Has It Really Been A Week!

I can't believe only seven days ago I was on my friend's deck enjoying a glass of wine and celebrating all kinds of things - how the days fly by! Mind you, the fact that I sit in front of a computer all day at work makes it hard sometimes to get in the mood for blogging at night. Don't get me wrong, its just been one of those kinds of weeks. On my birthday we travelled up north. The day started with cards and a nice present from hubby ( a gift certificate to my favorite spa - when the going gets tough, the tough get a facial I always say!).

I really did not take as many photos as I thought I would - and honestly the weather was not the best (our first sprinkling of snow!) However, we really did have a lovely time. This was where we got to stay...

Friday, our first full day there, we went into Frankfort, MI and enjoyed all the Fall decorations - everyone was getting ready for the Fall Fair. We stopped in Crescent Bakery and got ourselves two pumpkin muffins "for the road" (but I don't think they made it to the car). Master Gryphon was very well behaved and even let a sweet old lady say hello without batting an eyelid.

We stopped in to see the Point Betsie Lighthouse. You can see how overcast it was.

This was taken looking in the opposite direction.


Saturday started out just beautiful - this is the view of Crystal Lake down the road from Anne's place. The leaves had not completely turned over yet.

Speaking of which, what a great deck she has overlooking the woods.

She also has a friend (or two) guarding her property.

We decided to make a trip to Glen Arbor where we stopped in at Cherry Republic (of course) and Leelanau Coffee (to name a few places). I even found a couple of old books at the Cottage Book Shop worth bringing back.

Isn't this a great poem! It was in one of the books I found - I know I will be using it...

Alas, by mid day we were experiencing snow squalls of the lake and decided to head back. But not after a really wonderful anniversary dinner at Coho Cafe (hubby had the Thai-Coconut Bouillabaisse and I'm still hearing about it!)

Anyway, both Master Gryphon and Miss Gwendoline had a swell time (and so did we). Thanks again Anne and Hal - we loved every minute of it!

What Sign Are You?

October's theme for our ATC swap is "groovy" - you know, the Age of Aquarius...as a side note my VERY FIRST record was the soundtrack to Hair (what were my parents thinking - do you remember your first album? but I digress). Anyway, I was spoilt for choice in creating my contribution this month.

This first ATC I made just for myself - I loved the old photo - I tried to find something similar for the other signs but could not. I played around a lot to get it the way I wanted to be and I think it turned out alright - don't you? Now the one I am exchanging with my ATC Peeps is very different.

I laughed so hard when I found this....especially the picture. Here is the original I downloaded...

And some (you know who you are) may be nodding in agreement as you read the descriptors (shame on you LOL). Just so you know - here is the "nice" Libra (especially like the very last line ;->).

Can't wait to see what everyone else came up with!

The Bride Wore...

My 17th wedding anniversary is coming up next weekend. Hubby and I (plus Master Gryphon and Miss Gwendoline) are planning a "romantic" (as romantic as it can get with two kids in tow) weekend away. Meanwhile, this past summer I was cleaning closets and pulled out my Mum's wedding dress.

Growing up I looked at that dress a lot - and said I was going to wear something similar. Now I never was (and never will be) the skinny minny my Mum was (she was beautiful then, and still is as far as I'm concerned) so I would never fit into that dress. Besides, it would never have stood the wear and tear.

So I hired a seamstress (this was a little beyond my basic skills) to make a copy.

And she did! Better yet, my Mum and I were able to share the moment (get out the kleenex) on the big day.

I was very happy to wear something I had always planned on my wedding day - even if it wasn't the original. Now isn't that a nice story! (p.s. Happy Anniversary to you to Sis)
Jewels

October

October is not only my favorite time of year - it is also a special month for me.

I was born in October (what a cute kid!).

Married in October.

Yes, that’s hubby looking quite dashing in a kilt. Unfortunately, while he too looked pretty good, the Piper was awful - one of the many stories people like to tell about our wedding. Like the one where the senior ladies at the reception were egging on one of the bridal party (not hubby) to do cartwheels - keeping in mind his tartan underwear was by that time on his head.

Canadian Thanksgiving is in October (which makes a lot more sense to me then American Thanksgiving – after all it is about the Harvest right?) But hubby and I, being equal opportunists, celebrate both (why not)! Oh, and the picture, sad but true - I once made hubby American Thanksgiving dinner in 15 minutes - turkey, stuffing - the whole nine yards!

And this year I celebrate a year since I did my first (and probably only) Marathon – and I've got the medal to prove it - just can't believe I ever ran that distance - but hubby tells me I did (never say never right).

I love this little poem and it goes with my Grasset picture, don’t you think? Anyway, hurrah for October, the best month of the year in my opinion – I only wish it lasted longer! Cheers, Jewels.

This Year's Fashion Statement

While enjoying my Sunday ritual of coffee and reading the newspaper I came across the following. Nothing like hunting season in Michigan that would cause a grown person to dress like this.




It's what all the best dressed hunters will be wearing. Hopefully they don't get mistaken for Sasquatch! (I wonder what the model is thinking - at least their smiling LOL) ...

She Flourished Her Pen!

Oh dear - I must be a dinousaur after all. I read this article yesterday - apparently our children and children's children are no longer required to be adept at cursive writing. I find that sad, understandable given technology today, but sad.

I love recieving letters - now admittedly some of the ones I get from elderly aunts and uncles require a decoder - but the fact that someone takes the time to sit down and "write" a letter to me is very special. To me it indicates a caring about the written word (I know I always think through every letter I write). I personally don't believe cursive writing will completely disappear. After all, I consider it an art form - and not one we are all necessarily good at. Still, what's next? If you watched the Emmy's last night you heard several times about technology and television (heh, if you can see it on You Tube why bother with a set?) Of course, I'm saying all of this while banging out this post on my keyboard!!! What do you think?

Nightstand Report

Been awhile since I shared with you my latest, favorite read. The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society was a book I bought a few weeks back and lent to my Mum first. When I was Canada this weekend she gave it back to me and, guess what, I literally gobled it up in one night!

I love books that make you laugh and cry - and this one certainly did. I wasn't sure if I would like it at first as it is a series of letters. Sure it was "predictible" in some ways - but I also learned a lot about Guernsey and the impact of WWII on the island. As an aside, the books author, Mary Ann Shaffer, passed away before she could see what a success her book is - how sad. The book itself has a lovely ending - and I kept imagining which English actors should play different characters (it is just the kind of story to be made into once of those lavish series you see on PBS). Anyway BIG 5 lampshades out of 5 for this one. So what's on your nightstand?