Michigan love

My love for Michigan runs deep. I was born and raised in the Great Lakes State and graduated from Michigan State University. My blood runs green and white. Sparty on!
These are some of my favorite things.

MSU scarf modeled by Lucy.

MSU tote bag. 

MSU cups and socks.

High school spirit week. Sparty on!

MSU mitten art project.

Michigan stones. Picture from Awesome Mitten.

Michigan art made from license plates.

Michigan craft using string, nails, and a piece of wood.

MSU sweatshirts. Costco

MSU luggage tag. A must have for travelers!

Michigan mitten shadow box. Meijer.

MSU rain boots. Meijer.

Michigan "HOME" pillow.

Michigan nature.

There really is no place like home.
 Michigan.

Indian Mounds Drive. Grand Rapids.

View of the Grand River

One of my favorite places to be in Grand Rapids is on Indian Mounds Drive. It is located along the Grand River near Johnson Park. It is about a four mile drive of happiness.

So peaceful!

It is a one way road, and the entrance is near the park.  The tree canopy completely surrounds the road, and it feels like a drive in a mystical forest.

Map of Indian Mounds Drive

According to an Indian Mounds website, "a group of people known as the Hopewell settled in the Great Lakes region around 100 B.C.  They built their villages along the banks of the Grand River and grew crops such as corn, squash and beans.  They lived in this area for nearly 500 years. It was once believed that there were between 30-40 burial mounds along the west bank of the Grand River.  Today, the 17 remaining mounds are southwest of the city on the east bank of the Grand." 

The drive in the Fall

A view of the bridge across Grand River

You can drive, bike or walk along the road. Cars can only go one way, and the car traffic is minimal. Kent Trails and other walking paths can be accessed from the road. You can even launch a kayak or canoe off one of the launch sites. So, why not take a drive along Indian Mounds Drive? It will not disappoint!

Winter Drive

Flooded Grand River

Lookout Park, Grand Rapids, MI

Are you looking for awesome views? Nature?  Picture perfect moments? In Grand Rapids? Yes. There is a place in Grand Rapids with all that. It is called Lookout Park (also called Belknap Hill), and it boasts a 160 foot bluff with cool homes surrounding it.  

The view of Grand Rapids is just spectacular. What a great place to watch fireworks! I bet it would be an amazing show.

Bring your dog for a walk. Better yet, go for a romantic walk with your sweetheart. Many people have become engaged at the park. There are a few picnic benches to eat, read or just enjoy the view. The sunset views are amazing. Even the birds like the view.

It has an abandoned set of stairs that once led to Division Avenue. You can stand at the top of the stairs and belt out a view lines of "Stairway to Heaven" or "Highway to Hell" if you are so inspired.

Cool mosaic on the stairs

Fun Facts about the area around Lookout Park from mlive.com:

Namesake: The area is named for Civil War Capt. Charles E. Belknap, a well-known former mayor, congressman, businessman, fireman and historian.

X Marks the Spot: In 1970, a massive earthwork sculpture created by artist Robert Morris, the Grand Rapids Project X, was cut into the hill’s north side below the reservoir.

Green Space: The neighborhood boast several city parks, including Belknap Park, Coit Park, Mary Waters Park and Lookout Park, which has long been popular with lovebirds because of the view. 

Map of Lookout Park

www.mlive.com

Charlotte, NC Greenways

I was recently in New York City and had a fantastic time.
I love going to Time's Square, the cool restaurants, and all of the museums. The only thing that was missing was the GREEN. Sure there is Central Park, but I need more.

Seriously, New York City is a concrete jungle. That is why I like Charlotte so much. It has lots of green spaces called Greenways. There are currently 37 miles of developed and 150 miles of undeveloped Greenways in Charlotte. You can walk, jog, ride a bike, or  just sit on a bench. Enjoy!

Here are some pictures I took while walking on the McAlpine Greenway. Very peaceful. Very clean. Very green!

So, ask a friend or bring the dog and head out to the Greenway.

Click on the link for more information about the Greenway 

and trails around Charlotte.

What do you do with the cork?

ATTENTION WINE DRINKERS.  I know wine comes from
fermented grapes and tastes delicious. There are so many 
varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot, Riesling, and on and on. I like 
taste testing them all! It is so much fun going to vineyards 
and sampling the goods. Wine comes in different packages as 
well: Boxed, bottle,  and now wine in a can. 
A can? Yes! The Skimm recently wrote about a new summer 
wine in a can. Thanks, Skimm (click to learn more about the 
Skimm).

