Water Dogs

As I mentioned the other day, one of my favorite things to do in the Summer is head out on the water. When I was growing up our boat was like our cottage in the Summer. We're lucky enough to have a dock down at the end of our yard, so it was just a matter of grabbing some swimsuits and towels and running down to the boat. Mom would pack up food to head out on the water, whether it was freshly baked muffins or sandwiches and homemade cookies. Occasionally we'd go for an evening run and order a pizza from the pizza shop I used to work at near the river. We'd call in our order and it would be waiting for us by the time we reached them on our way out to the lake. I can't think of better takeout than that. I have many happy memories of laying in the back with my siblings, reading my beloved Archie comics in the sunshine.

Thankfully our dogs are just as happy to head out into the water.

Whiskey and Shadow have taken to guarding the river as we motor on down it.

Shadow tends to protect us against other barking dogs...

..while Whiskey snaps at flies, dragonflies, bees, really any type of wayward bug.

Before you know it we're out on the lake. Something about the feeling of the water rushing past us with the wind hiting my face and the sun warming my legs brings me back to being a little kid while we blasted around the lake.

The only difference now is that instead of dragging us around on an inner tube, our new favorite family sport is wakeboarding. My sister has done it for years, but now my brother had taken to the sport.

I, on the other hand, prefer to watch from the boat and spot for them. I'll probably try it soon enough, but I swear I still have water in my nostrils from trying waterskiing a couple of years ago.

Nice air, bud!

Shadow loves to watch them wakeboarding as well.

Whiskey on the other hand is happy to be cuddled in with my dad in the front seat.

You know those trick dogs that you see go waterskiing or surfing? Well, Whiskey will never be one of them. He's happier in the boat, bundled up in his little lifejacket.

...and hunting bugs. Yum. Eww....

The Jolly Roger

One of my favorite summer activities is going out for a boat ride. I think it goes back to when I was a baby, and lets just say I was very, um, difficult, and my poor parents had a horrible time getting me to calm down/nap/behave/etc (Sorry Mom & Dad! I love you! Thanks for putting up with me!) One of their tried and true methods to get me to sleep in the summer was to take me out on our boat for a ride along the lake. Within minutes I'd be out like a light. To this day I still get sleepy whenever I'm in a boat. Its like I've been conditioned to sleep in them.

However, there is one boat that I don't think I could ever fall asleep in and that is our dear friend's beloved Jolly Rogers. For years he has lovingly cared for this antique wooden boat and it shows in not only how it looks, but also how it feels when you go for a ride. Its like you're gliding on water at neck breaking speeds....no nap time here! :)

All the details on the boat really make it stand out, including these little skull and cross bone ornaments, and a big pirate flag off the back.

My brother and his friend sitting in the very back, bundled up from the wind.

And look who is tucked into my brother's hoodie? Why, its none other than my beloved pooch, Whiskey. He's loves boat rides. I even caught him falling asleep in my dad's arms on our boat this weekend even when we were going through choppy water. I guess he and I are more alike than I think ;)

Maybe its from listening to Brad Paisley's song "Water" on the radio so much lately, but its got me thinking about how much I love being out of the water, relaxing on a dock or going for a dip. If I could find a nice happy medium between getting work done at the office and sitting with my feet in the pool I'd be a happy girl...think I can rig up a blackberry charging station and filing system on the pool deck? ;)

kentucky antique shopping and experiences on a houseboat, all in a wool skirt that beats up my other skirts

Photos by Neil!

1950's Yarn Weave Wool Skirt - antique shop  in southern Illinois

1960's Black Velvet Tank Top - thrifted at the Goodwill Outlet

Black Fringe Heels - Forever21

Cream Tote Bag - Shakespeare & Company in Paris

The skirt I'm wearing in these pictures is one of my all-time favorites. I bought it last spring from Neil's old piano teacher in his home town - she owns an antique store now - and bargained it down to $10, but honestly, it's probably worth so much more. It's a 50's skirt made in Greece with green and orange yarn woven into it and gold thread detailing. It's very stiff, so it gives an amazing shape! It came with a waist belt that you wear above the skirt. I hemmed it by hand (I didn't cut any of the skirt off because there's more yarn weave that I folded up and sewed inside!) and now that it's short, it's one of those pieces that instantly makes me feel good when I put it on.

Yesterday was a Winter get together on their new houseboat! On the way to the lake, Neil and I stopped at Cadiz, Kentucky, which has a reputation for a cute downtown and some awesome antique shopping. 

I found a great clip on bow tie to put in the shop as well as those pretty 50's black bow heels in the picture (also headed to the shop - they're too big for me!). I also found a bag filled with sewing patterns, mostly from the 1960's! And a home improvement magazine from 1969 with gorgeous full color pictures.

Cadiz antique shops were pretty impressive. One in particular, Cherokee Antique Mall, had so many vintage dresses in fantastic condition (including a gold evening dress from the 1940's).. but everything was so overpriced! Well, maybe not overpriced.. maybe these antique shop owners knew exactly what they had and priced it accordingly. That doesn't make for a cheap shopping excursion, though.

Isn't that purple settee (pictured above with some cute guy sitting on it) wonderful? It was priced at $450.. I'm still trying to decide if that was a legit price or not. Man alive, what I would do with a million dollars. It would have nothing to do with expensive cars or name brands and everything to do with antique shops and Etsy.

After shopping, we hit the lake with Neil's parents!

Today, we're headed out for some barbecue at my grandparent's house. It'll be fun to sit around and eat good food and hear my grandpa complain about politics! That's what holidays are all about, right?

What are your plans for the weekend?