The tool museum

July 6, 2012

I didn’t go to an actual tool museum but it may as well have been. The other day we visited some friends of the family and my dad’s good friend took us for a tour of the property. A lot has changed since the last time I’ve been there. It’s always so neat to see the projects he’s worked on, of which he’s had lots. He’s one of those guys that will take something if it’s free and will stop at just about every garage sale he sees. Needless to say he’s accumulated a lot of things. If I had to guess I’d say he uses maybe 25% of it and the rest is displayed on the walls. It’s pretty neat to look around if you’re into these sorts of things (I am so I found it fascinating). He has over 50 antique chainsaws and that’s just one of his collections. Among them are butchering tools, lumberman tools, and machine shop tools.

Initially we went into the shop to see all of the chainsaws but I soon found my self getting a little collection of my own. He knows I make jewelry and was pulling things out that I might be able to use and that he has no use for. It was pretty awesome. I got some new drill bits, an antique electric hand drill, a antique paper cutter, and a tiny hand drill of sorts (pictured below). I can see how all of these tools are inspiring to him because my mind was racing while we were looking around. I mentioned to my dad on the way home that I would like to learn to weld over the summer. Why not right?

Fireworks!

July 5, 2012

What an interesting 4th I had. It was so much fun but sooo much different than Austin. It’s really nice being home and visiting with friends and family. We ended our 4th with the Barton City firework display overlooking the lake. Beautiful. Even the guy yelling through the entire show couldn’t ruin it.

Happy 4th of July!

July 4, 2012

Now that I’m back in Northern Michigan for the summer what better way to celebrate than a parade! I’m from a super small town and most of the year not much goes on here. My dad lives about 3 miles from “downtown” tucked away in the woods. If you were to go into town you would find a post office, a general store/gas station, a bar maybe 2 bars and not much else. What does go on here though is the biggest little 4th in the north. Everyone around here gets super excited about it and our little town gets filled to the brim with locals and guests. It all starts off with a parade and continues  through the day with a beer tent, food and vendors and then right around dark there are fireworks at the park.

I don’t ever remember going to the parade but I went to the fireworks a few times in high school with friends of mine. The last few years I was home there was a tradition of volleyball on the beach at a friends place and swimming when it got too hot. Instead of watching fireworks in a crowded park we would lay on the beach while our friend’s dad let off his own fireworks right over our heads and we all hoped they wouldn’t actually hit us.

All those traditions are over now with everyone having gone their own way so this year I went back home for the 4th. My dad and I drove the 3 miles into town with the dog and sat by the side of the road while the parade went by and the candy went flying. It was actually kind of fun and it was nice running into old friends along the way.

I’m hoping to catch the fireworks later too! Woo! Happy 4th everyone! Stay safe.