It is here!

Well,

we may not have snow here in Ann Arbor yet, but that has not stopped us from jumping feet first into the holiday spirit!

The tree is up and the trimmings are making their way around the office as well! Expect a full write up on our pre-holiday adventures soon!

-J

A Personalized Surprise

Since I had not been home in about two months I had a few things that had been dropped off by the mailman waiting in a big pile.

Mostly the usual; pre-approved credit cards, junk offers, magazine, newsletters and more junk.

However there was one large box chock-full-of-Racquetball gear! My E-Force order finally arrived! (I will tell you how I feel about the new stuff later)

There was also a smaller box, from my brother. It contained my birthday gift:

A beautiful Gerber pocket knife.

It is the Gerber Presto, and it features the FAST Blade assist technology. The blade flings open with little effort at all, a nice upgrade from my old flip-wrist model. The action is smooth and the size is just perfect to clip into a pocket without rendering the pocket useless.

A good pick by Zach I thought immediately upon opening the box; clean lines and styling made even more useful by the rubberized grips in the right places, This knife will stand the test of time that is for sure.

I am pleasantly surprised by all functional and aesthetics of the tool.

The blade is very sharp, and from what I have read elsewhere online, durable to match. From this side the knife looks great, but from the other side it is another story...

...From this side the Presto looks even better! Zach had my initials engraved! Very cool!

This is now my new daily knife. Look out anything that feels like getting in my way!

Great knife, great gift, definitely get it personalized, the receiver will love it.

Thank you Zach!

-J

Beech-Hemlock Nature Trail

Every so often you run into a true gem that is not too far from you daily travels.

Such is the case of the Beech-Hemlock Nature Trail.

Going North on Lakeshore Drive, just off the beaten path of 31, the main drag back home, you will happen on the quaint sign above. The trail is on the East side of the road just across from Orchard Beach State Park.

I only discovered this trail a year or so ago.

This path is around a mile or so, and takes about 30 minutes at its longest point. The trail is heavily wooded with beech, maple, hemlock and other various needle-ed species. It is a refreshing mix.

The crew that built and maintain this trail did a great job marking it with interesting placards and information boards. It would be a great area to take children to aid them in their outdoor upbringing. TAKE YOUR KIDS OUTSIDE AND TEACH THEM!

Growing up in Northern Michigan I am very accustomed to the small prairies that are nestled between the forest groves. Until recently I have not noticed how much I enjoy these subtle prairies, luckily on this little jaunt I was afforded views of several:

On the last leg of the hike we stumbled upon some mushrooms that I cannot identify. Maybe Mungo could lend me a hand on this one:

If you are in the Manistee area be sure to check this quick trail out.

-J

Oh what a nice day

We are home for the  turkey-fest holiday and we finally got a chance to make sure that the beach is still around.

It is still there that is for sure. The day was gray, but it was still beautiful. Chelsea told me that the poor lighting would ruin my shots; while I agree that these are not of the highest quality they shall serve as a visual reminder of home and the beauty of our birthplace.

Enjoy:

More to come in a few.

-J

Mouthful of lake michigan does the trick everytime! Random indeed. Quick trip to the beach was great.

Pumpkin pie; it's how we roll

We are at the Hart Motel, a first rate joint.

Tim, the owner even taught us how to make Pumpkin Pie from scratch, and boy oh boy do I mean scratch.

Step 1:

Warsh your pumpkin.

Step 2:

Pose for a quick American Gothic Shot

Step 3:

Whack it right in half.

Step 4:

Crack it in half and find a big spoon.

Step 5:

Get in there nice and deep like and scoop out the seeds and guts. (Hint: Save the seeds, they are great salted and baked!)

Step 6:

Cut the meat of the pumpkin up, add some of the rind, add to boiling water.

Add nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.

Boil until meat is very soft.

Mix with brown sugar and a little flour.

Heat and stir until very thick.

Step 7:

Have your girlfriend make her special recipe crust, and pour your mixture into it.

Voila! Homemade pumpkin pie from scratch.

More to come soon. It has been a good weekend.

Hope you are all enjoying your time responsibly,

-J

I have been here, and I have been there...

In the past few days it seems like I have been everywhere, in Michigan that is.

After what seemed like forever in the darkness, the trip from Ann Arbor, we awoke and darted further North to Traverse City. I delightfully gloomy day indeed was in front of us as we dropped mother off at the MRI joint and moseyed downtown TC to find a drink.

We stopped at Espresso Bay, a locally owned and operated cafe where the staff was more than accommodating and friendly, the barista even offered to put ice in the tea and gave us tips on cooling it quickly. Delightful indeed.

After a quick stroll downtown we stopped for a quick photo-op at one of C. Bromley's favorites: The State Theater:

All in all, a great day, got a few Christmas presents picked out, picked up a new watch and a cover for my Kindle.

Enjoy this day,

-J

In the next post look for a super cool Birthday present that my little brother got me! It will blow your mind!