Tahquamenon Falls

Last week my husband and I went up to the U. P. and camped at Tahquamenon Falls. There's a State Park there and they keep a few campsites plowed open for winter camping. Not surprising we were the only ones there, we loved that. The really sad part is they are 60 inches below normal in snowfall! Not good, global warming.

We did a lot of snowshoeing through the woods, it was very cold but beautiful. Without my hood on I would get a instant "ice cream" headache.

From the campground there's a 2 1/2 mile (round trip) hike down to the lower falls. It's hard to believe the falls can freeze but over half is frozen and so is the river they run into.

This beautiful poem is posted along the hike. How can you not love trees.

My husband on the viewing deck above the falls.

At night at the upper falls the State park has a gas lantern lit trail through the woods. It's about a mile. You felt like you were in a Snow White and the Seven Dwarf's story.

It leads past the upper falls which are much larger than the lower.

And back to a camp fire and refreshments.

My husband and I took it twice, once at dusk and once in the dark when the lanterns were lighting your way.

Back in our R.V., this is our queen size bed. I made this flannel quilt about 13 years ago. I made different quilts for what ever type of trip were on. This is my "official" winter snowshoeing quilt.

Close up of fabric, these were hand screen printed at Michigan Rag Co. I sewed vintage black buttons on in all the corners.

And our little gourmet dinner, Apricot glazed Cornish hens, herbed rice, green beans and a little Winter White wine. I put the chicken in the oven while we went out snowshoeing and come home to a wonderful dinner. This is the recipe if you interested:
1 cup apricot preserves
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup "I can't believe it's not butter"
little salt and pepper. Mix together and pour in and over the chicken. Roast breast side up.
Roast 1 hour and 350 degrees. Mime took longer because their squashed together in the pan.

I did a lot of sewing at night. I have this block all sewed on and ready for the names and dates.

Stitched together the next section of my other wool quilt.

Two sections done with many more to come. I can not wait until spring to come to dye/print more leaves.


The following is a wonderful blog by Barbara Brackman, she is a well know textile/quilt historian. This year is the sesquisentennail of the Civil war and Barbara's blog focuses on a historic block every week representing something from the Civil war. Even if you don't make the block there is a great history lesson with it. http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/