Wednesday, August 31, 2011

My 30th Birthday


Hello, everybody!
 I want to share a little bit of my 30th birthday celebration with you all even though it's a bit late. We just moved this past week and have been super busy packing, cleaning, repainting our old apartment and then cleaning and unpacking the new apartment. 
My husband took me out for a nice dinner and pie! We went to a movie and then he bought me a brand new camera for blogging! 
As if that wasn't enough he had a surprise up his sleeve! He planned for weeks with my sisters to have them come stay with us for part of the weekend to go antiquing at my favorite store on this side of the state. The store was having a big tent sale and he knew that I really wanted to go. I wondered why he hadn't taken me on my birthday?!


The Town and Peddler ~
My favorite store to decorate my home with antiques, home decor and crafts. It's also my go to place for gifts!


The entrance display ~ antiques on one side of the store, crafts and homemade items on the other.


This place makes me ready for Fall, my favorite time of year!


So many treasures, its hard to spot everything because there's so much to see!



Shopaholics!


I am working on distressing a child's chair and a dresser/buffet right now. I love this look!



This is my favorite booth on the craft side.


I loved the little tin signs and the jars with sand and candles. I may do both of these looks...

We headed back to for cake and ice cream before my sisters had to leave.



I wish that they could visit more often!

~*~

 Thirty is considered one of the big milestone birthdays. When I try to think about what I've learned in my thirty years. My relationship with my Savior is the most important thing. To trust God no matter what even though some days can be more difficult than I could have ever imagined. He has a plan for my life and it's perfect even though I don't understand it most of the time. 
My husband who is always patient, loving, and kind no matter what. 
My family has seen every side of me, has known me the longest and they love me no matter what! 
My friends are some of the kindest people that I know. Always fun, good for a laugh, and the easiest people to speak with and get advice from. 

I don't really have any words of wisdom of my own, so I'll share the verses that bring me much peace, comfort and joy.   

Jeremiah 29: 11 ~ 13

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

I can always go to the Lord in prayer for any need and to the scriptures for comfort ~

Philippians 4:1 ~ 10

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.



Well, friends I will try to post pictures of the furniture projects that I'm working on as soon as they're completed and then pictures of our new apartment. 

Have a wonderful rest of the Summer!


Sunday, August 7, 2011

64th Au Sable River Canoe Marathon Weekend


Every year since 1947 on the last full weekend in July; Grayling, Michigan is host to the Au Sable River International Canoe Marathon. The race begins at dusk in Grayling and ends 120 miles and 14 non-stop hours later in Oscoda, Michigan and is viewed by many spectators. The entire town is transformed on this weekend by a craft show, car show, food tents and a parade before the actual start of the marathon.


The Car Show and Lunch ~


The classic car show takes place in the uptown area of Grayling.



Probably my favorite car on display. 

~*~

We always start our day in the area of town where the car show is going on as one of the best restaurants in town is located there.


 'The Bears Den Pizzeria' is sort of a homage to Fred Bear the man who revolutionized bow hunting. Hunters will really get the decor in there!  If you ever get up north and stop into town be sure to check it out. You have to get an order of the Koala sticks! They are cheesy bread sticks like no other!  (ALL  of the food is good there though) We always stop by for some when we're in town. 

The Bears Den Pizzeria ~
243 E. Michigan Ave.
Grayling, MI 49738
(989) 344-1234


My niece, Isabel patiently waiting for her bread sticks while chanelling Holly Golightly from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' She is one of the cutest little ladies that I know! She's lots of fun and just loves shopping with the girls! 


My nephew, Jack hamming it up with Uncle Nate....His passion is Thomas the Train and beating up Uncle Nate! He is so sweet and bright! He has his hair done "Pikey (spiky) like Dad". Isn't that cute?

~*~

Off to the Fine  Arts craftshow ~


The craft show takes place in the City Park


Homemade pot holders, aprons, and cloth books


Cute idea for Christmas gift tags



Aprons....


 And more aprons ~ Maybe one of these days I'll learn to sew myself. It really makes a girl feel inspired to get creative!


These necklaces were so cute! A great price for 5 dollars!


The couple that made these were so friendly!

It's called Sassy Glass Necklaces and they have a website with a list of their events ~
www.sassyglassnecklaces.com

I bought three! My older sister bought three, one for my niece (Disney princesses) and one for my nephew (Cars).

More homemade items ~


I bought one of the plastic bag holders. So, nifty! 


I also bought this plate. 
The owner of Kountry Kollections personalizes orders for free so I had her paint the words "Give Thanks" I can't wait to hang this up in the fall!

Her website is ~ www.kountrykollections.com 



We took a break to cool our feet in the river before the long walk to our spot for the parade...

~*~

The parade ~


This picture is for my good friend Alysse! She is a bright little girl that has taught me everything I know about tractors (and combines too)! I know her mom will show her these pics and she'll get quite a kick out of them!


My sister's Mother-in-law hosted a lunch for her entire family and invited our entire family (Our Dad, 3 sisters, two husbands and three cousins) and all on her husband's birthday! What a sweet woman she is! I'm so thankful for the wonderful grandparents on the 'other side of the family' that my niece and nephews have!

~*~

A moment for antiques ~

We stayed with my cousin Nikki, her husband Mark, and their kids Alex and Christopher for the weekend. We had a wonderful time catching up with family, playing games and doing the festivities in town!
My cousin knows me well and took me for a quick trip to a thrift store and an antique store.


This shop was just an empty building for the 7 + years I lived close to town. I'm so glad that there is such a lovely store in this old building!


I love the chandelier and the checker board on the wall


I'm looking for an old lamp like these....



Brown transferware! I just love it.

~*~

The Marathon ~

There's a bit of waiting that goes on in order to get good seats (blankets and lawn chairs) for the race.
So, we took the time to take some family pics...


Four out of five sisters isn't bad! The pink and green shirts are from our dad. They say "Live it, Love it, Paddle it" and the blue shirt is for a team in the race that a family friend sponsors.


My sister Stephanie and her husband Josh. They came all the way from Boston.


Isabel with my Brother-in-law Phil. He's such a great dad!


My youngest nephew, Avery. He is adorable and lots of fun. He's very easy-going.


Girls having a good time.

~*~

* My photos are not great of the actual marathon. My camera doesn't do well with certain lighting or moving shots. I'm thinking it may be time for a new one!


Lots of people excitedly waiting for the race to begin!


A cannon shot goes off to start the race and 90 teams sprint 250 yards with two partners carrying a 30 pound canoe on their shoulders. Then they jump into the river and get in their canoes, all the while a few thousand cheering fans are screaming their heads off.  Whole groups of people start running to their cars before even seeing the first team get in the water to follow the race all night and to get a good place at the first stop. Some people are just fans while others are feeders that bring supplies to the teams.


Teams from all over the United States and Canada compete in this race. This is part of the three longest running professional canoe marathons in North America. New York (70 mile) and Quebec (113 miles) are the other two.





On Sunday morning the teams arrived at Oscoda. Of the 90 teems that started the race only 69 teams finished.

Congratulations to the winning team of Steve LaJoie (of Grayling, MI) and Andrew Triebold (of Mirabel, Quebec, CAN) They raced for 14 hours, 41 minutes.
The pair has now won four straight Au Sable Marathon victories and they also won in 2004. 

The 2nd place team was brothers Ryan and Rodney Halstead, and they were 17 minutes behind the winning team. My sister, Bethanie, is best friends with Rodney's finacee, so my family was pretty excited about their great finish!

Well friends, I hope you enjoyed this little taste of Marathon weekend that my whole family just loves going to!