these are the things i'm looking forward to doing:

ama motorcycle races on ice

*** we went to the ice races on saturday, pretty crazy -- the wheels are all studded, but they still get wiggling a lot on fast, tight curves -- it was fun to be there, i just wish there were more racers and a better view ***

frankfort lighthouse (this includes an hour coastal drive and the closest thai restaurant!)

northport lighthouse, fishtown,  and sleeping bear dunes (probably in spring)

here are the 2 lighthouses we've been to... the first is a few minutes from where we live and the second is a few minutes from the farmhouse and our old cottage

a few months ago we decided to leave california..
1. we hated commuting to work
2. we didn't have time to enjoy the awesome weather
3. it costs a lot
4. it's crowded

what my daily commute was like (on a good day)

we had awesome jobs, a dream house, and had made great friends..
we've traded beautiful weather for more time.
we've moved to a place that has 3 downtown stoplights & a population of 8000.

since we've been here we have seen dunes, beaches, lakes, forests, wild turkey, deer, a bald eagle, elk, a maple syrup farm, 2 lighthouses and some amish in a buggy

and some days we heat our house with a real fire

We went to Hawaii @the end of August and loved it..

Because it's almost Halloween, here's a spooky picture of Hawaii & a dreamy one



 Here a few things we discovered...
1.  We REALLY needed a vacation
2.  It's really just as wonderful as everyone says it is
3.  (how is this still the U.S.?)
4.  We can't wait to go back..

we stayed just outside of lahaina at this little condo resort with 2 awesome pools.  $100/nt. VRBO.com totally awesome.



we ate some great food and soaked up the sun.. went to a luau, a submarine trip, snorkeling, surfing lessons, road to hana, and spent a few good days doing nothing.. a perfect vacation


hiked to a few waterfalls, swam in a few. went through a bamboo forest, saw some amazing coastlines

(amazing coastline, from road to hana)


hiking @ haleakala national park on the way to an enormous waterfall


maui blow hole.. on our way to eat the best pineapple on earth.