Exploring the Mitten

I'd hardly call our vacation last week "spring break" as we were bundled in at least two pairs of pants most of the time and slipping around in snow nearly half a foot thick in northern Michigan. We found a small cabin on a lake for rent in a [very] small town not far from Traverse City. I had never been so far up north, and certainly never stayed in a log cabin before our trip.

The family who owns the cabin filled it with plenty of cute details like this wood frame as well as requisite woodsy tchotchke like ceramic moose heads and pine cone candles. We also had a nice full kitchen, a fireplace, and a huge bathtub.

Roast

One of my favorite parts of the trip was the amazing food we made together. With the exception of a 2p.m. breakfast at a quaint cafe in town and a stop to a couple of breweries in Traverse, we cooked all of our hearty meals in our awesome kitchen.

Read on for more photos!

Monday Mad List: Roundabouts 101

(source)

I'm certainly no speed racer in my little car, but I am proud to say that I do know the difference between a yield and stop sign, and how to get around the roundabouts near my home downtown. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the incompetent drivers I encounter there on a daily basis.

Whether it's prolonged hesitation while approaching this simple intersection, veering into my lane in a panic, stopping at a yield sign [since when did yield = stop?] or otherwise creating unnecessary chaos, there's a good handful of drivers that need to wise up and stop driving like idiots. It's a pity they can't get it right because, given they are used correctly, roundabouts cut costs, improve traffic flow, and keep me from racing through yellow lights.

I'm not sure why people make something so simple so difficult, but a simple Google search yielded [haha] these helpful links that should be sent en masse to the drivers that just can't seem to get it right:

How to Use a Roundabout: The nice folks of Grand Rapids City provide an illustrated guide to navigating roundabouts for those lacking in common sense. If you're not a roundabout master after viewing this .pdf, at least there is a map showcasing the intersections downtown so you might avoid them [and annoying more adept drivers like myself].
Around the Roundabout: MDOT's less idiot friendly guide even explains what it means to yield!