Photo Tricks

Hi!

It's snowing!

I think Winter heard me talking smack because we just got a snowstorm and another one is on the way. Haha! 

I had to get my snowblower out of hibernation!

It feels nice. It's only February.

It's February 22nd! Shout out to my mom! Mary Wais is 70 years old today! Happy Birthday, Mom! Thanks for all you do.

She is quite the woman.

Okay back to business.

On Friday the Copper Harbor school took a field trip to Mont Ripley ski hill. I went there last year with the kids and had B try snowboarding for the first time. 

I had so much fun with him last year that I bought him a snowboard setup: board, boots and bindings in hopes that we would get out, and I could teach him.

Mind you, this is the first thing I have really pushed on him that he did not already express interest in. Because, really, if he doesn't want to do something, he's not going to. That's why I nurture his interests instead.

But snowboarding is one of my interests. That's why I moved up here 17 years ago. To snowboard at Mount Bohemia!

To think that I might have a little shredder was really exciting to me. 

I was stoked to have him try his new gear on Friday. It was even a beautiful sunny day (cuz it was still Inter). Well, I made the mistake of parking us by the T-Bar lift. 

Why was that a mistake?

Because it mesmerizes him.

Like the waves on Lake Superior.

He can sit there and watch it all day. All day! I am not exaggerating! I got him on his board two or three times to slide down the beginner area with me. And he was doing really well!

But I think he was tired and preferred to be entertained.

The T-Bar did the trick. The rest of the time, he watched people go up, and to his credit, he was a charmer. He waved to them as they went by, and some of them loved that he was there. It was pretty cute.

Plus, he did his body spasm each time the bar passed under the lift pole, so I knew he was engaged. He watched it sitting up. He watched it laying down. He watched it while doing little spin moves in the snow.

That was great, but I was bored.

So I went up the T-Bar a couple times, so he could wave as I went by. Then I rode down to him from a little farther up. I hoped it would inspire him to ride, and it did once, but then he was over it.

Here is something I think is funny.

I snapped this picture of him. He was just doing his favorite activity, so I captured it.

T-Bar squatter

Then, when I couldn't take it anymore, I passed the baton to his teacher, and she watched him for a bit while I took some real runs with this super hunky ski patrol guy (aka, my sweet Esa). Ha!

His teacher took this picture of him.

Photo credit Miss Jill

Way to go, Miss Jill! She is so good at making him get a move on and making memories. 

I love that picture. It gives me hope.

And that shot makes it look like he was king of the hill that day. If I would have posted that on social media with no caption, people would think I had a little shredder.

But it would have been a trick. Ha!

Because I have a little T-Bar watcher.

And that's okay.

Because at least he's comfortable being himself.

Speaking of... guess who's the star of yesterday's podcast episode? 

Brady P! 

If you have me in your podcast app, it's in the queue. If you don't have an app, click here to find the audio file at the bottom. "Brady P. & Mama: On a Mission" is the title.

I might recommend you have a tissue handy. It's a real tearjerker. I cried twice while recording it! 

But hey, that's life.

And I am grateful to life it.

Take care, and be good to yourself!

Inter

Okay.

I'm going to be straight with you.

It really hasn't been Winter here.

It's been more like Inter.

No "W" earned.

The temps and conditions linger between Winter and Spring. Sometimes Winter gives it a try, but then Spring takes over and starts to melt the snow white progress.

I have lived here for 17 years, and I have never seen an Inter like this. It's just... odd.

Now you know.

We do have enough snow to do wintery things, though. If you find the right spots. Lake Fanny Hooe, Medora and Manganese are frozen over and covered in snow. 

But... it rained yesterday. Oy!

It has been pleasant overall. I mean, the sunny days are nothing short of majestic! And I'm so grateful to see the waves on Her Majesty pretty much every single day since... last Spring.

It's different, but that's okay. Every time we have an expectation, it's grounds for disappointment. 

I try not to have expectations. Standards and goals, yes, but to put expectations on other things and people (like the weather or your kid) is really not fair to them. 

We can't control everything.

Just being honest. That's really all I can be. It sure makes life easier!

Here's a pic from our latest sunny day on the beach. B actually found rocks to throw! He was thrilled.

I mean, it is that kind of Inter.

My little Sun Beam

Okay, and now I have one more piece of exciting news for you. If you listened to my intro podcast episode, you already had a hint. But now...

... are you ready???

I am halfway through writing my next book!!!

Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!

I just can't help myself! Yesterday I wrote almost 3,000 words by creating two chapters. I'm writing chapter 21 right now.

