a starry summer night

it was the second to last night we spent in the states this summer, our last night at Husband's childhood home. shooting the night sky from his yard had been on my to-do list for years but I had never quite managed it.

we came home late from a friend's house, exhausted and emotionally charged, knowing that the next day was our last before traveling back to Taiwan. we got out of the car and happened to look up before heading inside. a moonless sky glittered with stars above us.

it was just after midnight and we had a full day ahead of us. but it was one of those moments where you know you'll regret not staying up more than you'll regret the lack of sleep.

I ran inside for my camera and a tripod. I hadn't adjusted my settings ahead of time but after some trial and error I found my way. I still think there's room for improvement on my night photography skills, but this went worlds better than my first attempt in New Zealand.

we played around with silhouettes and framing the sky in trees until my battery died. and then my other battery died. I was a little disappointed... but it was after 2am and sleep sounded pretty amazing. we went inside and crashed, and were [of course] tired the next day.

but I still think it was worth it.

[and for those interested in the setting used: most of these photos were shot at ISO 800 or 1600, between 6 and 15 seconds exposure, with a 22mm lens set at f2]

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notes from an expat at home

there are a lot of fantastic things about being an expat visiting your home country. but some things can be a struggle - such as keeping up with your blog. I think you all understand why I've had trouble making time to write. between driving all over the state of Michigan, sorting through all our stuff that's been in storage for 3 years, trying to see all our family and friends, and stuffing ourselves with amazing food [not to mention extremely limited data plans] the internet has been low on my priority list.

we've been splitting time between the west coast and east side of the mitten. your somewhat unrelated photos today are from two sunset walks, on opposite sides of the state. the Lake Michigan shore from Stearns Park in Ludington, and country fields and dirt roads from Armada. [my mother-in-law is moving to Texas this fall, so the next time we visit the US, the corn fields will be replaced by tacos and brisket.]

we leave for Taiwan again on Tuesday, so we've entered the crunch time of our trip. maybe the worst part about coming back for the summer is knowing that you can't do everything. there's always going to be some persons you didn't meet up with, some restaurant you never made it to, some task left incomplete. you're going to end up disappointing at least 5 people with your plans. but after 3 years of this, I think I've finally accepted that it's just the way it goes.

I've learned not to make epic summer bucket lists because there's never enough time or gas in the car to make it all happen. however, there have been some amazing moments this summer. if you've been following along on snapchat [@jamiethewalker] or instagram, you've probably caught a peek at some of these moments:

• being matron of honor at my cousin's wedding
• meeting my nephew Derek for the first time
• morning runs out to the lighthouse
• climbing the bluff at Sleeping Bear
• snuggling with my long-lost kittens
• a video game marathon slumber party
• finally getting my first tattoo
• 4th of July antics at my family's cabin
• discovering my new favorite gluten free beer: Stone's Delicious IPA
• an epic game of Risk with my nephews
• trashing my wedding dress with a photoshoot
• margaritas on the El Azteco roof deck

while it's been a lovely summer, Husband and I are both SO excited to head back to Taiwan and settle in to life in Taipei. he will be starting a new job, and I will [hopefully] get back into my blogging and writing routine. I've been thinking a lot about the blog and where I might want to take it. there are still a lot of back-logged posts to write from New Zealand, I have several requests to revive my food blog, and a dozen ideas for new series to share. after all the sorting through of our physical stuff that I've done these past few months, I think it's time to tackle the idea pile. I'd like to take a step back and refocus on what I'm doing here, maybe make a bit of a fresh start.

while I'm really looking forward to exploring more of Taipei and organizing our new apartment, at this point I'm most excited to be done living out of a suitcase. I'm ready to create a new routine for our life and start planning adventures for the year to come. oh, and to have my unlimited data plan back please.

[there are things about America that I miss, but there are also things that drive me crazy. the ridiculously slow and overpriced cell service has been near the top of the crazy list this summer.]

this part - the end - of our visit is always bittersweet. I'm ready for my own space and for dumplings and dragons, but my heart still hurts to leave home behind. even after three years of doing this whole expat thing. the trans-continental summer gets easier each time [from a jet lag and packing experience perspective at least] but the emotional trauma hasn't lessened. I'll be saying some goodbyes the next few days... but trying to remember that on the other end I'll be saying hellos.

Michigan, you gave us a wonderful summer. plenty of sunshine soaked up, tasty food eaten, miles walked and memories made. we'll see you again soon, xo.

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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

I could write a love letter to Michigan summers.

pulling on long sleeves with your morning coffee to ward off a chill. reflections of light and sound off the surface of the lake. knowing the difference in scent between cedar and pine, campfire smoke and your neighbor's barbecue. sleeping with the windows open at night. adrenaline and wind in your hair as you glide across the water on a single ski. the feel of just enough sun on your skin - that you start turning pink but don't burn. shaking sand out of your shoes and not caring that it got there. sunset strolls down the pier or around the marina before stopping for ice cream.

the sand dunes and blue waters of West Michigan hold a lifetime full of memories for me. we visited often when I was a child, and in recent years I've spent nearly half my summers here. this week I have been hanging out with my family in Ludington, and we drove 2 hours north up to Empire to visit the dunes on Tuesday since the weather was clear and sunny.

