ashley folkema photography

Meet Mr. Sock Monkey.  He is Alger’s, our newest addition’s, toy.  I may have let out a little “awe” when I first picked him out at the store, thinking what an adorable little toy this would make.  Silly of me to think he would remain cute for long.  Within the first few hours Mr. Sock Monkey already had multiple holes and the stuffing ripped out.  I was overly delighted to go around the house picking up little tuffs of stuffing.  Big white blobs of it.  At least Alger has managed to keep most of her chewing to Mr. Sock Monkey and not our household possessions.

• Brian and I spent the end of last week/weekend in the Upper Peninsula.  So.  Much.  Fun.  Most of this week’s randoms.  Okay.  All of this week’s randoms will be about our time there.
• We decided to leisurely take our time driving up to the Mackinaw Bridge  on Thursday.  We followed Lake Michigan up and drove through Traverse City, Charlevoix and Petoskey.  Gorgeous country this is.
• In each town we would pick out our favorite homes, cottages and boats in the marina’s.
• Who knows, maybe someday one of these towns will be our residence.  Hmmm.
• When we arrived at the Bridge we decided to explore Mackinaw City and stay the night.  Not having previously made hotel reservations, we took one of the last remaining rooms in the City.  To our surprise our room had a jacuzzi tub.  It was heart shaped, red and surround by mirrors.  Oh.  My.  Word.  I felt dirty as soon as I stepped in the room.
• Of course I had to stop in the Mackinaw City book store and finger through the Michigan section.  So many good titles.  Brian gave me one look and handed over his wallet.  He knows me too well.
• The next morning I left Brian sleeping in bed, stopped at the lobby for some coffee, purchased the St. Ignace Times and walked down to the base of the Mackinaw Bridge to watch the sunrise.  The morning could not have been any better.
• Later that day as we set out for Iron Mountain, Brian was less than thrilled that I still had not made hotel reservations for the next two nights stay.  What can I say, I love spontaneity.  Brian would call it something else.
• No worries though, after arriving in Iron Mountain we had plenty of hotels/motels to choose from and easily found a room.  One without a jacuzzi tub.
• On Friday night we picked up Little Ceasears pizza took it back to our room.  We spent the rest of the evening watching cable t.v.  An exciting evening, I know.  It felt so good to relax.
• The wedding on Saturday was more than gorgeous.  Vanessa and Jeff’s love that day was perfect.
• Brian was a total rockstar second shooter.  He looked handsome in his dress shirt and slacks.  So much so in fact that I may have kept eyeing him the entire night.
• I love my husband.
• Did you know Iron Mountain is in the central time zone?  It was a different sort of feeling still being in the same state but a different time.
• We started to head home on Sunday morning but decided to take another detour and head up to Crisp Point Lighthouse and Whitefish Point.  I cannot visit the Upper Peninsula and not see Lake Superior.
• And lastly, if you have never crossed over that amazing Mackinaw Bridge, please do so.  At once.  I mean immediately.  Do not pass go.  Do not collect your $200.  The Upper Peninsula will capture you and hold your hearts.

Many smiles.  Ashley.