Happy Spring !!

Isn't it so wonderful when finally Spring Shows its lovely Face.

The Grass gets greener and the dafodils start to grow.

If you are like me I get Spring cleaning fever.  This is so important in our little Cottage.

It means freeing up any available spaces in Cabinets and drawers from the extras that I collected all through the year.

It also means that I get the bug to start blogging again. Why I wonder that is ?

I think deep down I really miss regular old fashioned mail via cards and letters.

My Sister Patsy always sent mail to me and I truly miss that type of communication since her 

Passing.  

So I seem to get the urge every Spring to start some sort of communicating.  Spring is when I would sort through all the cards and letters I would get from everyone that I kept in a pretty box, which each year the pile gets smaller and smaller due to emails and Facebook.

Problem is I do not keep it up.  Oh!  I write almost everyday in my Journal.  Good old fashioned 

Cursive handwriting.  But Typing !!  I think that is one of my issues, it seems so unpersonal.

But I guess if I ever want to keep up with my blog I have to get over this thought.

So once again I will try to start blogging.

I will just pretend I am writing it on paper just to you, even though anyone in the blogosphere can read my deep thoughts.

I have alot to say, you should read my Journals they can be so funny at times.

So as Spring represents Renewal it only seems fitting that I hang my laundry for all to see.

Happy Spring Everyone !

<<Hugs>>

Mama Zeno

Where has Summer Gone To ???

     I cannot believe we are in the last couple of days of Summer.

What an absolutely wonderful Summer it has been.

We are the busiest we have ever been, which is crazy for being semi retired.

Our Business is doing better than we had even imagined.  The Economy rising has surely showed up in the boating world. People are buying, even yachts and people are definitely enjoying using them.   It is evident in all the new insurance claims that we survey.

     We have had Company visiting the cottage almost every weekend and we Love every second of fun.  We still have more coming up as now is the winery tour season, instead of boats and beaches, we get to sit by the campfire and sip great local wine.

I see how our summer has gotten away from us, as many of you have been busy also.

I have missed writing , even my journal misses my daily adventures.  I have only been able to jot down a few things here and there.

Fall is near and that usually puts me in the groove for cooking and writing.

I am way ahead of schedule with my decorating changeover for Fall and Winter I had it completed before Labor Day. My meal planning ideas for the season are organized and my food pantry is stocked and inventoried. I even finished my new crafting area . I am soooo ready to cozy down.

Realistically Not until the last boats are in hibernation. But then I will be ready and organized to play.

     I love the change of seasons, it renews me.

Our little Community is busier than ever, every house has sold and 3 new ones have filled the empty spaces. We have gained a lot of new active and fun friends.

Although it is a little sad this time of year as many start leaving to warmer climates, it gets so much quieter here just as we have seen with the tourists getting fewer.

We do not leave until January so we will hold down the fort with the year around gang until then.

Our leaves are in full swing with their golden and red hues and many have fallen.

The apple orchards are red with ripe apples to be picked, I see apple pie on the horizon.

     Yes I do love this time of year. It truly brings out the homebody in me.

Bears Football games and fall picnic baskets on Old Mission Peninsula over looking the Bay in between vineyard stops is a great reward for a truly busy summer.

I hope you are as excited about Fall as I am.

May you have a Happy day.

Love

Mama Zeno

Back from Chicago

What a Wonderful Trip we had into Chicago.

I love going this time of year because I get to shop for Fall Decor for the Cottage.

The Selection in the Stores in Chicago are incredible, when you live Up North here the pickings are few.

I really fell in Love with this Lamp and I am one Lucky Lady to have such a sweet Husband.

It is not quite time yet to change the Decor over, but soon , the very first crisp day that comes along 

with the scent of apples from the orchards and I will be ready to go.

Don't you just love this time of year when everyone is starting to prepare their nests for the cooler seasons.

I can almost smell the fireplace and a pot of Soup simmering on the stove, and of course a cinnamon apple scented candle burning.

