Blogs

Moonlighting by Judy Cools: Painting

August 10, 2012
Moonlighting by Judy Cools: Painting

A couple of months ago, after thinking about it for a year, I painted my office at work. I’ve been there a dozen years and for all that time have been looking at institutional gray-beige walls. This was a sanctioned effort, although I’ll admit that I chose the color without supervision. The Friday afternoon came, and I toted all the…

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Quiet and nearby- Oceana’s Black Lake

July 26, 2012
Quiet and nearby- Oceana’s Black Lake

Black Lake in Oceana County is an inland lake of 26 acres located north of Walkerville on 176th Ave. Oceana County operates a small campground there, and day use is always allowed, free. There are 11 electric and 3 non-electric campsites, but you want to be sure to reserve early, because the sites fill quickly. Many campers rent by the…

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Updating the bucket list

July 18, 2012
Updating the bucket list

Several months ago, I made a “bucket list” for my thirties. In defense of those already 40 and over, it is not that I liken turning 40 to death – or even that I mind my own aging. Based on average life expectancy, 40 is about the half way point for me. In my twenties, there were a lot of…

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Raspberries

July 18, 2012
Raspberries

Early harvest this year, but to my absolute delight, the raspberries are ready. These are no ordinary raspberries. There was a scraggly little wild bush which appeared on our property in Manistee many years ago. It had the sweetest, most amazing black raspberries you’d ever want to meet. Most people call these blackberries, but blackberries are another thing altogether. Blackberries…

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Alcoa-Howmet Provides Family Fun in Whitehall

July 15, 2012
Alcoa-Howmet Provides Family Fun in Whitehall

  At the southern end of the Hart-Montague Rail Trail is a section which passes near the Alcoa-Howmet casting plant. Recent improvements by Alcoa create some great opportunities for kids. For one thing, the trail passes through the Alcoa-Howmet Woodland Garden. Many sections of the trail in Montague and Whitehall have been adopted and the plant material has been improved…

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