Life's a beach...

What a great weekend!

Friday night found me and the Tigger eating pasta and having beers and chit chat on her front porch. The most amazing thing in the world to me? The fogger trucks. Do they have this in Chesterton? Valpo? This pick up truck drives around and fogs for mosquitoes. BRILLIANT. We can barely get them to drive around and deliver the mail and you guys are getting fogged!

Saturday Owen finally got his Heely's. OMG. He's so excited he can hardly stand it. We got Mr. Big Foot a size 8...there is a little room to grow, which is good, because it may take him awhile to get the hang of it. After the Sports Authority we left Owen with Alex practicing his Heely's work in the parking lot while we dashed into the Old Navy...is that wrong...to abandon your children on wheels in the parking lot? It's harder than it looks, rolling around on your heels. Gazelle that I am I would never get the hang of it.

On to Michigan!! We stopped at Redamak's...yummmmm! It had been a long time since I'd been there. Kevin and I couldn't even remember if we'd ever been there together, that's how long it's been. I know in the summer of beer Steffen and I went there. Of course, that was his "standard date" location...I think I paid my own way that night just so I wouldn't be classified as a date. ;) Anyway - any place that offers me green olives on my burger is a-okay in my book. The boys loved the shakes and we had chili cheese fries...I LOVE vacation weekends! Stumbled into the antique barn next door - the guy was willing to make deals and I bought some accessories to my wine bottle foyer.

We checked in early and picked up some beers. More Heely's practice for Owen. Julie, Chris & H arrive...yay! We putz around the room catching up and eventually make it to the wine fest. 9 wineries, reggae playing...I sent the boys to the beach. The water was great for swimming. I could have left Alex there all day.

My favorite wines:
Karma Vista - Pink Side of the Moon, Kevin and Julie LOVED the Starry Starry White
I didn't like a gosh darn thing from St. Julian, sorry.
Contessa - Divino. A blend of whites. This was really great...but I don't see it on their website. When we go back in July I'm going to have to find this!
Round Barn, Free Run Cellars, Lemon Creek, Domaine Berrien - nothing stuck with me.
Fenn Valley - their Reisling was fantastic
Warner - best Cabernet in the place. GREAT finish - jack ass guy behind the counter. He was in some floral shirt and kept popping on his sunglasses and talking like a surfer. I don't think it was an act. I think this is actually how he talked. It wasn't cute or funny...it was annoying. Shut up and pour.

The tent was big and they had lots of tables outside near where the bands were playing. Reggae, blues, jazz by Liquid Soul. We only heard the first two...the set of pipes on Lady Sunshine and the X Band...fantastic. They made it a really good time and lots of people were up and dancing. I would absolutely attend this again, and based on the fantastic turn out, I'm sure this will be a yearly thing that will only get bigger and better.

I stuck with the Divino while we were there. Kevin stuck with the Riesling. Chris kept asking where the beer was. Back at our hotel. So that's where we went for pizza and beer and cards. But not until we saw some guy passed out at the fest. Ah...the kids don't realize that wine is more powerful than they know. You must pace yourself....or you end up face first in front of the concession stand with paramedics putting salts under your nose. That is not what I call a great day at the beach. And what was his excuse...men only absorb 1/2 the alchohol they drink! It's true! We are genetically manufactured to get us drunk and take advantage of us! Men have the superior stomach enzymes for consuming alcohol...NOT fair. They don't have to bleed once a month...no pushing out babies...they get the higher pay scale...they NEVER have to wear pantyhose (well, some CHOOSE to)...and now...NOW we find out they can process alcohol better. I cry genetic party foul!

Sunday brunch at the Cracker Barrel. yummmmmmmm. Then we went up to St. Joe to find our vacation house that we're renting in July...Sweet Sara's. It's gorgeous and the people who own it couldn't be nicer. Cannot wait until July. Kevin and the boys are totally pumped up to go there. Pray to the weather gods that all will be well. We will be in VERY close proximity to both Contessa, Fenn Valley and Karma Vista wineries...BRILLIANT. Hurry up July!