Thread:61Storm/@comment-29709319-20181110010804/@comment-29709319-20190118022451

January 18: National Winnie The Pooh Day, National Peking Duck Day, National Thesaurus Day, and National Michigan.

🇺🇸Michigan's name originates from the Ojibwe word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake". There are 4 Great Lakes bordering Michigan, from east to west are Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. With a population of about 10 million, Michigan is the tenth most populous of the 50 United States, with the 11th most extensive total area, and is the largest state by total area east of the Mississippi River. Its capital is Lansing and its largest city is Detroit. It's Nickname(s): "The Great Lake(s) State", "The Wolverine State", "The Mitten State", "Water (Winter) Wonderland". Motto: "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you". State song: "My Michigan". Living insignia; Bird: 🕊American robin, Fish: 🐟Brook trout, Flower: 🌸Apple blossom, Wildflower: 🌸Dwarf lake iris, Mammal Unofficial: Wolverine, Game animal: 🦌White-tailed deer, Reptile: 🐢Painted turtle, Tree: 🌲Eastern white pine, Inanimate insignia; Fossil: Mastodon, Gemstone: 💎Isle Royale greenstone, Rock: 💎Petoskey stone. Highest point: Mount Arvon at 1,979 ft (603 m). Lowest point: Lake Erie at 571 ft (174 m). The heavily forested Upper Peninsula is relatively mountainous in the west. The Porcupine Mountains, which are part of one of the oldest mountain chains in the world, rise to an altitude of almost 2,000 feet (610 m) above sea level and form the watershed between the streams flowing into Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The geographic orientation of Michigan's peninsulas makes for a long distance between the ends of the state. Ironwood, in the far western Upper Peninsula, lies 630 miles (1,010 kilometers) by highway from Lambertville in the Lower Peninsula's southeastern corner. Michigan is the only state to consist of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula, to which the name Michigan was originally applied, is often noted as shaped like a mitten. The Upper Peninsula (often called "the U.P.") is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, a five-mile (8 km) channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. The Mackinac Bridge (familiarly known as "Big Mac" and/or "Mighty Mac") connects the peninsulas. Big Mac is 26,372-foot-long (4.995 mi; 8.038 km) and is the world's 20th-longest main span and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. The state has the longest freshwater coastline of any political subdivision in the world, being bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair. As a result, it is one of the leading U.S. states for recreational boating. Michigan also has 64,980 inland lakes and ponds. A person in the state is never more than six miles (9.7 km) from a natural water source or more than 85 miles (137 km) from a Great Lakes shoreline. The first Europeans to reach what became Michigan were those of Étienne Brûlé's expedition in 1622. The first permanent European settlement was founded in 1668 on the site where Père Jacques Marquette established Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan as a base for Catholic missions. In 1679, Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle built Fort Miami at present-day St. Joseph. In 1691, the French established a trading post and Fort St. Joseph along the St. Joseph River at the present-day city of Niles. From 1660 until the end of French rule, Michigan was part of the Royal Province of New France. In 1760, Montreal fell to the British forces ending the French and Indian War (1754–1763). Under the 1763 Treaty of Paris, Michigan and the rest of New France east of the Mississippi River passed to Great Britain. After the Quebec Act was passed in 1774, Michigan became part of the British Province of Quebec. During the American Revolutionary War, Detroit was an important British supply center. Because of imprecise cartography and unclear language defining the boundaries in the 1783 Treaty of Paris, the British retained control of Detroit and Michigan after the American Revolution. Questions remained over the boundary for many years, and the United States did not have uncontested control of the Upper Peninsula and Drummond Island until 1818 and 1847, respectively. During the War of 1812, the United States forces at Fort Detroit surrendered Michigan Territory (effectively consisting of Detroit and the surrounding area) after a nearly bloodless siege in 1812. A US attempt to retake Detroit resulted in a severe American defeat in the River Raisin Massacre. This battle, still ranked as the bloodiest ever fought in the state. Michigan was recaptured by Americans in 1813 after the Battle of Lake Erie. The more northern areas of Michigan were held by the British until the peace treaty restored the old boundaries. A number of forts, including Fort Wayne, were built by the United States in Michigan during the 19th century out of fears of renewed fighting with Britain. With the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 Michigan territory saw an influx of settlers. They worked as farmers, lumbermen, shipbuilders, and merchants and shipped out grain, lumber, and iron ore. By the 1830s, Michigan had 80,000 