Adventures in Allegan!

Well, I've made you wait long enough to see all the fun that Debbie, Michelle,
and I had at the Allegan Flea Market.

They posted about the trip before I did.
They called me a slacker.

So, I had to get my tookus in gear and get this post up for you all
since I know that you're all dying to hear MY side of the story!

We waited all year to finally give each other an actual hug

instead of virtual ones.

We waited all year to share stories with each other face to face

instead of via the computer.

It was SO worth the wait!

We instantly connected.

We all felt like we were sisters separated at birth.

We felt like we had known each other all our lives.

What a complete and utter blessing!

Now I have an older sister AND a younger sister! 

 We immediately started shopping

while chatting and sharing stories...

(because we're multi-taskers, you know).

Debbie immediately found a sign made just for her.
Great name for a blog, huh?

We all fell in love with these goodies.
Love the dark pulls against the distressed white wood.
Yum.

(Notice the lady on the 2-holer?

She was just taking a break, believe me.)

We adored this darling little pink trailer!
We all pictured ourselves crammed into that thing
traveling from flea to flea together
like junking gypsies.

{I think Deb was trying to hide her purchase from us.....}

This was the prettiest booth in the place -

and the name was so cute!

{Sigh!  Talk about a sweet Frenchy sofa...!}

We found ourselves surrounded by vintage goodness.

See that cute urn Debbie's holding?

She bought it when my back was turned....
drat!

I did find a beautiful vintage grain sack, though.

{I considered trying to stuff that sofa in the back of my SUV....but common sense told me otherwise.}

An awesome front door will be coming home with me next month, too.

Michelle and I actually started to measure the door with a couple dollar bills

(Debbie was obviously off buying things from underneath our noses again....)

after the dealer's wife said that a dollar bill is six inches long.

Did you know that?
I didn't.

(You're going to go measure one now, aren't you?)

But, luckily they scrounged around and found an actual measuring tape.

I didn't know the measurements of our current dorky looking front door at home,
so I two-wayed hubby.

 

He was on the lake fishing with Deb's hubby.


Okaaaay.....so much for that idea.


I stroked my door one more time
before sadly walking away.

BUT.....

I measured our funky front door when I got home that evening
and praise the Lord!

The new one would fit
with a wee bit shaved off one side.

So, I called the dealer and he said he would bring my beautiful vintage door back with him
to July's market!

The vignettes were so creative and colorful wherever we looked.

After furiously working those booths for a couple hours,
it was time for
a pickle break!

Now, if you have never had the chance to eat a

fried pickle,

then let me tell you.....

run to your nearest fried pickle maker!

Hot, crunchy, dilly.....

a complete

guilty

pleasure!

{And yes...we did share a big old lemonade.  Had to save our money for treasures, dontcha know!}

Our stomachs happy once again,

it was time to get back to pounding the dirt for more treasures.

Michelle bought these pale, perfectly weathered, seaside blue vintage bottles for her

beautiful home by Lake Michigan.

{Is she not the cutest thing?}

Then she scored with a pair of these darling little wooden swans.

See that incredibly beautiful vintage birdcage that you can't see
because Deb's standing in front of it so that I can't see it, either?

Yeah, well - she bought that when my back was turned, too.

(Note to self:  Keep a closer eye on Debbie
and make her walk behind you.)

We turned the corner to be greeted by the
Lakehouse Louise.

She needed a lesson in
"too much is never good".

After walking for 7 hours,
stuffing ourselves full of fried pickles, french fries, and lemonade,
and bidding adieu to Louise,
we all piled into my SUV to take Michelle back to her car
-
which she decided to park out in the puckerbrush
for some odd reason.

And since the back of my car was loaded with all of our goodies,
Michelle had to sit on Debbie's lap
while we drove around the parking lot
like a trio of ditzy junksters.

{Nope....THAT'S not it, either......."Where DID I park my car, anyway.....?}

All in all, it was a GREAT day
spent with two of my most favorite  
friends
sisters.

{LUV you two ~ and see you next month!}

I'm working on scrubbing up all of my new treasures
(Debbie didn't nab ALL of them....)
and will be doing some floofing this week
so that I can share them with you soon!

Have you been to any great Fleas this month?


{Hugs}

Linking up with the parties on the lower right of my sidebar.
Click on the buttons and be whisked away to a world of inspiration!

Finding peace...

I don't know whether it's the nice, warm weather this week
that's been reminding us of our vacation in Florida,

or because we left our hearts on the beach down there
and they're calling to us to return....

return to the beauty,
the warm, salty scent,
the ocean whispering to us in our sleep ~

Debbie and I have been commiserating with each other
and are really yearning to return to our
beloved Sanibel.

We miss her so much.

We've been looking back over the photos we took
during our two weeks there with our hubbies a couple months ago.

Remembering each and every day we sat with our toes in the sand,
listening to the rolling waves,
the hot sun on our heads,
and feeling oh so close to God.

Even hubby and I have been discussing more and more
our shared dream of leaving the cold, dreary Michigan winters behind
and escaping to the warmth of Florida...

someday...


I looked back and re-read some of the entries I made in my journal.
I shared one with you a little while ago.
Here is another one...

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

I found peace.

I met God on the beach today

and heard his voice in the rolling waves.

His whisper called to my heart in the

tinkling of the shells as the waves pulled them back on the wet sand.

His sweet breath touched my face in the warm ocean breeze.

I lifted my face to the hot sun and felt his touch.

I found peace.

