Celebrating the 4th of July!

Hello Everyone! Happy 4^th of July! Happy Independence Day!

I’m writing this post early because I plan on being in the water on this wonderful day. What are your plans for today?

What does Independence Day mean to me? I ponder this question as I sit at my keyboard and type. When I look back on my past I realize it’s a day of family. My family usually gathers at my mom’s place, which sits nestled on the shores of Wall Lake, and we all bring a dish to pass. We barbecue and eat and drink all day long. There are appetizers and the main meal…and then Desserts! (My favorite).

It’s a day of sharing our stories with members of the family we don’t see very often. We drink wine and converse and solve the problems of the world. LOL! We could run the country…if you don’t believe me just ask my family! 🙂

The kids get weary of the high talk right away. They get together and play in the cool water. Some are brave and go tubing, which is always an adventure. Most of the kids are under the age of ten…so they haven’t all quite got their tubing legs yet.

The adults sit on the deck and chat or lounge in the water on floaties drinking their wine and sharing funny stories.

It’s a fun and relaxing time. It’s a celebration of our freedom that most days we take for granted, especially the younger generations. Many of us have not seen active combat or participated in anything like the Great Depression. So we don’t know how bad it can get.

In my opinion, that’s a good thing. Not that the younger generations take for granted their freedom, but that they haven’t seen bad times or active combat. War is horrific and I’m hoping that my children can be spared from participating in one.

I love how there are current ad campaigns calling our veterans heroes. I agree with these campaigns. We put athletes on a pedestal and pay them millions of dollars just because they entertain us. We sometimes forget the price of that entertainment. It’s not just the cost of a ticket. There’s somebody on the other side of the fence defending our right to have that kind of entertainment. Today I’d like to remember those soldiers who are defending us now, so we can enjoy our independence. I’d like to send out a virtual hug to you all and a huge thank you. I feel it’s not enough but it’s all I can do at this moment. We can never repay these soldiers for what they have done for us.

I’d also like to thank our veterans too; these soldiers of the past, who have allowed us to enjoy all of our 4^th of July celebrations. Because of them, we all have gathered those familial memories that we share.

With all that said, I hope you enjoy your 4^th of July a little bit more. I know I will. Have a great day everyone and thanks for stopping by and reading my post. If you’d like to share some of your 4^th of July memories please do. I would love to read them. 🙂

“Up North” in the Mitten State

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I’m back today and I’m excited because this is the last week of school for my kids! They are ecstatic to get a break from the structure and to be honest so is Mom! 🙂

I’ve got all kinds of ideas for things that we can do this summer, zoo trips, beach days, and of course there are vacations. As a family we love the water and enjoy going “Up North.” For us that means going to the Traverse City area here in Michigan. We’ve vacationed there ever since the boys were born. They love the area and so do my husband and I.

There’s something to be said for the small towns that surround the Traverse City area. There are all kinds of unique stores and a lot of history in these tiny burgs.

One of these small towns is Leelanau. Sitting right on the shores of Lake Michigan it’s a small fishing community. The wind is brisk coming off of the lake, so it’s a great place on a warm day when you can’t get to the beach. It’s fun to go through the tiny stores and galleries in this town. It’s an old town full of history. And when you go down by the water there’s a store that sells fresh fish. We went there when I was pregnant with my first child and needless to say I couldn’t stay in that store very long.  The smell really got to me. 🙂

It’d be a great place for the setting of a story. Hmmm…

Another small town that I love to visit is Sutton’s Bay. Again they have some great shops to explore and I can wander for quite some time while my hubby and the boys play in the park. One of the things that I’ve noticed is that both of these towns have a variety of art galleries and it’s great to see the shores where you’ve walked in a painting or photograph.

There are other tiny burgs that deserve to be mentioned like Alden, and Elk Rapids, awesome communities that are right on either Torch Lake or Lake Michigan that sport cute shops and community events. Of course we can’t forget about Traverse City itself! It’s a great place to walk with the kids and see the sights; again, more great stores and art galleries. If you get a chance to be there during the Cherry Festival by all means do it. It can get a bit crowded, but they have the Blue Angels come every other year and they are a sight to see!

If you’re a wine drinker you’ll love the Traverse City Area. There are wineries everywhere and they’re always open for wine tasting. A fun adult thing that we have yet to do! 🙂 Wineries are pretty boring for the kids. 🙂

If there’s one place you must see it’s Torch Lake. The water is so clear it looks like you’re on a beach in the tropics. The water is also cold so it’s quite refreshing. Everyone gathers at a place called the Sand Bar. People come from all over to park their boats there. And then they get out in the water and play football or Frisbee or just float.  Everyone has a great time. There’s a small shop on Torch River that will even deliver a pizza to your boat. If pizza isn’t your style then there’s a pontoon boat out there with a grill on its deck and they sell burgers and dogs to anyone who wants one.

As you can see Up North is always a great time for us! I can’t wait until the weather turns hot and muggy and we’ll be on our way!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my post! Do you have any special vacation spots that you’d like to share? Leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you!

You know you’re country if… Introducing Calico Daniels and her new Hick-lit series!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I’ve got Calico Daniels as a guest today and she’s introducing her new hick-lit series. Her first book is being released sometime in January! It’s titled “Fried Pickles and the Fuzz” and  she’s here to explain the definition of country to us cityfolk! Take it away Calico!

You know you’re country if…

1. When you say your dryer broke you really mean your clothes line
2. You tell city folk you raise birds and when they ask what kind you say chickens.
3. You’ve ever let your kids play in the mud then used the hose on them before bringing them in the house.
4. You keep a deer feeder in your back yard year round.
5. You dream of redecorating your home in camo.
6. Your dream house is a hunting cabin with a wood burning stove to cook on and a hand pump for water.
7. You steal realty signs to sight in your new gun.
8. You have 3-D targets set up in your yard year round.
9. When your lawn mower breaks you just let the horses in the yard.
10. You run out of propane for your cook stove and you just break out the camp stove to cook on.
11. Your barn is more organized than your house.
12. The only color in your wardrobe is denim
13. You paid more for your horse than you did your car.
14. Your guest house is your horse trailer.
15. You plan your family vacations around hunting season.
16. The only thing Santa brings you are fishing lures and ammo.
17. You roll your hair with soup cans.
18. Your dog has their own furniture in your living room
19. Instead of mouse traps you just get another cat.
20. During hunting season you should get a discount at the local ice machine

Thanks Calico for sharing your very humorous anticdotes!  If any of you have any anticdotes you’d like to share…leave them in a comment, we’d love to hear them!

Now take a peek at the first book in her series!

Fried Pickles and the Fuzz coming January 2013 to Astraea Press

Blurb: Big Creek might be a stereotypical small town but even they have drama.

Heather loves her little café, and her best customer is the county Sherriff. She’s been waiting months for him to ask her out…maybe she won’t have to wait much longer.

Bronson feels at home in Big Creek even though he hasn’t been the Sherriff for long. Small towns have their perks and a pretty café owner who cooks like an angel certainly doesn’t hurt. Now, if he could only get over his nerves and drum up the gumption to ask her out.

Throw in a gossip mill, a redneck festival and an ill timed attempt to help and you end up with some laughs, some ruffled feathers and a town that is….Redneck Fabulous.

Thanks for stopping by Calico! I’m excited about your new release! It’s definitely on my TBR pile!