Kayaking the Au Sable

Dee and I decided to kayak down the Au Sable River. We have canoed the river several times. We always enjoy driving through Michigan to look at the fall colors. We thought this would be a unique way to view the colors. Although it will be a couple of more weeks before the colors are at peak we had a great time. If you get the chance to go down the Au Sable please do so you won't be sorry. Along the way we saw a bunch of great cabins. We also saw a small variety of wildlife including a weasel, ducks, a blue heron and to top it off a bald eagle perched high atop a pine tree.

So we invite you along on our trip. Enjoy!!!

We used Campbells Canoe Livery in Roscommon. The folks are that own the livery are very nice and accommodating. I would recommend them.

The weather was mostly cloudy and in the 50's with a pretty stiff wind at times. The trip was about 4 hours long By the time we were done we were cold to the bone. We went into town and had lunch at Fred's bowling alley and restaurant. We had a great lunch, warmed up and then headed back to the cabin.

I am now thinking of a winter trip down the river. I better dress warm.

Outdoor shower

So Dee and I were talking one day and I said wouldn't it be cool to have an outdoor shower. Dee thought it was a great idea. It was from there I knew I was in trouble. So she started researching and ordering pieces and parts.



As far as the plumbing for this project it was easy. Earlier in the year I had completely re-plumbed the entire cabin with PEX pipe. If you have never used PEX don't be afraid, it is so easy to use. I tapped into the run of pipe I installed for hot and cold water outdoor faucets.

Here is the pipes coming down from the ceiling. I had to switch them around so that the hot water would be on the correct side outside. I just pulled the PEX back up into the attic and pushed them back down through the opposite holes. This pic is before I switched them.

Bottom half of the pipes leading to the outdoor faucets.


The run come from the manifolds in the attic to the faucets.

This pic is of the T I put in to go to the shower faucet.

The pipes coming outside. Also the teak floor we put in. Dee found the floor on the internet. The squares snap together, it was easy to put together.

The finished product.

Looking forward to showering in the great outdoors.

The shower parts were ordered from Signature Hardware. A simple 36" circular shower rod with center support. It requires 2 shower curtains which I simply close with clothes pins when it is windy. The shower floor is teak 12"X12" ordered from Overstock.com.

Outdoor Shower

I'll have Bill do a post about how to install an outdoor shower. But, here is a pic of the finished product. I LOVE it!

Memorial Day Weekend

Last weekend Dee and I had our neice Michelle and her friend Brittnay up to the cabin. The girls are 21 and wanted to tan, swim and do what every 21 y/o wants to do, drink. We had good time. Saturday we partied with our neighbor, Sunday we went to Dee's Uncle house for hot dogs and hamburgers. Here are some pics of the weekend.

Michelle enjoying her first margarita. It was little on the strong side.



Here the girls are enjoying the camp fire, margaritas and beer. What ever happened to smores?

Here the girls are canoing across the lake.


Wouldn't be a post if we did not have wildlife pics.

Our Canadian friends and thier 6 gooslings.

A 2 foot gardner snake. First time I have seen one at the cabin. If you look closely you will notice that he has a full belly. I am thinking that there is one less chipmunk. Brittnay did not like this at all.

A muskrat swimming away from me on the paddleboat.

As I was paddleboating I was hearing this squeeking noise. I could not figure out what it was until I saw this female Yellow Bellied Sapsucker fly to the tree to feed her young. This tree is on our property.

Here is silhouette of a humming bird

Although he will grow up to be a pest that iratates the dogs , he is just to darn cute.

All in all we all had good time with neighbors, family and wildlife. The weather was perfect and the beer was cold. Truely a great weekend.

Cabin Gardening

Oh how my knees ache! Spent all day cleaning up the gardens at the cabin

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Happy Sunday everone!

Just back from a weekend at the cabin. We did a lot of work this weekend. I finished closing up the kitchen cabinet from my plumbing job earlier in the winter, this made Dee very happy since it will keep the bat from visiting. I keep trying to tell her that he doesn't eat much. She does not believe it.

