We successfully conducted three research trips this year. The first one, in early summer, took us first to Cornell University where we spent a day seeking information about a firm that received a million-acre land grant in Michigan in 1855. From there we drove to Doylestown PA, where a day was spent gathering information about one of the most prolific cartographers to map Michigan in the mid-1800s.

On our way, we stopped at Niagra Falls on the Canadian side, and spent some time feasting our eyes and ears on the roar and splendor of one of nature's glories. It was early May, and there were still chunks of ice at the bottoms of the falls.

American Falls of the Niagra River

Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls of the Niagra River

Taughannock Falls, just north of Ithaca, NY

Our next research trip -- combined with a celebration of grandnephew, Dawson McKenzie's high school graduation in Marquette -- found us visiting Michigan Technological University in Houghton and the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison, again in quest of facts pertaining to the million-acre land grant. And our last trip, to L'Anse and Marquette MI, was a late-summer foray looking for details about a Lake Superior ghost town called Stannardsville and the man who built the place, John A. Bailey.

These travels had us traversing the Mackinaw Bridge four times. Of course, Dot must always photograph it, but she got tired of photographing through the front windshield. So she opened the moonroof with these resulting photos:

Addendum:

No more frozen pipes going to the upstairs bath: insulation now complete.

In Memorium:

We sadly recall the passing of Dot's cousin, Ed Belousek, and Dot's orchidist friend, Brenda Kennedy. Both lost their lives to cancer.