Skiing at Caberfae is the bomb in Cadillac, Michigan

We wanted to go snow skiing from Fort Wayne this holiday, and to do so driving, we needed to go 4 1/2 hours north to find snow in 2011. So we made the trip to Caberfae in Cadillac, MI. Caberfae means "stag head" in Gaelic, and this place has some old world charm. Built in 1938 as a joint venture between the U.S. Forest Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps, Caberfae was Michigan's first ski resort.

It was cut into the Manistee National Forest, and $5 contributions were collected from skiers. By 1940, enough has been raised to fund the first rope tow. Now the Meyers family of Cadillac owns the resort, and it has 34 runs on 485 vertical feet. There are four chair lifts on the 200 acres. The snow making machines keep the place busy in the early season when there's very little snow. The ski school and rentals seem to do a brisk business.

We stayed in the 36-room MacKenzie lodge, and although it was very close to the lifts, I was actually expecting something nicer. The place needs a serious update. There's no in-room coffee makers, fridges, or hair dryers. The beds are tired and springy, the drapes and furnishings worn. Be careful not to drape items over the heat registers. But the showers were warm, and I did like the in-house restaurant. I had the best fish tacos, made with tilapia, I've had in a very long time. All the food was good. We also liked their outdoor heated pool, and nice, warm hot tub with jets.

Back on the hill, some of us were on skis, and some on snowboards. All of us wore helmets. Try it, you'll like it - the helmets are actually light weight and warm, and so cosy and comfortable in the snow one forgets about wearing one. More concerning could be other people. Watch out for dangerous beginners and young kids hurdling past out of control.

It was nice to walk away from the let down of post-Christmas clean up, blast out of the Fort and head to pristine Michigan for a couple of days. Out on the ski hill a person hears plenty of quiet- the sounds of shushing snow, wind in one's face, and the muffling stillness of a light snow fall. It brings a new appreciation of the season. We had fun in sweet Caberfae, and we'll be back.

Lights, so many Lights

I write this at Christmas time, when one pastime can be watching old holiday movies. A Christmas Story, a film made by Bob Clark, was released in 1983. Not a lot of people saw it at first, but over the years it has become a modern Christmas classic. It's the story of Ralphie, a boy who dreams of nothing but a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Set in 1940s Indiana, Ralphie tries to convince everyone the gift is perfect, and everyone replies with the same phrase, "you'll shoot your eye out."

It's a funny movie, a story well told, about growing up in the U.S. and running the alley gauntlet from the neighborhood bullies. The boys' friend Flick is the victim of the freezing flag pole-playground dare "I triple-dog dare you to lick it!". Loyal to the end, he doesn't rat on his friends even after a local fire house is called to bring a hose and detach him from the pole.

One wonders where the story is going, as the idealistic father wins a prize in a contest - when it arrives, it's a lamp in pieces in a big crate. As it's assembled, it comes together as a stockinged, stilettoed leg, and its short skirt is the lampshade. The husband is thrilled; the wife, horrified. I won't give anything away here but let me just say it becomes a point of contention.

The kids listen to radio shows and win decoder rings as prizes for sending off to Ovaltine. Ralphie's teacher only gives him a C+ on his essay about his carbine BB gun, writing in red letters at the bottom, "you'll shoot your eye out!". Ralphie even goes so far as to hedge his bet by making a visit to the department store Santa, in pursuing his perfect Xmas gift.

I like their Christmas morning - younger brother Randy gets a toy Zeppelin, the father a can of Simonize - there are paper and boxes everywhere. The story has twists and surprises up until the end, and I can see why some consider it a classic. Get your hot chocolate, egg nog, champagne or whatever helps you celebrate and sit down with the family for this one. Light, a comedy, the movie comes up with the real flavor based on a true story.

I close with a note about the photos - interior shots of the Madonna Inn in central California. Stop and see it sometime. There's a little bit of Christmas everywhere, just as long as people care.

New Harmony, Indiana

New Harmony, Indiana was founded by a group of people who had separated from the German Lutheran Church. In 1814, The Harmony Society built a communal, Utopian village and many of the original buildings are still there today. In the southwestern corner of Indiana, it's a great place to visit and explore.

The brown dome in the photo is actually part of the Altar of The Roofless Church. There are labyrinths, mazes, a museum (the white building pictured, called the Atheneum), and many historical buildings.

The Harmonists were deeply religious people, and had a very successful society at this site for about eleven years. They established self-sufficient farming on 2000 acres, a steam engine, cotton and wool factories, and a complete communal society. For reasons I do not know, the entire town was sold to Robert Owen in 1825 and the group moved back to Pennsylvania. But they had prospered in Indiana, and the town has been well-preserved.

The second wave into New Harmony attracted scientists and educators. Owen's ambition was to create a more perfect society through free education and the abolishment of social classes. The town is laid out beautifully, with simplistic lines and lots of modern art and architecture mixed in with the plain, beautiful wood.

I love to go and visit, and stay overnight. I love to wander the gardens and mazes. The town is so tranquil; yet has a positive energy. Restaurants and antique stores make shopping and dining unique and fun. It's worth more discussion, so I'll be coming back to lovely New Harmony later.