residents, more than enough to apply and qualify for statehood. Michigan entered the Union as a free state on January 26, 1837. The Upper Peninsula proved to be a rich source of lumber, iron, and copper. Michigan led the nation in lumber production from the 1850s to the 1880s. Railroads became a major engine of growth from the 1850s onward, with Detroit the chief hub. Michigan's economy underwent a transformation at the turn of the 20th century. Many individuals, including Ransom E. Olds, John and Horace Dodge, Henry Leland, David Dunbar Buick, Henry Joy, Charles King, and Henry Ford, provided the concentration of engineering know-how and technological enthusiasm to develop the automotive industry. Automobile production became the major industry of Detroit and Michigan, and permanently altered the socio-economic life of the United States and much of the world. With the growth, the auto industry created jobs in Detroit that attracted immigrants from Europe and migrants from across the United States, including both blacks and whites from the rural South. By 1920, Detroit was the fourth-largest city in the US. Grand Rapids, the second-largest city in Michigan, is also an important center of manufacturing. Since 1838, the city has been noted for its furniture industry. In the 21st century, it is home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies. Grand Rapids is home to a number of major companies including Steelcase, Amway, Meijer and also an important center for GE Aviation Systems. In 1920 WWJ (AM) in Detroit became the first radio station in the United States to regularly broadcast commercial programs. Michigan converted much of its manufacturing to satisfy defense needs during World War II; it manufactured 10.9 percent of the United States military armaments produced during the war, ranking second (behind New York) among the 48 states. Climate: Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate, with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages from 30 to 40 inches (76 to 102 cm) of precipitation annually; however, some areas in the northern lower peninsula and the upper peninsula average almost 160 inches (4,100 mm) of snowfall per year. Michigan's highest recorded temperature is 112°F (44°C) at Mio on July 13, 1936, and the coldest recorded temperature is -51°F (-46°C) at Vanderbilt on February 9, 1934. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section. Michigan rarely experiences earthquakes, thus far mostly smaller ones that do not cause significant damage. A 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck in August 1947. More recently, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake occurred on Saturday, May 2, 2015, shortly after noon, about 5 miles south of Galesburg, Michigan, no injuries were reported. Agriculture: A wide variety of commodity crops, fruits, and vegetables are grown in Michigan, making it second only to California among U.S. states in the diversity of its agriculture. The most valuable agricultural product is milk. Leading crops include corn, soybeans, flowers, wheat, sugar beets, and potatoes. Livestock in the state included 1 million cattle, 1 million hogs, 78,000 sheep and over 3 million chickens. Michigan is a leading grower of fruit in the U.S., including blueberries, tart cherries, apples, grapes, and peaches. Plums, pears, and strawberries are also grown in Michigan. Michigan produces wines, beers and a multitude of processed food products. Kellogg's cereal is based in Battle Creek, Michigan and processes many locally grown foods. Thornapple Valley, Ball Park Franks, Koegel Meat Company, and Hebrew National sausage companies are all based in Michigan. Education: Modernizers and boosters set up systems for public education, including founding the University of Michigan (1817, moved to Ann Arbor in 1837) for a classical academic education; and Michigan State Normal School (1849), now Eastern Michigan University, for the training of teachers. In 1899, Michigan State became the first normal college in the nation to offer a four-year curriculum. Michigan Agricultural College (1855), now Michigan State University in East Lansing, was founded as the pioneer land-grant college, a model for those authorized under the Morrill Act (1862). Many private colleges were founded as well, and the smaller cities established high schools late in the century. Michigan State University has the eighth largest campus population of any U.S. school. Michigan typically ranks third or fourth in overall Research & development (R&D) expenditures in the US. Seven of the state's universities—Central Michigan University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Oakland University, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University—are classified as research universities by the Carnegie Foundation. The state's leading research institutions include the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University, which are important partners in the state's economy and the state's University Research Corridor. Michigan's public universities attract more than $1.5 B in research and development grants each year. Michigan's education system provides services to 1.6 million K-12 students in public schools. More than 124,000 students attend private schools and an