Keena Homestead Studios

Greetings and welcome to our blog. What a year it has been with so many new experiences. In July 2024, we moved from the hot and dry deserts of the Coachella Valley in California to real seasons and cooler weather of Midwest Michigan. So far, so good. By the way, “Yes! I survived my first Michigan winter.”

A little introduction is needed. We are Jim and Michelle, a recently retired couple from the Coachella Valley in Southern California. Jim was born here in the Mitten before moving West in his youth. Me, I had only lived in So. Cal my whole life! Anyhow, yes, I know it snows and is cold. Our first winter was full of snow and freezing temps. I have now experienced below zero temps, and I survived! Truthfully, I am sure that I would be singing a different tune if I were younger and had children to worry about and had to work. Lucky for me, I do not drive any longer, probably why I had no issues with the snow and cold. My husband had lived the first few years of his life in Michigan but was eager to come back. Me, I was excited, albeit a little apprehensive about the weather. Our first night in Michigan, we were treated to a loud and bright thunderstorm that lit up the night sky. I’m getting used to the popup rain showers and have learned to layer my clothes accordingly. Speaking of weather, it is so different than So. Cal but not so different. According to various news reports, this area is experiencing a drought. Yeah, hard for me to imagine that this place that is so lush and green is going through a drought. However, then we had visited a damn not too far down the road and it was three feet under the full line. I had photos but cannot locate them at the moment. Viva the over fifty brain!

Life has been good. Every drive around town is like sightseeing to me because the scenery is always changing. There may be tall corn stalks in the field down the street today and tomorrow they are gone. In the past year we have seen some of the most amazing landscapes. In the summer there are plenty of lush, green fields and bushy trees. Fall brings my favorite colors, yellow, red and orange before the leaves fall and cover the ground. Oh, winter and it’s bony, leafless trees! It is quite a sight when there is an early morning freeze, and those same branches are lined with ice. It truly looks like it’s all fake and a movie prop.

The following photos were shot during 2024-2025 out and around Midwest Michigan. I am a gal that takes lots of photos by the way so get ready!

^{The above photos were snapped in Summer 2024.}

^{The above photos were Winter 2024-25}

^{The above photos were snapped in Spring 2025.}

I save the best, in my opinion, for last, Fall. Fall is my favorite season, mainly because of Halloween.

Fall is officially here on September 22 at 2:19 PM EDT in the Northern Hemisphere. Note to self, I was just looking at the Farmer’s Almanac and it mentions that this Fall will be warmer than last year for the Midwest. Maybe I will get a few tomatoes and jalapenos this season after all. Oh yeah, I didn’t start my garden till almost summer so probably why the tomatoes and squash did not produce. There is always next year.

Thank you for stopping and checking out my photos and such. Hopefully. as I get the hang of setting up this WP site I can move onto other ideas that are swimming in my head. Maybe, I can even find people to collaborate with on things. By the way, I am in the process of updating this WP site so please excuse any duplicate postings.

Have a lovely day. ~ MK

_{All photos used in this post were taken by ML Keena.}