A Funny Thing Happens in the Fall

If there was ever a voice of summer in Michigan, Tim Allen would be it.  The way he can paint a picture with words of one of the most beautiful places in the United States is amazing. 

I can still remember one late spring afternoon, driving with the windows down and a commercial came on the radio.  I generally don't listen to commercials.  I'm a station switcher.  I switch from one radio station to another to  find a song I can sing my heart out to, but on this particular day when a commercial began it had my undivided attention. 

It started like this...

"Every summer something breezes off the water...it slows things down around here. It's called the 'Lake Effect.'  We can experience it anywhere along the 200 mile stretch of sandy shore of Michigan's beach towns.  It boasts amazing water views and sandy front porches & knows what it takes to make every day a day at the beach."

The voice was calming and familiar and as it spoke I could feel myself hanging on it's every word.  I was suddenly transported to a place where the world seemed to stand still.  That place...pure Michigan.

In the ad campaigns from Michigan's official Travel & Tourism bureau, the voice of Tim Allen coupled with the gentle notes of a melody that warms my soul have been a constant reminder that I live in Chicago.  I do not get to experience all the magic & wonder that is Michigan nearly enough.

If you've ever been to one of Michigan's beach towns you know exactly what I am talking about.  The sounds, sights and smells of the lake in mid summer are something spectacular.  I spend almost 11 months out the year dreaming about that 2 week stretch when I can experience first hand God's amazing sliver of creation we call Crystal Lake.  The sounds of children squealing with delight as they spray and splash in the clear blue water, the gentle rolling waves that serenade you as you dose off in your bed, the sunsets that never disappoint, the way the sand so softly cradles your every move or looking outside before bed and seeing more stars that you knew existed simply because we live in the "city." 

Well, I'm in Michigan as I type.  My husband and I had an amazing day.  We walked down the streets of historic Traverse City to do a little window shopping, watched the salmon in the river as they tried to make it upstream, dined in a little cafe near the beach and even now while I watch him fish for trout from the comfort of the front porch as the sun is setting I almost can't believe I'm taking in a little bit of pure Michigan.

It's bittersweet coming up here in the fall.  The excitement and busyness of summer with five children around in the fall isn't quite the same.  I miss them and know just how much this beautiful place means to each of them but I know it's also okay to be selfish.  This trip is one that James and I have been taking just the two of us, for years now.  It's our time to get away and reconnect.  Rarely do we get even 24 hours to just "be" with each other.

Tim Allen once said "A funny thing happens in the fall on the shores of Lake Michigan.  The water warms up and the vacationers go home. The beaches of Michigan become a low key, grown up place to eat great, stay up late and otherwise exercise the long lost privilege of adulthood.  A place where we can walk hand in hand, run our toes through the sand & soak up a sunset our kids wouldn't have time for. "
Michigan's has one of the most serene and stunning coast lines in America.

Tomorrow I will walk hand in hand with the love of my life.  We will hike trails covered with the colors of fall and take a nap in front of the fire if we please. 

The kids got to play all summer here.  Now it's our turn and it's all in Pure Michigan.

Finished!

It's finished! 

It took me a couple hours over the course of the last five days to finish these fire hydrants.  The goal of the Adopt-a-Hydrant program in our town was to raise money for the Fire Department.  The idea came from a young man who wanted to repay the Fire Department for the work that they do so he came up with this neat idea.

I started this adventure thinking it would be a nice outlet for me to release some of my extra creativity and also a time for me to relax & unwind away from my busy, action packed family.  The actual time I spent painting was far from relaxation.  At one corner where I spent a couple days I was hoot & hollar'd at and stopped every five minutes by inquisitive neighbors and passerby's wanting to know if what I was doing was legal and simply wondered what in the world I was doing. I have never been honked at more times in one day that I was last week!

Here is the second hydrant.  At the last minute it seemed to be missing something...so I decided on bumble bees.  You need to look very close for them.  I think I added about eight of them.

Here she is from the front.

Semi side view.

Her backside.

I really just love sunflowers.  They were our main wedding flower & to this day I can't get enough of this beautiful creation.

One Day At a Time

I'm going to ignore the fact that there are 16 posts that are either finished or near finished.  Some of them seemed appropriate at the time but I feel like hanging on to them a bit longer before releasing them into great unknown. The last few weeks have been a blur so today I'm going with the One Day At a Time mentality and posting my most recent adventure.

Today I finished something that I actually didn't want to.  Well, that's not entirely true...I'm actually still not completely finished.  What is it you ask?  Here it is.  I almost didn't post a picture bc I'm slightly discouraged that I could not do it exactly the way I had intended but for the general public who drive down Summit & Madison St. it will have to do.

Here he is from the back.

...and here he is from the front.

Mr. Dalmatian still needs some mouth work and whisker dots but I just simply have not had the time to add the finishing touches.  I am currently working on another hydrant just in front of our house.  It's going to be nothing like this one;)

Stayed tuned for the finished products!