The forecast for black bears is variable

 

Happiness is the nearby hu-hu-hu sound of an owl on a winter evening

 

Happiness is whole wheat toast, raw honey, Saigon cinnamon, and pecan halves: The faster, easier, cheaper, and healthier morning cinnamon roll

 Still works for me!

toast it

slather it

sprinkle it

top it

Happiness is my new "go-to" canned tomatoes: Contadina San Marzano Style

 

"Product of Italy" available on the shelf right here in Michigan, right now.

Happiness is whole kernel rye breads by Mestemacher in Germany, available in the United States

 I found these at my local health food store in Michigan, and they are delicious.

 

Happiness is a grilled Boar's Head veal and pork brat and some late summer, local farmer's sweet corn for a sunny, Saturday lunch

The pre-cooked brat browns up quickly over a charcoal fire, five minutes a side or so. Available at D&W Fresh Markets in Michigan, they are pricey at $2.00 per sausage, but they are worth it. Delicious served with some Dijon mustard.

Happiness is a breezy summer day in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Happiness is The Michigan Upper Peninsula Creation Story

In da beginning dere was nuttin'.

Den on da first day God created da U.P.

On da second day He created da partridge, da deer, da bear, da fish and da ducks.

On da third day He said, "Let dere be YOOPERS to roam da U.P."

On da fourth day He created da udder world down below.

And on da fifth day He said, "Let dere be TROLLS to live in da world down below."

On da sixth day He created "DA BRIDGE" so da TROLLS would have a way to get to Heaven.

God saw it was good, and on da seventh day He went huntin'.

The Lily of the Valley has bloomed here in Michigan for Mother's Day

Its fragrance fills the air as I write this, and reminds me of my mother, who grew it prolifically on the west northwest side of our old house in Wisconsin.

"For her the lilies hang their heads, and die".

-- Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

Happiness is a morning smoothie

Forty grams of banana

not imported from Havana,

Yogurt, flax and berries bluey

all went in my morning smoothie,

Here in Michigan, not Montana.

 

-- Johnny 

Happiness is the sunshine today after this weekend's big rain event in Michigan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Needless to say, the outdoor wedding in the red area of the map had to be moved inside. She got married in a pole barn, and still nearly got flooded out.

Happiness is not Caledonia, Michigan, in the spring, a town which with an east wind stinks of manure

 

Gentle gales,

Fanning their odiferous wings, dispense

Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole

These balmy spoils.

-- John Milton, Paradise Lost

Happiness is one of these from Generac when the power goes out like tonight in Michigan

Happiness is Crispy Duck at First Wok Chinese Restaurant served with beautiful turnip "flower" garnish and delicious plum sauce

A delight to the eyes and to the palate.

Try it at 6740 Old 28th Street in Cascade, Michigan.

Happiness is that the winter solstice is finally behind us, as of 11:49 PM yesterday in Grand Rapids, MI

The official solstice date and time for Grand Rapids, Michigan was December 21st, 2015, at 11:49PM, Eastern Standard Time.

Daylight hours will now gradually increase.

Here's a table showing what to expect in that department for every day of 2016.

Calculate for your location, here, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Lately my Italian sausage comes from G. B. Russo & Son of Grand Rapids, Michigan

They always run out of the "hot", which is the most popular here at home. So I often have to get the sweet, which is just fine, and one they call "wine and cheese", which I've grown to crave. The latter reminds me just a little of a veal bratwurst, but only because the color is similar after cooking. The flavor is delightful with my own naked sweet roma tomato sauce.

I hope to go there again, tomorrow.

Happiness is gas . . . at $1.66/gallon in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hey! Gas makes babies smile, so why not me?

One reason I'm happy living in lower Michigan

Lake Michigan protects me from this.

Vangelis: What I'm Listening To Now

 

In the "tyranny of Greece over Germany", winter is finally getting a proper beating tonight in Michigan so I am enjoying a little light Vangelis over dinner. It transports you to a warmer, more relaxed place which you have been missing for too long but suddenly remember viscerally. This album charted in Europe most popular in Ungarn, followed by Oesterreich, in 1996. Romantics all.

 

 

 

If You Are From Wisconsin, This Is Hamburger Weather

It's colder where I am tonight in Michigan than where I grew up in Wisconsin, but only by 1 degree F. But it didn't stop me from making a charcoal fire and grilling up some delicious hamburgers for supper. It just takes longer for the coals to reach optimum gray and red, about forty minutes instead of twenty.

I served the hamburgers with melted sharp cheddar cheese (what else?) and some ketchup on nice white hamburger buns, with steamed petite peas and green beans in butter on the side.

With a glass of red wine, wunderbar darling!