One of my favourite things about the holiday season is the nativity exhibits sharing the light of the world. Hundreds of crèches proudly displayed as the tranquil tunes seeped out of the theatre, reminded me of the total ubiquity of the season. The interpretations of the manger scene and a baby Jesus differ greatly from culture to culture but the love and effort to create each unique artifact is the same. So, whether Jesus is your truth and spiritual path (He's mine), we hope the peace and love of the season find you under your brightest star.
Deep in the Georgian countryside is an ancient, rock-hewn Orthodox monastery, or at least the ghost of one. This 6th century visual and spiritual treat is located in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, on the half-desert slopes of Mount Gareja. Not too far from Georgia's capital Tbilisi, the complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock face. Without the modern technology to dig out these caverns and chapels, I'm in awe at the craftmanship and resourcefulness of these monks of yore! The monochromacy of this landscape coupled with the well-told stories, still shrouded in mystery shadow this entire experience with a sense of eeriness and urgency.
Now that the turkeys have trotted, the gourds have been replaced with evergreens and boughs of holly. In lieu of more THINGS crowding our home and pushing the truth our of our hearts, we are opting for time together completing a holiday themed wishlist. First on our list was our return to Bronner's in Michigan's Frankenmuth. We're the ones driving 2 hours just to walk through a Christmas Wonderland & get our fill of all things merry and bright.
Despite being a forest farm girl at heart, there are many blessings of big cities. One of several reasons that I'm grateful for urban living is walks in the city....
I'm that person who gets lost in typed pages when its too rainy to go explore. On those days that I'd rather stay home with a cuppa tea, I find adventure in others' feats or ventures. So, Rosie Swale, the author is pretty amazing. She ran around the world... seriously. And this book, Rosie Darling, is basically her early 70's memoir of hitching across Europe and is absolutely perfect.
This is the way to start a weekend. Hoops, Trees, and Hot Cider Make believing we're still very young and this is all there is: Nature and hoops.
This is Edith, the cutest almost 7 month old in the world. That is fact, not opinion. We're those people. Our dog is our adventure.
We're the ones who time travel through things. We're the one who add discoveries to our wanderlust wishlist. I'm sure that Flea Market Style and Martha would be so proud of me-- the way I've scoured most every shop in Michigan with a sign that says "Antiques". Unfortunately, some of these shops must have mistakenly picked the "Antiques" sign over one that reads, "Lots of Crap"! But amidst the several dusty and dingy shops lie a few rays of Antiquing hope! 1. Bay City Antique Market Bay City MI. In Mid-Michigan, this is hands-down the best antique mall! Wear comfy shoes, when you go, though-- the store is an entire block of rennovated buildings (3 stories!!) 2. Tried and True Antique Mall St. Louis Right off of 127, this Antique Mall is the quintessential wacky Junk store. Mixed with legitimate antiques, this is the place for vintage odditities. Bizarre statues and busts, silly books and teacups mingle with antique furniture and odds and ends. You might find the finishing pieces to your collection or you might just find something so random you can't live without! 3. House on the Hill Treasures US-127 S. This old boarding house 1/2 way mark is now a renovated Antique market. Packed to the brim with anything vintage or retro, you're sure to find a treasure here! As a note, the rocking chairs upstairs often start rocking on their own. 4. BlueDoor Antiques Grand Rapids The Blue Door is not too big, not too small; its just right. With a mix of architectural salvage, repurposed lovelies, and traditional junk store style booths, the Bloor Door meets everyone from Joanna Gaines wannabees to hipster doofuses. 5. Hog Creek Antique Mall Allen With one of the weirdest "old souvenirs from places you've never been" collections, the Hog Creek Antique Mall in Allen is an easy drive down to Shipshewana or back home. You will find a salt and pepper shaker that matches your secret collection! 6. Main Street Antique Mall Ishpeming In the most Yooper of Yooper towns (in my opinion... I mean, they actually have da accent, eh?), hides a clean and full antiquing experience. For the most part, the store's booths are organized and themed, making shopping more peaceful. 7. The Rust Belt Market Ferndale More of a set of independent and artsy shoppes, the Rust Belt Market in Detroit Metro is a happening place! Greatest part of this market? FOOD!! There are several bistros, cafe's, and, of course, in true hipster fashion, food trucks. 8. The Mega Mall Lansing Now, the Mega Mall of Lansing area is not where you go if you are a dyed-in-the-wool antique collector. This is a dusty hod-podge with the odd special find thrown in. Its a full-day experience, so don't expect to be adding it to an already full day. 9.The Treasure Mart Ann Arbor Aptly named, The Treasure Mart is a glorified junk shop. The separation, though, comes in the cleanlines~ for the most part, its dust free. Plus, you're bound to find something worth remembering. 10. Boomerang Retro & Relics Marquette MI
Closing early to host swing dancing weekly, this is the only (that I know of) Retro-Chic Boutique in the Upper Penninsula has an always changing and freshly quirky assemblage of mid century oddities and rock-abilly dreams. With no shortage of retro bowling shirts, Boomerang will keep you coming back. (See what I did there?) We were the ones driving 5 hours to check another capitol city off our Wanderlust Wishlist, but topping to climb to new heights along the way. Along the Hudson in NY in 2015. True architecture nerds, we wandered through the city, marveling at the mouldings and gables, but opting once more for God's architecture in the wooded, yet rocky foothills.
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