Christmas Shopping all around

Christmas shopping is happening, full-on, nationwide. Here are some suggestions of what to buy this year, some of my picks for 2011:

Caboodles. This is a line of jewelry and cosmetic cases; some sturdy and box-like and some soft-sided. It's a popular way to organize one's things, and there are many patterns, designs, and sizes available. They can be found in pharmacies and department stores.

Denim. We tend to live in denim - every member of the family (almost). This is an opportunity to buy someone a larger size, a different color or style, a fancier label for the holidays. The goal here may be to give something that is actually used (worn) a lot. If they dress down a lot, help the person "class up" their usual denim look.

Fuzzy bathrobes and footed pajamas. Footie pajamas are back in style with certain sets this year - maybe they never went out of style. Slippers, and slipper boots, go in this popular group as well. Boots in general are huge with the girls and ladies; a good thing is always in style.

I also like to buy someone one very dressy thing - a velvet dress for a little girl; a slim, flattering sweater for a man (please, no big bulky sweaters). Less can be more here.

Pepperidge Farm cookies for stocking stuffers. There are so many varieties - everyone has their favorite (unless, of course, you have home-baked cookies). Also, get at least one of those old-fashioned games - such as a wooden triangle with golf tree pegs. (A player jumps tees to eliminate them down to only one.) There has to be something for simple amusement in a stocking, or the day is not fun enough.

I usually pick up a DVD or two. Electronic toys are popular with the kids but I don't think that is all they should be given. The DVD I picked up for younger ones this year is 'Phineas and Ferb'.

For a joke, I was going to pick up a Chia pet for my spouse. The commercials; the green sprouts growing out of the clay potter, you know? But when I shopped for it, I decided to actually buy the Chia herb garden, because the spouse likes to cook and likes doing same with fresh herbs. Maybe this is just a gimmick but I like the fact the package comes with everything included.

Flannel sheet sets, and same in plaid shirts. This won't appeal to you if where you live isn't cold. But, I'm into comfort and texture this year. Go all the way and buy a microwavable neck roll a person can use to warm up. If you can find one with aromatic beads inside, that's the best, in my opinion. Less than a couple minutes in the microwave to heat and it's super soothing for any aches and pains.

There are certain people for whom I buy calendars - exactly the kind of calendars they like. I am a calendar lover, and look at one every day, so I think it's a very practical gift. What I haven't bought anyone yet this year is a book. I love to read, and I like to receive things to read, but lately I have bought fewer books and instead have read more things on my Kindle. For a gift, I have thought about picking up a copy of the new biography of Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, but so far I haven't done it.

Sure, get the large things, the toys, the bikes, the electronics, the coats. And don't forget the old adage - some of the best things come in small packages.

About Holiday shopping

What is your thought process regarding Christmas shopping?

Do you ask the recipient what they want, or do you think of something you would like them to have? Do you walk through stores to glean ideas, or do you impulse buy, do you make lists? Do you take vacations and cruises instead of shop? Do you buy only for immediate family, or wrap and mail gifts, and buy things for poor families working through social service agencies?

It seems to be different for me every year. I had no interest in the "day after Thanksgiving" ritual this year, but by December 6, I was ready to work on shopping. For years, I had people on my list for whom to buy toys, but this year, the 'toy' bracket has morphed into electronic games and cosmetic items. It's too bad, and I need to rebel against that thought process, because I think playing games and using some sort of toy is important all through one's life.

It's hard for me not to remember the stories from my childhood, in which the bachelor friend of the Ingalls family (Little House on the Prairie)walked through a Dakota blizzard to bring the nearby children a pocket full of Christmas candy, and everyone felt blessed. But sometimes repeating stories like that to children only ends up shutting off their ears and shutting down. I realize we only have the present situation to make a difference.

Already, such thought and meaning into what should have been such a simple act have made an intrusion. I have children that would love to have a dog. Much of my life, I have owned dogs, even as an adult. I don't know how to make my children understand to me owning a dog is almost as much responsibility as having a child, and they are not present enough and don't even have the skills to take on the responsibility that I am unwilling to take on for them. I can't deal with the responsibility when they are not there, which is most of the time.

But I am constantly being given guilt trips on this matter, by family, outsiders and the children themselves. That's a hard one. But more on that later -

This year, because we are not traveling, I am buying more presents to wrap and put under the tree. I plan to shop on different days, in different stores, no more than one hour at a time to remain fresh. So far, I have hit Walmart ('boo' from many of you), Meier (the local mega-grocery store that I still like) Marshall's (a discount clothing store) and CVS (my local pharmacy which has good sales-promotion items and loss leaders, look up the marketing terms if you'd like). I plan to make it to Macy's, and maybe Pier 1, and Target, and more, from which I will report later.

In this year of bad economic climate, bad mood, pre-election, and other general non-spirit, I am still trying to make something of it. Even if the best moment is my young daughter's clear soprano voice ringing out. So check back in, it may be a few days, but I promise I will have something to report. Namiste, and many blessing upon you, and yours.