Christmas 2010

Mark & 'Cede & I decided that Christmas Eve morning would be a perfect time to open our gifts.

It gave us plenty of time to linger over coffee and clean up our mess before heading down state to be with the family.

"Santa" uses duct tape when
scotch tape isn't enough

Mark & 'Cede "high five" over their good fortune

Christmas Eve with Mark's side of the family is a very casual affair; food, family, fa-la-la and this year, "far away".


Mark's brother, Matt, is stationed in Kuwait. Through Skype, we were able to wish Matt a Merry Christmas and have him with us for a little while.




Matt's Christmas Tree

Matt's wife, Jennifer
and sister-in-law, Loralie

Emily & James,
Matt's son

Collyn and Jennifer

Along with Matt's family,
our son, Mark E., daughter-in-law, Kristin,
Jennifer's mom, Judy, neighbor, Jeanne, Mom & Dad Hunter,
and brother, Ross, and his wife, Loralie filled the house.


Mom Hunter relaxes amid company.

Christmas Day found us with my side of the family.

Brother-in-law, Perry, kicks back with Mark.

Emily & Jerry,
Mark E. & Kristin,
Levi & Stephanie,
Carrie & Perry,
Mark & I,
and of course, Mom,
had a great day of
games, food, and laughter.

It looks like Mark E.'s Christmas was
going to the dogs!

Our son, Michael, and daughter-in-law Teresa,
Teresa's Dad. Tom, and of course Kleo,
phoned in their greetings from California.

From near and far, our family had a good Christmas with no rabbit ears or T.V. trays (family joke to complicated to explain). We wish the same for you and yours!

Gifts & Preparations

We have ample snow as we get ready for Christmas.



In a gift to themselves, Jill & son, Ian, took an extra day in the North woods to try dog sledding. Our friend, Tim, the owner of Snow Bound Adventures, and a past staffer of Borchers has partnered with us to provide an off the beaten trail adventure.





Jill and Ian reported a wonderful time mushing and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a "new" winter activity.

Tim has promised Mark and I a trip and after hearing what a great experience our guests had, we can't wait to get out and try it.














While our guests were on the trail, I was pursuing
Christmas preparations. With a son and daughter-in-law on each coast, gifts have to be bought, wrapped, and shipped early to make it by Christmas. Will they get there in the "Saint Nick" of time?

Okay, the gifts are wrapped, the tree is up, Bing Crosby is crooning out the Christmas spirit, and the only things left to do are desserts to share with the family. Luckily, I am married to "The Mousse Maker".

Mark has a way with chocolate chips and a microwave!

Tonight, we will enjoy our tree and "Mixed Nuts" before we head downstate for a functional family Christmas with a little "festivus" thrown in.

Christmas Is Coming

I am looking out my window at more snow flurries freshening our snow base. The shopping has to be done by Friday night so that mail to the kids will reach them by Christmas. All the grand dogs including our new addition, Kleo, are getting bandanas to match Aunt 'Cede's.





















We kicked off our Christmas season
hosting a local ladies brunch.
These sweethearts really got me in the
true Christmas spirit with their stories of Christmas past and their plans for this year.









Last week-end we tromped through the snow to the river down at the Rayburn's property. This is one of our favorite places to walk! It is by far 'Cede's favorite. If we don't see anybody else there, we carry the leash and let her run.

We decided to take some photos, maybe get a good one for our Christmas card. While Mark was adjusting the tripod and I was messing with the timer, 'Cede went exploring. All of a sudden, we heard sp-p-lushhh! She immediately jumped out of the river and started tearing around.




It didn't put a "damper" on our plans.
We continued taking pictures.



















We are going to enjoy every minute of the next 10 days; baking, parties, wrapping, mailing, shoveling snow, hosting guests.... and we wish the same for you and yours!

Thanksgiving

November has been a recharge our batteries month. 'Cede and I spent some time on the road with Mark. We didn't take any long adventures, but enjoyed time spent together in the tri-state area. We were on the road when the high winds came through in October and had to have an escort across the Mackinaw Bridge, but other than that it was uneventful.

We have had time for coffee breaks and catching up. Needless to say, not much to blog.



Two years ago, our sons were living in New York City and we all went to the Macy's Parade. I was not able to be a balloon wrangler (my bucket list), but it was a blast.

It was great to spend time
with our sons and soon to be
daughter-in-laws.





Michael, Teresa, Kristin
Cheri, Mark, and Mark E.









We have so much to be thankful for this year; friends - old & new, a beautiful spot on the river, a great family.

Mother Nature smiled on us for most of the canoe season and business was good and we are thankful.

We are also thankful that our son, Michael, and his wife, Teresa, were able to be home with us this year for a quiet Thanksgiving.

It was fun to share in the food preparation and kick back together.

The Hilbrecht brothers stopped by while home from college. We are thankful for the staff that takes care of us and become a part of our extended family. Many of our past staffers keep in touch, allowing us the opportunity to watch their families grow.


We are also thankful that we had butter shaped like a turkey. (Mark is holding the sculpture.)

