Busy, busy week...

I was literally....so entirely productive on Wednesday that it felt like two days off in one.  When Thursday came...( my second day off for the week)...I blew it.  I had the hardest time getting anything done.  My mood was disgusting.  I was alone for the most part of the day and when Ryan finally got out of work I thought I was going to start crying.  I still don't know why I was so sour on Thursday but Ryan and I took a trip to the grocery store that evening and bought the fixings to make our first beef enchilada dinner.  (They turned out really good, by the way).

After our tummies were full we watched a bit of TV and my mood swung back upwards.  I managed to get some decent sleep before work yesterday...which helped out huge for a busy Friday morning shift.  After work, Ryan and I got together and watched the Detroit Red Wings put their fans through every single emotion possible to man.  The team was doing that whole thing where they play their hearts out and make you feel like they got the win in the bag.  Then, in the last few minutes of the 3rd period, the Ducks tied up the lead with two quick goals.

Another. Freaking. Overtime game...!!!

The broadcast cut out to commercial shortly after OT began and only seconds of returning back we saw the Wings Captain shoot the puck right into the Ducks net giving us the win to tie the series!  Ryan and I just stared at the TV.  Did we just see a replay? Or did THAT really just happen?

Yup.  We won!  Now we play the ultimate make it or break it game tomorrow night.  If we lose, we are done.  If we win...we face the Blackhawks.

Tomorrow night will be one heck of a nerve wracking night for us Wings fans.  Superstitious tendencies and other necessities we feel the need to incorporate into a game for a "win" will be running rampant as we all wait to see the outcome of our dearly loved team.

Anyways, I have four other posts in the works for publishing at this point.  It's been rough trying to keep my thoughts on a straight line while all this new job and hockey business has been taking over my life.  Prep yourselves for a couple photo dumping posts.  I took lots of pictures while life has been kind of crazy.

Take care,

Spring has sprung...

...see?!

I think it was Wednesday that we were looking at scattered thunderstorms through out the day.  The sun went away for a bit and then broke out in between the heavy, dark clouds.  I took a look out the front window and then booked it out the front door with my phone to take that shot above.  I love how the blossoms from the tree are touched by the sunlight while backed by the grey clouds.

Just a little share.  I have a Red Wings game on...and things keep happening...which is causing me to keep turning to the TV.  I'll catch y'all after the game!

...I think it's called a "hockey hangover"...

...yeah, sounds about right.

The Detroit Red Wings walked into last night's game tied 2 for 2 (in this first round of the playoffs)

 against the Ducks. 

(stupid....stupid ducks!)

((Sorry, don't mean to offend any Duck fans))

We lost in overtime and Twitter became a mass of pissy Wings fans...fighting not only the fans of the enemy...but Wings fans were fighting among themselves.  

Oh happy day!!!

(please note the use of heavy sarcasm in that last sentence)

I think we were all a bit "whip lashed" due to the previous game's conclusion.  Monday night's game went into overtime as well but we caught the win...LIKE WE WANTED IT.  Last night however, you could already feel the loss as soon as the puck dropped at the start of OT.

I knew it was going to happen...you know, waking up after a loss and feeling like you had the worse nightmare ever.  Especially when these games are so critical at this point.  The Red Wings have made the playoffs for 22 years straight.  They have a few cups won in those years...but...when you are right there...and you get nixed in the first round (not saying that that is what's going to happen!) ((fingers crossed))...it just sucks.  It makes your heart hurt.

Anyways...I will conclude this post on a some what happier note.  Today is the birthday of Steve Yzerman.  Stevie, now retired...(since 2006)...was the Red Wings longest standing captain.

Following the departure of the previous captain, Danny Gare, after the 1985-86 season, then-coach Jacques Demers named Yzerman captain of the team on October 7, 1986, making him the youngest captain in the team's history. Demers said he "wanted a guy with the Red Wings crest tattooed on his chest." The next season, Yzerman led the Wings to their first division title in 23 years.-wiki

His career began with the Wings the year I was born.  This was MY captain.  He is who defined the game of hockey to me.  He's the reason for the comradery I have for this team...that brewed in my heart through my younger years ;)

Happy birthday, "Captain"!

