Mackinaw

The new Mackinaw finally came in. Sandy and I watched the parade (albeit an hour late and a lot of time in the bookstore and Nephew's...so not too bad) and then toured both the old and new Mackinaws.

-The Coasties in the parade.


-Both an ice cutter and buoy tender.


-From the back.


-Poor Sandy. It was really cold. You need a winter coat!


-From the command center or whatever you call it. It's six stories up the officer said.


-The control/command center.


-The old Mackinaw. My camera gave out then, so no interior shots (thankfully, shout some...)

A Few More of Bradley and Family

...And some more.


-Grandma, Justin (with the camera) and Alex at the hospital.

Bradley Jackson

A new little nephew - Bradley Jackson was born on 5 December! 9lbs, 3oz. and 23 inches long.

Here he is with the other boys of the family.

And so came winter!

...not really though. Just a bit of snow this past week, some now, not so much on the Lake Huron side. It's all gone now, but will be back again this week. So for those who love the thought of getting out the skis and snowshoes...


-You can just see the blockhouse of Michilimackinac on the left side of the sign.


- with cannon.


-barely can see the bridge with the "fog" and grayness.


-and the OMPL. What a great looking lighthouse and fog signal building!

...Meet Me at the Fair.

And more pictures (why digital for me might not be good for others)...


-One more of the arch.


-Going up in the pod of the tram. The nice people from Kankakee, Dan and Jim. Jim was not thrilled to go up in here.


-How Jim felt in the tram.


-Jim looking over possible candidates (Hmmm...maybe shouldn't have said something about me laughing it off...).



-Up Top.

Meet Me in St. Louis...

After the conference I took a quick jaunt over to St. Louis and met up with Dan, who goes to SLU, and Jim, who was there for work. Dinner and Irish music at night, mass and the Gateway Arch the next day. The arch is 40 years old this year. And, YES, Stephanie - I got the stamps for the passport! I'm the one who had to leave for the lovely 8 hour drive back to GR.

-St. Francis Xavier College Church


-A couple views of the Gateway Arch. Gorgeous, as always. Dennis said we need one of those at Mackinac.


-Actually could have put other pictures up here. If anyone doesn't want to hear about Mackinac, I can always expound on the Gateway Arch.


-Jim and Dan theorizing on the substructure of the arch. Actually, we all just went "WOW!" and played the trust game. Dan doesn't trust us.

Findlay, IL

I skipped all of October! I went to Findlay, IL for a MOMCC Conference (only museum people will want to know what that is!). It was held at a resort on Lake Shelbyville. After some initial setbacks it turned out quite nicely and was a beautiful area.



-Lake Shelbyville, man-made US Army Corps of Engineers


-The goats in the corn fields. Lots of corn fields. LOTS!

Cape and Seashore

-Justin's start of kindergarten.



The beaches we stopped at...

-Alex "flying."


-Justin and Alex in the water at Chatham.


-...and on the dune.


-The family on Cape Cod National Seashore.


-Katie, Alex, Mom, Justin on the Atlantic (CCNS).


-Happy just throwing sand into the water.

Historical Cape

Went to New Bedford, Quincy and Plymouth, MA.


-Half-size whaling ship in the NB Whaling Museum.


-Alex at the helm.


-John Quincy Adams Birthplace, but oldest of the Adams houses.


-John Adams' birthplace.


-Adams' residence.


-Plymouth Rock.


-Mayflower II.

Maine and the Cape

Hit Maine for the first time (40th state!) and then headed through to the Cape to see Chris, Sherry and the kids.


-Maine coast and Mom.


-Chris, Sherry and the kids at their new house.


-Katie, Justin and Alex.

Canada and New York

Mom picked me up in Cheboygan and we headed through upper Ontario to get east. Stayed in North Bay (Lake Nipigon and Mattawa River) and followed along the Ottawa River - same general direction of the voyaguers. Went through the capital of Ottawa, the city.

Got to Malone/Burke, New York to see the boyhood home of Almanzo Wilder, future husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Original home, reconstructed barns (with the help of archaeology). Even saw Trout River! And these are but a few pictures I could put on from the ones we took. You could say a slight obsession with the Ingalls/Wilder story. Stayed in Montpelier, VT.


-Along the highway in Canada.


-Ottawa capital buildings.


-Front view of the Wilder house.


-Side view of the Wilder house - no pictures inside!


-The reconstructed barns.


-The Trout River.


-Montpelier captial building.