Dee worked somemore on her garden out side our bedroom, it is realy coming along. We will add pics later.

I put a new out door spigot in on the front of the cabin.

We also bought a St. Fancis statue for my Memorial garden for my Mom.

Below are some pics of some of our birds and a awesome sunset Please enjoy.

Nesting pair of Mallard Ducks

This female Downy had taken up residence in one of our bird houses. She since has been replaced by barn swallows who are currently busy building their nest. Sorry no pics of them yet.

Here is a pic of my Mom's Memorial garden with St. Francis.

St. Fancis was my Mom's favorite Saint.

A close up of St. Fancis the Patron Saint of Animals.

We finish with this absolutely awesome sunset on Saturday. It was just a great weekend at the cabin with Dee and the hounds.

New Door

Hello Everyone!!!!

We brought a solid 6-panel door at the Habitat for Humanity Re-store in Houghton Lake. It has become our favorite place to shop. We have also donated several items to them. The door cost us $20.00.

We bought it to replace the hollow core door that was hung between the main cabin and the utility room. This door never really fit in with the cabin.

I had to cut 2 inches off each side of the door to fit into 32 inch opening. I also use the old door as a template for the hardware. I than took the door home, cut out for the hardware and sanded the door.



Here I am cleaning up the hinge mortises before we stain the door.



Dee took some molding to the hardware store to try to match the stain. They told her to use shellac. This was difinately the right choice. Here I am staining the door. Dee helped but she didn't want her picture taken, besides someone has to take the pictures.



Here the door is almost done. It started to rain so we had to move inside to finish the last coat.



Here is the finished product. It looks like its been there since the cabin was built. A great way to spend twenty dollars.

Take care everyone.

New planting bed with bird feeder

This weekend Bill and I created this new planting bed in an area that, at one time, housed a propane pig. Today, it isn't legal to put anything greater than 100lb. tanks next to a house. This area has been an eyesore for me. So, we have created a planting bed with a bird feeder. I'll be able to see the bird feeder from bed when I wake up. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

I can't believe that it only took Bill and I about 10 minutes to clean this area out! He did all the hard work - moving the stones out of the area, then back in. I raked and he used a flat shovel to get rid of the grass. The ground was so soft in this area, it just took a couple of minutes!

I can't wait for real spring weather so that I can start putting plants in this bed. Here are some before and after pics.

This is a before shot. The windows on the left go to the utility room. The windows on the right go to the bedroom.

After, facing the bedroom.

After with all the debris removed and the rocks put into place. We were careful about not interfering with the gas line to the furnace and the electrical to the shed. I'll also be careful about putting short rooted plants in those areas. Any recomendations for plants in this area? It gets morning sun only, so probably along the lines of hosta and heuchera and other shade lovers.

Going, Going, Gone ICE-OUT!

The first photo is Monday afternoon. The 2nd photo is Tuesday afternoon! Ice-out was about 95% complete when I came home this morning. We only have a little bit of ice in our backyard. Ice fishing is Bill's favorite sport. No more ice fishing for him this year.

Love is in the air!

Here are some paired up visitor's from last weekend! My favorites, the Red-Headed Woopecker's, probably won't arrive until the end of April. Going up north today and plan on cleaning out my nest boxes. I always get Tree Swallows, but only get Bluebirds on occasion. Hoping for a year with the Blue's.

Red-bellied pair. Male on the left and has an unbroken orangy-red stripe down his neck. Unlike the female who appears to have a gray cap. Their name comes from a light reddish wash on their bellie's. Very difficult to see if you are not up close.


Pileated pair. Male on left with a red-mustache. Female has an all gray mustache.

Vacation - Swimming with Manatee's

Been a while (sorry!). Here are some pics from our vacation to Florida in February. We went down for my Grandma's 90th birthday!

Bill and I went swimming with the Manatee's in Crystal River, Florida. It is just down the road from my Mom and Gram's place in Florida. It's an experience that you don't want to miss. We can't wait to go again! Hope you enjoy!