So...this is how Ted and I spent our 18th anniversary! He sent the sisters on their annual getaway with a smile and a "Have fun!" We are so thankful for the couple days away...and yes, we always say, "Oh...just one more day..." Ludington...here we come!
Our favorite place...Parkview Cottages...now individually owned. Cottage #6 was all about the pine and pinecone theme. So nice and clean and comfortable!
Mari always chooses the little clove bed setting first.
Love all the little touches...
We packed our lunch and headed right to the beach. It was BEAUTIFUL! "Yes, this is just what we needed!" The water was warm and perfect for wave jumping and floating!
We got some sun and sand and listened to the surf. Friday doesn't look like the weather will cooperate for a beach day...but the waves are to get higher!
We then went back to change and do some window shopping. We ate frozen yogurt for supper at a new shop and found our MI t-shirts.
Then we went back to relax and eat chips and yummy salsa. We watched food shows and read.
Breakfast in the morning....french toast bagels with cream cheese and strawberries with our coffee.
In front of the cottage pictures...we drove up to Manistee to walk the shops and enjoy the day. We only ever got some sprinkles...no big thunderstorm!
So...we came back to eat lunch, nap, and read at the beach and watch the waves and clouds.
The clouds rolled away and we got hot! Mari went to get our suits. A little funny...we drove to the beach in case a storm hit. We had a first stall parking place and we didn't want to lose it. I stayed with our stuff at the beach and Mari walked back to the cabin (across the road and up a half block) to get our suits.
We are pretty smart when we are together...and we keep working on it by drinking our Smartwater!
Showers to get rid of the sand and more walking in Ludington. The farmer's market was packing everything up when we got to town...at 7pm...the sign said till 9pm!? The only thing we could figure was they were sold out of most stuff. We looked at some shops...but many close at 6 or7pm. This really puzzles us! Everyone is at the beach all day...they walk for supper, shopping, and ice cream in the evenings! We found a BBQ place to eat for supper. YUM!
Back to the cottage for relaxing and coffee!
Mari read. I colored. We each rested in our own way...checking in on the weather and our kiddos.
Time to leave already! It always goes by so quickly. The weather was not in our favor for a last beach day...the rain was heading our way!
We got to go to our favorite coffee shop and sit outside and talk.
I stopped our conversation, "Hey, look this way! I just want to remember this...this is nice!" It started to sprinkle as we walked back to the car. "I'm not ready to go home yet! It is only 10:45am and I don't want to drive home in this pouring rain...we need to find somewhere to wait it out!"
We drove to Grand Haven...there had been a beach hazard statement for building waves and wind throughout the day on Saturday and I wanted to see it!
It was also Sidewalk Sale Day! But it was pounding rain by the time we got there and found a parking spot. My umbrella only turned inside out one time! We were brave and walked downtown Grand Haven.
This display made me laugh! I snuck a picture because of the explanation card. Mari made me laugh out loud, "Oh, look, rock towers! We build them and then find a bigger rock to throw at them to knock them all over!"
Finally...tired of the rain...we found a cute little cafe for a lunch/snack. We were the youngest gals there...except the waitress! We laughed and enjoyed the shared sandwich, scone, and cookie.
And the fun sodas...black cherry and root beer.
The waves were getting bigger and the swells in the channel were rising...but not as fast as we were hoping! We were told about the tornado touch down around Holland area...we waited till warnings/watches had expired and then headed home.
And drove into it all again! God gave us safety and blessed us with a restful time.
