At the Malloy Cottage

After spending two evenings in Detroit we quickly left for the North Country, the Lake Michigan shore along Grand Traverse Bay. It felt more to me like home than Birmingham does these days and it was good to get out into the woody country. We piled into the Sportsmobile attack unit and rattled and shook our way up I-75 arriving at the cottage near dark. At first glance I noticed the diversity of tree species, pines, firs and cedar all clustered around the "yard".

Since our arrival we have enjoyed a causal atmosphere, some short hikes along the snowy shore and some cross country ski excursions. Soon we will return to Detroit for a day and then back to Salt Lake to pack up the house and make our way across the Great Basin headed for Truckee, California and the Headwaters Institute annual meeting.

MI

We made it to Michigan, it still feels like we are on a vacation and it will be time to head back to work soon but, NO!!! We flew her on inauguration day, a very exciting day. The weather is cold but it has been a good place to relax, catch up on some sleep and bundle up with a hot drink after a few hours of playing in the snow!!! Today we head up north to lake Michigan were John's parents have a cottage. It may be a few degrees colder and those hot drinks will taste that much better but i am excited about the quiet, still winter beauty!!!

The time has come!!!

Horray...the time has finally come to leave SLC and hit the road. We have spent alot of time getting ready...renting the house, packing all of our stuff into the basement, ending our jobs and packing up the van for the first stage of the trip.
Over the last 2 months we have put our plans and dreams into action. John decided to take a job in Moab as the field manager for Canyonlands Field institute, this job starts in April so we decided to take 2 months off first!!! We both quit our jobs, with our last days in mid-january (very exciting for both of us). The trip starts with 7 days in Michigan, some family time that didnt happen over the holidays. Then we head to California to visit friends, ski and hopefully spend some time at the beach. After cali its down to flagstaff for 21 days rafting the Grand Canyon!!!! The grand canyon ends just in time to start John's new job in Moab. Elie still isnt sure what she is going to do in moab but it will probably include nursing...stay tunned!!!
For now, the last few items are getting packed away, mason is pacing the house anxiously wondering where all of our stuff went and the excitement builds!