season

Loving Lately

I’m in love with a Christmas Tree Farm. Broadview Christmas Tree Farm to be exact. It’s quaint and special and lovely and perfect and… At the risk of being redundant, I’ve had another holiday experience with the family that made me feel like I was living in a made for TV movie from a specific channel (that I have referred to in several previous posts) that specializes in heartfelt movies with a focus for a particular holiday. T’is the season!

Let’s ignore the fact that less than 48 hours before my baby had a full blown bout with the flu and we debated even going. Let’s pretend that my husband and I weren’t arguing on the drive there about walking “the back 40” knowing that the farm was closing in an hour. Because when we arrived and walked through the gate, all of the negatives disappeared. We were mentally transported to the essence of the season, and we were able to enjoy the moment with our family.

Growing up, we had a mix of years with real and fake trees in our home. I really loved them all. It was about the lighting, the decorating, and (in full disclosure) the anticipation of what would be under them. But some of my favorite childhood memories of the season definitely include going out on a dark snowy night to pick out the perfect tree to bring back home.

So it wasn’t dark or snowing on our trip this year, but that didn’t matter. There was enough chill in the air to keep the excitement, and enough to see and do for a memorable adventure. Broadview Christmas Tree Farm has a lot to offer:

  • Wagon Rides
  • U-Cut & Pre-Cut Trees (saws provided)
  • Wreaths
  • Roping
  • Free Boughs
  • Santa Claus
  • Warming Barn
  • Refreshments
  • Gifts
  • Petting farm area

Large parking lot – tailgating area.  “Feel free to bring your own entertainment to make this a holiday to remember.”

Behold the pure enthrallment… You can’t buy that!

All we need now is some hot cocoa from the on-site cafe. (You have to buy that.)

Inside, it was warm and inviting. It felt like a real gathering place, with spacious tables for your whole group, where they wouldn’t scoff at your muddy boots. They offered hot drinks and food, as well as, homey decor and seasonal ambiance.

Now back to our business! We decided for time and convenience sake to go with a pre-cut tree. (Next year we can plan ahead to have our full Christmas Vacation/Clark Griswold family experience.)

It didn’t take long to find the perfect one for our family.

I can’t say no to those faces. Let’s pay the lady.

Next, it’s just a matter of prepping it for the ride home…

Which clearly requires supervision (or not).

But we do have to wait our turn. And it’s not a bad view.

BTW, did I mention Broadview Christmas Tree Farm maintains environmentally sound practices? Worth noting, I think.

Okay, now let’s wrap this up. (I can’t help myself. I’m so punny.)

It seemed so big in person?

Drum roll please…

The final presentation! (Well almost, because which one of my tree waterers pulled down the tree skirt? But the truth is, embracing the imperfections makes for such a nicer season… because in reality if we waited for the perfect moment, we probably still wouldn’t have a tree!)

Hope you are all loving this time of year! I really am.

Fall Forward

I love fall. To me, it’s the most exciting time of year. I love the chill in the morning air after the long hot summer days. I love the hustle and bustle of back to school. I loved it as a young girl, the anticipation of knowing I was going to see my friends again after summer break. You could feel it in the air. I loved the football games, oversized sweaters, and hot drinks. I loved mom’s pot roast and apple pie. Some things never change. There’s a comfort in that. When Owen and I got married in early fall, I think it had more to do with planning a honeymoon around Labor Day, a three day weekend. I remember my uncle remarking at my wedding, what a beautiful time of year it was to be married with all of the changes in the season. It was a notion I really hadn’t put much thought into at the time, but I think about every year now. For a homebody, it’s a perfect time of year for the excitement of what lies ahead in the warmth of our home: stoking fires, baking pies, early nights under big blankets. After the fast pace of trying to take advantage of every outdoor moment in summer, it’s a reprieve for the body and mind.

Tahquamenon River, courtesy of Ryan French

I really can’t say that we’ve slowed down this fall as much as I’d like to. We’ve been doing some autumn projects. My baby boy (who is actually my oldest) is growing up. This year he traded his old bunk beds and little desk for (what looks like to me to be) an adult apartment. If I think about it too long, I could get sappy and emotional… But, somehow the seasonal change helped me through it. It seemed more exciting, like a good time for preparation. I tell you what, Fall is medicinal.

