Vacation~East Twin Lake~Ausable River~Mackinac Island~Chocolate Shoes

Hard to believe it's the end of July, this summer is sailing by!  It's been a pretty warm, actually hot summer so far, wondering how August is going to treat us? Personally I am hoping for some cooler temps, high 70's and low 80's.

Dan and I were away July15-22 on vacation with family. Kelly didn't go, she was working and taking care of the doggies at home.   My parents were there, all of my siblings & spouses and some of the nieces and nephews.  We were in the West Branch, Michigan area on East Twin Lake.  We rented cabins on the lake, it was a gorgeous view!

Took this pic from my lounger.

~mama deer and two fawns~

( pic taken by my sister, Lori.)

Dan out on our boat, fishing. He loves to fish.

~sunset~

We took a day trip on The Ausable River Queen. 

Another day trip to one of my favorite places in the world, Mackinac Island.

Look at these chocolate shoes you can buy at Sander's Candy & Icecream on Mackinac Island!  I wanted to get one for Kelly but $38 for one chocolate shoe is bit pricey. ;-)

Some the family that was there.

It was a fun trip, but nice to be back home.

~blessings~

xo

What is that smell?

For at least three days  I have been smelling an unpleasant odor in the kitchen. Each day it would get a bit worse. Last night, I had narrowed it down to the area around the stove.  And it's a new stove at that, less then 2 weeks old. Anyway I cleaned all the surfaces around the stove, the top of the stove, cleaned the floor, checked everything out..so I thought.  Yesterday afternoon and evening, I burned my gorgeous gingerbread scented candle. It helped mask the odor, but the bad odor was still there.
This morning it was so bad, a rotting smell.  Dan came home from work this morning and said "it smells like something died in here."  He opened the oven, which I didn't even think to do, and what did we find??  A turkey carcass from last Saturday!!! OH my goodness, how embarrassing!!
Last Saturday I cooked a turkey and after I had all the meat off,  I put the carcass & pan back in the oven. My intention was to discard of it later in the day. I totally forgot all about it!! So what we were smelling was the little bit of turkey meat left on the bones and the grease in the bottom of the baking pan, rotting for 7 days!!  Disgusting!!!

On a spiritual note, this got me thinking about how sometimes we let things bother us, let things built up inside and we don't get rid of the garbage.  A few garbage items I can think of are: unforgiveness, selfishness, holding a grudge... you get the idea.  If we let things sit and rot, it stinks and the longer it rots the worse the smell gets. We can try to cover up the smell but it won't go away till we get rid of the garbage.  Throw out those stinky attitudes and rotten thoughts. If we don't get throw out the garbage and clean up the mess, it affects us, those around us and last but certainly not least, it affects our walk with the Lord. 

Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
~Philippians 4:8

Happy weekend!

~sweet blessings~

Pam

Luna Pier Freedom Festival

Happy 4th of July!

 I know it is a couple days early, but tomorrow our town of Luna Pier, is celebrating Independence Day.

It is Luna Pier Freedom Festival, there are events all day around town.

Beach time...

garage sales...

 food vendors...

 and of course,...

fireworks at dusk!!

 It's a busy and fun day for our town, lots of visitors! 

We will be home all day and evening.  We will have family and friends in and out all day.

Happy 4th of July to all of my American friends & family!

And to everyone, have a happy weekend!

~sweet blessings~