Smiles and Shenanigans in Cedarville, MI {Night One – Cattails Cove}
When push comes to shove you take chances and take a drive to Cedarville, Michigan in the great north UP. I’m thankful I took the chance of going on this trip to Cedarville. It was just what I needed to make a new friend, reunite with and old one and recharge my batteries. If you’ve been following my writing for a while you know that I am fairly regular when it comes to taking road trips. But, since all those changes happened in life, I sat idle for a while as I sorted through life.
Now, I am making all these changes, doing all these fun things and taking life by the horns! While many things are still being sorted, I am seeing the world full of smiles and laughter, knowing those things will get worked out in time.
Having left late in the day on Friday, we were able to be blessed by the gorgeous Michigan sunset over the water as we crossed the Mackinac Bridge. The view was breathtaking. In that moment I realized just how precious life really is.
Once we crossed the bridge there wasn’t too much further to go. As we got closer to our exit, the more the excitement filled the car. Kelly and I for a place we’d never been, Js mom for a place she was longing to return to.
I was thankful at that moment to be the passenger since Kelly and I had switched right before the bridge. Nothing could beat this view and the thoughts rattling around in my head.
We finally arrived at the lake house and were instantly greeted by what we dubbed “The Blue Man.” Js mom had no idea what this was and no one wanted to unwrap it! (We did later find out it had something to do with the well and water softener. 😉 ) Blue Man hung out with us all weekend. Was really quite fun! (LOL)
Js mom – “I thought it was a dead body propped up!” No joke y’all. She really said that! We had a great laugh and the ‘Blue Man’ was a running joke with us all weekend.
Kelly and I were starving by the time we got to the house as we had not eaten since lunch. Js mom was good and just wanted to sip some wine, unpack and chill out. Kelly and I took off down the street per Js recommendation that I go meet and introduce myself to some locals.
We walked down to Cattails Cove. I’m serious when I tell y’all that we both stood there staring at the door wondering who was going to pull it first as we listened to the music flowing through air. We both knew walking in there to the land of the locals was going to warrant a lot of stares. It wasn’t tourist season and yet here we were standing. A big deep breath in and we opened that door, walked right in, and sat right now.
We both ordered the prosciutto sandwich with fries. Kelly had beer while I started on my double Jameson’s on the rocks.
It didn’t take long before we made some friends. We didn’t meet the people J wanted me to meet. But we did share some smiles with some random strangers and had a blast doing it….of course in between those smiles she was texting her dude while J and I carried on our text war 😉
And then we did some strange things… hahaha
That night I was extremely thankful for friends, new and old.
As we walked back to the house, the moon bright in all it’s full glory, I knew that at this point in my journey, I knew this was exactly where I was meant to be.
Kelly and I in bunk beds, giggling like children.
I can’t remember the last time I laughed without thinking twice.
The last time I hung out and chatted with total strangers.
The last time I took chances.
And I had J to thank for that as he orchestrated the whole thing knowing the good it would do me.
Sometimes you have to take slow down, take chances and realize what is right there in front of you.
When you do, amazing things happen.
To be continued……………
Did you catch part one? When Push Comes to Shove……
What a fun adventure. Sometimes it’s great to just cut free and have fun with friends. I had a good laugh at the “blue man”. =)
Isn’t he funny?!?!?
It sounds like you had a great time. I love when you have those moments and realize you are exactly where you need to be.
Thank you. I agree. Sometimes we just need a little help to see those moments.
You guys are goofballs. Looks like the kind a group I would love to hang out with their forever I need to get my butt back up there it’s such a beautiful area and it’s so much fun to go.
We really are! I just love being silly. Life has to be full of smiles and laughter.
You should go up to the UP! For sure!
Good to see this today. I miss trips like that and I hear you on watching scenery and the thrill of thoughts passing by as you go. The Blue Man sounds like what I would have called that oddly placed tarp.
I hope to have plenty more road trips this year. I’ve been sitting idle for too long and its become suffocating.
The Blue Man was our bodyguard… he did well. lol
This made me smile. I love a nice trip with a good friend and it looks like you both had a great time. 🙂 The sunset picture looks so peaceful.
Thank you so much!
It sounds like you had a great time. Shennanigans are great for helping you get though a slump and realize that things could be a lot worse. They are better medicine that laughter.
It really was the best weekend. More stories to come!
It does sound like a magical time for you! We’ll be headed up that way sometime this summer. Maybe we’ll check out Cattails Cove if we are close by.
That would be awesome Theresa! It looks like I will be back in August. Maybe stay some of September as well. Let me know if you head up to the UP!
