fab party~

I went to a  50th wedding anniversary party Saturday night for my Uncle Earle and Aunt Judy. Dan had to work and couldn't go, so my parents picked me up and we went together.  It was nice seeing everyone and reconnecting with some family that I haven't been with in a very long time.
Here are a few pics from the party, a great party as always, at my cousin Greg's home.

~all kinds of sweets to choose from~

~some of the delicious food~

~Aunt Judy & Uncle Earle~

(actually they are  great aunt & great uncle)

Uncle Earle is my Dad's uncle.

Dad & Uncle Earle :-)

I have lots more pics on facebook.

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

A few vintage items

Dan and I like to browse Antique shops, flea markets and garage sales.  We are not big antique collectors by any means, but we enjoy finding items that are unique or interesting to us.  I love vintage, here are a few of the things we have collected.

~toothpick holder~

Some of Dan's "stuff" on display in the garage.

~old bakery advert~

~postcards~

These postcards were purchased at an antique shop.

I have an album of old family family postcards that my Mom recently gave me, will have to take pics of them sometime to post on here.

Love this oak filing cabinet, we have put it to good use!

Small English Teapot..bottom markings read:

Sadler

Made In England

I actually won this at a silent auction that was for our church's children ministry. I was just trying to get the bidding going, didn't think I would actually bring it home. ;-) 

 I think I paid $1 or $2 for this "Snack Hound".   I looked it up on Ebay..

Snack Hound on Ebay

It's going for $20 on Ebay. 

Hmmmm....

I will end with this, it's not "old" but it's vintage looking.

I have this magnet on my fridge, it makes me smile.

Be blessed!

xoxo

floor cleaning~I know..boring!

Cleaning floors, one of my least favorite chores.  We have Pergo floors in our kitchen, dining room and the master bedroom/bath.

The master bedroom/bath is upstairs and that floor is very easy to keep clean,  not much traffic up there! 
Downstairs the kitchen/dining area is a very high traffic area. We normally come into the house through the garage area into the kitchen, also the dogs are in the kitchen/dining area the majority of the time. I get a bit overwhelmed trying to keep the floor clean!
I use my Shark Steam Mop once a week...

Then on a daily basis I am using the Swiffer Vac and Swiffer Mopping Pads. With two dogs there are many times I need to do a quick clean up through the kitchen!

I am tired of paying for expensive and environmentally unfriendly dusters and sweepers, so  I started checking online for a more economical solution.

I found a great idea on the following website.

 Turn your Swiffer Sweeper into a microfiber mop:

I plan on buying microfiber cloths and applying them to the Swiffer Sweeper in the same way as a refill! A package of microfiber clothes are inexpensive and can be machine washed and used over and over. I can use them dry with  the Swiffer Vac and wet, using my own choice of cleaning solution when I am mopping.

Well, I know this isn't the most exciting post, but it sure helped me today!

Take care..be blessed

xoxo

Weeds, Petunias, Friends

Happy Saturday! Dan was busy cleaning and organizing the garage today and I was busy pulling weeds in the front of the house. It amazes me how fast those pesky weeds grow!

On the other hand, the petunias in the back of the house, took off like crazy, in fact these petunias came back from last years plants. I have never had that happen before. They not only came back in the barrel planters, but spread on the ground. Here is a petunia that come up through a crack in concrete,,,crazy!

Our dear friends, Steve & Debbi were here for a visit! We so enjoy our time with them.  The above saying is SO true!

I am so glad that Debbi was here for her birthday!

It is always sad to see them leave here and go back to their own home.

Hopefully we will see them again soon.

God bless

~hugs~

SWD~it's been a while!

As I mentioned yesterday..today is my Mom's birthday!
Happy birthday Mom, we love you!

You can also find me here today! I posted on my SWD blog.

xo

~pam~

middle of august~oh my!

It's been a nice couple of days, sunny and temps not too bad, in the low 80's for the most part.  It's the middle of August already, amazing how fast time goes by!
  It's been a busy month so far, both fun things along with serious issues with some family and friends. 

Dan had last night off from work, we went over to my parents for a visit.  Then my brother Ed, his wife Angie and their kids showed up, then my sister, Lori! It was kind of like a family reunion!! We all went out to dinner at a Mexican place we haven't been to before, El Nuevo Vallarta. We all had a fun time and the food was excellent.

Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom, we love you!

 Have a great week everyone.  God bless.

~hugs~

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~