As seen at the bird feeders this morning

This morning I made sure to fill up all of our bird feeders so our feathered friends would have some yummy treats to help keep them warm. Not five minutes after I filled them up we had quite the assortment of birds. I counted two blue jays, a handful of male and female cardinals, a few snow birds, and the ever present sparrows. In addition to that was a big fat red squirrel that was on the prowl for an easy meal.

I have a feeder designated for this squirrel that I always keep filled with some shelled corn. Today, he decided the new birdseed was a step up from corn and camped out in one of our feeders. After stuffing his cheeks with seeds he took a brief nap and then fled for parts unknown. I'll have to do a little extra engineering on that feeder so he can't get to the birdseed and move on to the one I have set aside for him. He's getting a bit greedy.

Anyway, stay warm and if you're on the roads - stay safe.

The 2009 Michigan Notable Books

The list of the 2009 Michigan Notable Books is already out and I didn't even get to all of the ones I wanted to read from the 2008 list. My how time flies. The titles in bold are the ones that I have added to my "to read" list which (as hard as I try) never seems to shrink. Also, I've created an online bookstore featuring the 2009 Michigan Notable Books as well as some other non-fiction Michigan books. Check it out at 2009 Michigan Notable Books.

It was on the 2000 list (back when it was merely called Read Michigan Selections) that I found one of my favorite Michigan authors, Steve Hamilton. If you love mysteries and have not read any of his - do yourself a favor and start with his first, "A Cold Day in Paradise." It won the prestigious Edgar Award (top award for a mystery novel) and introduces us to Alex McKnight and the mysteries that await in Michigan's picturesque Upper Peninsula.

• Asylum for the Insane: A History of the Kalamazoo State Hospital
• The English Major
• The Expeditions: A Novel
• "Jiffy" A Family Tradition: Mixing Business and Old-Fashioned Values
• Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka
• Looking for Hickories: The Forgotten Wildness of the Midwest
• Measure of the Heart: A Father's Alzheimer's, a Daughter's Return
• The Model T: A Centennial History
• Ninety Years Crossing Lake Michigan: The History of the Ann Arbor Car Ferries
• A Picturesque Situation: Mackinac Before Photography, 1615-1860
• Ravens in the Storm: A Personal History of the 1960s Antiwar Movement
• Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer
• Sirens of Chrome: The Enduring Allure of the Auto Show Model
• Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island
• The Toledo War: The First Michigan-Ohio Rivalry
• War as They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and America in a Time of Unrest
• When the Church Becomes Your Party: Contemporary Gospel Music
• Who's Jim Hines?
• Wreck of the Carl D.: A True Story of Loss, Survival, and Rescue at Sea
• Historic Cottages of Glen Lake

There is a plethora of great items from Michigan history in the 2009 list and as you can see, that's the bulk of what I have added to my "to read" list.

Have a Great Friday!

I give a standing ovation to Mitch Albom's Sports Illustrated article

Wow. I just read Mitch Albom's new article over at SI.com, "The Courage of Detroit." As a native Michigander whose heart goes out to our entire state I just think he hit it right on the head. My favorite quote? "We are downtrodden, perhaps, but the most downtrodden optimists you will ever meet."

Yep, that sums up Detroit and the rest of the state quite nicely. I'd wear a shirt that says, "Welcome to Michigan, home of the most downtrodden optimists you will ever meet." I'd wear that like a badge of honor.

I'm proud of our state and the people that live, work, and die here. They're the type of people that make America great.

Do yourself a favor and read The Courage of Detroit. Heck, print it out and tack it to the wall or stick it to the fridge. Pass it on and share it with everyone you know.

Thanks to the heads up on the article by Big Al over at The Wayne Fontes Experience. He mainly covers the Lions, but other Michigan sports teams are also mentioned from time to time. He tells it like it is.

Reminder that we shut down from 12/24 until 1/5/09

Just a quick reminder that we are shutting down Christmas Eve through January 5, 2009. It gives us a chance to catch our breath, re-supply all of our spent inventory, and generally enjoy time with family and friends. We'll also be installing an entirely new shopping cart system that will be a major improvement over the current setup. I really tried to get this done before the Christmas rush, but as with technology - things don't always go as planned. The new shopping cart will be full of features and options that just weren't possible under the current cart and I think it will make your gift giving experience many times better.

Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Andrew Norton, Owner Gift Baskets From Michigan LLC

Everything has been shipped - tracking info is being emailed

Just a quick note as many are asking. We have shipped out all of the orders. We're way behind on sending out the shipment tracking information and I apologize for that. Tracking info is being emailed this afternoon. For those who ordered before 5pm December 18th, your packages will all get to the addresses provided by Christmas.

Thanks for your patience. We're doing the best we can.

You must order by 5pm today for Christmas delivery

Just a quick reminder here. Orders that are to ship tomorrow, December 19th, must be placed by 5pm today, December 18th. This gives us a chance to get everything boxed up and on the truck tomorrow morning. Remember, we do not guarantee a Christmas delivery for baskets shipped after December 19th.

Also, when a product is marked Sold Out it really is sold out. Just because you can add it to your shopping cart and pay for it doesn't mean we have it in stock. We are upgrading our shopping cart software after Christmas to allow us features that will still let our products show up marked "sold out" when they are sold out, but not allow you to add it to your cart.

One last programming note. A lot of our excellent customers have called or emailed regarding the availability of the Tastes of Michigan, Very Cherry, and Michigan's Best gift crates that we build. I had hoped to have enough time to get more built than what already needs to go out the door, but that is not going to happen.

After cutting, sanding, and nailing literally hundreds of these just in the last two weeks my shoulder is hurting quite a bit. I'm getting the last batch built last night and today through gritted teeth, Motrin, and coffee. Then, I'm going to need a break from the woodshop to heal up my shoulder.

We're also working feverishly to get everything out today that we possibly can as a rather sever winter storm is racing our way bringing up to half an inch of ice on top of 6-12 inches of snow. It's awfully hard to process orders and ship items out when we don't have power ;).

Take care everybody and have a Great Day!

~ Andrew Norton, Owner Gift Baskets From Michigan LLC