Oh my gosh this looks like such a fun night!!! I love being able to get away with the girlfriends it’s always the best time.
What a great little adventure. sometimes we forget we have to take a breather and take care of ourselves. We have to get off the hamster wheel for a bit!
I am so glad you had a nice time with friends. Sometimes laughter and good company is exactly what you need to realign.
What a great time, looks like you really enjoyed this place! I love how you were able to let loose and have some fun!
My husband and I moved to Michigan two years ago today and I have to say it is a BEAUTIFUL state. There is so much to do! Cedarville looks amazing and like a perfect place to visit for my first UP adventure!
This is so great! I love seeing you smile. What fun, I think Cedarville looks like a lot of fun!
This sounded like a lot of fun. Little adventures with friends like this are the best. I love driving across the Mackinac Bridge!
Looks like you guys had a lot of fun! And so many shenanigans! Looks like a fun group to hang with !
Wow, what a wonderful trip. Nice to be with a friend in an out of town trip.
I love how you guys hang out but I want to have a trip with my hubby!
I absolutely LOVE Northern Michigan! It’s so pretty! It looks like you had a great time (and I’m glad the blue man is not a dead body).
Michigan certainly sounded like a good trip. Love your sunset picture.
I love fun adventures with old and new friends. If we don’t take chances I think we’d just be stuck in a rut for the rest of our lives.
Sounds like an awesome adventure. I cant remember the last time I went out with my friends! I so need some girl time out.
We just moved to MI a few months ago and just settled in our house in Burton last week. We hope to head up and see the UP this summer. I hear it is beautiful!
I’m glad you got well rested and some much needed laughs. These days, I just feel stressed out all the time and could use some R&R myself.
I was feeling that way for years. Since my divorce, most of my stress is gone!
Sounds like a much needed adventure! I love the story of the blue man and know it will be something you both will remember for years to come.
We’re still laughing about it!
Love love love this!! So glad that it was such a fun and wonderful time! Perfect for doing away with stress!
It looks like the trip was a lot of fun. I have always wanted to visit Michigan but haven’t gotten the chance to yet. The place you went to sounds nice, and the drinks and sandwiches sound tasty!
You should come visit Dawn! There is so much to do and see here.
It is nice to get in some friend time. And I agree too that it’s nice when a friend drives so you can take in the view. 🙂
This sounds like a much needed trip. I often get stuck in a rut when I’m home. I have traveled with my husband on his business trips the last two summers. The change of scenery alone is refreshing.
I am hoping that I can get that break this summer.
It looks like you had such a great time! It is great to get the chance to unwind every now and then.
I love to have some time with friends to just have fun and be silly! Looks like you did just that at a great place.
We really are pretty silly.
This does sound like so much fun! I can get stir crazy if I sit idle for a lengthy period of time too! It is always nice to get away even if it is just a little bit.
I can’t sit still for too long. I have to get out and enjoy nature.
Sometimes you just have to get away and recharge. Sounds like you had a great time. I look forward to part three.
Thank you Ann!
Sounds like you had an amazing weekend trip. Michigan certainly has some beauty to it. I hope you ejoy the rest of your trip.
Glad you had an amazing time. I find that the moment I stop thinking so hard about having fun, the more fun I actually have lol Got to live and have fun!
This 2 day trip inspired 4 blog posts. So it was worth every moment and good for my soul.
I have lived in the U.P. Michigan and have never been to Cedarville. We live further west in the U.P. here. Anyway most of the people are indeed nice and easy to talk even with stranger. It really is a beautiful place up here and it can be very relaxing especially if you live in a city. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I can’t wait to come back to Cedarville and get out to explore more of the UP next trip.
Michigan’s one lovely city, I would love to go back there only for a vacation and nothing else. I find it difficult to close the lights out here when I read that wacky “Blue Man” thing up there. I get scared easily!
He was our body guard all weekend!
This sounds like you had so much fun! It’s just the small things that make something great into something amazing, even if it’s just a dead body in blue wrap on the front porch or a laughing fit that hurts to try and breath during! Looking forward to more on your journey!
Thank you so much! We really did have a lot of fun and I am one of those who enjoy small things in life and the moments which you live.
I don’t think ppl realize how beautiful the state of Michigan is! There is so much to explore. Looks like you had a great time on your little getaway.
There really is quite a bit of natural beauty here. It’s something I appreciate a great deal. I can just live without 6 months of winter. LOL
Great adventure de-stresses one’s life and relaxes one’s soul. It’s fun to atleast travel and explore a beautiful place just like Michigan once in a while.
I love to travel and explore. It’s my peace in life.