I haven't tried the can yet, and I don't usually drink out of the
box. So, what can I do with all those corks?  Well, I decided 
to save the corks and make some cool projects. Today? 
Not today, maybe someday... after another glass of wine.

So, start saving that cork from the wine bottles.

You might need a glue gun as well.

You have so many projects to do!

I found these projects on Pinterest.

*All cork pictures from Pinterest*

Who doesn't like crafting?

I love to craft. Who doesn't? It is a time to unwind, unplug, and enjoy. And, it is  really neat to see the finished project. Even if the project does not turn out exactly the way I want,
I still feel like I have accomplished something. 

I get my ideas mainly from stores and Pinterest. I buy my supplies at a local hobby store (don't forget to check the weekly coupons!). A glue gun is a must! I also look at thrift shops and Goodwill for inexpensive items. My favorite local spot is Changing Thymes located in Grandville, Michigan. There are two locations bursting with cool stuff to buy! 

These are the projects that I have completed this summer.

 Inexpensive lamp, stones, hot glue gun.

With the extra stones, make a cool picture frame.

I bought the bird house for $5.00, seashells from the beach and 

a hot glue gun.

I saw this at an antique store for about $45.00 I made it for less than $10.

I bought a Styrofoam ball and added shells with the hot glue gun.

I cut a little off the bottom before gluing to help it stand right.

With any left over shells, hot glue them to a picture frame!

Instant memories.

So, grab that hot glue gun and have some fun!

Blue Ridge Parkway

Have you ever wanted to just get in your car and go?

Here is a suggestion: Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

Millions of people visit the Parkway everywhere for its miles 

of trails, scenic views, waterfalls, and quaint North Carolina 

towns. It really has the most amazing views. You can see 

miles on a clear, sunny day. It was constructed in 1936, and 

is about 469 miles.

Map of the Blue Ridge

In the Fall, the foliage on the trees does not disappoint. 

But be warned: traffic is very heavy on Saturdays and 

Sundays during the peak color season.

So, pack a cooler, grab your camera, and head out to the Blue 

Ridge Parkway. You will not regret it!

View from Blue Ridge Parkway. North Carolina

 Click here for more information.

Food conditioning

Have you ever fed birds at the park or at the beach? It is so adorable to see birds and other wildlife practically begging and eating out of your hand. Is there anything wrong with feeding animals? Yes. It is very wrong to feed wildlife, and the term is called food conditioning.

Bird waiting for scraps at the Cloisters-New York

Food conditioning is a basic learned behavior that teaches animals to like human food. So what? What's wrong with that? Once an animal is conditioned to receive handouts, their behavior has changed. They will continue to seek out humans for their food.

Birds are everywhere at the Cloisters food court-New York

Even though it is tempting, do not feed the animals. They become a nuisance! They will continue to beg and seek out food.

Pigeons hanging out at Times Square-New York

Helpful tips from the National Park Service website:

How can you help?Black bears, raccoons, coyotes, squirrels, crows and other wildlife are enticed by human food left in campsites, on picnic tables, offered from an outstretched hand, or in litter. Do not feed wildlife! Feeding animals or allowing them access to human food causes a number of problems:

• It changes behavior by causing wild animals to lose their instinctive fear of humans. This lack of fear causes panhandler or "nuisance" animals to be more unpredictable and dangerous when they encounter humans.
• Nuisance animals can damage property and injure people. These animals pose a risk to public safety. They can also teach their cohorts this dangerous behavior. Often, they must be euthanized.
• It transforms wild and healthy animals into habitual beggars. Studies have shown that panhandling animals have a shorter lifespan. Beggar animals may die from ingesting food packaging. Many animals have died a slow and agonizing death from eating plastics and other materials. Many are hit by cars and become easy targets for poachers.
• Food left unattended attracts gulls, ravens and crows to picnic areas and beaches. Our beach areas provide nesting habitat to the federally endangered piping plover. These same birds will prey upon plover eggs.
• Remember, Garbage Kills! 

Source: https://www.nps.gov/slbe/learn/nature/do-not-feed-the-bears.htm