Yes !!!

I do Love the Fall Season.

Do You ?

Hugs from

Mama Zeno

Getting to know your Oven

Did you ever think your Oven has a mind of its own??

     Well I think my new one does !!

I adopted this Range/Oven for the sum of 300.00 last month. (meaning purchased on Craig's List.)

After searching for 2 years I actually found the original owner willing to sell this wonderful appliance, who I have named Snow White of course.

     Why ???  because she is beautiful and completely white in color.  I have drooled over this type of range because of the white ceramic glass cooktop and quick baking convection capabilities.

Our Condo we go to in Florida has the same Range and I love it.  Maybe it makes me feel like I am in Florida !!  Not really, but I love the clean crisp look she has and she brightens up my little kitchen.

Of course after she arrived home we had to purchase a Brand new refrigerator to match her so she would have a friend as pretty as her.

     I thought we bought another she but after delivery we soon found out it is a He,

not because he stands so tall and forward but because he makes the strangest noises, like he is groaning all the time!  I have not bonded with him yet, as he is going back and we are waiting for a replacement to come from Lowe's at the end of this month.  I will let you know if it is a she or he.

     Anyway back to Snow White, Monday morning I decided to Bake a Sweet for the first time.

The previous owner never used the oven and it showed, actually this range is in pristine condition a really great find.  I made Apple Pecan Bread and it came out perfect! the temp and timer was fantastic.

I really was so excited you would be too if you had been the owner of our old one it was a He and He only worked when He chose too!!!

     All was Well in Kitchen Heaven until later that afternoon when I decided to move Snow White!!

You see when all this appliance moving was going on and all my  Spring reorganizing projects where happening, I found Gold ....an empty cubby in a cannot reach back cabinet.

So I had this brilliant idea to store my off Season Fall and Winter Dishes in there.

So as I started to pull Snow White out I had to open the oven door to do this by the way, She slowly slid gracefully away from her stage then She Bit me... Yes Bit me she grabbed my Finger and slammed her door shut ======= OUCH !!!!!   OUCH !!!   OUCH!!!

     After whispering, yelling, no Screaming profanity in Polish of course I ran to the sink for Cold water and to keep the blood under control.

Yikes! Did you know our end of our Fingers has the most nerve endings in our whole Bodies?

I wonder if being Beheaded would hurt less!!

So long story short as I type with 9 fingers one bandaged and up in the air.  After tears and ice Snow White has apologized and I know it was not her fault, it is a Good thing she proved her loyalty to me earlier that morning creating that wonderful apple bread. 

the Moral of this story is Do Not Organize!!  No... it is Do Not do too many things at once!!  No...

Oh yes it is DO NOT PUT YOUR FINGERS WHERE THEY DO NOT BELONG !!!!!!

I can almost hear my Mother Saying this .

Sweetest Mother's Day Gift

     What do you get a Mom who has it all ??

Well per my suggestion to my Sweet Husband,  Jewelry !!!!

Not just any old Diamond will do, but a set of 23 beautiful kitchen cabinet and drawer handles !! 

I love this idea of stating exactly the gift you would love to receive .  It is working so well.

Last year I suggested a Greenhouse and my wish was granted.

This Mother's Day my hint was once again granted !

I now have my wonderful new Cabinet Jewelry that I so lovingly carefully picked out, and they fit

perfectly too!

     On top of this, Sweet Husband also built me a Kitchen Island that works perfectly in our little Cottage.  Oh yes I am one Lucky Mom.

Now I know many young Women would not consider this a sexy personal gift !!

But I do, because I asked and I was heard, and my Sweet Husband knows how Happy us

Aunt Bea type of Women feel to receive a gift that was made with caring hands and heart.

     When MaMa is Happy everybody is Happy !!

So even though the Snowflakes where falling outside yesterday this Mom was very Warm Hearted inside enjoying her Gift of Kitchen Bling.

