Holland State Park ~ 1/2/14

It was my day off today, and Roy & I decided to see what the lakeshore looked like in Holland.  Just for the record, the temperature was 12 degrees F with the wind chill factor bringing it down to -4 degrees F. It was stark and sparsely populated.

These crazy people walked out on the ice-covered jetty, slipping and sliding as they went.

Ice was flowing over the edge and an ice fence had formed.

The other jetty was uninhabited, just visited by gulls and ducks.

The no wake zone regulation is still in effect :-),

and the lighthouse is always beautiful in winter.

This "house" on the shore is unbelievable and reeks of excess,

but that's just me.You Michiganders know of whom I speak.

  Here's to the beauty of Lake Michigan and its shore.

Happy New Year!

The years roll on, faster and faster. Our New Year's Eve festivities for the last few years have ended before midnight. It's just another night after all, albeit one that connects everyone in the world, just separated by time zones.

Earlier years found us gathering at someone's home after dinner out to wait for midnight. Last year some of us went to a movie after dinner, just to stay up, and the rest of us went home. This year, we were all home by 9pm. Two and a half hours with friends over dinner was great but enough for one night. Yeah, we're older, but wiser :-)

This year was our first gathering at Schnitz Ada Grill and it was a welcome change from Flat River Grill in Lowell with its porch plastic wall enclosure and heat lamps.

One main lesson Roy and I have garnered as we've aged is to not feel obligated to celebrate as Hallmark or "tradition" dictates. We learned that lesson many years ago regarding Christmas and now enjoy a stress-free holiday season. The money we spent on each other is now donated to charity, and we make a point of getting together with friends and family but not necessarily on dictated dates.

Christmas Day was spent with Roy, Matt, and Rachael at a movie and a wonderful Japanese dinner.

  

We also enjoyed a post-Christmas dinner with Marilyn & Dave at Vitale's,

a dinner with Ed & Joan at the Winchester, and are looking forward

to a Friday night get-together with Rob & Deb:

(photo added 1/3/14)

The best thing about the holiday season for us is doing what we want to (and can) do and not doing what people expect/demand that we do. Seeing family and friends on your own terms during the holidays is a wonderful thing. Christmas decorations? All three of them put away.

Cheers to 2014!