🍒Summer's End in Northern Michigan!!🍒 A cozy refresh after an overwhelming month!

[@meghanhowe9300]

I think you'd really vibe with the Japanese approach to the seasons; they really value the time spent in season, and they don't jump ahead like we do here. Summer means watermelon and fireworks, fall the changing leaves and red beans, winter brings a lot of important holidays and traditions like new year fortunes, and spring the magnificent cherry blossoms and hanami, a special picnic you have under them that comes from the Heian court period. Food is super seasonal too, you only get persimmons at the end of the year, you may find a special kitkat flavor in stores for only 2 weeks, and sakura flavored things only for those few weeks in spring. Much of this comes from Shintoism, as it is all about the natural world. I think the philosophy of enjoying the seasons, and almost more importantly, allowing them to pass and end, knowing you took advantage of it while it was present, is a powerful mindset. (Source: lived in Japan and have studied it quite a bit)

[@MerediddyS]

Oh I love this!! Soaking up these last few days of summer!

[@hufflepuffwannabe]

also omg I would absolutely love an audiobook written and recorded by you guys!!!!!

[@MerediddyS]

Hehehe we better do it then!

[@emilyfournier9603]

I love getting to watch during my lunch break! I teach high school English and this is the best way to decompress between classes ❤

[@MerediddyS]

🥰Thanks for watching!

[@sofasangriamusic3337]

I've also watched their videos between classes! I teach middle and high school band (:

[@smolbean2110]

I just wanted to thank you for being the reason i found vulfpeck's music, the couple songs you routinely put in your videos drew me in and now i cant get enough!

[@TheDisplacerBeast]

Yes… Join the funky duck cult.

[@MerediddyS]

Yay! They're so good!

[@smolbean2110]

Thought I'd pop back in to say I've introduced my mom to vulfpeck and she's been loving it, texting me about which songs are playing😁

[@TheDisplacerBeast]

@@smolbean2110 thats awesome! Congrats on having a cool parent.

[@rachelsinger1717]

I just started Stardew Valley too! It sucked me in and I ended up playing for 5 hours the first night. Seeing you guys having so much fun is always the highlight of my day, especially Luna! She was smiling the whole time.

[@MerediddyS]

Yay!!! That's so fun! I get to pick it up again now that I'm back in Chicago! I can't wait to get addicted!

[@Ibelieveinthedoctor]

Your videos make me wanna MOVE 😍😍😍

[@MerediddyS]

To Michy?? Me tooooo

[@hufflepuffwannabe]

what a dream to visit so many friends in beautiful places! Also we need to talk more about the boatcar!!! WOW WOW WOW!!!! so cool!

[@MerediddyS]

Yeah it was so fun!!

[@juliagray9219]

So excited about the potential of a breredith book regardless of it’s pulpiness factor 😂

[@MerediddyS]

Hehhee we'll see what direction we go in....

[@rayr2497]

I LOVE seeing Luna so happy to be in the water 😭 she's really living her best life as a little water puppy!!! Also I'd love to hear what you think of Stardew Valley so far! Do you have animals yet? Are you gonna try to date one of the villagers?? I'd be so curious to see who you pick!

[@MerediddyS]

Hheheh yay! I let Brian take the switch back to Chicago with him! I just got back last night so I can finally play again! I wanna date so many villagers. Can you date more than one? You could in Potion Permit!

[@rayr2497]

@@MerediddyS you can date more than one!!! There's a great cutscene if you date all the men or all the women at once they all gather in either the bar or someone's house, but it does lower your friendship with all of them so I've never tried!! But then you give a bouquet to propose to one and your characters get married and they move into your farm, which is helpful. You can always change your mind later anyway! But it is suuuuuch a good cosy game, I hope you love it 🥰

[@MariaEverlasting]

Oh excited for you to get into stardew! Please give us a farm update whenever you want to! Hmmm I think it's time I start a new farm myself heehee

[@MerediddyS]

Hehe yay! It's already so fun!

[@zlim751]

I totally feel it! finished the 4th regional phenomenon but just can bring myself to finish the game. Enjoy Stardew!

[@MerediddyS]

Yeah I won't be fighting the final boss battle until I've completed every side quest and shrine so it'll be a long time!

[@keikustar]

you always know the best way to experience the seasons! it's all about getting into nature and visiting local shops/restaurants. and decorating lol

[@MerediddyS]

Yes!! I can't wait to decorate for Fall!

[@heatherhepburn3505]

Thank you for sharing this was such a relaxing video! Stardrew Valley is so fun and such a perfect game to get into in the fall, I hope you have a great time with it!

