“Welcome to 1816.” Magdelaine La Framboise’s spirit greeted our arrival to the island she had loved. The Odawa-French fur trader, who had fascinated me for years, invited my husband, Bob, and me to stay at the Harbour View Inn. In its prior life, the current B&B had been her home. Its construction was overseen by her son-in-law, Captain Benjamin Pierce, brother to future President Franklin Pierce. The gentle breezes whispered Magdelaine's words, “I apologize that I can’t spend more time with you.

Canoeing - it sounds romantic, doesn't it? My aunt and uncle had their first date while canoeing a Michigan river. My parents gave my husband and I a double kayak for our wedding present. I am a nature photographer, and most of my photographs are taken out on the lake, during a quiet paddle. Every other week our daughter and I go out and clean up the lake, picking up people's trash.

It is all about the water, and how you can truly experience nature by being on it.

Today we visited the BlackRock Medieval Fest, held in Augusta, Michigan. Near Kalamazoo, this renaissance festival is lively, fun, and quite entertaining. We'll write more about it, but today, when we're full of medieval joie d'vivre, we'll share the BlackRock Medieval Fest A-Z. Take a look...

Lords and Ladies of West Michigan, save room on your calendars for the Black Rock Medieval Fest, held on 5 weekends in summer in Augusta, Michigan. The festival runs from 10am - 6pm on weekends in July and August.