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Dreaming of Summer Up North

January 11, 2015 By Shelley Leave a Comment

Dreaming of Summer

Are You Dreaming of Summer?

I’m a gal who loves to be outdoors almost all year round.

Almost all year…

I think its why January and February are tough months for me.

Cabin fever. Post holiday blues. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Call it what you will, I find myself dreaming of summer as soon as the calendar turns to January.

This year I’m struggling to make some pretty big decisions about the future. So I’m feeling cooped up even more. I (finally) went back through my camera and downloaded our summer time photos to my laptop.

I thought it might help perk me up!

And I also thought y’all might enjoy seeing where we love to spend summer.

Summertime in Northern Michigan

Back before this blog was more of a lifestyle blog, it was my journey of recovering from a serious illness.

I wrote about my love for northern Michigan more than once.

While its equally beautiful in the fall and winter, I have to admit spring and summer are my favorites.

These photos may give you an idea why…

 

Summertime in northern Michigan

My extended family’s love for northern Michigan started when my little Momma’s parents bought a place Up North.

My family including aunts, uncles and cousins all loved heading north to Grandma’s house.

We had fun all year around up there. Not sure how my grandmother kept her sanity, but she genuinely loved having all of us packed in under her roof.

For us, birch trees symbolize “Up North.”

As we  were riding along, we always knew that as soon as we started seeing those beautiful trees along the side of the highway, we were getting close.

I think we all still feel that way.

One of my cousin’s got married  Up North this summer.

For the first time in years, we were all Up North at once and in one location.

It was a fun and fabulous long weekend!

Dreaming of Summer

 Beautiful bride in a beautiful location…

Summertime in northern Michigan

And how cute are these two – the ring bearer (another  cousin’s little guy!) and flower girl…

Summertime in northern Michigan

Dreaming of Summer

 

Two summers ago this oh so sweet dog just appeared next to me on the beach.

He nudged my hand with his nose and I fell in love.

I wanted to keep him!

Unfortunately for us, he already had a family that loved him.

They were renting the house across the street from us for a few weeks.

Summertime in northern Michigan

The flowers and fauna are indescribably beautiful Up North.

Hostas get to be as big as Volkswagens by summer’s end.

And don’t even get me started on the phlox and geraniums!

Summertime in Northern Michigan

Summertime in northern Michigan

 

See what I mean about the flowers and fauna?

They just love that breeze off the bay!

Petoskey in the Summer

Summer in northern Michigan

Sweet peas grow wild everywhere!

Summer up north

I love an interesting entrance to a secret garden…

Summertime in northern Michigan

Beauty with a touch of whimsy! It’s my favorite way to put together a garden.

Summertime in northern Michigan

Summertime in northern Michigan

Hi, Mom!

I think she was heading out for a walk…

Summertime in Bay View

Like a lot of folks who live in the South do, painting the porch ceiling blue is something a lot of people do Up North.

I’ve adopted it at our our real house too and love that it reminds of both my northern and southern roots every time I look up!

Summer up north

Summer up north

My poor sister broke her ankle on a rafting trip in a big, bad way last summer.

Tendons, ligaments, bones… you name it she mugged it up.

She was forced to keep it wrapped up in a soft cast and propped up for quite a long time.

While we were out ramming around, she was stuck at home.

When I was looking through photos, you see her tucked away reading a book in many of them.

Even at sunset.

At least she had a good view!

Summer Up North

Summer time up north

 

In all the years we’ve  been looking, we’ve never found the elusive “Petoskey Stone.”

Looking for the Petoskey Stone

Down to the beach…

Summertime in northern Michigan

Summertime in northern Michigan

 

Little Traverse Bay Slowing Down for the Night

Love this cool shot of the moon over the houses I happened to capture one day!

Moon in the Day

Summertime in northern Michigan

One little sailboat heading back in to the bay from Lake Michigan…

Summertime in Northern Michigan

The sun setting over the top of the boat house…

Summer in northern Michigan

Summertime in northern Michigan….

No place like it!

Sunset on Little Traverse Bay

Sunset on Little Traverse Bay

Where is your favorite place to spend the lazy days of summer?

XO

Shelley

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Hi there, I’m Shelley!

The Meaning Behind Roots North and South This blog reflects my love of the "North" and all things "Great Lakes" that comes from my dear little Mother's side of the family. It also pays tribute to all ... [ Read More ]

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