DAY SEVENTEEN
Cool shops, lovely Island posters, tourist trinkets, and yummy fudge abound.
Watch your fanny pack.
Photos Judy Winter
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Sixteen
DAY SIXTEEN
Might be worth running for Governor of Michigan just to have use of this lovely summer home with the great view.
One cool perk of the job.
Photo Judy Winter
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Fifteen
DAY FIFTEEN
Owning one of the magnificent Mackinac Island cottages is on my Bucket List. Maybe if I switch to writing fiction, pen the next 'Harry Potter' adventure series and appear on Oprah, it will happen!
Always an Island dreamer.
Photos Judy Winter
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Fourteen
DAY FOURTEEN
Lilacs are the signature flower of the Island. The ten-day Mackinac Island Lilac Festival runs each June and you will find many lilac-related gifts to take home with you no matter when you visit.
But as yet, no lilac fudge.
Photo Judy Winter 09
Monday, July 13, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Thirteen
DAY THIRTEEN
The Island is pooch friendly. But check specific details before you pack Fido's Island bag and leash.
...and please be considerate of all those other fudgies who may or may not like dogs with their vacations. If you want the Island to continue to become increasingly pet-friendly, clean up your doggie's poo and dispose of it properly, not in the beautiful forest all around you.
Good pack leader!
Photos Judy Winter 08
Sunday, July 12, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Twelve
DAY TWELVE
Lovely chariots await, especially for all those blushing brides.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Convention Alert! -37th National Down Syndrome Congress
The 37th National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) National Convention will be held July 31st through August 2nd in Sacremento, California. Check here for further details. You may still be able to register.
Thanks for the reminder about this important event, Gail!
Photo of my friends Blair and Gail Williamson of DSALA used with permission.
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Eleven
DAY ELEVEN
As you bike around the island, you will discover a geological wonder and popular photo spot called Arch Rock, which stands 149 feet above the Straights of Mackinac.
Get your best shot, but don't fall!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Movie Alert! -FOX Searchlight Pictures Presents ADAM & Asperger's Syndrome
Fox Searchlight Pictures has produced the movie ADAM, a love story about the challenges of falling in love for a young man with Asperger's sydrome. The movie, which will have limited theater release beginning July 29th, was written and directed by Max Mayer. ADAM made its debut at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival,where it was awarded the Alfred P. Sloan prize for a feature film with science as a theme, and snatched up by FOX.
To find out more about the film and to view the trailer, visit the official ADAM website, and let me know your thoughts. You can also take your own relationship-communication-skills quiz there.
Pass the popcorn, please.
What a Woman! -Happy Birthday to Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Please join me in wishing Eunice Kennedy Shriver Happy Birthday!
Without the heart, soul and hard work of this gutsy and amazing woman, there would be no Special Olympics. If you believe in the work that Mrs. Shriver has done and continues to do to create greater awareness of those with intellectual disabilities, not to mention what she's done for their dignity, please consider honoring her with a gift to Special Olympics.
From the bottom of my special needs advocacy heart, I thank Eunice Kennedy Shriver for her stellar example and leadership. She continues to be an incredible inspiration for my own work in raising the bar for those with special needs, and she always will. Read more about this remarkable woman here.
Now there's a celebrity worth all the press, and a life well lived.
Photo of Eunice Kennedy Shriver courtesy of Special Olympics. Used with permission.
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Ten
DAY TEN
Hot dogs just taste better when they're eaten outdoors with a spectacular Island view.
Mustard and pickles, please.
Photo by Judy Winter 08
Hot dogs just taste better when they're eaten outdoors with a spectacular Island view.
Mustard and pickles, please.
Photo by Judy Winter 08
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Writer Alert -Writer's Digest Is Looking for Your Shorts
Hey all you wanna-be-published fiction writers, Writer's Digest has a call out for your best fiction work, short-stories only, please. Check out the details here. I'm still loyal to non fiction, so I'm no competition.
May the best storyteller win.
