Cultural Camping.

So many times this sweet summer, I've thought to myself, "I have to write a blog about this!"  But then we head to the lake, or the pool.  Or I read on the porch, or pick flowers for the house.  Or I snuggle the goats, or sit on the porch with the peacock.  Which means this has been a delightfully perfect summer.  And all of that is way better than blogging.  But last week, we packed up, left grandma on the farm, and hit the road.

Nestled in the pine trees of the great state of Michigan, is the town of Interlochen.  I did not grow up in Michigan, so this magical place was not part of my vocabulary until recently.  Last week, we loaded up a ton of crap, and set out for a camping excursion at the Interlochen state park.  Our good friend Allison and her daughter were attending camp at the Interlochen Center for the Arts (more on that next post).  Myself, the two dads, and 4 kids were roughing it across the way from them.  Allison camped with us at night, and we got Samantha for our final evening.  The trip was filled with fishing, swimming, smores....and going to see musicals, choral performances, and symphonies.  What a truly magical week!!  Some pictures, shall we?

The kids put on staches while mom organized a home sweet home campsite.

We were surrounded by RV's but out little sight was just perfect.

The weather would change on a dime (pics 5 min apart!)

Quick climb up Sleeping Bear!

 Lazy days at the beach ;)

Jojo love.

Joe spoiled us with percolator coffee, pancakes, eggs, bacon, fish tacos....he was in it to win it on the camping stove and grill!

Fishing!!

Little beauties :).

We laughed till we ached.  I love these people, and can't wait till our next adventure.  Stay tuned for posts on the bedroom re-do, and Naomi's big wedding here next week!!!!

xoxo, e.

She's My Cherry Pie.

Every day over the last week, as we drove in and out of Chelsea, we would see it...the big stone farm house by the cemetery, with the 30 foot tall cherry trees -heavy laden with fruit.  Finally I stopped.  I made Joe run up to the house and ask if we could pay to pick...or trade for eggs and honey.

Success!  They were a delightful couple, eager to talk fruit trees, farming, and community, and eager to share their bounty.   They were also headed out of town during peak cherry week, and graciously said we could pick while they were away or else the birds would get em'!

And, folks, this is why we live in a farming community.  Small town values, good people, trading with your neighbor, local fresh food, etc. etc. etc.  Amen to small town Michigan!!

xoxo, e.

Letter From Camp...

Well, the weather has been just delightful, but the mosquitoes have been something awful!  We do a check in the house each night before bed, killing every little monster that might snack on us all night.  If we dope up real good (deet), we can sit and read on the porch...and Oh the birds that come to mom's feeder while we read there!

Coco got a 1940's book on birds this week, and has been cheerfully calling the light and airy calls of the chickadee and yellow finch as they perch and eat..."Ba-beeee  Ba-beeee" she gently coos.  Sometimes at night one can not even imagine what animal is making which sound out in the darkness of the pines.  We pass giant badger holes on out hikes through the fern laden paths of the woods.  A giant barred owl welcomed us home one day, perched high on a plantation pine lining the path.

The mighty Lake Huron is as warm as bath water, and it takes Joe, Mom, and I each taking shifts to fill the little one's need to swim.  But, hey, that's what vacation is about, right?

Mom has a steady stream of amazing food on the table, and last night we walked through the woods to dine with our neighbors, Auntie Chiara and Uncle Peter.  Venison steaks, greens, beets, polenta....with a smooth red wine to compliment the feast.  

One more day in the bliss of having no schedule and no responsibilities....just reading, having a few extra cups of coffee, hiking, swimming, eating...etc, etc.  

filled with gratitude,

xoxo, e.

Have a Little Faith, Honey.

While driving home on a sultry summer night last week, just outside of town, we spotted something.  Something sitting out for the trash...something wonderful.  I pulled into the driveway of the little farmhouse, and waved on the folks behind us who were also going to stop.

A perfect glider.  What in the hell?

I made Joe knock on the door because I thought "there is no way someone put this out for the trash!"

A twenty-something in a bathrobe, full beard, and chest tattoo answered the door and said it was all ours!  (it was a pretty hot seen by the by).  Then I looked at it, then at the  Nursecar (Ford Focus), then at Joe.