  

Signs of Spring !!!

Good Morning Everyone:
Finally woke up this morning to full Sunshine ! Yay
The birds are singing and the grass is getting touches of green.
The Lake has thawed, no more ice and the Swans are swimming !
Yes it is a great start to the Day.
I have been very busy Spring Cleaning here at our Cottage. I want to be ready to get in the Garden when the days are warmer.
My friend Thelma Louise ( yes that is really her name) who is the sweetest person you will ever meet brought me some wonderful seed packets of flowers to plant. I cannot wait.
I am almost giddy just writing about gardening. This is my first year since we bought this cottage that I have plans for the Garden. The idea of not having to leave my cottage after just a weekend stay is so exciting.
Where will I start ??? Hummmmm maybe in the small patch by the Greenhouse or by the Large Stone in the front yard, so many Ideas for sure.
I cannot wait!
Hope you are either working or planning a fun garden Too.
Happy Earth Day !!!!

Did I mention I Hate Snow !!

Ughhhhhhhh !!!!!!
Snow again this week our weather has been all winter and not a sign of Spring!!
Snow everyday here.
Everyday I think Spring , reading many of my Garden Books and working on Spring like projects here at the Cottage.
It is helping to think this way for sure , but what I really long for is to see Green and smell the grass.
So for now I will just have a cup of tea and look at beautiful photos of Summer.

Think Spring !!!

Gloomy outside and Winter is still hanging on.
But a little trip out to my Greenhouse helped to cheer me up!
I am a little Late with planting seeds this early spring. So I just went in to see how Spring will feel if it ever arrives. It felt wonderful to be in here.
I cannot wait to get the seeds I need to start for my Garden. I am so looking forward to turning the dirt and smelling the earth.
Funny how just walking in here made me Happy!

Motivation Needed

It is funny how the Mind and Body work together.
After traveling for three full months, I think my brain has shut down this week.
It seems everything I do gets messed up. I really believe my mind is now in rest mode and my Body is as well. It could be the cold weather here because everything I touch seems to drop out of my hands, maybe it is Arthritis!!
Note to self once again come back to warmer weather!!!!
I long for warm Sunshine already. If ever I had any doubt that I am not a winter girl I have now proved it that I am Not.
There are so many things I have on my list to do that I am on page three already of jotting them down. Now I just need to stop being so clumsy and get to work!
It is so quiet here in our neighborhood the smart ones have not yet arrived from their warm refuge. The Lake is still frozen solid but the Swans have arrived back and just sit on the ice, poor dears I know how they feel.
I wonder if they have a To Do List ??
I bet they do. Oh Well Spring Cleaning will be later this year for all of us.
This morning I sat for over an hour and tried to come up with ideas for better storage in my little place. Maybe I need wall to wall shelves and cabinets to hide it all away.
Funny I use to do this same thing at the old Farmhouse, maybe the clue is downsize even more.
I have never had any part of being a minimalist in me whatsoever.
I am too sentimental with all my treasures.
If anyone has any storage secrets please let me know.
Happy Sunday to you
Mama Zeno

