OT: Beautiful Michigan Fall Weekend Open Thread
Looks like the entire Midwest is going to be enjoing unusually high temps (65-75) - with sunny skies - between now and next Tuesday.
1991 UM Grad and I are taking advantage of our second month of being empty nesters (and the nice weather) by making a game-time decision (see what I did there?) to head on up to the Leelanau Peninsula. Staying in a nice Airbnb on the property of a small vineyard.
Will enjoy the fall foliage (looks like it's peaking right now!), drink some wine, relax, do a little work, and get started on our The Office lego set.
Celebrated 2023 UM Grad's 21st birthday earlier this week...with 2026 UM Grad in tow. Ate at Cantoro Trattoria in Plymouth; would highly recommend it for anyone seeking dinner options outside of - but close to - Ann Arbor.
"Wife Day" isn't too big of a deal around here. My sports fandom/watching is pretty much limited these days to Michigan football and basketball...and my wife enjoys attending most of the games with me...and we like most of the same weekend activities.
What's everyone else up to? Anyone have a spouse who would be considered a "sports widow?"...and thus making "Wife Day" somewhat of an occasion?
Whatever you're doing...or wherever you're going...Go Blue!
October 21st, 2022 at 10:07 AM ^
Home &garden show with the wife.
Speaking of beautiful fall weekends (in IL, but still the midwest), this is a picture I took last week while on a morning jog:
October 21st, 2022 at 10:56 AM ^
While at a stop sign in Gatlinburg last weekend.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:23 AM ^
i have no pics but my backyard is amazing right now i have some acreage, a creek and a pond so when i go outside i see nothing but a few mowed acres and a vast forest.
the willow trees are bright red and the maples range from adidas maize to orange to deep red.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^
My front yard just north of Chicago. This tree always peaks a few weeks early.
October 21st, 2022 at 1:00 PM ^
great picture!
October 21st, 2022 at 10:25 AM ^
Plans unfortunately got changed from being down at Ole Miss vs LSU (pretty bummed) to going to grand valley to check out the game this weekend. Was up at my cabin last weekend and the colors were pretty peak. Enjoy.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:27 AM ^
No mgowife means no Wife Day obligations. Instead, looking like golf both days, maybe a little grilling, and a birthday party to attend. Nice to get a bonus summerish weekend this time of year.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:27 AM ^
The Leelanau Peninsula is undefeated! The colors are beautiful up here right now and should be a great weekend.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:57 AM ^
Seconded. Even my color-blind self could appreciate the yellows and oranges on some TC-area maples this morning.
If the forecast holds it will make up for the wind and rain earlier in the week.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:44 AM ^
Refreshing weather after my condo was battered all week by the winds.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:32 AM ^
Taking the kids to the Detroit Zoo this weekend.... and trying out some new recipes for the MSU tailgate.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:46 AM ^
Playing golf at Rackham (next to the zoo) on Sunday morning.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:33 AM ^
Going to Baton Rogue for LSU v Ole Miss, then bum around New Orleans with the fam. My first SEC game and my kids have never been to Louisiana
October 21st, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
Going to the UP with my camera phone and sending videos to my snotty Vermont friends who insist their state is the ONLY place to leaf-peep.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
In Petoskey for an extended weekend. Colors are at their peak. Riding bikes with the wife to Harbor Springs then on to Pond Hill Farm. Tomorrow we will watch B1G games at the Back Lot in downtown. Happy Bye Week. Enjoy the beautiful weekend! 🍁🎃👨🍳
October 21st, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
Going to the new sky bridge at Boyne? Pictures look amazing with peak colors.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:33 AM ^
I wanted to do that, but my wife was like..."fuck no!"
October 21st, 2022 at 10:55 AM ^
Doing my last bike ride of the year along the Chicago lakefront. Maybe both Saturday and Sunday. And I'm thinking about pulling out the hibachi grill and making some meat on skewers, yakitori style, and maybe making some homemade marshmallows and roasting them over our firepit. Lots of options.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:56 AM ^
Pouring beer at Eastern Market tomorrow and building a greenhouse in my back yard on Sunday.
Yes, working on a Sunday but it’s better than watching the Lions…
October 21st, 2022 at 11:01 PM ^
If you get a greenhouse built in one day you are a handy fella indeed!
October 21st, 2022 at 11:07 AM ^
My wife is ovulating this weekend so my plans are firmly and properly laid.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:16 AM ^
Baby pumps! Enjoy
October 21st, 2022 at 11:24 AM ^
Andy Samburg reminds me of Seth. I don't know why...
October 21st, 2022 at 11:22 AM ^
Oh god, I remember those days. Good luck
October 21st, 2022 at 11:49 AM ^
Yeah and to think I spent my youth sowing my wild oats and praying for a crop failure.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:33 AM ^
That's what he said!
October 21st, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
My wife is ovulating this weekend so my plans are firmly and properly laid.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
Work, work, work. Be on time They get so needy and demanding always expecting it from you and only concerned with their own gratification. Made me cheap and used.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:19 AM ^
my sister is an RN who used to work in plymouth and raves about cantoro trattoria. she is now an RN at UM hospital.
Wife Day isn't a thing at my house. we pretty much do everything together anyways, which includes sitting on the couch watching football from noon on saturday until 9 pm sunday. i didn't marry the woman i love. i married my best friend and most trusted confidant, whom i love.
tonight is working in the shop (finally got the urinal installed and walls insulated, need to finish the 1/2 inch osb on the walls).
saturday morning, take a drive through the national forest then play 18 at my local course, followed by watching football then maybe hitting the bar with some friends for the UFC fights after the wife falls asleep. sunday is mowing/weedwhacking a few acres then winterizing the mower and weedwhacker, followed by some ribeyes on the grill.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:26 AM ^
The bye week comes at a perfect time. I can winterize the summer toys, cleanup the yard and prep for winter, and finish some of those chores that havent been touched on a saturday in over a month.