Ocean blue

sea green

creamy white sand

driftwood gray

clear azure blue sky

The crunching of tiny shells beneath my bare feet as I walk along the ocean's shore.

The warm sand shifting and sifting between my toes.

Sandcastles

seagulls

dolphins

sandpipers

I found peace.

Yes, I met God on the beach today... 

and He was beautiful.

~excerpt from my "Sanibel Beach Journal" - March 2011

Needless to say
we are all counting the days
until we return
to claim our hearts

once again.

{ hugs }

Joining with the linky parties located at the bottom of my sidebar.
Just click on the buttons and join the fun!

~ my sister, the brave warrior ~

many of you are probably wondering why debbie from

house at the lake

hasn't been blogging since before christmas

 

she was just diagnosed with uterine cancer

 

if you go to her blog and read her last post 

on december 20

her petrifying ordeal is chronicled there

 

 

i spoke with her today for a while

it was so good to to hear her voice

june 2010

 

she's doing okay under the circumstances...

her girls spent the weekend with her to keep her company

but like any of us thrown into a situation like this

 

she's having moments of uncertainty and fear ~

 

of crying out to God with questions

 

of weeping uncontrollably

 

 

but she knows he's still in control

and is accepting whatever happens

 

she's good like that...

 

that's why i love her so

my strong sister-in-Christ

♥

she's a faithful, trusting child of God

ready to roll with whatever is thrown into her path

and many things have over the years

 

 

she's handled them all eloquently and bravely

like the good soldier she is

 

 

her surgery is scheduled for january 11

once again she's got her armor on

and she's ready to fight

 

to fight with everything she has

 

she's not blogging right now

because the computer screen makes her feel dizzy

but i know she would love to hear from you all

 

and wouldn't it be a wonderful blessing to her to receive 

a mailbox full of love?

so if you'd like to send her a card, a letter, a special little something -

you can mail it to her at this address

but above all else...

please pray for her

 

because there is incredible, unspeakable, amazing power in prayer

she's got her armor on

and we must put ours on, too ~

 

because we are her prayer warriors

 

are you ready and willing

 to stand beside her

and help her win the battle?

 

 

i know i am...

 

 

 

♥

 

{ blessings }

 

~ laurie

 

 

 

 

Heaven's Walk Welcomes House at the Lake!

Good morning, sweet friends!

I am so very excited today I can't sit still!
Kinda like a kid at Christmas.

Not that I've been sitting still over the past few days, because I've been a busy busy busy

gal preparing for weekend guests here at Heaven's Walk. 

Cleaning, dusting, polishing, painting...whew! 

Hosting overnight guests is always a good reason do get those little chores done that always end up on the back burner, ya know? A little prodding and promises directed hubby's way and miraculously - things start to happen. (*wink)

My friend, my 'sister', Debbie from houseatthelake.blogspot.com,

(you have visited her blog, haven't you? It's sweet and cozy and totally Debbie!)

is driving down from the north with her hubby to visit my southern part of Michigan to kick back with my hubby and me. We've known each other for about 30 years, 

but haven't seen each other in over 10 years.
How could we not be sisters after all that time?

This, dear friends, will be emotional....I guarantee it. The hubs will stand back and roll their eyes and shake their heads and comment how dorky we are while we squeal with delight, hug and kiss and hug some more.
I can hardly wait!

After a tour of our grand, old, much-loved home and gardens, we'll all be imbibing  

(is that a word...?) 

in a couple bottles of Heaven's Walk homemade "Fat Cat-Happy Dog" wine on the deck (or front porch if the promised rain makes an unwelcomed appearance),
but guess guess guess what else we'll be doing.....?

We're headed off very early Sunday morning (rain or shine!) to a local flea/antique market that is only held once a month. Four hundred vendors will be waiting for us! Yeah, four hundred! Talk about eye candy. Soul candy. Vintage treasure candy! Total Retail Therapy! Does it get any better than this???!!

(Cue: more squealing!)

(Yes, I promise I'll share with you all the treasures that I just can't leave behind.  And I'm sure that Debbie will be blogging about her goodies, too!)

We're going to wander and drool and obsess and buy vintage treasures til the cows come home and we can't squeeze any more into my little SUV.

(Ummmm....on second thought....maybe we should take hubby's truck...)

So.....preparations have been made for our beloved overnight guests.

 The guest room has been primped, starched, fluffed and made cozy for them.

And yes, you recognize my 'Sea Isle' rocker from the front porch, don't you?

You'll have to stay tuned for a future post on how she ended up in the guest room!  

 Fresh, sweet lavender and hydrangea is on the nightstand because I know how much Debbie loves them.

Fluffy towels, bath supplies, 'Beach Mist' shampoo and lotion I nabbed from our vacation spot in Florida this past spring, and a pink mesh bag full of seashells all nestled into a wicker basket to make them feel welcome.

Mmmmm....there's just nothing better in life than to climb into a bed smelling of lavender and sheets fresh from the clothesline.

A vintage family Bible passed on to us by hubby's dear mother sits next to beach and lake magazines to curl up with in bed.

 I pray that they both feel welcomed and loved and we have a memorable weekend of fun, fellowship, and laughter....oh, and a lot of treasure-gathering - which I promise will be followed by a lot of blogging by Debbie and me.

 So, hey....if you're ever in the neighborhood,
just remember that there's always a cozy bed with plump pillows, warm duvet,
and fresh lavender waiting for you at Heaven's Walk, friend!

 Hugs to you

~ laurie