Leaving the Farmhouse

For those of you that know us you already know our story. We owned a 158 year old Farmhouse for 21 years. Many hours and dollars went into that old house and we have many wonderful memories of our time there.
Four years ago we decided to make a major change in our lives. Finally due to the Economy and many Corporate Downsizings we decided enough and took early retirement.
Our two Sons where grown and living their lives successfully and we felt comfortable to make a huge Change. A major game changer when you are really to young to just retire. We are not the sit still kind of people.
So slowly we made major changes and as of Last October we said Goodbye to Hidden Creek Farm and our Farmhouse.
I will say it has so far proved to be one of the best decisions we have made.
We already had  this Little Home that we used as a weekend cottage in one of the most beautiful areas of Michigan surrounded by Water every where you look.
We Love it here and it is a tourist destination for many and a lot of people have their Summer Homes here including famous people, Like Mario Batali just to name one.
The area of Traverse City Michigan is Magnificent. The Water is aqua blue just like a Caribbean Island. Really no joke!!!
Well anyway, our Cottage is small ,only one thousand square feet of living space and it is a Manufactured Home!! I never thought of owning one until I saw this one !
It sits near a Lake that we have access to in a 55 plus community called Vacation Village, and the name speaks for itself. 
Most of us Winter in warmer climate and then vacation here all Spring, Summer and Fall the most Beautiful times of year anyway. Although if you Love to Ski this is a great Winter place too.
When I say Vacation I mean live the semi retired Life!
What a difference from living in the two Homes, from Complicated to Simple!
When I say semi retired , I really mean we started a business that still allows us plenty of play time.
It takes a little adjusting into a smaller home like this but the rewards are tremendous. I will tell you more about that in the journals ahead.
But for now I will stop writing here and go Look at the Blue Green Water and keep unpacking our Van from our 1st Snowbird Adventure.
Hugs to your Day
Mama Zeno

Settling In

Day 4 of still unpacking from Florida. I really think we came back with a lot more??
Funny when I lived in the Farmhouse I could always find enough secret spots to put things away in. What Iam learning is there are not many secret hiding places in this Cottage.
As a matter of fact I realized I need to do a downsizing here, as I brought way to many things when we moved.
Half the fun is finding the right spot for everything. When I was younger I use to have the habit of changing my furniture around once a month. I was always looking for a fresh new look.
In the farmhouse I even changed the purpose of each room quite often. Now I really just want things in their place, part of my simple living plan!!
It seems like I am always taking forever to complete an organizing project,
The truth is I start to empty a drawer or cabinet and of course I have to look at everything and one thing leads to another and next thing you know I just spent 2 hours, Looking at pictures or things that are very sentimental, that leads to a lot of daydreaming.
Organizing is an ongoing project that changes with my mood. One of these days I would like to hire a professional to come in to my Cottage and help me find a place for everything!
Well today Spring has Sprung Up North here. The birds are singing and there are hints of growth from the ground. Last Spring I purchased a pot of Tulips (picture below) they bloomed on the Counter for Easter at the Farmhouse, I planted the bulbs here at the Cottage with hopes they will bloom where I am planted Here. I will keep you posted.
Hope you are Having a Wonderful Day.
Mama Zeno

Waking Up to Sunshine

I Love waking up to Sunshine streaming through all the Windows.
I have many crystals hanging, and all the reflected rainbows and their beautiful colors dance on all the walls.

We arrived Home this past Sunday in the late afternoon, after spending what we thought was the cold winter days away. As we arrived here and saw the snow still sitting on the cold ground we knew immediately we came back too soon!
When we purchased this Cottage in March of 2010 we only envisioned being here in warm summer weather. As of last October we now call this our full time Home.
Even though the wind is blowing and snowflakes are flying, it is warm and toasty in our little Nest.

What a joy to walk through the door, the Handy Man we hired had the Cottage all ready for us
Heat on and even left the light on in case we arrived late. In the refrigerator to our surprise we found Food left by our wonderful neighbors and good friends.
Yes we are Home !!
All we need now is Spring !!
And patience to fit everything we unpack into One Thousand square feet of space.
Today I am learning a big difference from Farmhouse to Cottage Living.

One More Time

Well here I go again. I am going to go for it one more time and create a blog.
This time I decided to just journal my own thoughts and wisdom.
I am a farmgirl at heart and my heart is in many places.
I now believe what I really want to do is just share my thoughts and stories with family and friends
and of course new friends out in the world.
I love writing and so far I have kept it to pen and paper enclosed in decorated covers.
So now I will try the same out in Blogosphere....
Maybe even one day learning to add artwork too.
 I hope you will enjoy my journaling, and all my adventures that I live
and learn thru MaMa Zeno's Farmhouse to Cottage way of Living.

MaMa Zeno