uncounted number are home-schooled under certain legal requirements. In 1927 a school bombing took place in Clinton County. The Bath School disaster, perpetrated by an adult man, resulted in the deaths of 38 schoolchildren and constitutes the deadliest mass murder in a school in U.S. history. Sports: All of Michigan's major league teams play in the Metro Detroit area. Michigan's major-league sports teams include: Detroit 🐯Tigers ⚾️baseball team play at Comerica Park. Detroit 🦁Lions 🏈football team are at Ford Field. Detroit Red Wings 🏒ice hockey team play at Little Caesars Arena. And the Detroit Pistons men's 🏀basketball team also play at Little Caesars Arena. The Michigan International Speedway is the site of 🏎NASCAR races. Michigan is home to one of the major 🛶canoeing marathons: the 120-mile (190 km) Au Sable River Canoe Marathon. The Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race is also a favorite. Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams was born in Saginaw. The 2011 World Champion for Women's Artistic Gymnastics, Jordyn Wieber is from DeWitt. Wieber was also a member of the 🥇gold medal winning team at the London Olympics in 2012. Tourism: With 78 state parks, 19 state recreation areas, and 6 state forests, Michigan has the largest state park and state forest system of any state. The state is home to several areas maintained by the National Park Service including: 1️⃣Isle Royale National Park! Isle Royale is the only American national park to entirely close in the winter months, due to extreme weather conditions. Isle Royale National Park was established on April 3, 1940. It is the largest island in Lake Superior, it is over 45 miles (72 km) in length and 9 miles (14 km) wide at its widest point. The park is made up of Isle Royale itself and approximately 400 smaller islands, along with any submerged lands within 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of the surrounding islands. The Greenstone Ridge is a high ridge in the center of the island and carries the longest trail in the park, the Greenstone Ridge Trail, which runs 40 miles (64 km) from one end of the island to the other. The park has two developed areas: 🍁Windigo, at the southwest end of the island (docking site for the ferries from Minnesota), with a campstore, showers, campsites, rustic camper cabins and a boat dock. 🍁Rock Harbor on the south side of the northeast end (docking site for the ferries from Michigan), with a campstore, showers, restaurant, lodge, campsites, and a boat dock. The park has 36 designated wilderness campgrounds. Some campgrounds in the interior are accessible only by trail or by canoe/kayak on the island lakes. Other campgrounds are accessible only by private boat. 2️⃣Keweenaw National Historical Park! The Copper Mining history and heritage is documented in many area museums, visitor centers and literature. In 1843, six years before the California Gold Rush, prospectors came to the Keweenaw not for gold, but for copper. In 1848, the Quincy Mining Company was established and became the second largest mine in the Lake Superior region by the late 1880’s. Today, visitors can explore a 2,400 foot section of the Quincy Mine at the seventh level to see what life was like for mine workers, and tour the 1918 Hoist house which contains the World’s Largest Steam hoist. The Quincy Mine was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989 and in 1992 became a partner with Keweenaw National Historical Park. 3️⃣Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore hugs the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It's known for the dramatic multicolored Pictured Rocks cliffs. Unusual sandstone formations like 📍Miners Castle and 📍Chapel Rock define the park’s headlands. Twelvemile Beach has a trail through a nearby white birch forest. Remnants of shipwrecks dot the shoreline around 📍Au Sable Point’s 19th-century lighthouse. Pictured Rocks offers the opportunity to explore miles of pristine beaches, hike nearly 100 miles of trails, view towering sandstone cliffs, and experience the serenity of northern woodlands. The best way to see all of the Pictured Rocks is to take a cruise on the Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises. This is your winter wonderland for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, winter camping, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. Viewing ice "caves" and ice formations has become a popular winter activity at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the surrounding area. Ample lake effect snow, numerous waterfalls, and porous sandstone cliffs creates ideal conditions for ice climbing. 