Alright...I have other business to attend to in the blogging world.  This is my last day off of work till...who knows when.  hahah...

See ya soon!

L is for "Longing"

I'm quite sure that at least a few of us are head over heals in love with the thought of warmer air pushing around our hair and the kind of sun light that prompts you to sport your favorite pair of sun glasses...

Right now, other than life goals still waiting patiently for numerous other things to happen...I am desperately "longing" for this...

A fresh cut of Lilacs on the kitchen table.

Oh boy...how wonderfully their scent fills a room!

This is the lake a grew up down the road from. I 

could sit on this beach for hours.

I'm longing for some newly planted favorites from the local greenhouse.

(I tend to favor pink and purple flowers)

That is my sister's picture of Lake Charlevoix below...

(Please be nice and don't steal it!)

 (Same goes for this one below)

A little poem I fixed up several years back.  I'm pretty sure this lays out the longing I feel come early spring every year...

~Her sunset~

She sits and looks down,
At the waves reaching her toes,
A silence creeps in
As the lazy sun goes.

The sand, still warm from the day,
Argues with the cooling breeze,
She looks up to the water,
The chill upon her leaves.

She watches the lake,
Darken in the glow
A shadow growing behind her,
A stillness settling low.

The sun’s colors paint this sky,
As it falls behind the bay,
She wants nothing more,
Than for a few more minutes to stay.

The darkness whispers chills,
Close at her back,
She says her goodbye,
As her lake turns black.

She digs her toes once more,
Into the still warm sand,
She turns into the darkness,
To the trail, inland.