Say What? -Possible aid loss creates barrier to wedding for disabled couple
Enjoy this special needs love story, and inspiration, from Jo Mathis of the Associated Press (AP). The Medicaid concern that stops the featured couple from making their marriage official is for another post, another day.
Aussie Update & Call for Action! -Please Adopt a Shelter Animal!
I can't believe it's been nearly six months since my husband and I first rescued Jack from our local animal shelter, and I strongly encourage others to do the same. There hasn't been a moment that I've regretted this decision. So many others great dogs and cats are waiting for a great new start, too.
Ours has been a remarkable partnership from the start, one that has vastly improved the quality of both of our lives. Among other things, my magnificent Aussie/Bernese/Border Collie reminds me to play each day, something I'd almost forgotten how to do after the death of my son.
LOL, Jack!
Photo Judy Winter 09
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Nine
DAY NINE
To begin your Island adventure, most people (including me) take one of three ferry lines that depart daily from St. Ignace or Mackinaw City (note: the city and the Island are spelled differently but both are pronounced MackiNAW).
Photos: (from top) Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry personnel prepare the boat to hightail it to the Island from its dock at Mackinaw City. Shepler's also offers popular lighthouse tours throughout the summer. The Star Line's Hydro Jet Ferry proudly boasts 35 foot Rooster Tails! Delivering tired fudgies home at the end of a fulfilling Island day, and passing by the historic Round Island Lighthouse, is the Arnold Transit Co.
All will get you to your destination. Regardless of your choice, get your cameras and camcorders ready for great shots of the Mackinac Bridge (also pronounced MackiNAW) aka Mighty Mac!
Sorry to leave you waiting at the dock, Fudgies (the term of endearment for tourist who buy, eat and ship a whole lot of the famous Island fudge!). I should have posted this travel info on Day One!
Better late than never!
Photos by Judy Winter 09
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
NFB Announces Campaign to Increase Braille Readers & Literacy
Watching Stevie Wonder perform at yesterday's beautiful tribute to Michael Jackson, I was reminded of what a remarkable performer Wonder is, and of how much he has accomplished in light of life-long blindness. The musician is a true role model for those with visual impairments and other disabilities.
As a child, Wonder attended the Michigan School for the Blind, where along with academics, he received specialized training to help him live more independently and successfully in the world. But with the push for educational inclusion, this specialized school, like many others, no longer exists. Leaders in the field now argue that as a result, children who are blind or visually impaired are not receiving the training in Braille necessary for life success, raising concerns of illiteracy.
Braille is a series of raised dots that allows children who are blind or visually impaired to learn to read and write. According to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), just 10 percent of blind children are learning Braille today. Yet, 85 percent of those children attend public schools, where few teachers are trained in Braille.
That's why the NFB has announced its Braille Readers Are Leaders literacy campaign to help double the number of Braille readers by 2015. To read some Quick Facts about why Braille is considered so important, and to learn more about the NFB, visit here.
Photo by Judy Winter 08
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Eight
DAY EIGHT
Skipping stones on the Island is for anyone young at heart, and not as easy as it looks!
Be sure to check out the official Mackinac Island Stone Skipping & Gerplunking website. On July 4th, they celebrated the 40th annual Stone-Skipping Tournament on the Island.
For real.
Photo by Judy Winter 2008
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Seven
DAY SEVEN
Stop and give thanks for all the Island beauty in one of the Island's lovely, historic churches.
Or talk to a beloved angel, as I do.
Photo Judy Winter 08
Monday, July 06, 2009
My Take on the Book 'Ceana Has CP'
Many books on the market today are geared toward adults hoping to better address the personal and professional challenges of children with a wide range of special needs.
Too few directly address the child with the disability, or their extended family members.
In Ceana Has CP, author C. Fran Card has done doting grandparents of kids with special needs, and their families, proud. The work was born when Card came up short shopping for a picture book to help her granddaughter better understand her cerebral palsy, and her important place in the family.
What the author has created is an engaging and valuable read for anyone hoping to better explain or understand the value of individual differences and disability within their own families and professional circles.