4️⃣Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore! The most prominent features, and those for which the park is named, are the perched dunes above Lake Michigan. These immense sand dunes are “perched” atop the already towering headlands that are glacial moraines. The dune overlooks at the Sleeping Bear, Empire and Pyramid Point bluffs are about 400 feet above Lake Michigan. With 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water oriented. Although the Lakeshore is long and narrow, it still has the depth for excellent representations of several northern hardwood and conifer forest types, abandoned farm site meadows, wetlands, lakes, streams, and bogs and splendid examples of glacially caused landforms. Whether you are on the sandy bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, in a canoe on one of the many inland lakes, hiking the myriad of trails through the forest, or visiting the Manitou Islands in Lake Michigan you will have a wonderful opportunity for bird watching, wildlife viewing, and for just enjoying nature at its best. 5️⃣Huron National Forest, & 6️⃣Manistee National Forest! The Huron-Manistee National Forests are two separate national forests, the Huron National Forest and the Manistee National Forest, combined in 1945 for administration purposes and which comprise 978,906 acres of public lands, including 5,786 acres of wetlands, extending across the northern lower peninsula of Michigan. With many recreation opportunities for visitors, habitat for fish and wildlife and resources for local industry there is something here for everyone. Recreation: Beaches & Dunes, Bicycling, Camping & Cabins, Fishing, Hiking, Horse Riding, Hunting, Nature Viewing, OHV Riding, Picnicking, Rocks & Minerals, Scenic Driving, Water Activities and Winter Sports. 7️⃣Hiawatha National Forest is a 894,836-acre National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Commercial logging is conducted in some areas. The Hiawatha offers visitors access to undeveloped shores of three of America’s great inland seas -- Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron. When you first enter the Hiawatha National Forest, look around. At first glance, you'll see a forest with abundant wildlife, miles of rivers and streams, and dozens of waterfalls. You'll see a forest that touches the scenic shorelines and beaches of three Great Lakes, and is home to six historic lighthouses. You'll notice Grand Island and Round Island, two great lakes islands. You'll see historical structures, archaeological sites, and prehistoric Native American artifacts that are a window to our past, which are being preserved for our future. The Hiawatha National Forest contains six designated wilderness areas: 🔹Big Island Lake Wilderness, 🔹Delirium Wilderness, 🔹Horseshoe Bay Wilderness, 🔹Mackinac Wilderness, 🔹Rock River Canyon Wilderness, and 🔹Round Island Wilderness. Many wildlife species roam in this forest including timber wolves, white-tailed deer, golden eagles, black bears, moose, coyotes, bobcats, bald eagles, beavers, red foxes, river otters, Canadian lynxes, hawks, muskrats, weasels, sandhill cranes, minks, and wild turkeys. There are five National Wild and Scenic Rivers in the Forest: 🔸Carp River, 🔸Indian River, 🔸Sturgeon River, 🔸Tahquamenon River (East Branch), 🔸Whitefish River. Here are the six historic lighthouses that zstand on Hiawatha’s Great Lakes shorelines. The Point Iroquois Light is operated as a museum. The other five are: 🍁Christmas/Grand Island West Channel Front and Rear Range Lights, 🍁Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse, 🍁Grand Island North Lighthouse, 🍁Peninsula Point Lighthouse, and 🍁Round Island Lighthouse. Activities include: biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking, water Sports, wildlife viewing, swimming, and horse camping. And when there’s no snow elsewhere, winter sports enthusiasts look to the U.P. with 200 inches of snowfall yearly in some areas. 8️⃣Ottawa National Forest! The almost one million acres of the Ottawa National Forest are located in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The forest extends from the south shore of Lake Superior to the Wisconsin border. The area is rich in wildlife viewing opportunities; breathtaking views of rolling hills dotted with lakes, rivers and waterfalls; and spectacular fall colors. With its flowing water, Ottawa National Forest is used for fishing, canoeing, and lake kayaking. In winter, the Forest welcomes cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. 9️⃣Father Marquette National Memorial pays tribute to the life and work of Jacques Marquette, French priest and explorer. Marquette founded a Jesuit mission in 1671. The associated Father Marquette Museum building was destroyed in a fire on March 9, 2000. The 52-acre (210,000 m2) site contains exhibits and a fifteen-station interpretive trail. The main building is an open-concept wood structure with kiosks. 🔟Holland State Park is a public recreation area covering 142 acres (57 ha). The state park consists of separate Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan units on the northern side of the channel connecting Lake Macatawa with Lake Michiga. It is often the most visited state park in Michigan. In addition to swimming, boating, fishing, and camping, the park features dune areas, picnic areas, playgrounds, and views of Holland Harbor and the Holland Harbor Light, "Big Red". 1️⃣1️⃣Mackinac Island State Park! The island park encompasses 2.81 mi² (7.28 km²), which is approximately 80% of the island's total area of 3.78 mi² (9.78 km²). M-185 circles the perimeter of the park as the only motorless highway in the state due to the island's ban of automobiles. Historic buildings: Fort Mackinac, Fort Mackinac - museum, Fort Holmes, Mission Church - museum, Mission House, American Fur Company Retail Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum - museum, Matthew Geary House, Benjamin Blacksmith Shop - museum, Biddle House - museum, Governor's Mansion (Lawrence Andrew Young Cottage), Indian Dormitory - now the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, and McGulpin House - museum. Sites: Battlefield of 1814, British Landing, Cemeteries, Lime Kiln, Marquette Park, and Wawashkamo Golf Club. Caves and rock formations: Arch Rock, Gitchi Manitou, Sugar Loaf, Cave of the Woods, Crack-in-the-Island, Eagle Point Cave, Skull Cave, Friendship's Altar, Sunset Rock (sometimes called Chimney Rock), Devil's Kitchen, and Robinson's Folly. 