Living Michigan Family: Sharing Our Love of Michigan!

If you want the best kept secret in town, and you love geeks, you NEED to find your way to the Dorr Township Library.  It is so much more than a place for books and reading.  It is classes, people, activities, events, and yes-- still has all the great things libraries are supposed to have-- such as books, video game rentals, and more. On Saturday, July 30th, 2016, the Dorr Library Staff threw an awesome mini-comicon!  The entire staff was dressed in multiple fandoms including X-Men (GAMBIT!), Pokemon, Harry Potter (GO Gryffindor!!!!), Superman, Steam Punk, old school She-ra, and more!  There were even cardboard cutouts of the Tardis, Frozen, and Captain America... Hopping on the "Pokemon Go" craze, their staff has created a great place to participate and do some poke-hunting!  They are very knowledgeable and very helpful!  There is a Poke-stop at the library for anyone interested. This year had 2 featured guests, some were characters from the screen ...

Music is an important part of children's exploration of their space and bodies. Fact #1:  Kids don't care how "well" you think you sing.  It doesn't matter if you can't even carry a tune in a bucket, sing! Sing to them and sing with them. Fact #2: Doesn't matter if it is a "popular" song (aka, something that you really love from the radio, etc.) or if it is one of the basic baby songs (like You Are My Sunshine ), they all have beats, and rhythm and rhyming that you can utilize. Fact #3: Use what you have! In the picture, we happen to have a set of xylophone boom whackers , as I am a teacher and got these for my classroom.  We also love to use spoons, pans, plastic buckets, toilet paper tubes, pool noodles, and so much more.  Your imagination is the limit. Fact #4:  You can start from birth on. Babies love sounds and movement! Fact #5:  Don't be afraid to be silly! The most important thing about making music and celebrating music ...

After much research, we found a new place to buy our Turkey from this year: Bob's Butcher Block here in West Michigan. We have never had a fresh, never frozen turkey, so this should be quite special. You can do this with a frozen turkey, just make sure you take it out a week or so in advance to make sure it is fully thawed!!!! With frozen turkeys, you are never supposed to wet brine, supposedly, because they are already injected with water and "flavor" and can't absorb anymore.  However, with fresh, it is possible to do a wet brine.  However, with even more research, finding the container to do a wet brine in, and then a fridge big enough for a 5+ gallon size container to store the bird in overnight was just NOT an option for our space constraints. So-- we decided to do a dry brine-- or a dry rub. The day before, we carefully took the turkey out of the bag. We were careful to save the juice in the bag so that we can utilize that for gravy. 1.) Assemble all o...

SLIP AND SLIDE! ANNUAL FAMILY FUN IN MID-JUNE! (For event info, please check out the website: http://www.saturdayslipnslide.com/) This community event is one in which the whole town, all ages, can come out and have a great time. Food vendors (nicely priced), activities, the slip and slide, and raffle are all set up for the day! We started off the day with checking in and buying the $1 wristband to go down the Slip and Slide.  The line was fairly long, but went really fast, so do not let that deter you.  Usually, Charlie's Dump is set up to be a Frisbee golf course around the edges.  Unfortunately, the police didn't shut that down this year. So, after a really bad golfer hit me in the neck, very hard, with that heavy frisby, by neck got very swollen and I had to go to the med tent. I was dizzy and didn't feel good. I told them what happened, and the police shut down the Frisbee golf.  I got to learn first hand that you don't want to be hit with those, and...

It is a cold, beautiful time here in West Michigan!  One of those types of days that makes you want something hot from the oven! We started the meal about 2 hours before sit-down time.  We purchased a beautiful meat from Costco. What: Pork Sirloin Tip Roast Cook Temp:  325 degrees F Cook Time:  1 hour 40 minutes Pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees F. I start off by cutting the end of the package of meat and draining the juice.  Once drained, place in a non-stick foil lined pan.  I have found the Non-Stick foil to be a huge key to making this really perfect. Get out your seasonings, next.  I start off with a dry-rub of Italian Herbs (in a grinder), Garlic Sea Salt (grinder), salt, Kirkland brand Organic no-salt seasoning, salt-free garlic and herb, and the a basil and garlic mix, lastly, brown sugar!  If you want to do this without touching it much, than put the sirloin top-down on the pan and season the bottom first.  Do all o...

What:  West Michigan Pet Expo (Largest in Michigan!) When:  This weekend;  April 13th and 14th, 2013. Time:  SUNDAY:  11am to 5pm Where:  Delta Plex, Grand Rapids, MI. Cost:  $8 per adult  (or $6 if you buy at Pet Supplies Plus store!), kids $5 (or $3 if purchased at store). Event Website:   http://www.westmichiganstar.com/common/pet-expo/ **NOTE:  If you buy your ticket at a West Michigan "Pet Supplies Plus" store, you save $2 per ticket (& get a $5 coupon for use at Pet Supplies Plus!).** There are 2 HUGE sections in addition to the "arena" area where they do the presentations and demonstrations!  One section is devoted to adoptions, and another whole section is full of vendors and other great groups!! What a fun day!  There were so many WONDERFUL animal groups and vendors here today I cannot even begin to name them but will give a shout-out to some of my faves: Crash's Landing cat placement group locate...

Where:  20 W. 8th Street, Holland, MI,  49423.  (616)392.5888   http://www.8thstreetgrille.com/ Cost:  High.  For 2 of us to eat out, getting a water, pop, 1 appetizer, 2 meals, and 2 desserts it was over $50 (before discount)...  (See any coupons available here:   http://www.8thstreetgrille.com/coupons.htm  or www.restaurant.com .) This is a classy, cozy little gourmet restaurant in the Heart of downtown Holland, Michigan, on 8th Street.  It has the feel of a small-town restaurant where it feels like upscale comfort.  Living in Holland, we can tell you that this place is always packed-- regardless of the high price tag.  This means two things:  Great food and wonderful service.  That is exactly what we received.  Even though it was a packed house when we went (as it always is), the server was polite, friendly, and seemed happy to be waiting on us.  If you want high quality food, and a real dining experie...