~M.M.P.~
~~~

I am finally in a place where I can have and enjoy perennials so I planted a bunch last year.  I have much to look forward to as the 
weather gets warmer this spring.

and a pup with her wood pile.

Random pics below...but this pup has just as much fun 

camping as her people do!

That is Miss Mikayla last summer.

She is now double the size :)

Longing for a few rays, good company, stories told endlessly by the fire, stars twinkling down on the lake, flowers to brighten up winter eyes and weathered souls...

...all to come.

Take care and have a great weekend!

J is for...

...Jimmy Howard.

Who is Jimmy Howard?

This.........is Jimmy Howard....

He is currently the goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team!

Born on March 26th, 1984 in Syracuse, NY, USA

(He is one of five American born players on the Red Wings roster)

I will be sporting his jersey at the game this evening!  The "home" jersey...that is.

Did I tell you all that I love hockey???  Well, I love hockey.  Since I was a little girl, I sat on the living room floor to watch the Red Wings on TV with my dad.  They weren't the best then..."dead Wings" was famous when I was a wee one.  But, with out fail, the game was always turned on and dad cheered (or "coached" in his manner ;) them on.  My memories are still quite vivid....watching all of those games with him!

The reasons for Jimmy highlighting this blog of mine today are:  I love him as our goaltender.  He pushed his team through a mess last season and is currently keeping our team "in the game".  I don't care what even a Wings fan would say to that.  Jimmy is fantastic in the net.

Reason two:  he is close to closing an extension deal this weekend to remain as our goaltender for the next 6 years.  This means I won't have a "Howard" jersey making a home in my closet after this season ;)  I struggled for a few months last year when it came to picking out who's name I would sport on the back of my Red Wings jersey.  I almost picked a player who has played just one game for us this season. eek!

(Hey, jersey's aren't cheap so this meant a great deal to me!  

Picking Howard was a good choice...Ha! ;)

I'm going to finish getting things in order around the house before I have to get ready to leave for the game.  It would be nice if these guys can pull off a win.  It's pretty brutal leaving the arena after a loss.

Take care!

-Michelle

F is for "Flip Flops"...

So do I get two points for having two words with the letter F???

No?

OK...moving on...

It's finally starting to warm up here in southern Michigan.  Instinctively I have been wandering around the house with no socks, no slippers.  When it reaches 60 degrees I will have my flip flops sitting by the front door ready and waiting.  

I spend my entire spring and summer (and a bit of fall if we're lucky) in my flip flops.  I go through a single pair in a single summer.  When I was a child I loved being barefoot.  Now that I cross more than only the soft grassy terrain, I keep my soles and toes safe from whatever debris could be unseen with the least amount of protection I can get away with.

Places you can find me wandering around in my summer slippers?

I'll show ya with a few photos!

 Above, my niece...she loves her flip flops as much as I do!

 Flip flops on the beach of course!

(That's Ryan and I above :)

 Flip flops to mosey on down to the lake and scope out the touch of white caps atop the water...

 ...and flip flops off to feel the bubbles on my toes.

It only takes seconds to flip those flops right off of your feet and bury your toes in the shore.

You can not do that with shoes...(just so you know :) -totally inconvenient with shoes.

 Flip flops to watch the kiddos play some volley ball.  I watch because a couple years ago I had wrist surgery and really should not be diving for a volley ball.

Doctor says that is still a "no-no".

 Ryan (above) has a shared love for flip flops too!

Yes...the feet above are without their "flops"...but I had to share this picture!  That is my dad who the ducks took an interest to.  They walked right up to my father to see if he would share his crackers with them.  They loved him.

Alrighty.  I am going to end it here.  Hope this was a decent post.  I was out and about since 8:30 this morning and I just now got home!  Ryan and I had a VERY busy day.

Thanks again for the read!

Take care,

-Michelle

C is for Charlevoix, Michigan...

I am dedicating my A-Z post of the letter "C" to  Charlevoix, Michigan...which is about 300 miles north of where I live!

A visual...

Some quick "fun" facts about Charlevoix...

Charlevoix is named after Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix, a French explorer who traveled the Great Lakes.
---"How little did this modest priest dream as he sailed past these shores that his name would one day be written upon this city, "Charlevoix the Beautiful."

During Prohibition, Charlevoix became a popular place for gang members from the Chicago area. The Colonial Club, a restaurant and gambling joint on the city's north side became known as a popular place for the Midwest's most powerful and influential. John Koch, the club's owner, kept automobile license number "2", only second to the governor – a telling sign of his influence.

Charlevoix used to be a "one stoplight town" until it received a second stoplight in the 1980s at the intersection of M-66 and US 31.

(each section of text is linked to the original site...

take a look to learn more interesting facts about my favorite place 

to visit in Michigan!)

Why is this area so significant to me???  Well, I'll tell ya...real quick ;)

