I have to admit, even though I don't want to, this winter darkness has not had as much of a detrimental effect on my mental state as in other years. At least it doesn't seem so. But winter isn't over. There is another hype-filled round of snowpocalyptic prognostications beginning to fill the air, even as …
Continue reading Model Railroad Scenery, Coffee, Earl Klugh, and a Sunlight Therapy Lamp
I didn't like the title "Therapy Thoughts," so, it's gone forever. What is your hot coffee? It took many years for me to realize not everyone loves coffee. Some people, perish the thought, don't even like the smell of coffee! While others like the smell but don't like the taste. But, those of us who …
I was a janitor while I was in high school. Every Wednesday after school and Saturday mornings I had to clean an office. I emptied the trash, cleaned the bathrooms, swept and mopped the floors. As jobs go, it wasn't difficult, and it did have some perks. I had my own mop bucket with one …
Continue reading Growing Up Lapeer: Sweeney’s Bakery and the Metamora Landfill
Another Founders' Day celebration has come and gone. Except for a few minor problems including a bunch of chickens escaping from a farm float during the parade and running through the streets of Maple Valley, it was a great success. The special guest band for the main event was Hank Rider and the Saddlehorns. It's …
Continue reading Scandal at Maple Valley – Episode 28: Hank Rider and the Saddlehorns
It's a rite of summer on the tip of the thumb. Everyone in this area knows about the Pt. Austin Farmer's Market, open every Saturday during summer. The market is a shopper's delight. Scores of tents sit side by side in several sections. Each one is filled with items for sale. Most offer homemade goodies …
It's always beautiful in Holly, no matter the weather. But when it's sunny and 72 degrees like it was today, that's hard to beat! Holly, Michigan is the home of Altered Designs, our favorite place to shop in town. Many people who visit Altered Designs comment on how friendly everyone is. All guests are greeted …
I'm convinced coffee is as much feeling as it is taste. Coffee is an experience. Some coffee experiences are better than others. I can't remember having a cup of coffee that was so bad I couldn't drink it. There have been lots of cups that were less than hot, making the coffee more difficult to …
I really didn't think it was possible. Honestly. Finding a peppermint mocha, which I absolutely love, that is better than the ones I have so thoroughly enjoyed from Starbucks, was inconceivable. I don't have any idea how many peppermint mochas I've happily sipped since I first tried one. Many Christmases have inspired me to buy …
For the last few months, I have enjoyed the delightful task of driving my wife to Frankenmuth, Michigan so she can meet with the student teacher she supervises. I always said the best job would be driving places and not having to do anything when I get there. I have arrived. It's only right that …
Continue reading The Harvest Coffeehouse in Frankenmuth, Michigan
In Caseville, Michigan, there is a shop that is the place to go when you’re in town. Caseville is a popular vacation spot drawing people from all over the Midwest for camping, boating, fishing, swimming and doing all the other things that define a great summer. Just like many other lakeside towns, Caseville has a …
A Coffee State of Mind 