My heart just swells when I get time to write. This book is pouring out of me, and my fingers need to keep up!

What's it about?

Great question!

Well, it's my first full-length work of fiction, and I can't believe I didn't start writing fiction sooner. The characters I created are just wonderful and full of surprises -- even to me!

This book is about the human condition. Everybody has struggles, and I created ten main characters (I know, ten is a lot, but I am keeping them accounted for.) who are working through their feelings as life progresses.

Most of the story takes place in a community garden where the characters meet as plot owners and often feel compelled to bare their soul to each other... sometimes accidentally.

This book seems so real. And funny. And sad. And sweet. And... all the things you would hope for! Plus, it's conveying many of the messages I feel are critical for people to understand in order to (you know it) help make the world a better place and reconnect humanity.

At this rate, it will be done before the end of the year. Keep your fingers crossed for me that nothing gets in the way of this writing train.

Chooo chooo!!!

So Much Excitement!!!

Hello!!!

I have so many exciting things to tell you, but I can't say them all at once, so here is the latest.

This blog just reached 100,000 all time views! Wow! Thanks for always coming back to this free blog! I am honored at the feedback I get. That's why I keep doing it!

If you would like to support this blog, you can scroll down to the  blue tip cup right here and tip $5.00. It's easy, and it tells me that what I'm doing is worth everyone's time. 

If you choose to support, thank you so much!

The ice on the harbor has been in and out. In during the really cold times, then out with the wind, then back again then out again with the... warmer temps.

I was in Houghton today, and 40 degrees F with sun and no wind felt like summer! No jacket needed! Ha!

Here is a picture from last night's moonrise over Bete Gris from my friend the Pedalpixie. She was listening to my podcast while she watched it.

Bete Gris Moonrise

Then this morning, after I got little man to school, I hoofed it over to the west end of Lake Fanny Hooe for some sunrise action because... the sun is rising just after 8am now! It's wonderful to see some color in the sky!

Fanny Hooe sunrise

And when I turned around, there was that moon again. My dear friend Dr. Vye told me we're in the Snow Moon phase. She is so good at keeping me up to date on the moon. It's always a pleasure when we can actually see it!

Morning Snow Moon

Okay, so I won't tell you everything this time, but just one more. 

I had a GREAT interview with the Virtual Yooper for my first real podcast episode. If you don't have an app to load the podcasts on, you can visit my CHV site, scroll to the bottom and click on all the episodes as they air! 

The first and third Tuesday of each month, baby! 

We are still working on the feed, so thanks for your patience, if that's your jam. It's an integral part, I know!

It's been a long day and I need to make supper for a cute little boy, so I'll see you next week! Xoxoxo!

Morning Gem

Do you remember what it was like getting up early for school when you were a kid?

It was tortuously early and often still dark. Kind of a cruel trick, if you ask me. But here we go again.

Brady P does not like to get up for school. He wants to lay in his bed until breakfast is ready. It takes a great amount of coaxing to make him pee in the potty and get dressed. 

The most common words I hear on school mornings are: "No!" "Go away!" and "Just one more minute!" 

Ugh.

Luckily, he is a big fan of walking/running to school, so he will at least get out the door when we're ready.

Every victory counts.

On the weekends, it's a different story.

No alarms for either one of us. Another victory!

He wakes up with the light of day, gets out of bed, closes his door, closes the bathroom door and jumps into bed with me.

On those mornings, he is an absolute gem. So much that I had to write about it.

"Good morning!" he chirps as he climbs over me and rolls into his spot.

"Mummy! I had a dream last night!"

"Oh! What was your dream?" I ask.

Then he tells me his dream. It usually involves playing animals with his Grammy Linda and cousin Lauren, but he adds variations.

Then he asks, "What's your dream?"

You know, I dreamt, but I usually either can't remember or don't think it's appropriate to share. I'm just honest with him about that. He is disappointed, but he gets over it quickly.

Haha. Even when I remember my dreams, he is never too interested.

But there we are. Lying face to face. His adorable little cheeks are rosy and his smile is so bright.

He kisses my lips.

"I love you, Mum."

"Aww, I love you too, Dovie."

"I love you sooooooo much forever and ever."

"Oh, Honey, you are the sweetest!"

"You are the sweetest!" he says.

Then we snuggle closer and stare into each other's eyes. My heart fills with love, magic and gratitude. 

Wide eyes staring

I thank him everyday for coming into my life. I know he is the best gift I could have received in this lifetime, and being his mother is my greatest honor.

It can be difficult at times, but I wouldn't trade it.