"Have a little faith, honey," he said to me.  "It's like a tetras...I just have to fit it in just right."

Coco was yelling "tie it to the roof," and I was offering to walk the last 5 miles and just carry it (because there was no way that I was leaving it there).  (All the while distracted by the hot bearded tattoo guy) (hoping he would offer me a cocktail and offer to deliver it to my house).

But lo and behold, Joe fit that damn thing in.  And now it lives at my house.  And matches my porch furniture.  Score team Cesarz!

xoxo, e.

It's a Parade!

Early Monday morning, large coffees in hand, we headed over to our friend Kelly's farm to load up for the Dexter Memorial Day Parade.  We loaded up animals, decorated the tractor and trailer, and prepared to honor the vets of the community with a kick ass parade!

They close all of the streets down really early, which means you sit in "line" and wait for the parade to start for quite awhile.  And, unfortunately, it was freezing...but that did not stop the day from being awesome!!  So proud to honor the vets by riding on the Cornman Farms float!

Loadin' up the crew!

When you gotta go you gotta go...Good thing Joe's got the pooper scooper!

Are you cold Allison? ;)

 Thank You Vets!  And Thank You Cornman Farms!

The Dexter High School Band, Grandma's Girl Goat, and my partner for the parade, Flirt the Lamb!

The parade beauties! (did I mention it was cold?)

Allison and Kelly passing out Zang Bars (adult candy!! ;).

It was really awesome to see the kids and adults light up when they saw the animals!

Me and Mini Me.

Joe entertaining the crowd!

Thanks for an delightful day Cornman Farms! 

xoxo, e.

Memorial Day, Old School.

We had a jam packed weekend of events, one of those weekends in which I could only look ahead to one event at a time.  Then rush home, change, grab the next "dish to pass," and head out to the next event.  But what a lovely weekend it turned out to be!

We had family in town, and a family confirmation to attend yesterday morning.  After a little family brunch, we ran home and got ready to head out to Bill's 51st annual Memorial Day BBQ!  It was a potluck/picnic/bbq done up old school and right.  There was chicken on the big handmade stone grill, and dishes ranging from hand pulled mozzarella to green been casserole.  There were jello molds and pea salads.  There was rhubarb in every shape and form.  This was such an awesome change from the usual "vegan hipster" spreads at most the parties we attend (not that I'm complaining, I love vegan hipster food!).  But pea salad and jello molds?  Amazing.  Lots of good old farm folk pulling the fresh rhubarb from their yards and whippin' up pies.  Cheers to Bill's delightful shindig, and to his lovely daughters for running the kids and adult games!

 I sent Joe to the barn for lawn chairs, and he came back with 

"Don and Betty."  Never a dull moment.

Some people stayed upright for the sack and three legged race, and some did not ;).

This blog is getting long winded, so stay tuned for pics from the Cesarz' riding in the Memorial Day Parade!  xoxo, e.

In Slow Motion.

We had a friend over for Sunday brunch, and in chatting my beautiful friend said something that really struck me.  She said that since she became a mother, everything has slowed down...as in, she wants to see things with her daughter in slow motion.  She want to watch the leaves unfold one at a time, or drag out this beautiful spring by weeding the garden with her little one...slowly, lovingly.

This morning, over coffee, I was reading one of my farming magazines.  There is a cooking section with old recipes, and a section where one can write in and ask for help remembering old recipes.  As in, "What was the cake recipe on the side of the Hershey's box that called for three eggs?"

It warms my heart that there are still people in this world that don't just google things.  There are people that write letters to magazines, wait for those letters to be published, and then wait patiently for responses.  And then probably bake the Hershey's cake from their childhood.

For the love of God good friends, let's slow down.  Let's enjoy every minute of this beautiful season unfolding before us.  

I will not worry about planting, or painting, or laundry, or the shop.  I will drop everything to go fishing, or have popsicles on the porch.  I will have an extra cup of coffee with a farm journal instead of doing paperwork first thing in the morning.  I will lay on a blanket in the field with Coco and let the goats eat grass around us.

Let's take this summer slowly and enjoy it together!  

xoxo, e.