'Cede was thankful that there were leftovers!

Lastly, our business and our guests mean so much to us and we are thankful for each person that touched our lives this past year.

Ladies Retreats & Trick or Treats

What a treat, Ladies' Retreats.

The end of October brought two ladies' retreats.
Our first group of ladies are from Nashville Baptist Church, Nashville Michigan. Along with friends Barb, Joyce, Joan, Janet, Lori, that's my mom, Shirley, on the right.

The ladies did "girl" things like shopping, going out to eat, and playing some killer rounds of Mexican Train dominoes!






Our next group of ladies set up
shop in the common room.
They wove on looms and
the knitting needles clicked away.
Borchers regular, Kay, was here
along with locals Sandy & Natalie.
Cathy, Billie, and Durinda rounded
out this delightful group of crafters.







Our retreats were followed by Trick or Treat. Because our driveway is so long, Borchers rarely gets a knock on the door on Halloween. We were, however, treated to a visit by Marcus & Eli Thomas and their mom & dad.


Dad, Matt, was a Borchers staffer for four years from 2000-2003. Matt was our 2003 MVP!

The fall colors are fading or already on the ground. Mark has put away vans and tucked watercraft into every nook and cranny waiting for snowfall.

Canoe Season 2010 is officially over. We enjoyed a safe and successful summer and we thank each and every guest who added to our enjoyment!!

We are grateful to our staff. They touch our lives and Mark & I hope that you had the opportunity to get to know them and that they added courtesy and a little bit of fun to your experience.

Please join us next year when we celebrate our 20th year at Borchers and Borchers marks its Diamond Jubilee of 75 years of providing trips on the AuSable River.

The beautiful fall weather of October has been a nice change from rainy, cold September!! The last two weeks have brought many highlights.

Glen and Zach made their annual trek from Ontario. We missed Drake, he had to work.

Our regular group from Fort Wayne came, too. They enjoyed their trip to Burton's and a drive to Gaylord for dinner at Big Buck's Brewery.




Did I mention that we like to play "logger"? Our beautiful maple tree that always turns when it's time for the staff to go back to school was hit by lightening a few years back and she finally lost the good fight. We rented a manlift and Kim, Ryan, Sara, Mark & I all did our part to recycle our loss into firewood.


























October 9th was the annual State of Michigan civil war. The Wolverines of Michigan fought a valiant battle but they lost to the mighty Spartans of MSU. Pre-game breakfast spanned the great divide between Green & White and Maize & Blue. Our guests were alumni from both schools and we thoroughly enjoyed the friendly rivalry.

Father & Daughter, Jim and Jen, managed to get in a bike ride and a canoe trip pre-game and then settled into our common room to root on their team.
An additional highlight was a blast from the past! Brian Dunckley, Borchers staff 1992 - 1994, and his bride, Kelly, came home from Rhode Island to attend a wedding and chose to stay with us at Borchers. It was great to see Brian again and to meet his lovely wife!!!














Brian painting trailer boxes circa 1993

Cheri, Mark, Brian & Kelly

Last but not least, the Toldeo gang was here! Bill & Mary made "hobo dinner" over an open fire assisted by Jerry, Barb, & Craig. We are the luckiest couple in the world to have these folks in our life and they feed us! We shared stories and laughs around the campfire as we have done for many years. Unfortunately, we get to having such a good time that we forget to take pictures to share on this blog.

Look for pictures next October. I promise.

10/10/10 a date to remember! More than 39,000 couples decided to make it their wedding day.


Borchers was fortunate to provide a canoe trip to a local couple and their wedding party.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs Hamilton!!

Teri & Jerry, return guests,
attended a wedding in Roscommon.

Love and fall leaves were in the air.

Fall is upon us. The colors are starting to change and I predict peak colors in the next 10 days.




























We have had a lot of rain and the river was up a good 8 - 10 inches this past week-end. We don't know if high water was a factor, but B&B guests, Bill & Mary, got a very up close look at the water (twice!)

They dried out happy and along with their friends, Jim & Bonnie, and John & Patty, shared stories, cheese & crackers, and wine with us on Saturday afternoon.









Our mountain ash tree was absolutely covered with berries. Over the last few days the robins have picked the tree clean. According to folklore, this may mean we are in for a long winter with plenty of snow. Let's hope so!

We had the priviledge and the honor to attend the going away ceremonies for the 119th Red Lion Battalion in Battle Creek this week.



Mark's brother, Matt, is headed to Wisconsin for deployment to Kuwait at the end of the year.
The guard is a large presence here in Grayling and we know many families with someone currently deployed or returned thankfully from deployment. Even so, it is heartwrenching to watch over 600 troops ready to move and look at the crowd and see all of the spouses and children whose life will be totally disrupted for over a year while their soldier serves.






Mark and his brothers, Matt & Ross.

Matt & James

Our nephew, James - Matt's son, is training in Ft. Lee, Virginia and will be deployed in early 2011.

We have a deep and sincere appreciation for all of our troops and their families.