Life Lately | October 2023

Dang it - I am not ready for October and spooky season and all these good Fall vibes to be over. I was just getting into it! I am hopeful it will continue into November, minus the spooky part, but the snow that came down last night looks like it's here to stay. 

Can I just tell you that I always - always! - forget how much I love October. Like, it's a top three month, for sure, but I get so wrapped up in wishing summer would stay and so it's like a happy surprise every year. 

Anyway, it's largely just been business as usual over here. I crashed my sister's anniversary trip to Mac Island the first weekend, and then just rode through the month with that boundary crossing energy. 

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Let's start with that, actually. My sister had told me for a week about her intended trip to Mac Island to celebrate her 11 year anniversary with my brother in law. That Friday evening, I was surprised to learn their children were with them, so I (with a buzz) offered to meet them and take their kids home with me. I thought it was a slam-dunk because A.) I would be doing a good deed and B.) honestly, three kids playing together is easier to take care of than one who wants my attention constantly. 

Ryan was concerned that the next morning, I would not feel quite so inclined to scoop up the kiddos, but I was! Rarely do I make decisions I'm excited about on Friday evenings, but every once in a while, I guess!

I spent the day on the island with them and then took their girls back to my place for the evening, and you know, I was right. Those kiddos kept each other busy and I just supplied the macaroni and cheese. 

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The following weekend, I met up with Ryan's sisters to take the chair lift at Crystal Mountain. The colors were dang near peak and it was surprisingly not busy. We did a few laps and got our $15 worth, I'd say. 

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Ryan ventured to Colorado to buy a car, so upon his arrival home, we went for a little test drive slash color tour drive up 22. Pit stop at the beach!

And stopped at the Cabbage Shed for my favorite fish tacos before they shut down for the season. 

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The best part of October comes at the end and we dragged out Halloween all week. I took Duke down to Manistee for some downtown trick-or-treating over the weekend, and then we headed out on Tuesday of course. We had some family in town, so our trick-or-treater was accompanied by several adults reliving their children and/or parenting years. 

Got our first snow as we were traipsing around, too! 

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Other nice things - 

A coffee / hot cocoa break in this cute, minimally festive coffee shop. 

I was made for summer. My home was made for cold weather. It just looks nice in cozy season, no? Duke is dead terrified of The Nightmare Before Christmas, so this movie was on for roughly 10 minutes. 

This view of Manistee. I'm ashamed, I had no idea. Every time I drive through, I think hmm, Manistee seems nice. I decided to make the quick trip for trick-or-treating spontaneously and loved walking through downtown. It's very nice! Ryan met us for lunch after an estate sale he was at just down the road ended. Felt serendipitous, you know? 

Not sure what Ryan and Duke were up to here, but I'm sure Duke didn't have to be talked into it. 

Haha, I support this firm stand. I hate pumpkin spice. 

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I think that just about does it! October was wonderful. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but I feel really good about November, too. 

I think there are two kinds of people (well three, I'll get to that) and they are the people who go ham for Christmas the minute Halloween is over, or the people who staunchly wait for Thanksgiving to pass. And then here's the serial killers who had their tree up last month. 

I'll wait for Thanksgiving, but I do usually get my tree up with lights only the week of. We'll decorate after the holiday. This year, I took the entire week of Thanksgiving off and I am SO excited. I'm working on a to-do list of house chores I'd like to take care of because Duke will still be in school for a couple of those days. Like I said, November is looking good. 

Happy November guys!