Morning routine at the log cabin

Much to my husband's dismay, I am a very early riser, especially when we are at the log cabin. This bodes well for the cat who likes to be fed right away. Cats like routine and I must admit I like my morning routine as well.



The first thing I do is step out onto our deck and look across the lake to survey my log kingdom. If I were queen, I would make everyone live in a log cabin! That and I would ask them to make me some cookies.












I might wave to the neighbors across the lake. (Okay - they don't know me and I'm sure they think I'm nuts when I stand out on my deck w/ my sheep decorated pjs!)











I'll ask the pine tree if it has any pine cones. It doesn't answer but I'll go looking for some later.












I fill up my bird feeders and remind the woodpeckers to peck the food not the log cabin!
















I say hello and offer the chickadees bird seeds from my hand. They ask me where Greg is at. (They like him better.)


















And I watch the black squirrel devour a suet cake in less than 5 minutes. He's getting expensive to feed.












Then I head back into the log cabin and ask my hubby what he would like to do today. Snow shoeing or hiking? He grumbles from his sound sleep - "it's not even 7:00 Shelley!"
Whoops!

I like Pine Cones

I have a thing for pine cones. I'm just starting to realize this. This is my 2nd pine cone lamp that I have purchased for the log cabin.

I also collect pine cones. I like to make bird feeder projects out of them which I'll share in an upcoming post. I also like to put them in a basket at Christmas time. Sometimes I decorate them and scent them, sometimes not. This summer I tried to make a picture frame with them but me and the hot glue gun had a fight. (I may try again.)

But I think I love them so much because they are the fruits of my favorite trees - pine trees. Something so natural, beautiful and another connection to nature. Here is a cute quote I found:

'You can live for years next door to a big pine tree, honored to have so venerable a neighbor, even when it sheds needles all over your flowers or wakes you, dropping big cones onto your deck at still of night.'
~Denise Levertov


I almost forgot, check out this cute pine cone ornament that I picked up! See the little log cabin inside? Aww.....

**P.S. Don't forget about my GIVEAWAY! Click HERE!

Giveaway from 'Building a Log Cabin!'

There is a special place called Zingerman's located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They have the best deli and bakehouse in the state in my opinion. In fact, their breads were voted one of the Top 12 Mail Order Bread sources in America! Every year during the holiday season they come out with this Cranberry Pecan Bread - it is so yummy that they have a waiting list for this bread! You have to try this stuff! In fact, I'm going to have a loaf shipped from Zingerman's to the winner of this Giveaway! All you have to do is post your entry here and leave a link back to your blog. If you mention my giveaway on your blog and link back to mine - I will add 3 extra entries for you to increase your chances of winning! Last day to enter is 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22nd. I will do a random drawing on Sunday, November 23rd. U.S. & Canadian residents only.

Good luck! This is a thank you to all of you who visit my blog and leave kind comments. I appreciate it so much! (Psst.... I'll be having more giveaways during December, so be sure to stop back!)

Here's the loaf Greg and I broke into last night. All you have to do is heat it up at 350 degrees, spread some butter on top and take a big bite!

Road to our log cabin

See this road pictured above? This is one of the happiest sights to see in my life because our log cabin is located right around the bend. I live for the weekends so we can drive up to our slice of heaven. It is about a 3 hour drive from our home downstate and I feel much like a horse does when he's approaching the stable - your heart starts to beat and you want to go faster. I cannot tell you how many times I have told Greg "hurry, let's get there honey" when we're driving down our road. Then he has to remind me that he is not going to run over our neighbors on the final leg of our trip. Okay, I get it.....but can we still hurry?!

Quote for the day:

'Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.'

-Henry David Thoreau

Christmas mood

The temptation was overwhelming - I just had to decorate the log cabin just a little bit for Christmas. The Loons and the owl on top of the kitchen cupboards were begging for some white twinkling lights! Oh, and they wanted Santa to keep them company too. I think I can wait a couple more weeks before putting up the 9 foot Christmas tree .....but then again....maybe not!

I went to a Christmas festival in a nearby town this past weekend and that definitely got me in the mood. This Wednesday, I'll be posting my tasty giveaway - be sure to stop back!

The Downtown shops already have their Christmas window displays ready.

Here comes Mr. & Mrs. Klaus!

The cutest parade goer ever! (Quinn - my beautiful niece!)

A little snow and a bad woodpecker!

I am writing this on Saturday afternoon. The snow has begun to fall in Gaylord. This will be good for hubby. It's opening day of hunting season in Michigan and Greg is camped out in his deer blind right now. He gave me a call and has seen no deer yet, not even a bird. Meanwhile I am "looking" at my christmas decoration purchases and trying to resist the urge to put them up. The birds are running rampant and the squirrels are crawling all over my deck and driving the cat crazy!



Bad Mr. Woodpecker was trying to drill a hole in my deck post. Doesn't he see the 5 suet cakes I have put out for him?


Looks like the Black Squirrel is a little messy eater. Look at the suet crumbs in his tail!