I probably don't need to explain why Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore was voted the most beautiful place in America by GMA in 2011. but for me, I love it because of the memories here. at the end of the Pierce Stocking scenic drive there is a steep bluff that we would run down as kids. from the top, you can't even see the shore. the sand gently curves outward before plunging at a very steep angle towards Lake Michigan. though there is a warning sign posted that the trip may take 2 hours, my sister and brother-in-law and I decided to take the challenge.

the descent was easy, and the views from the bottom were stunning. Lake Michigan was showing off with water just as aqua and blue as beaches I've seen in Bali and Boracay. [it was a lot colder - but hey - the Great Lakes only fully thawed out a few weeks ago.]

the climb back up was a little tough, but we made it in about 30 minutes including a few stops for water. a few decades ago, I think it took me half that time. just be prepared to get sandy.

if you aren't up for the bluff, you can watch the crazies adventurers from the nearby observation deck, or hike over the dune crest for more views. there is also a "dune climb" further along the drive - that takes a few hours round trip but isn't as steep. pretty much, you can't go wrong because the views are amazing everywhere in the park.

can you see why Lake Michigan makes me all heart-eye-emoji? combining childhood nostalgia with stunning scenery is always a win. [ps- thanks to my sister for snapping all these photos of me! I will admit she made it back up the bluff faster than I did.]

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my favorite things to do in Ludington Michigan

in about 7 weeks, I'll be heading back to Michigan for the summer. though I've been living in Taiwan for the past 3 years, and on the east coast of the US for the 5 before that, I think I'll always be a Michigan girl at heart. I spent many summer vacations camping and visiting Lake Michigan on the west side of the state, and Ludington in particular. in fact, my family loves Ludington so much that my parents purchased property and plan to retire there. I'll be lucky to stay with my parents for a few weeks in June and July and soak up the mitten state magic. today I want to share with you 7 of my favorite things, which you MUST do if you ever visit Ludington. [I know I plan to check these all off my list this summer!]

visit the state park

Ludington State Park is the most popular of the state parks in Michigan for good reason. if you need an excuse to camp, being able to view the spectacular sunrises over Hamlin Lake might be it. for those opting to stay in town- you can buy a park pass to visit during regular hours for hiking, biking, kayaking, floating down the Big Sable River in an inner tube, or just lying on the beach at Lake Michigan.

grab a cone at House of Flavors

this place is a Ludington landmark, and was once featured on the cover of Life Magazine. it's been renovated several times over the years, but still clings to the 50's diner/soda shop feel. House of Flavors has a full-service restaurant, and a separate counter for ice cream only. you can grab a cup or cone, or take home a whole pint or quart. I highly recommend their specialty flavor: Blue Moon. behind the restaurant is the ice cream manufacturing facility which creates and packs flavors for many Midwest and national grocery brands.

wave to the Badger

The SS Badger is a historic carferry that runs across Lake Michigan from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI. during the summer months, it departs from Ludington twice daily - once in the morning and once at night. tourists and locals alike head to the marina or walk down the pier to wave hello and goodbye to passengers onboard as it sails by.

explore downtown

there are at least a dozen antique shops in the walkable downtown area of Ludington. hunt around for some finds, stop into one of the many apparel stores for a tshirt, or pop into Redolencia Cafe for a coffee or Le Serving Spoon for a sweet snack. you can also stop by the local farmer's market on Thursdays and sample some delicious Michigan produce.

hike to Big Sable Point Lighthouse

one of West Michigan's most iconic lighthouses, Big Sable Point is only reachable by hiking or biking through the state park. [I would suggest hiking, since the trail is quite sandy and you may end up walking your bike most of the way.] the state park has 18 miles of trail to explore, so if lighthouses aren't your thing, there's still plenty to see. inland lakes, sand dunes, forest trails, and of course Lake Michigan.

have a drink at the Mitten Bar

this venue serves all Michigan-made products. you can sample some of the best beers, ciders, wines, meads, and spirits that "the mitten state" has to offer here. on weekends they also have live music. check their Facebook page for information on performances and drink specials.

watch the sunset from Stearns Park

jutting out from Stearns Park Beach is a half-mile long pier with the North Breakwater Light at the end. if you arrive a bit early you can pass the time by playing shuffleboard in the park, or by taking a tour of the lighthouse. during summer hours you may also be able to catch the Badger car ferry heading back out to Wisconsin for the night.

from sunup to sundown, I hope I've given you a few good reasons to visit Ludington. I am SO excited to soak in the West Michigan magic this summer. no matter how many places I travel around the globe, this town will always hold a special place in my heart.

does anyone else have a town like this - not where you live, not where you grew up, but still feels like home?

look familiar? this originally appeared as a guest post on Route Bliss

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