My family and I have been camping in a State Park that borders a portion of Lake Charlevoix for the last 20 years.  There were five of us kids when we first started the whole camping bit and the summer my mother was pregnant with the sixth...(1993)...Charlevoix still couldn't keep us away!  I remember all five of us being lined up and walking down to the beach while our mom followed behind...and oh boy!  The looks on the faces of those watching us!  "And she's having another one!" I heard from a gawker as I tried to skip real fast through the hot, hot sand.

When you go to Charlevoix and shop around it's downtown area you will find souvenir stores galore filled with postcards of pictures taken from the very spot I was standing to take mine above.

This beach is known for it's gorgeous sunsets year round.

Even on a cloudy day the sun plays effortlessly through the sky.

Now...please don't laugh...this below was my camping set up in 2011.

(I HAD A BLAST ;)

The best part of my day during a camping trip?

When I walk down to the beach during the evening while the cool front of night

 begins to calm the water.

 I settle into the sand still warm from a day full of sunshine...

like a blanket, 

and listen to the water gently lap at the shore.

  Below, the drawbridge in Charlevoix.

Another perk of this gorgeous location?  

Fudge. 

 If you are a chocolate lover and you find yourself  in Charlevoix 

a fudge shop is always close by!

(They adore their fudge "up north")

((as do I ;))

That's me below in 2011

Shopping downtown with my sisters. 

I will end it here with one last photo...

This photo conveys another beautiful memory of Charlevoix
that I will hold dear for the rest of my life...

While camping on July 27th, 2012
Ryan purposed to me
on my favorite beach
my favorite place to be

He did good...
;)

Thanks for the read, take care.

-Michelle

Chasing that sunshine...

On this Good Friday...

     We reflect and pray our thanks to Jesus for the sacrifice he endured for us all.  Every single one of us.

     We spread encouragement for those in need of help and we love with unwavering compassion.

     And we do all in our Lord's name...offering up even the slightest of troubles.

************

I woke yesterday morning to this lovely shade of light.  It brought the wooded area to a calm "glow" and instantly made my heart melt...

I played this song a few hundred times in celebration...

(my play list -under the last post on the page- has this song in the first slot)

I've been here so long

Think that it's time to move

The winter's so cold

Summer's over too soon

Let's pack our bags and

Settle down where palm trees grow

~

I've got some friends

Some that I hardly know

We've had some timesI wouldn't trade for the world

We chase these days down with talks

Of the places that we will go

~

We live on front porches and swing life away

We get by just fine here on minimum wage

If love is a labor, I'll slave 'til the end

I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand

~

I'll show you mine

If you show me yours first

Let's compare scarsI'll tell you whose is worse

And let's unwrite these pages

And replace them with our own words

There is most likely not a single song around that could fit my life more perfectly.

And then, when the day was almost complete...I went to the other side of the house and 

snapped this picture...

That gorgeous pink and purple Michigan sky.

I had to "reset" myself yesterday from all the chaos on the web this week.  There was too much boiling over the pot in terms of frustrations and I did not want to take it out on my blog...and you folks ;)

It's a short post today. But I hope you all stay well and keep those blessings of yours close during this Easter weekend... 

and always...

Take care,

-Michelle

Meanwhile, here in Michigan on the 25th of March...

we welcome into our home the first Oberon of the season.

Happy Oberon Day to those who enjoy this fantastic brew!

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION

An American wheat ale made with European ingredients. Belgium wheat malt and Czech Saaz hops provide a spicy, fruity balance to this seasonal ale. (Formerly known as Solsun)

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Oberon lovers gathered at Bell's Brewery Inc. to raise a glass to a seasonal rite: The annual release of kegs of the summer beer. 

The Kalamazoo Gazette reports 51-year-old Brenda Mulder showed up a half hour before Bell's Brewery opened at 9 a.m. Monday to keep her record — three years in a row — of enjoying the first Oberon served at the brewery during its annual release. 

Michigan saw freezing temperatures on Monday. But Mulder says Oberon Day is "a holiday" and makes her feel as if summer is on the way.  Dozens of Oberon kegs are ready to be tapped at the Kalamazoo brewery. The beer is sold seasonally in most markets, but is available year-round in Florida, Arizona and Puerto Rico.

Read more at: www.monroenews.com

For a bunch of us Michiganders it means spring and"opening day" for the Detroit Tigers is quickly approaching.

I'm not a beer drinker...

but I'll find a way to celebrate this special day...

Oberon Beer Bread! 

 A fairly standard beer bread recipe with cheddar cheese and chives added to the mix.

A-freaking-mazing stuff, guys!

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd...

Oberon Cupcakes

(recipe linked above)

(My cupcake above, made with the yummy, citrusy beer)

The cupcakes turned out really soft and moist with just the right amount of sweetness and the perfect accent of orange flavor.

If you like you some beer...and like to try out new recipes and such...I totally recommend checking out the Michigan Beer Blog recipe section.  I'm not even that big of a beer fan and I still want to make everything listed!

That will wrap it up on the release of this product...

(as I have a Red Wings game going into the third period :)

Take care,

-Michelle