Two full days of working around the house should get me through the chores list until January.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:26 AM ^
I'm actually pretty geeked about it. I used to hate fall because it means winter is lurking around the corner, but I've grown to appreciate a beautiful fall day where it's sunny and the temp is >55.
Just got word that I don't have to work, so I plan on getting some yard work done, detailing my car, and getting a good run in. Sunday, I plan on firing up the smoker. Go Blue and enjoy y'all!
October 21st, 2022 at 11:30 AM ^
'Wife Day' isn't a thing in VA, and I'm not about to tell her about it now. Nonetheless, she deals with Fall Saturday's by knowing it's the only time I ever want to sit around and just watch football, so she doesn't complain about it. With the game against Bye this week, I'll still watch some football but get some stuff done outside to lessen the pressure on Sunday. Might also get a chance to head over to the local amusement park and ride some coasters. I normally take the kid with me, but he's not yet up for the bigger coasters. This is my time!
October 21st, 2022 at 11:31 AM ^
I’ll be spending Saturday morning up a tree, and Saturday afternoon waiving a stick standing in a river. Enjoy your weekend folks!
October 21st, 2022 at 11:39 AM ^
cattle 'harvest' this a.m.
coaching football tonight at two sons' game
watching football tomorrow at another son's college game
October 21st, 2022 at 12:10 PM ^
cattle 'harvest' this a.m.
Awesome, man! Do you do all the "part and parceling" yourself or do you employ a professional?
October 21st, 2022 at 1:11 PM ^
Both, if that makes sense. We always do the slaughtering. Also, There are a couple of processing places in our general area where I’ve known the owners forever and I’ve been able to take my kids there so that we can all do the butchering as well. Sometimes and years we go and do it ourselves, sometimes and years we just have them do the cutting.
October 21st, 2022 at 2:48 PM ^
My kids won't even like open a package of ground beef from Kroger...
October 21st, 2022 at 2:54 PM ^
and my kids have all seen more blood than an ER surgeon and don't think twice about it. seriously, you start helping the livestock give birth, 'harvest' a couple hundred chickens and some sheep, deer and cows on an annual basis and it's just part of life. i guess i wanted them to all have those skills at their disposal and glad we were able to do so.
October 21st, 2022 at 3:16 PM ^
It's a great experience for kids. Except maybe Jeffrey Dahmer types that like it a little too much.
October 21st, 2022 at 4:33 PM ^
I’m pretty sure the reality is is that people like Jeffrey Dahmer never engaged in activities like this. I mention that because you can’t help but develop empathy for other life, and animals when you do this type of living and activity.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:56 AM ^
I live in the western Chicago burbs, planning on enjoying the weather by checking out from work a little early and taking my 2 year old to the Aboretum. Also, my village has a children's parade so will do that, too.
We just put in a badass patio, so will spend some (more) time around the new fire table. There is also a zombie bar crawl, if I can get my brother in law or one of the neighbors to come, wife says go for it (she is 8 months pregnant with #2, so no crawl for her)!
Oh, and going to fire up my brand new napoleon prestige pro 500 rsib, not sure what I'm cooking yet, yet but got it 2 weeks ago so far loving it.
Beautiful foliage, took this one yesterday while walking around the block (getting error saying can only upload 2 mg, how are you guys getting the pic to upload?)
October 21st, 2022 at 12:08 PM ^
Michigan Field Hockey plays Northwestern this afternoon in Evanston.
I'm thinking of heading out of the office a few minutes early to cheer the maize & blue.
Then, it will be some yardwork on Saturday morning - before heading to a Wedding for the afternoon and evening.
Sunday afternoon might be a bit more yardwork - and, perhaps - a walk around a golf course.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:22 PM ^
Sounds fun! I recently took my family to watch Michigan volleyball defeat Northwestern in Evanston. Great family night.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^
@amazinblu Thanks for the tip on the field hockey game! You have me contemplating doing the same this afternoon!
October 21st, 2022 at 12:10 PM ^
The three Michigan red maple trees in my yard are peak color right now.
Absolutely beautiful 😊
Go Blue 🏈🏈🏈
October 21st, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
Multiple questions, multiple answers:
- Michigan colors: I drive home every day from work on Mast Rd northbound and it's a veritable bounty of photographable moments. If you're looking for a fun ride nearby Ann Arbor that doesn't end at Dexter Cider Mill, head up Mast or Dexter-Pinckney Rd toward Portage Lake and stop by Ore Creek Cider for a cold one while you look out at the DNR boat launch across the street.
- This weekend is 17th wedding anniversary, so the wife and I are doing a two day mini-cation in Downtown Detroit. Tonight is the immersive Van Gogh thingy (her choice), and tomorrow is the Michigan Brewers Guild Fall Festival at Eastern Market (my choice). Both evenings will be capped off with delicious dinners.
October 21st, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
I would recommend seeing the real Van Gogh paintings at the DIA. Special exhibit going on now.
October 21st, 2022 at 11:08 PM ^
If your driving up Mast some time, take a right turn and head down Walsh. There is an apple orchard called the Frosty Apple 100 yards east of Mast with great Apples. Then head east on Walsh to Merrill. I’ll put it up against any road in Washtenaw County as beautiful roads go.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:17 PM ^
Wife Day comes a little later for me this year. Next Friday is the 5th anniversary of my father-in-law being taken home, and my wife asked me to take the day off with her to remember him - looking at pictures, visit the cemetery, etc, capped off by going to his favorite off-site hangout, Farmer's Country Club in Sodus.
As far as this weekend, we've all just been trying to get through the week. That's what it's like when you're married to a teacher.