Nature Friday - Michigan Finale

 

 Jakey here today to share the Michigan Nature Friday Finale with you! While in Michigan, the pawrents went with family on a nice hike in Hartwick Pines State Park!

 

 

 

Unlike the old growth Redwood Trees we have here,  Hartwood Pines has pretty old growth Pine Trees. During this hike though, you'll see Mama wasn't quite as interested in the trees as usual.

 

 

You see, there had been a few days of rain and the forest was pretty thick and dark making it the perfect place for mushrooms.Well, you know Mama, like the moths and butterflies on the last Michigan NF post, the theme of this post should be Mushrooms in Michigan!!

 

 

Starting with the underside of a group of Oyster Mushrooms growing on a tree.

 

 

 

 Hoof Tinder Fungi on a fallen tree.

 

 

 

Mama said when they arrived at the Lodge it was around 90F degrees.  Four days later, when they took this hike, it was around 65F degrees, I guess this leaf thought Autumn was on its way!

 

 

Mama says this was the first of two baffling fungi finds! 

Mama couldn't even get their identifications on the interwebs. If anyone knows what this is, please let us know in the comments. For now, we'll call it the mystery fungi #1

 

But wait, there's more that just mushrooms, right Mama??

 

 

 

 Here we have a cute little toad....

 

 

 

...and a pretty moth!

 

 

 

 Which brings us back to mushrooms and Mystery Fungi #2. Not so much the little orange, "eyelash cup" mushrooms surrounding it, but that big blob of fungi growing on the lichen.

Looks like...wellll, what a bear might have left in the woods, BOL!

 

Lastly, we have a pretty orange waxcap mushroom growing in the soggy  remains of a soggy fallen log.

 

 Thanks for joining me for a Virtual Michigan Mushroom hike through Hartwood Pines State Park(aka the Mushroom Capital of the World).

 

Here's wishing everyone a Fungi-Free weekend!!

 

 

 

Show us your nature! It can be flowers, your current weather, a scene out of your window, or maybe a picture from a vacation, walk or other journey! Any kind of nature picture will do! If you don't see a link below, click HERE  to go to our Hoppity Page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Tuesday - Pawrents Michigan Edition - Part Deux

 

 Well of course I am NOT happy Mama...you did NOT TAKE ME....

 

Oh, hello there. Sorry you had to hear my little rant, Mama and I were "discussing" her use of OUR blog for her and Daddy's recent Michigan trip. We were also discussing my payment for this photo shoot and well, let's just say, there better be some chicken involved(then I may be a bit happier)!!

Anyway...let's get this over with as you might remember, Mama and Daddy went to Michigan back in July to see family. While they were there, they took a little ride to the Traverse City area, where Daddy spent most of his teenage years!

 It was a drizzly day, so there aren't too many pictures...but here we have downtown Traverse City. I suppose all of the dinosaurs are gone now(because Daddy was a teenager a LONG time ago,

 BOL).

I know this will come as a surprise to everyone, but Mama actually found a lighthouse in the middle of the country!

 

This is Mission Point Lighthouse, built in 1870 to guide ships through West Grand Traverse Bay(near lake Michigan).

 

It was decommissioned in 1933, but  Mama enjoyed seeing one of the Great Lakes lighthouses, and now wants to do a CeCe trip to see all of the lighthouses along Lake Michigan! 

 

She better take us along!!

 

 

They also made another stop to visit the oldest General Store 

 

 

 Opened in 1839, Old Mission General Store was 

filled with history.

 

 

 Mama enjoyed seeing this Raggedy and Andy sitting in

 a basket with another homemade rag doll.

 

 Although a bit run down, both Mama and Daddy enjoyed walking through the store and seeing all the fun trinkets and antique items they had!

Plus, the owner was a hoot. Mama and Daddy said he told them all kind of stories about his younger days.

 

 

Ok, that wasn't too bad Mama, and you did pay a delicious hosting fee for my services.  I am happy to say you have my permission to do ONE more Michigan post for Nature Friday but let's let Jakey host it, OK??

 I hope you enjoyed the little Traverse City side trip with my narration, stay tuned on Friday when Jacob will be happy to show you more of the nature the pawrents saw when visited Michigan. 

 

 

We are joining Sandee at  Comedy Plus for the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop this week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michigan Nature Friday - Part 1

 

Rosy here on this first Nature Friday of August with the first of a three part series of the nature Mama saw when they visited Michigan last month.

 

 This first part is made up of rest stop views along the ride to visit with Daddy's family.

 

 

 Sometimes I think Mama is as obsessed with Midwestern farms as she is with lighthouses BOL.

 

 Both Mama and Daddy were very impressed with the cleanliness and upkeep of Michigan Rest Areas. In fact, California could learn a BUNCH about rest stop upkeep from Michigan!

 

 When I looked at the pictures of the Michigan rest area flowers on Mama's phone, for a minute I thought they were from Sequoia Gardens! 

 

Just look how cheerful and pretty they are.

 

From the daisies... 

 

...to the pink summer snapdragons...

 

 

 ...and purple snapdragons!

 

 Mama's favorite was the Lantana.

 

 

 Aren't the rainbow colors pretty???

 

 

We are glad you could join us today for some Michigan nature views.  Next week I'll share Mama's

pictures from around the Lodge where she and Daddy(and Daddy's family) visited.

We hope your weekend is filled with beautiful views!!

 

Show us your nature! It can be flowers, your current weather, a scene out of your window, or maybe a picture from a vacation, walk or other journey! Any kind of nature picture will do! If you don't see a link below, click HERE  to go to our Hoppity Page.

 

 

 

 

 

The Pawrent's Travel Tuesday by Rosy

A few weeks ago, Mama and Daddy traveled without us for the first time in a LONG time! We missed them tons but it was nice to spend time with our nannies too.

 

Plus, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder right?? 

 

 

Anyway, I told Mama she could post her pictures here if she would let me share her journey with you all!

(Thanks to my good friend Xena for this idea!)

Mama thought it would be great flying again...but alas,  there were a few delays and she and Daddy had to wear muzzles for the 14 hours they spent traveling each wa. Needless to say they don't think they'll be flying again for awhile....

 

Of course, I'm sure they would have had a better time in the airports if I would have been there.

They flew into Detroit, Michigan and took a nice car ride from the Airport to the Lodge where they were meeting Daddy's family. 

 

I bet it would have been nicer in CeCe with me...

 

But anyway...

 

Along the way North, they stopped in Frankenmuth, a pretty German town and home of the famous Bronner's Christmas store where Mama has always wanted to visit.  

 

Bronner's opened in 1945 and claims to be biggest Christmas store in the world!

 

 

 

 Mama told me they had so many ornaments it would have taken days to see all of them!

 

 

 

 The store wasn't all they had though, there were all kinds of outside decorations too.

 

 

 

 They even have their very own Santa!

 

Arty told me that my Angel Big Brother Bilbo's Best Gal, Angel Sasha used to visit here all the time in the Winter back in "the day".

 

 

Hopefully we can take CeCe back here one day and visit when all the lights are lit

(and I can be there too!!).

 

 

 Now Daddy, when are you going to retire can take us to Michigan in CeCe?? 

 

 

 

 

We are joining Sandee at  Comedy Plus for the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop this week!