It's been a year since we moved from Switzerland. I miss so much about our life there and I think I always will because you can't go back. It's like when I went away to college and lived in a dorm, it was great and I felt so independent. And then after a couple years…

While I was in Tawas I took lots of morning walks while the girls slept in. And I made a photo survey of all the charming, kitschy, pretty or interesting things I saw. 

We just got home from about a week spent in Tawas, Michigan. We had so much fun! We hung out at Jennifer's yacht club a lot (it's not her yacht club – but you know what I mean). We swam and used our paddle boards and took walks to the nearby state park. We also…

After Brian's birthday the girls and I headed out for a road trip to Michigan. First we had a little visit with Grandma C. We went to the Chippewa Nature Center – we enjoyed a walk and then ended up in one of my very favorite places. The bird observatory room is very simple but…

Brian turned 46 on Saturday. We took him to a beer place and baked him a cake. We love him so much and I wish we could give him more for his birthday. I wish I could give him the scene below: PS – the cake was Lighter-than-air chocolate cake from Smitten Kitchen. It requires…

First tomatoes and more green beans.

Got my knives and scissors sharpened this morning. 

My Bee Balm is blooming and it's (appropriately) covered in bees. And I've picked my first green beans of the season.

This past week two people I know were sailing the Great Lakes. First my niece, Jenna, sailed from Mackinac Island to Bay City on the Appledore. Very cool! And also, mom came to visit us. She took the ferry from Muskegon, Michigan to Milwaukee where we picked her up. A great little visit. Here are…

Brian and I went for a little hike on the 4th of July. We went to the Ray Lake forest preserve. The last time we visited the asters were showing off but this time of year there are lots of other flowers shining. Especially the purple coneflowers. I've never seen so many blooming together! It…