1️⃣2️⃣Au Sable State Forest is a state forest in the north-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The Au Sable State Forest is a byproduct of the lumbering boom in Michigan during the late 19th century. From Mio Pond to Lake Huron, the Au Sable is primarily managed by the HMNF. The river is managed in two sections, one from Mio Pond to Alcona Dam Pond, the second from Alcona Dam to Lake Huron. The Au Sable National Scenic River stretches 23-miles, from Mio to Alcona Pond. Activities: 🍁Highbanks River Trail! A short, 7-mile hike along the bluffs of the Au Sable River will provide day hikers with some of the best, and most dramatic, views of the Au Sable River, where hikers or skiers will be able to look over the river valley, with clear views almost to Lake Huron in some spots. 🍁Lubmerman's Monument Visitor Center and Forest Discovery Trial! Lumberman’s Monument Visitor Center interprets the area’s colorful lumbering past. The 14-foot Lumberman’s Monument stands on a high bank with the Au Sable River providing a scenic backdrop. 🍁River Road National Scenic Byway! The twenty-two mile River Road National Scenic Byway extends westward from Lake Huron into the Huron National Forest. It parallels the historic Riviere aux Sable (River of Sand). Lumbermen’s Monument Visitor Center sits at the center of the byway. 1️⃣3️⃣Mackinaw State Forest is a 717,500-acre (2,904 km2) forested area. It is located in the northern area of the Lower Peninsula. Fifty miles (80 km) of the North Country Trail run within the Mackinaw State Forest. 🍁Deadman's Hill is a scenic overlook and trailhead near Elmira, Michigan within the Mackinaw State Forest; the overlook enjoys a panoramic view over the headwaters of the Jordan River, and the trailhead serves an 18,000-acre (73 km2) parcel of state forestland that surrounds the same river headwaters. A large proportion of the trees in the upper Jordan River valley are sugar maples, and the overlook is a noted fall color viewing spot. 🍁Tourism in metropolitan Detroit draws visitors to leading attractions, especially: ❄️The Henry Ford is a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex and a National Historic Landmark in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan. The museum collection contains the presidential limousine of John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre, Thomas Edison's laboratory, the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop, the Rosa Parks bus, and many other historical exhibits. It is the largest indoor-outdoor museum complex in the United States. ❄️Detroit Institute of Arts is located in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, has one of the largest and most significant art collections in the United States. With over 100 galleries, it covers 658,000 square feet with a major renovation and expansion project completed in 2007 that added 58,000 square feet. The DIA collection is regarded as among the top six museums in the United States with an encyclopedic collection which spans the globe from ancient Egyptian and European works to contemporary art. ❄️Detroit Zoo is situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, it provides a natural habitat for more than 2,000 animals representing 245 species. The Detroit Zoo was the first zoo in the United States to use barless exhibits extensively. The zoo made additional news in 2005 when it became the first U.S. zoo to give up its elephants on ethical grounds, claiming the Michigan winters were too harsh for the animals and that confining them to the elephant house during cold months was psychologically stressful. At the Giraffe Encounter, guests are able to feed four giraffes from a balcony pavilion that extends into their habitat. The 4-acre Arctic Ring of Life, which opened in October 2001, is home to two polar bears, gray seals, harbor seal and arctic foxes. It is among North America's largest polar bear exhibits. The Polk Penguin Conservation Center (PPCC), opened in April 2016 and is the largest center for penguins in the world. Museums include: 🍁Detroit Historical Museum! It chronicles the history of the Detroit area from cobblestone streets, 19th century stores, the auto assembly line, toy trains, fur trading from the 18th century, and much more. 🍁Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History! The museum holds the world's largest permanent exhibit on African-American culture. The Museum owns more than 35,000 artifacts and archival materials. Some of the major collections it is home to include the Blanche Coggin Underground Railroad Collection, the Harriet Tubman Museum Collection, a Coleman A. Young Collection and a collection of documents about the labor movement in Detroit called the Sheffield Collection. And much, much more. 