likes to thoroughly sniff out anything new. Since her nails are quite long and very sharp, Steve put a piece of plywood across the sidewalk for her to walk on after we did let her out of the barn. (She sleeps in the garage.)

To be truthful, the caution tape isn't just for Cocoa. The cement guy suggested we really shouldn't drive on the new cement for a week or two, so the tape is to prevent any visitors from pulling up onto the cement in front of our garage.

The cement is curing nicely, and Steve is really excited that he has a nice spot to wash, wax and detail our vehicles.

All is well in the Keweenaw.

What is it? Wednesday

I have an object to show you today. Let's see if you can figure out what it is. I'll give you some hints along the way.

It's made of wood with a removable metal band.

It doesn't make any noise when you shake it.

The metal band says that it was patented on Dec. 18, 1900.

The next photo gives you a better idea of the size of the object.

Do you need a few more hints?


It was usually used by women.


It belonged to my great, great grandmother.


What is it?




If you guessed an antique wooden sock darner, you got it!

As you may know, people didn't always purchase socks by the 6-pack or 12-pack at the store. More often than not, your mother or grandmother knitted your socks. Plus, you didn't throw away socks when they had holes in them. They were repaired instead. The metal band on this particular darner held the sock in place while it was being repaired. Sock darners came in many shapes and finishes - plain to very fancy - sturdy to delicate - often made from wood or glass - and were also sometimes used to help repair holes in other pieces of clothing. 

I'm thinking about the possibility of doing more "What is it? Wednesday" posts occasionally, so you may see this title pop up again in the future.

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Max Max Max

Steven, Beth & Max spent a week with us in May. I know I already shared a couple of my favorite photos from their visit. . .

but I thought I would share a few more. The little guy is difficult to photograph, as he never slows down!

Wave for Grandma Julie, Max!

What is this big brown animal, and why is she interested in me?

(Grandpa taught Max to say Cocoa.)

More shots of my first trip to Lake Superior.

Father and son.

A beautiful mess.

Playing with Grandpa.

Another action shot - with Mommy's phone.

Acting silly.

Time for Din Din! I can handle this spoon by myself, thank you!

Time to leave. (Yeah, we weren't happy about it either!)

Love that little guy!

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Sunday Reflections

HAPPY FLAG DAY!

All is well in the Keweenaw.