Holidays in the Hills

The IRISH HILLS is an area in Southern Lower Michigan once settled by the Irish during the potato famine. It is an area of quaint towns, sparkling lakes, and scenic drives. This coming weekend December 6-8, is the second annual "HOLIDAYS IN THE HILLS". Hidden Lake Garden's Holiday Festival and EVENING OF LIGHTS is back this year. 2,000 luminaries light the Gardens and there is music, crafts, and refreshments.="www.hiddenlakegardens. msu.edu">. Cherry Creek Old Schoolhouse Winery will be holding their Christmas Open House Saturday 11:00-5:30 and Sunday 12:00-5:00. Another event is Michigan International Speedway's charity track drive. Donate a food item or a new unwrapped toy and take a lap around the track in your own vehicle for more information. And Oh!These Irish Hills is holding their Christmas Gala. This event is a showcase of holiday trees and decorations with a silent auction, door prizes, a choir concert, and holiday dancers, and of course-refreshments! It will be held at the Ol'Golden Nugget on US 12Friday Dec 6th-4-8, Sat 1-8, and Sun 1-4. For more information visit

THANKSGIVUKKAH

Yes, this is really a word, and it has been many years since Thanksgiving and Hanukkah fell on the same day. Hanukkah is an 8 day celebration and it is the first day that falls on Thanksgiving this year. Sources say it last happened in 1888 and won't happen again until 2070. According to an article in the Detroit Free Press, most Jewish families are not upset by this;in fact just the opposite. One family is quoted as saying "having the family together for both holidays is a plus". A Rabbi from Farmington Hills says "this a 2-for-1 holiday". As for the food , one way to combine the holidays is with sweet potato latkes. Anyway, I wish you all a happy turkey and latke day!

THEY'RE Still Here!

This morning 4 Sandhill Cranes are on our lawn! Don't they know they're supposed to go South? And the biggest one(the elder) was doing a dance-flapping his wings and jumping around. I know they do that during mating season, but now? We thought maybe he was teaching the young ones something. If you would like to learn more about the cranes-these wonderful prehistoric birds visit: www.haehnlesanctuary.org.

OCTOBRRRRRRRR

OCTOBER,--- it has been a sunny, warm month, but that is over! Are you ready? We covered the tomatoes and the flowers last night and the thermometer says 28. Oh well, enough of the weather report. There were several HAPPENINGS in October. The Fall color tours-both by bus and train were the biggies. The festivals-Appleumpkin in Tecumseh,Brooklyn's Pumpkin Quest, and Hidden lake Gardens Fall festival. www.visitlenawee.com The wineries are still open www.pioneerwinetrail.com, and southern michigan railroad is still doing color tours this weekend. Halloween is coming up-the last October Happening-got your pumpkins?

Welcome Fall

Summer is over-we know that by the absence of lake traffic. August was a busy month-NASCAR, Wine Days of Summer www.pioneerwinetrail.com, The Civil War Muster in Jackson, and of course, The Ann Arbor Antiques Market. That continues for the next several months www.visitAnnArbor.org. Now, thoughts turn to Fall Festivals. Clinton Fall Festival is a good one www.clintonfallfestival.com. The Sandhill Crane Migration happens this time of year too www.haehnlesanctuary.org. And, by the way, who saw the blue moon August 20Technically, a Blue Moon is the third full moon in a four-full-moon season. The next Blue Moon isn't to occur until 2015.