A Birthday Trip

hello!

I was painting this morning and getting frustrated so I thought I would walk away for a bit and come and tell you about our weekend, or at least our Saturday.

The 18th was my daughters 14th birthday. Where does the time go?!

She wanted to go up to Glen Lake for the day with her BFF and since it doesn't take much for me to say yes to going there, I was happy to grant her birthday wish.

So my daughter, her BFF and her mom, which is also my friend, climbed in the Jeep and off we went!

It was a cloudy day and around 55-60 degrees, not too bad.  It is about a 2 1/2-3 hour trip but beautiful all the way up.

We stopped at a lighthouse in  Benzie County called Point Betsie. It is the oldest standing structure in that county and was built in 1858.  

As of today it is managed by a group of volunteers that make sure that this beautiful historic lighthouse is kept up and cared for.

After our stop there we made it to Glen Lake and had some lunch and then ventured off to a few beaches along Lake Michigan where the girls looked for treasures in the shore.

(my daughter is in the blue sweatshirt)

We then made our way up to Leeland.

It was really cold there so we didn't stay too long.

We even stopped to photograph a local. :)

All in all the trip was fun and the girls and myself and my friend enjoyed getting away for the day.

I can't wait until the summer when I can go park my buns on the dock there and just relax in the sun by the water. :)

Have a wonderful week!!

Sunshine On My Shoulders.....

...makes me happy!!!

I love John Denver, he was always my favorite guest on the Muppet Show!!  :)

He was an amazing singer and songwriter, and another brilliant soul taken too early.

The sun has been shining here for a couple days but it is too cold to go out and thoroughly enjoy it.

I am longing for the days where I can go to the beach and feel the warmth of the sun on my shoulders, my feet buried in the sand and listening to sound of the water, making this girl VERY happy!!

Since it is supposed to snow again this weekend I thought I would leave you with some rays of love shining down to warm you up.

Source: simonlekias.com via Michelle on Pinterest

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Have a wonderful and warming weekend.

*Thank you so much for all your kind comments about my Papa's carvings. It means so much to me that I can share them with you.
I also wanted to apologize for the confusion, my Papa is my grandpa, I called my grandparents Grammy and Papa, sorry about that.

Sand and Sea Sunday - Fathers Day

This past week was pretty gloomy and rainy but that didn't stop the kids and I from taking our morning drives out to the lake.

These are just a few pictures we took of the dense fog coming over Lake Michigan.

The marina almost looks haunted but in a romantic kind of way.

I am the only the that sees that?

:)

This little one now comes with us, she does not do very well all alone yet.

I am pretty sure she is enjoying herself.

I also wanted to say Happy Fathers Day!

This is my dad, still skiing at the age of 69!

(my mom still skies too but she would hurt me if I showed you, maybe one day she will let me.

Love you mom!!)

Thank you daddy for all you have done for me.

You encourage me

believe in me

walk beside me

catch me when I fall

pick me back up

dust me off

guide me

love me no matter what

You are my hero

my rock

and I will forever be 12 in your eyes and you know what, I am really ok with that now.

I love you more!

Linking up to Sand and Sea Sunday at the Gypsea Nurse!

A Breezy Evening at the Beach

Last night felt like fall here in Michigan. The air was cool and crisp and wet with winds coming out of the west. So, we decided to go to the beach to take some pictures of the waves.

Little did we know, so did half of the town!

You know you are going to be in for a treat when the red flag is flying!!

Lake Michigan is beautiful all the time, but when the winds pick up her waves paint the horizon and she is magnificent!!

The poor girl almost blew away!!!

Little tug boat tucked away in the cove safe from the wind and waves.

It did get pretty windy here yesterday and you can see some of the damage from 40+ mile per hour winds.

This weekend is supposed to be a little nicer and hopefully we can have our "bonfire" if the winds die down.

I wish everyone a happy Labor Day weekend and hope that you can soak in the last of the summer!

Be safe!

XO

Message From The Beach

My best friend moved to South Carolina this summer to pursue her dreams of palm trees and the ocean...oh and a new job. It still seems odd that I don't get to see her every day, we worked together at the same veterinarian's office.

Even though we still call, text, skype, and facebook (this is where I love technology!) it sometime isn't the same as talking to her face to face and to give and get a hug when you are having one of those days.

Well the other day I opened up my facebook and saw this...

Her and her daughter were playing in the waves and she decided to write all her loved ones a message from the beach! I was so excited that tears ran down my face!

I miss her so much but I know that her heart has found a home and she is happier than I have seen her in a long time!!!

I miss you BFF and I love you!!!!

Coastal Images from Carol Saxe

I am busy painting away today so not much to share other than I am knee deep in a huge mess! But if this turns out how my mind is thinking it will, it will be all worth it!

Sp today I thought that I would share some images of one of my favorite artist, Carol Saxe.

Some of the images I am sure you will recognize, especially the images of large, beautiful windows that open up to the sea, but take a look at some of her other work with architecture and dogs and cats! They are so beautiful!

Click here to go to her web page.

Below are some of my favorites!

"Seaside Porch"

"Harbor Scene"

"Morning Breeze"

"Dockside"

"Post Modern Porch"

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Lake Michigan Sunset

Yesterday was a typical HOT and HUMID day in Michigan so last night we decided to go to the beach to cool down!

The water was warm but still refreshing and there was a slight breeze which was enough to cool you off a bit.

I LOVE to run my toes through the sand!!

We took a walk down the beach to see what we could see. Now you know how much I love driftwood....if I could, I would so take this home!!

There is a house on this beach that is one of my favorite! It reminds me of a house on The Cape. The outside is perfect in every way. I so would love to see the inside!

Can you see yourself sitting on the beach by the fire?

We started to make our way back as the sun was setting.

(had to get a picture of the driftwood tree again)

I sometimes forget how beautiful the sunsets really are.

But nights like this quickly remind me that I am only a stones throw away from witnessing nature at one of its best and all its beautiful array of colors.

With the moon in the sky already, I took a deep breath in, snapped my last picture and retired for the night.

A perfect end to a busy day!

Have a wonderful weekend!!