The Wind off of the Breaking Ice Covered Lake

In the 70s? In March? In the U.P. and upper Wisco?
Temps like this called a trip to Bayfield. Short sleeves and a playground run were a great way to spend the day with my little family. We walked the pier to get a good look at the Big Lake. Side note (and waht my title illudes to): you need a jacket on the pier. When the wind hits you off of the lake you are "slap in the face" reminded that it is March and ice is still on the water.

I'm not Sure the Beach Should Smell like a Port 'o Potty

I won't go into detail about the smell and I definitely won't share Mike's possible logical explanation (the theory would gross you out a bit), but it did smell strangely like sewage and chemicals at this off the road drive-up beach access.

How I long for every day to be a Bayfield Friday, but those silly gas prices and this whole "having to work to financially survive thing" really breaks into those excursions. If you were in and around our great state of Michigan this weekend and didn't take full advantage of the warm temps and mostly sunny days, then maybe you really do have a strong affection for snow and cold. As for me and my crew, we headed to Bayfield on Friday. Temps. around 60 and sun, sun, sun, sun made a great, true spring day. We stopped at Mike's favorite coffee shop, Big Water, and I had a peach blossom white tea and split a Chocolate Lavender scone with Cindy. Awesome and Fabulous at the same time. A few new books from the bookstore, a new Lole hat, a pocket full of jelly bellys, and a 1/2 hour at the playground is a great day, especially after you leave the mystery smell beach.

Potential for Panic Attack at the Corn Dog Stand

You read right. Panic attack potential near a scalding tub of frying oil.

Our family went to Bayfield for the annual Applefest. Bits and I were amped and eager from the time we woke up 'til the time we finally left.

We arrived, parked super far away, enjoyed the brisk fall walk downhill, and were enveloped into a sea of Applefest party people.

They estimated that 50,000 people attended over the 3 day event last year, I'd estimate that many just for Saturday this year.

We perused a couple shops, gave up $5 to a man selling inflatable batmans out of a shopping cart and waited just short of my 29th birthday at a corn dog stand.

I am realizing, the older I get the less patient I am waiting in lines, and the more I dislike crowds of people. Let's just say, at one point, while in line for a single corn dog, I actually yelled to the vendor to clarify whether I was indeed in line or not.

Before you sense a full sour tone from our day trip, I'd like to express that we indeed enjoyed ourselves, especially when we took a short stroll on one of the docks for the sailboats, and I had a chance to recompose myself.

After eating, corn dogs, caramel apples, regular apples, and fried mini donuts, we trekked uphill, pulling Bits in his wagon, piled back into the Jeep and searched for an orchard that was advertised as having Pumpkin Picking located on Hwy. J. We stopped at two orchards, knowing they were not the place with pumpkins, but hoping they could direct us where to go. End result, we found the pumpkin orchard place ourselves, and bought pumpkins from a table, since no one was really clear on if there was indeed pumpkin picking.

The weather was fantastic, the orchards and drives along the countryside are beautiful, and the food was something you mark your calendars for, although next year, I will have a paper lunch bag in hand, just on the chance that I start hyperventilating, with what is a plethora of apple loving people.