Go Flake

Stumbled on this gem recently...

 

Christmas 2021

We had a fantastic Christmas this year, with visits from both sets of grandparents and a quick trip down to Chicagoland to connect with the Hamm counsins. 

Buddy got to stay in a real human hotel, not a doggie hotel like usual.  He was really good, though I don't think he was a big fan of the elevators.

Grand Old Flag

 

Nubs in the Time of Covid

Back in February we took the long drive up through Wisconsin, across the UP and over the Mackinac Bridge to Petoskey for a much needed week-long family ski adventure at Nubs Nob.  This is the year where everyone in the family came into their own and became skiers!

Laura, Jon and Lilly overlapped with us for a few days.  It was great to see them and though we we're not able to spend time indoors, it was nice to be able to meet up on the slopes.

Cousins!

Lilly and Nell getting ready to ski down.

The first 24 hours we were there were very snowy.  It was a little bit of a problem because all that snow actually made it hard to ski on the easier runs.  You needed a little more steepness in order to be able to go fast enough to reach the bottom of the hill without getting stuck.  Molly and the girls took the challenge in stride and and we all had a great day.  Molly's first foray into Panda Land was a sight to see, as the run was not groomed and she just zipped off into the woods blazing her own trail through the snow. 

Jane and Dad

Nell was a big fan of Outback Jack

Clearly this was Jane's favorite

The girls at the top of Jane-O Trail with Little Traverse Bay in the distance.  Pictures never do justice to the beauty of the setting at Nubs Nob.  One a clear day you get some really nice views from the top.

Check out that hair!

Jane and Nell getting ready to go down Goosebumps. 

They were both excited to conquer a black diamond.

Nellie on Goosebumps.  Look at how under control she is!  That is a steep hill.  But not as steep (or as long) as Smokey, which she conquered the next night skiing with Daddy.

I love this view from the Orange lift at night.  Magical.

Meanwhile, back at the condo...

Our accommodations were great.  We were in the woods right at the base of the orange lift.  We could see skiers (and at night the groomers) right out our window.

Virtual learning on vacation.

The girls had their own room and their own TV!

The second night we ventured over to Jon, Laura & Lilly's place across the way

Due to Covid we stayed outdoors and built a fire.  It was cooooooold!!!

Back at our place we all had fun in the snow...

And there was a lot of snow...

The trip inspired a master artwork by Jane.

Welcome Buddy!!!

Buddy (aka Beans) came for a meet and greet on Saturday and instantly stole our hearts. Nellie donned her full dog outfit for the occasion. He came in the door and laid right down and started snuggling.  He's a gentile and sweet little guy.

After meeting Buddy and deciding to adopt him we went to Blackhawk for a family ski.  It was great spring skiing conditions.  Skiing has been a great diversion from being cooped up inside this winter.

Speaking of skiing... this has been a big winter for Molly.  She is fully past beginner status and is skiing with confidence.  She even like going fast now!  It's great to see.

That same night we drove down to Storghton to pick him up from his foster family.  Here he is with the girls getting ready to drive back with us to his new home.  You can see he's a little worried.  He's been through a lot in the last month after being found as a stray in Alabama and being treated at the University of Auburn Vet School.  He will take a little while to feel fully comfortable with his new home.

Nellie is over the moon

Showing Buddy the reading nook.

Buddy likes to sit by the back door.

We've already started a regular walking regimen.

 

More Buckhorn Pictures!

Daddy rocking the Barbie fishing pole with some mega-casts... and Nellie?  Well, she's not so interested.

Jane was more into it...

Bright eyes and bushy tailed!

Not a bad spot to wake up.

Two happy campers!

 

Buckhorn State Park

Our lakeside campsite at Buckhorn State Park.  It was a walk-in site, so it was pretty private. There was one other site fairly close by, but other than that we were alone.  Just us and the mosquitos.

Our jumbo tent is great.  Plenty of room for everyone and able to withstand high winds.

Around the campfire.

X marks the spot where our site was.  I wish we had a canoe to explore those twisty inlets across the bay.  Next time, Molly...

The girls made some great art at the site.

They used reddish sand from anthills, moss and pinecones to give their drawings detail.

They made a fairy door!

Thumbs up to dinner around the campfire!

Dad on KP.

Hiking in the pines.

All in straight lines

Fishing break.  We didn't catch anything.

We found our second Wisconsin desert of the summer.  This part of the state used to be at the bottom of a glacial lake, and the sand is all that is left.