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Saturday, November 30, 2013

SHOPPING LOCALLY ON "BLACK FRIDAY"...What a pleasure!


The Michigan Magazine TV crew of Clifford Parent, Lloyd Meir and myself made the trek over to Hale for Hale Hardware's annual "MOONLIGHT MADNESS" event on the ever popular "Black Friday" (Friday following Thanksgiving)

What a delight it was!

Much different then what we witnessed earlier on TV news reports. All that running, shouting, fighting and being "thrown out of the store" in the "spirit of the season" was a bit unnerving to say the least!

This is NOT what we found at our local Hale hardware store!

Yes there were crowds waiting for the doors to open at 6 pm....Yes there was plenty of excited talk going on outside among the crowd...But in contrast to the "big box store" experience of screaming and threats....At Hale it was more of excited murmur amongst neighbors with plenty of "how was your thanksgiving" & "Merry Christmas Neighbor" heard with "hi fives" and pats on the back.

Ahhhhh the true spirit of the season was present at Hale Hardware!

As the doors opened there was no mad rush....there were plenty of fantastic deals for everyone...Jerry and crew made sure of that!

It was an evening of deals and fun for the whole family!

From fun games of "bubble blowing" to "apple stacking" & "shooting gallery" fun..it was an evening everyone enjoyed from the youngest to the eldest!

You'll see what we mean as we present our video coverage here later today!

Oh yea! Forgot to tell you that some lucky shopper is about to win a $1,000.00 shopping spree! If you were there last evening and registered GET READY!!! I can hardly wait to announce the winner...STAY TUNED!

Our wish for all our neighbors and friend is to please shop locally to keep the "true" spirit of Christmas Alive!

It was so refreshing to feel the warmth of the season again.

Keep the faith every body and may the true spirit of the season find you!


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

WONDERFUL Banana pudding recipe by Lorraine of Chuck's Soul Food of Pontiac!


Lorraine of Chuck Soul Food near the Pontiac Silver Done share this recipe with the Michigan Magazine TV crew back in the 90s.

It was WONDERFUL.....HEAVENLY......Thank you Lorraine!

Even though Chuck's Soul Food is no longer in existence...the recipe will live on forever!

Enjoy as my partner, the late Dell Vaughan, visits with Lorraine...and I (drooling) handle the direction and filming.......Happy Thanksgiving everyone....Try this for an extra holiday treat!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Bigfoot Still The Subject of Believers In Northern Michigan.....


Bigfoot in Northern Michigan?

We've dealt with the subject in countless interviews featuring investigators who've opened up to the Michigan Magazine Cameras.

We've also conducted Bigfoot seminars at our facilities in Comins....with believers and skeptics alike.

The subject is still a "hot button" that starts the conversation rolling in N. Michigan

There are still active investigations in progress....One such team reportedly is gathering some amazing "evidence" that they will share in an upcoming video series we hope to share with you soon on Michigan Magazine.

Some have asked me if I believe in such a creature. A creature so elusive that all so called "evidence" is questioned, ridiculed and dismissed as a hoax or explainable forest anomaly.

I always answer "I believe in the possibilities of things still unknown lurking and/or intelligently cloaking it's existence from encroaching humans"..

Those witnesses I've interviewed are sincere....They have seen or heard something out of the ordinary in the deep northern Michigan forests..

Stay tuned for an exciting journey....Take a look at this video clip of the upcoming series.....

I DID NOT KNOW THAT ABOUT THANKSGIVING! HERE ARE 10 THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW!!!


I know I eat a lot of Turkey and am thankful for many things on this traditional American Holiday!

I know that amazing feeling of unconditional love when family is near!

I also know how lonely the day can become if you find yourself all alone on this day!

BUT there are many other things I just did not know about this North American Traditional Holiday....Kick back and check out this run down of 10 things you may not know about Thanksgiving....then prepare for the wonderful holiday season to officially commence......Happy Thanksgiving....Merry Christmas....and Happy New Year!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013


Cooking with Clara is on of my favorite You Tube destinations.

She's about 98 years old now and last we heard still cooking up wonderful memories in her DEPRESSION ERA COOKING series "Cooking with Clara".....

I admire her energy and love of family and traditional values she attributes to her long productive years as a Wife, Mother and Grandmother.

I believe her children and grandchildren are something special in producing these wonderful video visits!

Today I hope you'll stick around our Michigan Magazine TV blog cottage in the woods as Clara stops by via another video...

This one is something very special....as we simply spend the afternoon with our own "Aunt Clara" (She's really not our Aunt....but she feels so much like family....I don't think she'd mind us calling her our Aunt)...

Gather around now, take your shoes off at the door, and get ready to relax with Clara.....enjoy


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Comments on this week's show #1845 The Extremely Fun Cowboy Races & A visit with Barbara Yoder Michigan Author!


This week's show was another of my favorites!

As always Shaun Beardsley and her Natural Horsemanship abilities shown through in flying colors with another great Extremely Fun Cowboy Race at Liberty Pines despite the rainy weather.

This was the second annual and like the first the "show went on" despite the rain....As Shaun stated to the competitors in the show....We're all Cowboys and Cowgirls...we can handle it"....And that they did.

We're looking forward to the third annual next October!

Don't forget all you equestrian enthusiasts....Shaun will be hosting a new segment on Michigan Magazine give tips on horse handling utilizing "Natural Horsemanship"

We had planned on debuting the segment this November but productions has postponed the debut until a yet unspecified time....We're excited about the segments and I think you all will enjoy them...All I can say is "STAY TUNED" for the latest on the upcoming show.

The second segment on this week's show deals with our visit with Barbara Yoder and her book FINDING THE WAY.

Barbara, here husband Eugene and there children left the Amish life to live a more secular lifestyle...That decision can be felt in her work of fiction that is inspired by her Amish life growing up.

It's a wonderful read and we'll be bringing you part two of our visit in a couple of weeks

A curious thing about Barbara since we last met a few years back....We attempted to contact her for an update on the progress of her new book she was starting the week we visited

We can not get hold of her by phone or email....And her web site is no longer in existence!

This leads me to think that possibly she may have returned to the Amish Faith.

In our interview in this week's show I could feel a bit of longing in her heart to return to her family and friends she had to leave behind when she left the faith...

We will let you know if we do make contact with Barbara or Eugene Yoder of Chase

Meanwhile....you can still purchase a copy of FINDING THE WAY at our website dedicated to books and authors we've featured on Michigan Magazine! CLICK HERE Then click on the tab "MORE" then "Michigan Books Reviewed"

We hope you enjoy this week's show #1845 at your leisure...on demand here:

Monday, November 4, 2013


Our Favorite Time of Year...Happy Thanksgiving!