While it appears that Ceana's disability is milder than that of some other children, many families will relate to this heartfelt story none the less. The book also showcases what a typical life Ceana leads in spite of her challenges, something I found to be its true editorial strength.
Ceana Has CP is beautifully illustrated by Violet Freeland and geared toward kids ages 3 to 7.
Worth the read. To learn more, visit Ceana's Place.
Photos by Judy Winter 09
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Six
DAY SIXMarvelous 'Mighty Mac' at twilight.
If driving over water up high freaks you out, bridge personnel will drive you across while you hide.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Five
DAY FIVE
Stunning Island blooms are everywhere!
Saturday, July 04, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Four
DAY FOUR
Here, porch sitting is an art.
Waves crashing, bold seagulls, and horse's cadence provide all the music you need.
Photo Judy Winter 08
Friday, July 03, 2009
Happy Independence Day 2009- AKA the 4th of July!
The sign says it all.
Take a moment to give thanks for whatever freedoms you cherish.
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Three
DAY THREE
Island View of sailing the Straights of Mackinac along that 'Mighty Mac'.Thursday, July 02, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009-Day Two
DAY TWO
Biking is a popular mode of transportation. Bring your own animal crackers.
No cars allowed!
Photo Judy Winter 08
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
31 Days of Mackinac Island Beauty- July 2009
If you've read my recent article about Mackinac Island, you know that I love the place. In honor of all its beauty and my memories of wonderful Island adventures, I'm posting a Mackinac Island photo every day during the month of July. Enjoy all the minute vacations!
You have to get your own fudge.
DAY ONE
Weddings are plentiful and booked years in advance.
Photo by Judy Winter 08
Check it Out! Experimental Surgery in China for Spina Bifida Raising Hope
According to the Spina Bifida Association (SBA), spina bifida is the most common, permanently disabling birth defect in the United States. It affects 7 out of every 10,000 live births and there is no known cure, making prevention key.
That's why a new experimental surgery in China is now raising hopes. Watch the coverage on 'Vital Signs' with CNN's chief medical correspondent (and MSU grad!), Dr. Sanja Gupta here.
Photo Judy Winter 08
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Island Fever-Tribute to Mackinac Island, Michigan
My July 2009 CAWLM Winter Ramblings column pays tribute to one of my fav destinations in the world- Mackinac Island. Enjoy your mini-escape and then plan one of your own.
_________________________________
Island Fever
Island Fever
An upside to the state’s recent economic downturn has been a renewed interest in vacationing in our own great state. For me, that means heading to Northern Michigan and my all-time favorite destination— Mackinac Island.
I’ve been fortunate to travel extensively, and I admit to being tempted to relocate to sunny and less humid locales like Napa Valley and Santa Barbara. Writers can go anywhere, technology and spouses willing.
But there’s something about visiting God’s Country that gets into your blood. Once bitten, never cured.
I love navigating all those narrow curves on the ‘Tunnel of Trees’ on M-119, sheepishly dipping my toes in frigid Lake Michigan, viewing glorious sunsets that rival the finest gallery paintings, and frolicking in salt-free surf at Sturgeon Bay, before enjoying hot tea and the local newspaper at Petoskey’s popular ‘Roast and Toast.’
These are just a sampling of the wonderful moments that quickly fill an enthusiastic vacationer’s to-do list in the Great Lake State.
Mackinac Island holds special allure. Maybe it’s the writer in me who embraces the romance of stepping back in time at the exact moment that magnificent bridge comes into sight. Maybe it’s the refreshing lack of cars with all those distracted drivers on cell phones, or all the sacred family memories created there with both of my kids, including my son.
From the confines of a wheelchair, Eric was able to enjoy this stunning natural setting with relative ease and accessibility—granting our special-needs family the often elusive gift of leisure-time normalcy.
Regardless of what the calendar or thermometer says, until I’ve crossed the choppy Straights of Mackinac on Shepler’s charming ferries with those impressive rooster tails, smelled the intoxicating aroma of lilacs and fudge, or heard the soothing clip-clop cadence of spirited Island horses, summertime in Michigan hasn’t officially begun—there are worse things you could be called than a fudgie.
