Category: Holidays

Harvey, Lindsey and I traveled to Williams Christmas Tree Farm on the outskirts of Traverse City in search of our tree. After bundling up in our warmest winter jackets, mittens and hats, we trekked nearly 200 yards up and around the snow-covered hill between the parking lot and field of Fraser fir trees. I brought two saws, looking to send a signal to the tree gods that I wasn’t messing around. That we needed a tree before our son’s feet turned purple. And quickly did we find the perfect tree with a wide base, full stature, soft needles, and slender top. It was there. The second tree we saw. I shook it free from snow. We circled it, and, with the untrained eye of cold people with a young underdressed child missing a sock, we made our decision. I lay saw tooth to trunk. Forty-seven mighty cuts later, I had felled the eight footer and we stood above it proud of our selection. I dragged it to the car and with my gloved hands heaved it atop my Explorer. Forgoing all but the thinnest of ropes, I grasped it in place while whisking away to The Double Dogleg. The rest is history, and the final result is depicted below. May the merry month of December begin, remain, and invade each of our hearts with the long-anticipated season’s joy.

Here’s to looking ahead to the 2014 Masters Tournament on 11/12/13. Too bad there is already snow on the ground here at The Double Dogleg, or we could go out and play a few holes to commemorate such a momentous date.

We took Harvey downtown for the Halloween children’s walk and then went to the Halloween party at the TCGCC. It was a blast, but it sure tuckered out our little pup.

For dad’s birthday, dad, Katy, Taylor, me and Bob and Mary Ann participated in Floatilla 2 in Suttons Bay, MI. Lindsey, Harvey, and mom were the “support crew!” :-)

The group of 2099 kayaks and canoes set the wourld record for largest float (connected) of kayaks. The weather was beautiful. Happy Birthday, Dad!

We had dinner at the Old Mission Tavern for Katy’s birthday this evening, and then went to mom and dad’s for funfetti cupcakes and gifts.

Every year, for as long as I can remember back to when I was too young to remember, our close family friends, Ernie, Bonnie, Katie, and John Cadotte, have visited Traverse City for about six weeks in the summer. Ernie and dad were fraternity brothers at FIJI at Michigan State University and his family has a house on Old Mission Peninsula.

We meet up with them and the Wilsons each year – previously for putt-putt golf and pizza, bur more recently for poker, chip-dip, and beach-ball volleyball. We saw them on the Fourth of July this year, and had fun hanging around the campfire watching their neighbors light fireworks that rivals the big-boy ones down the bay.

Ernie has introduced beach-ball volleyball to us in the past couple years, which is far easier than actual volleyball. The beach ball ads an element of surprise to the game, as its flight is unpredictable. Plus, it brings in all ability levels and allows us to play in a smaller space.