🍁Arab American National Museum is the first museum in the world devoted to Arab American history and culture. The museum is also a part of the Smithsonian Affiliations. The museum features three permanent exhibits. The first floor features the contributions of the Arab civilization such as science, medicine, mathematics, architecture, and the decorative arts. The second floor focuses on the Arab experience in America, including a gallery about prominent Arab-Americans such as Ralph Nader and Helen Thomas. Documents and artifacts from Arab Americans related to immigration and the immigration process are displayed, and stories of Arab Americans are portrayed in video or audio recordings. Other activities: Detroit is the largest American city and metropolitan region to offer casino resorts. Four major casinos in the metro area: MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown, Motor City, and Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Hunting and fishing are significant industries in the state. Charter boats are based in many Great Lakes cities to fish for salmon, trout, walleye, and perch. Michigan ranks first in the nation in licensed hunters. Notes: 1️⃣Michigan has more public golf courses, registered boats and lighthouses than any other state. 2️⃣Battle Creek, known as "Cereal City", is the headquarters of Kellogg. 3️⃣Benton Harbor–St. Joseph is the headquarters of Whirlpool Corporation. 4️⃣East Lansing is the home of Michigan State University. 5️⃣Jackson is the headquarters of CMS Energy. 6️⃣Manistee is home to the world's largest salt plant, owned by Morton Salt. 7️⃣Marquette is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula with 19,661 people and home of Northern Michigan University. 8️⃣Midland is the headquarters of the Dow Chemical Company and the Dow Corning Corporation. 9️⃣Sault Ste. Marie is the home of the Soo Locks and Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge. 🔟Traverse City is the "Cherry Capital of the World", making Michigan the nation's largest producer of cherries and is also the largest city in Northern Michigan. 1️⃣1️⃣Holland is the home of Tulip Time, the largest tulip festival in the US. 1️⃣2️⃣The largest section of the North Country National Scenic Trail passes through Michigan.

🐻National Winnie the Pooh Day commemorates author A.A. Milne who brought the adorable, honey-loving bear to life in his stories which also featured his son, Christopher Robin. A.A. Milne was born January 18, 1882. Milne’s lovable Pooh Bear, as he was fondly called, is a fictional bear inspired by a black bear named Winnie who lived at the London Zoo during World War I. The author’s son, Christopher Robin, would visit the bear often and named his own teddy bear after her and a swan named Pooh. This friendship inspired a collection of books starting with Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926. The books were illustrated by E.H. Shepard. In the 1960s, Disney bought the rights to the Winnie-the-Pooh characters dropping the hyphen from Pooh’s name. The illustrations were a bit different, too. Milne’s stories have been translated into over 50 languages and are considered classic children’s stories today.

🦆National Peking Duck Day! The national dish of China, this dish is considered a delicacy due to its elaborate preparation and intense flavors. Since the Yuan Dynasty established by Kublai Khan, the process for preparing Peking Duck is rooted in tradition and has been perfected over thousands of years. The crispy, flavorful skin is the signature element of Peking Duck. The preferred bird for this dish is the White Beijing duck or in the United States the Pekin duck. They are raised for 65 days before being brought to slaughter. It is plucked, pumped full of air between the skin and the meat, soaked in boiling water, skewered and hung to dry. While drying, the duck is glazed with a sugar coating and left for 24 hours. This whole process adds to the crispness of the skin. The duck is then roasted hanging from the center of the oven to allow the fat to drip, basting the skin as it does. When presented, Peking duck is often sliced artfully by the chef before the diners. Traditionally served in three portions, a Peking duck meal begins with the crispy skin which diners dip into sugar. Following the skin, thin pancakes are filled with the tender duck meat, hoisin and bean sauces and cucumbers, onions and garlic. The final serving is a duck soup or broth.

📓National Thesaurus Day is in honor of Peter Mark Roget, the author of Roget’s Thesaurus, who was born on this day in 1779. In 1840, Roget retired from a successful career in medicine and spent the rest of his life working on “Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases.” He published his first book of synonyms in 1852. The thesaurus has been used for centuries by writers and poets to help make their writing come to life.

Oh, I love Winnie The Pooh! My favorite nickname Pooh Bear! I never had Peking Duck. Sounds complicated to prepare. This is as close as I'm going to get to writing a Thesaurus. Michigan is definitely one of those states I would visit.

With Gilbert and Bixby romping and playing I hope you have a house left by the time Gilbert is a year old😂. Got to love them❤️! Their so cute together.

Sending warm hugs!🐶🐶💕❄️☃️💕