Mackinac Island is the bomb, a jewel in Michigan’s impressive tourism crown, and I stand forever ready to answer its magical call. The world may have discovered our gem of a state park, thanks to all those recent magazine covers and impressive features in the likes of Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler and the New York and LA Times.
But this premier destination belongs to us lucky Michiganders, one of the few certainties in these uncertain times.
I’ve been fortunate to travel extensively, and I admit to being tempted to relocate to sunny and less humid locales like Napa Valley and Santa Barbara. Writers can go anywhere, technology and spouses willing.
But there’s something about visiting God’s Country that gets into your blood. Once bitten, never cured.
I love navigating all those narrow curves on the ‘Tunnel of Trees’ on M-119, sheepishly dipping my toes in frigid Lake Michigan, viewing glorious sunsets that rival the finest gallery paintings, and frolicking in salt-free surf at Sturgeon Bay, before enjoying hot tea and the local newspaper at Petoskey’s popular ‘Roast and Toast.’
These are just a sampling of the wonderful moments that quickly fill an enthusiastic vacationer’s to-do list in the Great Lake State.
Mackinac Island holds special allure. Maybe it’s the writer in me who embraces the romance of stepping back in time at the exact moment that magnificent bridge comes into sight. Maybe it’s the refreshing lack of cars with all those distracted drivers on cell phones, or all the sacred family memories created there with both of my kids, including my son.
From the confines of a wheelchair, Eric was able to enjoy this stunning natural setting with relative ease and accessibility—granting our special-needs family the often elusive gift of leisure-time normalcy.
Regardless of what the calendar or thermometer says, until I’ve crossed the choppy Straights of Mackinac on Shepler’s charming ferries with those impressive rooster tails, smelled the intoxicating aroma of lilacs and fudge, or heard the soothing clip-clop cadence of spirited Island horses, summertime in Michigan hasn’t officially begun—there are worse things you could be called than a fudgie.
Mackinac Island is the bomb, a jewel in Michigan’s impressive tourism crown, and I stand forever ready to answer its magical call. The world may have discovered our gem of a state park, thanks to all those recent magazine covers and impressive features in the likes of Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler and the New York and LA Times.
But this premier destination belongs to us lucky Michiganders, one of the few certainties in these uncertain times.
Hear my thunderous applause?
When the calendar turns to July, there’s a nagging reminder that summer is quickly waning. Don’t let the season go by without enjoying all the vacation riches afforded us in Michigan, including those of enchanting Mackinac Island—travels guaranteed to see you through another nasty winter that’s hiding just around the corner.
Choose your sweet treats carefully, fudgie.
When the calendar turns to July, there’s a nagging reminder that summer is quickly waning. Don’t let the season go by without enjoying all the vacation riches afforded us in Michigan, including those of enchanting Mackinac Island—travels guaranteed to see you through another nasty winter that’s hiding just around the corner.
Choose your sweet treats carefully, fudgie.
Photo of 'Mighty Mac'/Judy Winter 08
Judson Center Opens New Autism Center in Suburban Detroit
The Judson Center, a non-profit, human-services agency serving Southeast Michigan has opened a new Center for Autism in Royal Oak, Michigan. Check it out here.
Photo Judy Winter 09
Monday, June 29, 2009
It's 'King OF Pop', not 'King A Pop'
Hey broadcast media (and regular folk, too).
It's the 'King OF Pop, not the King a Pop.
Makes all the difference when people slow down and enunciate.
Photo Judy Winter 08
Minute Vacation -July 2009
Minute Vacation-July 2009
In honor of small-town parades everywhere! Wherever you live, make it festive!
Who doesn't love a parade?
Photos/Judy Winter 09
Words of Wisdom from Virginia Woolf-July 2009
Words of Wisdom-July 2009
"Arrange whatever pieces come your way."
-Virginia Woolf
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