When I moved from Michigan to California many long years ago, one of the things I missed was green-ness. Now I remember why.
Lake Michigan from Lakeshore RV Campground in St. Ignace above the bridge. I’ll be staying there again in the upcoming months.
So much beautiful green here! Wide expanses of green lawns, backed by trees in endless variations of green, from the bright new spring foliage just leafing out, to the deep dark greens of pine forests.
A Maple tree decked out in her spring green finery.
A forest trail.
For me, green is a peaceful and restful color, and my eyes relax when I focus on it. That’s just one of the reasons I love trees…
The Mackinac Bridge was built when I was a child. It’s 5 miles long. I’m excited to see it again.
The Mackinac Bridge on a moody, gray day. FYI…some places/things here are spelled Mackinac, like the Bridge, and some are spelled Mackinaw, like the city. They are all pronounced the same and end with the ‘awe’ sound and never the ‘ack’ sound.
Crossing the bridge Friday morning is exhilarating for me. I roll all the windows down and breath the cool, fresh blue air as we cross the Straits of Mackinac….the huge expanses of very deep, very blue water where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron come together.
We drive down the east side of the state, and stop for a dip in Lake Huron.
Burrrr….not me of course, but Joy and Shiloh love it.
We arrive at Marie and Ray’s home as the Memorial Day week-end starts. Marie and I go way back to about age 15, when we became besties in high school here in Michigan. We lost track of each other for quite a few years and reconnected when we were both living in California. Since then we’ve been in constant contact, with phone, email and some visits. When we sit down to talk on Friday evening it’s as though we’ve never been apart.
Ray tucks WS into a nice cozy spot beside their garage.
Out exploring on Saturday we see this….
A tall ship on Lake Huron.
Later we celebrare our reunion. 🙂🙂
With my signature Margritas.
Good times!
So now we are in here in Tawas City for awhile, soaking up the green….and the blue of Lake Huron…and some rain too…no shortage of water in these parts. Lots of blue sky’s are forecast for the days ahead though. Looking forward to some fun times and simple pleasures….
Did you know that the Apple Blossom is Michigans state flower? The Apple trees are in full bloom right now.
Wandering Spirit 
Awesome! I feel your relaxing 🙂
Yes, you are right Sharron. I feel much calmer inside.
Love Love LOVE that you’re here in Michigan! I just spent 4 days up north of Traverse City on the west side of the state, overlooking Lake Michigan. Funny….I just posted (today) a post about how blue some things are, and I’m in the middle of putting together another one for how GREEN things are, especially on my drive home today. I got rained on a lot today, but I had such a great 4 days that I can’t complain! Tawas is wonderful too. I’ve thought about camping there but haven’t done more than walk through the campground one fall a few years back. Let me know what you think!
And if you need anything while you’re here, you’ve got one more friend. I’m in Davisburg, considerably south of where you are, but still, in an emergency, we can help!
That’s very kind of you Dawn, thank you. I just looked at your blog right after I posted mine and commented, though it may have been on the second most recent…but mentioned I’m seeing a lot of the same things…
I’m going farther south when I leave here. Need to look up Davisburg!
Your post brings back so many good memories of Michigan! Many years ago, when my children were young, we used to “go up north” to camp & fish. Those cold waters yielded the most wonderful Northern Pike and Perch one ever tasted, and cooking them over an open campfire just put the experience over the top. And on the farm where I lived for twenty years…oh my…to sit in the middle of acres and acres of flowering fruit trees, and just breathe…the smell of ripening fruit, especially the peaches…and in the cooling fall breezes, the ripening grapes in the vineyards…pure heaven on earth. I’m probably not the one to discuss anything about “the Bridge”. You already know how I feel about bridges, and that’s the mother of all bridges. The last time I rode across it was on the grid, riding my motorcycle, but needless to say, I DID survive!! You just soak up all those beautiful blues and greens, the joy of being with old friends, and I’ll bet all of your “balance” will soon be restored. Hugs, Pat
Those are great memories! I have some similar, having grown up here in Michigan, and my mother grew up on a farm that I visited as a kid. Yep….standing and smelling the fruit in an orchard is pretty special. we never fished, but I can imagine that would be wonderful too.
Glad to have brought some good memories Pat… I’m having some too. I can hardly imagine how it must have felt for you to cross the Mackinac Bridge on a motorcycle considering your fear of bridges… and on the grid, where you can look down and see the water under you!! You are one brace woman!
BEAUTIFUL scenery Mickey, thanks!! Sure relaxes me. Great photos!
So glad you are enjoying Michigan too Andrea…through the pictures. There is a lot of natural beauty here.
Micky, what a wonderful travelogue! The green is really something (it’s also my favorite color). I think we appreciate it here in California because it’s such a brief time before it turns brown. We drove to SF two weeks ago to a Giants game, and the hills through Vacaville and Fairfield were spectacular. The Mackinaw Bridge is very nice to look at, I thought of the Bay Bridge. It’s in the high 80s in the Central Valley, rising to the low 90s next weekend. We just got home from a great performance by Robin Trower (of Procol Harum). Have a great visit, and enjoy Mickigan!
Hi Maureen, yes the hills in California are beautiful when they are green… it always reminds me of green velvet. And they are beautiful when they are gold too, of course, but there is something about that green-ness…
Wow, it’s way hot there!
Glad to hear you had a good concert.
Happy Memorial Day! Looks wonderful!
Warm & relaxing here in Roan, heard you’ll be here in September, the nicest host’s!
Patty
Aren’t they a sweet couple Patty? And the park is so nice. There is an Indian Museum that is great to visit, down at the other end of town.
Happy Memorial Day to you and John too!
We’ll look for it!! Heading to Flathead Lake for 2 nights next & the Huckleberry Patch – yum!
Loving your visit in Mickigan!
Marie and I just watched a thing called “Keith Richards, Under The Influance”, and it was excellent, and not about the influence one would first suspect it is referring to. Will probably blog about it….
What a beautiful place!! Love the Mackinac Bridge, love Lake Huron and all the green!! Just love it all.
The sign of a great friendship is picking up where you left off as if no years had passed!!
Enjoy!!
Hi Gerri and Mike, yes there is lots to love here, that’s for sure!
You are a fortunate soul to have these friends you write about. I’d bet they would write raves about your friendship. Good people have good people.
I really am fortunate Michael. Good friends are priceless.
Hi Mickey! I’ve “found” you again. Not sure why I don’t get emails about your posts. But got caught up and see you’ve been doing a lot of thinking and relaxing! Hard to hear about Joy but know she’s got the best mom out there. She knows it too I’m sure!
Remember that if you are heading back through Wisconsin, Madison area, we’d love to see you! Plenty of room and lots of green!
Take good care! Thinking of you and your 4 legged friends.
Hi Ruth! So good to hear from you! Looking forward to fun times at the ranch this winter. Thank you for the invite. I’ll text you about location and such, though once again I’ll probably be hugging the north country.
Joy has such a strong spirit and that helps keep her moving right along…I’m so proud of her.
No clue why you stopped receiving the blog. Maybe if you subscribe to it again it will start showing up in your mailbox? Don’t wanna lose touch with you!