Running with Chain Saws

This past weekend was our annual wood cutting weekend for the Walhalla gang, We cut 6-8 cords of wood every fall and then let it "season" for the year so that we have fuel for the woodstoves/fireplaces and campfire wood. Scott and I were entertaining my brother Scott Slagh from North Carolina Friday and Saturday am, so we took him out on the snowmobile trails in the tracker and up to Na Ta ka for a cocktail/beer. This is one of our typical trail stops with the group when we are out snowmobiling as it is about 20 minutes from the cabin and has great food. .Friday night we did our usual Oasis Tavern thing and headed out for pizza with the gang. We took Scott with us and then afterwards headed to Pam and Dave Swifts for a campfire. It was a great fall night and thanks to a borrowed coat from Tom Vandeburg my "southern" brother did not freeze.

Saturday am we all had "garage breakfast" at Javalings thanks to Tammys griddle. The guys "tweaked" all the chainsaws ( 5) and we headed to the Manistee Nnational Forest with maps and permits in hand. We cut two huge trailers of wood Saturday, split it all and then stacked it all at each families home by dark ( ish). We were never more than about 20 minutes from the cabins. Sunday am a group went out again to get 1 more trailer full . This sounds like a lot of work be we had a great time. Even the dogs had a good day! Heres some more photos :
(Oreo team: Shasha,Cameo Lexee)

Londi, being in "one" with the woods.

Moving crew taking a break

JJ and Dave ( aka wood junkies)

Tom V multi tasking with chain saws

Trailer 1 full and ready to split

Punkin time

What a great fall weekend in Michigan. It was probably our last of the 70's temps for 2008. You never know through. I recall one christmas day in the 80's that was quite warm! I am hoping for another one next weekend so Kate, Emmy and I can do a great color tour. We of course being snowmobilers start to "think Snow". Scott and Spencer went the the snow show/grass drags in Hastings this weekend with some of the other Walhalla guys to get supplies and some new gear. Abbey worked most the weekend but came by on Sunday to hang with us. I tried to get a nice picture of her and Cameo but Cameo was being camera shy or was it just she was being her usual pistol mode??? Any way heres what I was able to manage.


Saturday I did some organizing and cleaning around the house and made some banana bread and pizza crust with a no wheat flour that actually tastes good! I have entered back into the world of "bread Products" due to Flax seed flour! I finally feel like I have won the battle with my wheat allergie issues! My test products look good and taste good without falling apart. Not a big deal for most of you but give up bread and pasta for 4 years and see how it goes..... Now If I could only find a no wheat beer that tastes like Rolling Rock......

T2 day 2008

It was a beautiful Saturday this weekend and after we had mowed the lawn, winterize the Searay and took The "TOM Tune" and Swifts "Party Craft" out for the year :-( we decided to go tree hunting/ two tracking. We met Swifts, Vandeburgs + Lenea, Neiboers a about 4 pm with koolers and snacks in tow to scout out dead trees in the Manistee National Forest in anticipation of our Wood Cutting weekend in October. The trees are just starting to turn color and the trails were a bit dusty but really not bad. Two tracking is not a clean "sport". We had a great time and stopped at a overlook of a swamp for a quick break. Great day and we found lots of trees. Now if we can just find them back in a few weeks!

Heres Davey making a plan for the gang, He rode sidekick with Austin Driving and Spencer in the back.

Happy Birthday to Tammy

Last Saturday night we met Tammy and Jeff Jalving in Charlevoix to celebrate Tammys birthday. We had a beautiful night and walked out on the pier to watch the sun sets with our husbands. Afterwards we walked downtown to Mainstreet pub for some cocktails and grub. We all finished the night up at the Hotel Hot tub with champange!. Awesome night with some of our awesome freinds. Maybe we should do this for everyones birthday..... I love champange!

Ten years......then and now

This past Friday, Scott and I were married 10 years.

I was looking back at the photos and couldn't believe how young the kids look. Andrea and Kate were also in the wedding and they look like teenagers!It was a beautiful day in 1998 and again in 2008.

Guess i picked a good date.! We celebrated our anniversery with a trip to the Porcupine Moutains, Munising Miners Castle and Charlevoix Pier.

We had great weather and saw some awesome color in the trees already

The last homecoming....

Hard to believe that Spencer is a senior this year! Gradution of the Class of 2009 will come sooner that we think! Zeeland East had a really early home coming this year and between the down pours of rain, we took a few pictures of Spencer and his date Chelsea. The rain stopped long enough for them to get to dinner and the dance for a great evening.

Scott and I also headed out for dinner with some friends we only see when we are home for the weekend. Next week, vacation for the week in Wisconsin and the UP. Photos to follow....