A Carpe Diem Snapshot: The main attraction of northern Michigan is the opportunity to immerse ourselves in tranquil nature scenes like...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: This was the photo from today's options that had the most "Carpe Diem" spirit about it, although I had hoped to...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Meteorologically speaking, today is the first day of summer! And summer on the lake means a lot of visitors and...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Today I had a visitation from my dear friend Sheila Carroll, author of the just-published book featured in today's...

A Carpe Diem Moment: Michiganders almost universally appreciate their state, and tonight's speaker at the Morton Township Library in...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: We are on the cusp of summer now, and the appearance of dragonflies (and float tubes) provide the evidence today....

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: As today's quote suggests, to be fully alive we must also be fully present. Easier said than done. But, "Something...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: In small towns like Mecosta, there are just two annual parades that bring everyone out, such as this Memorial Day...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: This year, we just caught the tail end of the brief but beautiful month of May in Michigan, with the last of the...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: After reading yesterday's blog post to the girls, Valentina wanted to correct the record that it is not mermaids...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: When I was Valentina's age, I was the founder and president of "The Investigators of Strange Phenomena Club,"...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: I am a lunatic and I freely admit it! (Interpreted as "moonstruck", of course!) But I am in good company....

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Yesterday the girls got a fishing lessons from two little Amish kids, the sons of our good friend Roman from a...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: During the birthday celebrations for Mom, which were interrupted by tornados rolling into town before the cake had...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: In honor of Mom's birthday today, here is a classic portrait of her from her recent Roman sojourn! Also, here are...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: We'd been out of Rome for just a day and in Michigan for less than 12 hours when we were surprised to witness a...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: On the road again... Or, rather, in the air again! These annual trips always provide opportunities to notice how...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Yesterday evening we bid farewell (for the summer) to a couple who have become good friends over the past year,...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Wearing her Papal flag colors of white and gold, Grandma Kirk processed up the via delle Conciliazione today for...

A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Another Meo Patacca memorable moment! 😍 If only Mom had stayed in that traveling accordian band when she was...