Old bed

New bed

Old Desk

New Desk

It also helps that he kept a Lego pen box on his desk. I mean, I can only handle so much change at a time. I realize he is in middle school. I remember putting away the Barbies… I think it’s a good time to bake a therapeutic pumpkin bread. (I couldn’t have enjoyed that as much in the summer… See?)

This weekend we moved the dock at my parents cabin, to make way for winter changes.

The Cabin, Courtesy of Ryan French

And I spent some time with my favorite people.

My dad and sister, courtesy of Ryan French

It warms the heart, right? The stability during the inevitable change. The togetherness. And look at all of the autumn color! I love it. Enjoy your Fall!

Featured image courtesy of my brother-in-law, Ryan French

Loving Lately ?

Loving Lately: Lingering Summers

I’m one of those parents that doesn’t want summer to end or school to start. I do love all the seasons and the holidays… I guess I just wish that life was one big vacation.

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I love all of the flowers and greenery.

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I love the berries and tarts!

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But even though I’m trying to hold on…

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I know the seasons have an inspiring way of keeping you excited for what’s coming next.

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I’ll be ready, but I don’t have to think about that today. Maybe I’ll think about popsicles?

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Thank you Pinterest for helping me put my thoughts into photos… I’ll be outside.

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Spring

I finally felt it today.

Sure, there is still snow on the ground from our 4th round of winter.

Yes, the kids are recovering from Strep throat.

But this morning the sun shone differently.

I could hear the birds chattering with excitement.

And when I looked out my bedroom window (ready for it’s seasonal cleaning), I believed them.

Spring is almost here.

I’m ready to celebrate.

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Loving Lately ❤

Loving Lately: Christmas Lights

I love this time of year. The chill in the air actually captures the excitement. And I don’t know if it’s just me, or does every adult feel like a child when they see houses, trees and bushes trimmed in lights? I think I get more excited than my kids.

I ask my husband to slow down the car… I tap the window with my pointer finger… I swivel my head back-and-forth both sides of the road… I tell my kids to look at things as fast as I can shout them out…

They are just beautiful. Every house is so individual, white (yellow) lights, colored lights, newer blue LED lights, animated features, blown up characters, just a couple windows or every square inch, nativities… And a drive around the neighborhood is holiday entertainment that doesn’t cost more than the gas.

Could you ever get tired of light season?
Well yes, like by February Santa starts seeming tired… but not lights…for every year. It’s too special.

 

 *Featured and last photo courtesy of Ryan French

Christmas Caroling

Years ago my Aunt Leann and Uncle Rich started a tradition of caroling to various neighbors in our community. Part of me has always felt we should invest in long wool coats, top hats and muffs. In reality we are usually just a mismatched well-wishing group of children and adults of (let’s say) assorted levels of technical ability. Some faces of cousins and family I know well, and sometimes I meet new cheerful neighbors. It’s fantastic!

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I love bringing my children along to participate in spreading Christmas joy. My uncle uses his work pick up truck (from a local family business) pulling a long flatbed trailer lined with two rows of haystacks for all of the carolers to pile on as we travel from house to house. Our stops this time included (but were not limited to) an elderly man and his wife who suffers with MS, he held the door opened wide so she could hear us from where she was at; a sweet and spry man who boasted he had just turned 93 in November and told us to keep coming back; a family relative who’s husband needed more care than she could provide and recently had moved into a nursing home; another family relative who suffered with a stroke not too long ago and was pushed to the door in her wheelchair. For the first year we didn’t stop at my Great-aunt Shirley’s house, knowing she wasn’t there. Last year the group sang for us at our house because Noah wasn’t yet a month old and not well enough to face the cold. It’s just embodies  what every season should be like, and what this time of the year gives us reason to carry out.

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At every home we pass out a poinsettia and sing two selections from our song sheet followed by “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. When we’ve sung to every house on the list we all meet back at the warehouse to refresh ourselves with a potluck style variety of dishes and treats, hot chocolate, and Aunt Leann’s delicious Chili for a Crowd accompanied by all of the toppings. It’s the perfect time to thaw out, dry off or as the case in this year’s mild weather; catch up with old and new friends while we fill our bellies with food for heart and soul.

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!