[@MerediddyS]

It's already so fun! I let Brian take the switch back to Chicago with him though so I won't be able to play til I get back!

[@Hawkknight88]

Love Stardew Valley! My wife and I played it co-op endlessly. :) I think my fave bachelorette is Haley (she's got an arc). She liked Harvey, the doctor. Happy fall. :) I'm hoping to come see ya'll perform in November! Edit In the late 90s they had an Animorphs TV show with Shawn Ashmore playing Jake. Whenever I see the actor in anything he's immediately "Jake" to me. I read all those books so many times.

[@MerediddyS]

Brian would LOVE to talk Animorphs with you! It's all he wants to talk about!

[@micheleabercrombie]

Yay so much joy!!!

[@MerediddyS]

🥰

[@alyhaugen9281]

Yay! Fall is definitely here in the Midwest and I am LIVING for it! I think my parents were in Traverse City at the same time as you, lol! I scoped out the background just in case they made a cameo (no dice :/). ALSO - My roommate and I have had the same discussion about writing a book together and like Brian we ended up brainstorming a 5 book series of smutty mafia romances based on the Knights of the Round Table, so I guess if you guys need writing motivators/accountability partners for your smutty romances... let us know?

[@MerediddyS]

Hehe omg so fun!! Best of luck on your smut!!

[@abigailwebster2203]

i love northern michigan so much!! i miss it

[@MerediddyS]

It's the best!

[@sarahnoble6852]

Thank you for sharing how beautiful Michigan is. Makes me proud that it’s my home state. ❤

[@MerediddyS]

It's the best place!

[@ScarlettBlack_Zucchini]

Thanks to your videos I now have two dream destinations for if I ever go the US again: Michigan and Chicago. You capture your surroundings so beautifully in these vlogs!! Have a wonderful week :)

[@MerediddyS]

Yay! They're beautiful places!!

[@disagreeablefrog]

Stardew Valley, yeeees! It's so good 😍Would love to hear about your experience ❤ And thanks for sharing that beach with us. 🐬Beeing near water is so good, I don't know. I just always feel better, even if it's not a vacation. It's calming, it's pretty and moody, but in a good way. 🌊

[@MerediddyS]

Yes!! I agree!

[@MeRhi97]

Love this❤ Im from Michigan, and this made me a little homesick haha I also very much relate to only saying goodbye to summer like mid september! Normal people and great believers are so good!!

[@MerediddyS]

Yay!! Now you gotta read "Tom Lake"!

[@victoriacazottes8725]

Your videos make me laugh and have such a good time!! Also, how excited are you for fall? I can’t wait!’

[@MerediddyS]

I'm getting excited!! I won't lie!

[@oliviakrueger1663]

I used to go to Michigan (near traverse city) every summer with my friends and family, and this is making me so nostalgic! Your vlogs are always amazing!

[@MerediddyS]

Traverse City is so so beautiful!

[@surreptitially]

You’re making me want to go there with my dog too!

[@MerediddyS]

Highly recommend!!

[@TheLaneyShow]

Michigan looks so beautiful! I definitely want to visit one day. ❤ About the book you didn't like, do you normally push yourself to finish books even if you don't like them? If I don't like a book, most of the time, I'm not able to make myself finish it. Just curious!

[@MerediddyS]

If it's a terrible book that isn't fun, I'll usually stop reading. This one was poorly written, but had at least a mystery that I wanted to solve, so I just plowed through it. In the end, even the mystery was poorly executed. IN MY OPINION!!! So I wish I had just stopped reading!

[@TheLaneyShow]

@@MerediddyS That’s valid! I’ve definitely done that before too.

[@clarygosky]

omg stardew valley is one of my favourite games im sure you will love it! also i added the great believers to my reading list, it seems amazing. your videos always bring comfort and levity to stressful days so thank you!! have you ever considered doing cozy streams of the games you're playing? much love to you all ❤

[@MerediddyS]

Hehe thank you! I think you need an extra device to stream games.... right? Maybe I'll look into it one day!

[@amandaflemmer6098]

I love Stardew valley and I also am really behind on Zelda

[@MerediddyS]

That's ok no need to rush!!

[@TnoyKaraxis]

When you live in michigan but don’t suddenly run into Meredith and Brian: 😢😢

[@MerediddyS]

Hhehe maybe next time!

[@michaeldemocko443]

I'm in Florida... Swamp Ass is basically a religion here, and I'm Agnostic. I don't know how to proceed.

[@MerediddyS]

LOL!!! Thanks for engaging in our swamp ass discussion!