Ahhh, the beauty of Michigan!

On September 16, 2026September 16, 2026 By Barbara StroudIn HOME, Michigan, Photograph, THOUGHTS2 Comments

This is a familiar scene. St. John’s Marsh near Algonac, MI. We pass it going back and forth to visit my family. When we arrived it was warm, but nothing like the day we moved out of our house in Charleston, SC where the “feel like” temp was 108℉ and every one of us was soaking wet. The movers (bless them) moving, Fred and I helping + cleaning + getting everything ready for the new owner. We were beyond exhausted (as the previous image showed). We got on the road late in the afternoon and made our way to Michigan. S l o w l y . . .

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Bidding Our Charleston House Adieu!

On September 7, 2026September 7, 2026 By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, HOME, Michigan, Photograph, THOUGHTS6 Comments

We bought our house 31 years ago. It’s been our safe haven, our calm from the storm – our place of happiness for that long. We are ready for new adventures – and have sold our beautiful home and made the trek to Michigan! This is the last photo we took in our house. September 1, 2026 3:15PM. We are utterly exhausted from packing, moving, clearing, and cleaning. We scrubbed hard all day to make 23 Stocker the best it could be for the new owner. I hope they love it as much as we did. I have about 30,000 photos of this house – it’ll always be one of our best memories!

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Another trip around the sun!

On August 19, 2026August 19, 2026 By Barbara StroudIn North Carolina, Photograph, THOUGHTS, waynesville5 Comments

Apparently I don’t take photos of myself – as I’m the “photographer” in the family there aren’t many photos of me (thankfully). So I’m borrowing a photo from a few years ago when we celebrated my birthday at The Swag in Waynesville, NC (also known as “Heaven on Earth”)! This will be a different birthday for me, SO MUCH going on (moving), so much to do and the non-stop thinking about it all isn’t making for the best sleep, but we’ll get through it, arrive in a different state a few weeks from now, and then we can celebrate my birthday. That’s a much better timeline for sure!

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I think I’ve found where I want to live… finally!

On December 27, 2012December 9, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS2 Comments

I think I’ve found the place I want to live… Charleston, SC is great, don’t get me wrong. It’s picturesque, has lots of history, is filled with artists and galleries… but it’s hot. OH. SO. VERY. HOT. During the long summers we like to dream about places that we’ll move to that will be nice and chilly! I have finally found that magical place! It’s right here in this image. Snow (not the black icky icy/slushy stuff on the side of the road), nice deep snow, perfect for cross country skiing, or sledding. Big, beautiful “Christmas trees” everywhere with snow on the branches and lights in the trees! A church steeple would be nice too. I want to build a snowman, and walk with Fred and Charlie through the freshly fallen snow.

RRRRRRRTTTTTT! I know, that’s not how life is in the ‘snow’. I’m from Michigan, so I understand what you’re thinking. But I’ve been in South Carolina for 23 years, so my memory of the pain-in-the-heiny part of snow and driving is more of a distant memory. Yep, this is where I want to live if we ever move… and if this doesn’t work out… maybe Whoville??