Friday, February 27, 2009

We Now Interrupt Winter for this Virtual Beach Vacation

I'm getting a little weary of winter. It's just gray and drab and cold. So for Julia's Hooked On Friday party I thought I'd highlight our favorite summer vacation...the beach at Lake Michigan! We love to go to southwestern Michigan to the beautiful beaches. They're clean, clear, fresh water, no seaweed, no jellyfish or sharks. Chicago is only 90 minutes away, and we usually add that into the mix (and IKEA, of course!). Last year we actually went to the beach in downtown Chicago!

New Buffalo, Michigan, 2004.

Oh, my heart hurts! Why do they have to grow up so fast?


Chicago beach, 2008. It was really windy and wavy that day.

Chicago, 2008.

And here, just to whet your appetite, is a house that is for sale. It sits on the bluff above the beach in New Buffalo. It has kind of a Tuscan villa feel, and can be yours for only $5.4 million.

The inside is nice enough, and you can see some of it if you click on the link above. But what's really spectacular is what's outside. Look at these views! And beachfront!



Now that's my dream. A beachfront cottage. This one is actually a little high-falutin' for me. I would be happy with an actual traditional cottage. But you've got to admit, this one's a beaut!
Visit Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is hooked on today.

13 comments:

Cass @ That Old House said...

Beach houses are the best! Our family has one out on Eastern Long Island...and yeah there is seaweed but it's all party of the beauty...
including that lovely salt tang scent.

Lovely post, and your children are beautiful! Enjoy them every moment, they sure do grow too fast!

Cass

Anonymous said...

That beach just looks like an ocean beach. I must say (living by the ocean here in Southern New England) that I would love to have no seaweed, no jellyfish waters to dive into.

Pam Kersting said...

WoW! I suppose I could live there! That is some house, isn't it?

Cass @ That Old House said...

Hi Holly,
Thanks for visiting my blog! My grandmother didn't think any mortal was worthy of any of her 7 children, so her sons-and-daughters-in-law had rough rides!

My mom was "least loathed" because she was the only in-law who was also of Norwegian descent; it was a small thing, but it counted. And, she knitted and sewed, so Grandma figured my mother wasn't the total dunderhead she believed her other daughters in law to be.

Plus we had a summer bungalow around the corner from Grandma's house and all summer my mom would take Grandma shopping, to docs, etc.

Grandma was amazing -- not warm and cuddly, but wow I have terrific memories of her. She was unique.

Love your blog; you write very well!

Cass

Tamara Jansen said...

Oh my, that's a gorgeous house....but that price tag is hard to swallow :(

Anonymous said...

It was great to see some summer photos! I'm tired of winter, too. That house is incredible!

gina said...

It's a nice dream. Now, I'm going to check to see if I won last night's MegaMillions- if you get an invite to visit me at the above beach house- you'll know I did. ;)

Amanda said...

Awww, such sweet pictures of your family! LOVE the beach house. What a great dream, huh? And being a Texas girl, I would love a beach with no seaweed or jellyfish. Those must be great!

Local Girl said...

*Sigh* Gorgeous beach and adorable children! I'm missing the summer so much at the moment, and hanging out with my no so little girl - your right they grow up to fast!

Leila said...

Hi Holly,

I think your post makes me want to cry :)

I loooooove the beeeeeach....

Thanks for visiting our blog!

Unknown said...

Beautiful pictures! I'm with you, I'd be happy in a little beach cottage, though.

Raise Them Up said...

Oh my goodness!! This is SO beautiful. Wow. O.K. Now THAT is a dream house!! If we got something like 52 families to go in on it, we could each have it for a week, and only pay something like $104,000?? My math may be fuzzy, but I'm in dream mode...

Annie Pazoo said...

Oy, that's some house! I love Michigan beaches, too, and spent years living in Chicago -- walking the lakefront is so great :-) Thanks for bringing back those memories.