Traverse City Visit

We just got back from a short trip up north.  To really appreciate Michigan, you have to go up north in the fall.  Hopefully, you can get a small sense of the beauty from my photos.

I love the spooky covered grape vines.  Perfect for this time of year.

Up North 2013

We all just got back from our Up North vacation for 2013.  I wonder if there are any other states where the words "Up North" mean as much.

With our wonderful, majestic Great Lakes, I find it hard to believe.  For all Michigan's pros and cons, the Great Lakes are it's greatest attribute.

This year we rented a place on Lake Michigan in Pierport.  For the Michiganders, that's half way between Manastee and Frankfurt.



This was the main house:

And this was the "Cottage House":

Most of us stayed in the main house, but Gigi (Great Grandma), Aunt Deb the Great and KiKi (our Texas cousin) were in the Carriage House.  Benefits...quiet in the morning.

Following are just some of the moment of frivolity and joy that followed:

Safe to say that I...

this vacation.

A Week-End of Tennis

We are very lucky to live only 4 hours away from Cincinnati where they hold what is now called the Western and Southern Open.  It used to be the Cincinnati Open, but it has grown and is now a significant event on the ATP Tennis circuit.

The best thing about this tournament is that it is held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.  It was built just for tennis and there isn't a bad seat in the house.  It feels amazingly intimate for a sports venue.  I was able to get to court side for photos during warm up.

Here are some of the highlights:

Roger Federer

You can't really appreciate how brilliant he is until you see if play live.  There is just no comparison.  It doesn't heard that he is truly beautiful as completely supported by the group of women sitting behind us.  They came from North Carolina and are admitted "Roger stalkers".

Serena Williams

Venus Williams

Novak Djokovic

And here was the closest I was able to get to Rafa Nadal.  It's not much...but it's something.

And Breslyn was the biggest trouper of all considering we sat in unrelenting sun for hours.

You go Bres!!

More Vacation Pics

I've had a request from Luke's other GPs to get more vacation photos up.  So here they are in no particular order.

Rock Paper Scissors with Uncle Rick (I can't remember what they were playing for)

We finally found a way to keep Austin in one place for a few minutes

He's still sitting.

Ryan enjoying "man island" ("Aunt Caity can come on man island because I think she's having a boy.")

A well protect Luke hanging on the beach

He's a dancing machine

The pure unadulterated joy of being "6"

And oh...those eyes just steal your heart

And these lashes!

And his schmaltz

A rare moment of quiet

And aren't I adorable in my bathrobe!

I think it's pretty obvious that I really obsessed with my grandkids and I like it that way.  (Enjoy Rick and Mary!)

I've been AWOL

I haven't posted in a bit.  Can you guess why??

Yep, we managed a few days up North on Lake Huron.  A splendid time was had by all who could come.  We are already working on finding a place for next year.  Someplace big enough to include the new babies.

I'll post some more pictures soon.

Leelanau Peninsula Wineries

Back to our Up North trip.  We ended up visiting a lot of the same wineries as we did last year, but we did get to visit one new one.

Black Star Farms was our new stop.  The tasting room was packed and it took a long time to get a spot to do some sipping.  I did buy a couple bottles of their 2008 Sparkling Wine.  It's always good to have some of this on hand...you never know when you might need to celebrate something special.

But, what I really enjoyed was some of the extra scenery they have.

And they have a beautiful inn as well.

Here are some of my favorite photos from our other winery visits.

And this is for you BW, so you know I was thinking about you.  (He loves farm equipment...don't ask.)

Next up...sunset, friends, Lake Michigan and the fall colors.  Then I'll be done (I think).

Ahhh...the Food

Here's some of the food we enjoyed on our Up North week-end.  (First, so sorry Myra and Sue that I did not photograph your fabulous soups and salad.  I guess I was just too hungry to remember to take a picture.)

Krissy and Caity made this for breakfast on Saturday morning (I am kindly not posting the photo of the girls with their food as it was morning and no way do I want to hear Caity's comments on putting up a picture of her without her hair done or make up on.  I don't blame her...I'm the same way, sort of.)

Sausage and Monterey Jack Breakfast Strata

PW's Cinnamon Rolls

These rolls were off the charts delicious and will likely become a regular at family events.  

Kathy made this beautiful and wonderful for dinner:

 Poached salmon with roasted potatoes, asparagus and green beans

I made a Flourless Chocolate Cake for desert and...no photo.  (Kathy please send me one)

For Sunday dinner, I made this pasta:

Italian Sausage Penne Pasta

I'm sure we all put on a few extra pounds, but it was worth it.