if you haven't....

then YOU SHOULD 

for sure visit Catherine's Market, The spring House, the barn, the bike trails, Catherine's wine tasting, the discovery center....Am i missing anything from this location?  (all in ONE spot...Key when you have tired little ones who have played hard in the sun and water all day and get MAJOR carseat ITIs when you have to drive more than a mile.....)

Big Daddy and I loaded the boys up a couple times to travel to this WONDERFUL place....the boys were all in favor and as my monkey said "this is NOT a long car ride at all"

It takes us about 15 minutes from our lake house so with some suckers and juice we were able to hold them together. wink wink

Big Daddy and i share a LOVE of old whirl style...if you will or great architecture or old things made new again antiques or not, wood, the small details, the great outdoors.....Needless to say we could have stayed here forever and a day and Russell did NOT miss a single detail when designing any part of this....its a mere dream....the lamp post, the doors, the wood siding inside, the colors were amazing, the rock work, the wood work.... Yes readers, i loved it that much!

Catherine's pictured above is a little market with so much to offer.... Great refreshing drinks, some wonderful homemade dips to pick up when you may have some boats guest or happy hour on the boat (shhh! i am not sure that is an okay rule by the marine police (open drinks that is)?  i really should know the rules i guess??)

they also offer a huge wine selection and have a great wine "picker" who really knows his stuff 

the picture does NOTHING for the beams and rustic light fixtures, the steel windows were amazing too... And notice on the upper side, EVEN the storage area is detailed to the nines with great paint colors and wonderfully bleached pines....

does anyone know who picked the colors?  hats off to them.

Fresh Produce

a great cheese selection, fresh fish, and any kind of meat you feel like grilling.

Raise your hand if you are in LOVE with those pendants, they were just metal with a great looking rope to hang from.....

yes in deed, we took home some cupcakes, and lots of other treats for our week....i rate them all a 10

They make their own bread too.

And across this little cobblestone way was a cabin to rent bikes, canoes, start off on any of your choice of the trails (any of the 60 miles of trail they offer)

Dear Big Daddy,

Gosh, it appears i was NOT much help with the boys...

Next time....

As you can see we dress like the lake....sometimes we even wear our pjs after a long swim like my monkey and my little HORNET is adorned with his little brothers shirt but it only shows a peek at his little belly......I know i know....but remember we are at the LAKE!!

before heading to THE stables we enjoyed a nice lunch....minus the salt pour all over the table, the dropping of ones sandwich and spilling of ones sweet tea.  And i credit our peace with the picture below.... my hornet chose NOT to eat that day and head to a far away outdoor fireplace and play super heros.  And at that point... That was just fine with us!

and on our merry way we passed the Spring house...

we didn't dare brave to dine fancy with the boys.....but it was PACKEd so several lake goers did lean that way...

And a back view from the stables below

even the fencing was done with great style...Large cables pulled tight.

that little dot on the left is our monkey....he really should have more fear but i guess he wanted to instill it ALL is his middle brother who i carried the WHOLE time so he didn't break out into a panic.  Yes readers, He LOVES the outdoors and horses but is scared of a fly...i can't begin to explain this child so i WON'T... your welcome!

And this lamb's feet barely hit the ground for 10 straight days...

this baby is a big daddy's baby FOR SURE....

alas we arrive to heaven on earth or maybe a heaven of wood work rather

you will have to notice the details yourself...i am running late and must be on time today for vacation bible school...you understand!

we really considered once, twice, three times about leaving one or two boys in this room labeled JAIL

while some practiced their riding skill

others headed to the kitchen....

notice the seating....and it had beautiful cooper tops counters too!

big daddy and i are ready to host an event here for sure...

we were sold

and ready to book our trail ride for sure

and on fridays they host a wine tasting which was quite enjoyable

so that was one of great stops which we will attend all summer long.  stay tuned for the final weeks event  tomorrow... I know you are on the edge of your seat, ha!