Checking off the summer bucket list...

For all the times that we've traveled with the girls along the shores of West Michigan, we've never taken them to Sleeping Bear Dunes.

My work sent me up north to our Traverse city campus Thursday night and and so we decided that before we came back home Friday, a trip to the dunes was in order.

Climbing the dunes was quite a workout.

It was absolutely gorgeous at the top.

Friday was overcast, but it made for a lovely photoshoot.

Splash!

As you can imagine, Josie was more than anxious to bring home all these rocks.  

She's my little nature explorer.

This has certainly been quite the summer to collect patches from our National Parks.
 

As we traveled down state, we stopped in Frankfort to enjoy one more view of the great lake.

Emma took this photo of the waves with her cell phone.  It was a gorgeous night on the beach.

Nothing beats a sunset on Lake Michigan.

I guess I can officially retire our summer bucket list. 

We've been very blessed this summer with many happy adventures.
 

Hints of fall...

I'm seeing little hints of a fall in our yard.

 Leaves are changing colors.

Evening darkness is coming sooner.

I don't know about you, but this has been the longest week at work EVER.

  The tree house will have lots of company this weekend. 

Do you have any special plans this long holiday weekend?  We have one last "destination" to check off our summer bucket list.  

Source

 Fingers crossed the weather cooperates.  The weekend is nearly in sight!  Yippee!

Holiday treasures from the weekend...

Before I went into work Saturday afternoon, Chris, Josie and I managed to find two 50% off estate sales.
 We're on the look out for old wooden folding chairs for our potting/storage shed to use as portable seating. We didn't find any chairs, but I did manage to find some Christmas and Halloween goodies. 

The Christmas table cloth is the perfect size for my table.  Ignore the wrinkles.

This handmade Halloween clown outfit was .50 cents.

I'll use it as decoration and add pom pom to the buttons and some additional trim around the collar.

A black cat figurine, puppet and floral picks will also get holiday makeovers.

The dutch salt and pepper shakers will be relocating to my sister's house.  I also couldn't resist this squeaky toy.  She'll  join my other Easter treasures. 

There's was a special estate sale that happened Tuesday (yesterday).  It was Chris's last day home before he returns to his elementary schools.  He did real good.  Pictures coming soon. 

Tiny tweaks...haunted dollhouse kitchen

While the rest of the house was still sleeping Saturday morning, I spent some time playing in the mini kitchen and attempting to take some pictures of my teeny tiny accessories. 

The miniature pumpkin is a cupcake pick with the pick removed.

The skull pictures were found in the scrapbooking section of Michaels, along with the miniature treat bag that you see next to the hutch and in the hands of my altered storybook doll.  I made the tiny treat cone hanging on the chair.

The honeycomb pumpkin on top of the stove is also a cupcake pick with the pick removed.  The lights hanging across the ceiling are from Department 56.  They operate with two CC batteries.

 The curtains are made from Halloween spider webbing and a silk ribbon.

You might remember the tiny carved pumpkin from last year.  It was ordered from Kerbey Lane Miniatures. 

I'm hoping to spend lots more time this Labor day weekend working on my special little house. Can I admit that I'm already wishing it was the weekend?
 

In denial...

The girls don't head back to school until September 3rd, but I'm crazy busy with my new semester start-up at my University, so I decided to give my blog an "academic" makeover.

The leather bag of marbles is from my childhood.  I love gathering bits and pieces of my personal collection to make my monthly blog headers.  I'm totally in denial that summer is nearly over.  

Wasn't it just June?

Weren't we just on vacation at the Wigwam motel on Route 66?

 

It's nearly the weekend!

It's been an insane week at work.  

It's new semester start-up at my University.

I'm ready to get outside and enjoy our back deck. 

By the way, Chris and the girls found these owl patio lights for $2 at a recent estate sale.  

Bring on the weekend!

XOXO

 

Tiny Tweaks...Halloween Kitchen Hutch

I found this miniature hutch at Michaels in their wooden crafting supplies. It was promptly painted black.

The tiny bottles were purchased on etsy from Clear Brook Hollow.

Free Halloween labels found online were reduced in size and then glued onto the bottles. The bottles are filed with seed beads and glitter.

I'm having so much fun working on my Halloween dollhouse.

Boo!