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Saturday, January 26, 2013

176th!

Today is Michigan's 176th birthday! I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before (haha), but I love Michigan. My family has been in Michigan for 175 years, so almost since the beginning.

A few months ago, I was on a car ride with a few friends. One of these friends was new to Michigan. At some point in the conversation, he asked, "How come it seems like everyone from Michigan LOVES Michigan? What's so special about Michigan?"

None of us said anything for a second. We didn't know where to begin! Suddenly, we all started in with a million thoughts at once: "have you ever heard of the Great Lakes? Have you been to Detroit? Have you ever been up north? Have you seen how beautiful all these trees are? And what about the people? And our sports? And our traditions, etc, etc, etc..." He got an earful. Most people from Michigan really do love Michigan - in spite of the negatives (winter, the Lions, and the roads).

In fact, Michigan's tourism website, michigan.org, is the most visited state website in the country for the sixth year in a row - by a lot. It beat number 2 Florida by one million hits! I am assuming, of course, that it's mostly people from Michigan using the website, so that shows how much we love our state.

You gotta admit - it's a pretty cool place. A peninsula right in the middle of the country? And bonus: it's shaped like a mitten? (I don't know why that's a bonus.)

So this post is dedicated to Michigan. Here is the cake I made for today:



The upper peninsula gave me some trouble - especially the Keewenaw Peninsula. But it's still edible, and that's what matters.

The rest of this post is pictures I have taken of the state I love. Happy birthday, Michigan!





























What's your favorite thing about Michigan, Michiganders?

9 comments:

violet50 said...

My favorite thing about Michigan is everything in your pictures. How could I choose? Having grown up here, I've seen almost everything that is worth seeing. We were campers and with a tent you can go almost anywhere. But if I had to choose.......Ludington. Thanks for the pictorial. I feel warmer already.incoas

Katherine said...

I'm with Mom - how to choose?!? This may be cheating, but I think the thing that I love is the fact that there is so much amazing stuff to do here! Big cities like Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids provide museums, concert halls, sports teams, and entertainment; small towns like ours have farmers markets, festival, and parades; then there's all of the beautiful places to visit: Tahquamenon Falls, LUDINGTON (the best), Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City, Mackinac Island, Pictured Rocks, Oswald's Bear Ranch... It's just so great to be able to drive for a few hours and be in some of the most beautiful and fun places anywhere. (I feel like I should end that with, "Pure Michigan.")

Other states are great, but no other holds a candle to Michigan!!! Simply the best.

Wee Sisters Three said...

I was JUST telling a friend of mine who is from out west that Michiganders/anians are so proud of Michigan b/c it's SO cool. I love this state. I love all the things Mom and Kat said. I love all the festivals and lakes and..yada yada. When Josue came to Michigan from Arizona for my Prom he kept taking pictures of the trees! Ha! I love driving along Michigan ave to all the small towns and the antique shops, I love the smell of manure (I know other places have that, but it's not the same), I love Frankenmuth and Quincy and of course Ludington.

Jan said...

I love Michigan. I used to think of it as "God's Country". So many fond memories of it. I live in FL, now. I kinda miss the seasons (except winter). I remember having been to a lot of the places mentioned above. Kinda miss those times. 4155

Liz Hughes said...

I Love Michigan! And that cake looks delicious, save me a piece.

Stephanie said...

Happy Birthday MICHIGAN!!!! It's a state that holds some of my favorite memories and a special place in my heart! And props for that rockin' cake!

Britny Clark said...

I'm not from Michigan, but I LOVE Michigan, too!!!! :)

Terry said...

Blurker here . . . I have never been to Michigan, but your pictures make me want to visit. All we ever here is Detroit and how ghetto and gangsta it is. But, I admit to confusion . . . in your babbling brook photo, what is the yellow balloon-like structure? I just don't get it . . .

Terry said...

Oh my goodness! I cannot believe that I made a huge typographical error. In my previous comment, "All we ever HEAR . . . "