Mi Bittersweet Reunion…

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great lakes, hancock michigan, houghton, houghton michigan, lake superior, Michigan, portage lake, portage lake bridge, travel, up, upper peninsula, yuppers

I have been away for a week visiting the Upper Peninsula.  My husband’s family planted roots in Michigan after a long journey from Finland.  This was a first, and likely last, family reunion as all of the “old timers” are getting on in age.  We stayed in a lovely home along a canal in Houghton.  You can see our view below in the third picture.

I really enjoyed the beauty that surrounded me at every turn.  The wildflowers were blooming shamelessly in bursts of pink and yellow.  The mountains were lit up with the sun during the day and the lakes were illuminated with the moon at night.  Many memories were shared with me.  I was struck by the Finnish tradition of the family sauna and blessed to get a photo of the place where his mother spent Saturday’s communing with relatives.  And much to everyone’s surprise, the boat that my husband’s grandfather used to take them out onto the lake, was still there on the property.  The old homesteads have been sold to strangers, but they were all kind enough to let us walk around inside and out.  It was a special time and I am so glad I got to be a part of it…