back at the lighthouse

Saturday we went back to Sturgeon Point Lighthouse to look for Petoskey stones. It was a slightly chilly, rainy day but we lucked out and were there between storms, so we had a lot of fun. The lighthouse and keeper's house/museum were open and we had a great time walking around the keeper's house.

We couldn't go up the lighthouse because Jed wasn't tall enough and because you're not allowed to carry a baby up all the stairs. It makes sense but it's a little disappointing because we probably won't be able to go up for several years, unless we take turns. However, the view from the upstairs of the keeper's house was pretty spectacular--as long as we looked around the lighthouse tower!

 My favorite part of the keeper's house were the back stairs. They were so well used that a low place had been worn into them--the result of many trips in and out to the outhouse, the chicken coop and the well, I imagined. It was fun for me to think of the young keeper's wife doing her housekeeping on that beautiful spot.

After we got done in the keeper's house, we went out to the point to search for rocks. It was so beautiful to see the clouds rolling around.

 

 Jed had a great time carrying his bucket around in the parking lot, but once we got out there, he didn't want to be in charge of the bucket any more. Dave and I had to take turns carrying it while we looked for rocks.

 I neglected to bring a blanket from the car to cover Hank in the Moby, so I had to steal Dave's shirt to cover him up. Thankfully Dave is tough so he didn't mind too much. Hank slept like a champ the whole time we were looking for rocks.

Jed had a blast throwing rocks around on the shore and pretending his hands were turtle babies in the sand. He loves to be at the lake in any sort of weather and asks all the time if we are going. He did get pretty tired towards the end of our rock-hunting and wanted Dave to carry him back to the car.

 This is how Jed likes to wear his owl hat lately. I am not completely sure if he can see through it or not, but he hasn't run into anything while doing it, so I am not going to say anything.

 Still sleeping like a champ! I especially like the wrap outside--sometimes inside it is too hot and Hank wakes up grumpy and sweaty.

The best part of our day has to be that we actually found a Petoskey stone! We are pretty thrilled to have such a cool souvenir of Michigan and Dave is working to polish it up now. Yippee!