Merry Christmas

We wish you
a Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year








It took until mid-December to find the Christmas spirit.  The kids can't come home and the boys are long past anticipating the "perfect gift" that requires a shopping quest (I miss that).

We went through the motions; put up the tree, plugged in the outside lights, and tuned in the Christmas station on Pandora and somewhere in the process the Christmas spirit found us!

"Mixed Nuts" inspires a theme

We got creative in packing the gifts that had to be mailed.

An Avita water box becomes "Feliz Navita-Dad"

We did a little holiday baking and gift wrapping  

You can substitute dog spit for scotch tape.

'Cede and Yukon

Time flew by, Santa came, and we traveled downstate to be with family and friends.
 

Baby it's cold outside

We had a magical Christmas Eve

We met up with Mark's brother,

Ross and his wife, Loralie 

for lunch and a carriage ride,

followed by a visit with our dear friends,

Mel & Denise.

We ended the evening with a 

Christmas Eve service

at their little country church.

Our Christmas Day was spent with my side of the family, good food, and good fun.

Our kids were with us in spirit and Skype!  

Receiving a laptop from my wonderful husband was very nice surprise,

 having our youngest son and daughter-in-law "join" us for Christmas
was the topping on my Figgy Pudding!

.  

Liz & The Ladies

We ended our B&B season on a high note.  Aunt Liz made her annual trek this year with friends & family!
This group of crafty ladies spent the week-end beading, knitting, scrapbooking, and handcrafting Christmas Cards.  Lei taught several of the ladies how to make a mini-album with cute little pockets.

Stopping at Arnie's Arts & Crafts in Houghton Lake on their way North, the ladies also found time to shop Grayling and trek to Hobby Lobby further north in Gaylord.

Aunt Liz, Aunt Linda, & My Mom

All the Ladies: June, Liz, Linda, Shirley, Nancy, Rita, Linda, Lei, and Betty

Nancy & Linda took a walk Sunday morning before breakfast.  When they returned, we had a slight variation on "look what the cat dragged in".  This little guy followed the ladies back to Borchers and wanted to check in.

Nancy returned to where she thought he had come from, but when she came back to Borchers, so did he!

Mark & I knocked on doors but no one answered.  They probably saw the "free kitten" in our possession.

"Percy" was very friendly and obviously had been around people. I suggested Mark take him trucking because he hopped in the car every chance he got.  We assume he likes to travel and stay at B&Bs.

He spent a couple of nights with us and on Tuesday, I decided to make the rounds again.  The first house I stopped at had bikes and a stroller and other evidence that a family lived there.
It was not their cat but they thought he would be a good addition to their family.  "Cat"astrophe avoided!

Make New Friends but Keep The Old

We have been so fortunate in that owning Borchers has allowed us to make and renew friendships.  This October was no different as we welcomed "the Toledo Gang".  Bill & Mary, Jerry & Barb, & Craig have been staying with us for years!
They are the OLD friends.

In recent years, Bill's sister, Mary, has joined us and we are delighted that Craig has found "new Barb".
Cousin, Jane & her husband, Lance, are a great addition to the group!


We allow Craig to wear his Ohio State shirt and Bill to talk about the Yankees & The Packers.
It's not exactly a match made in heaven, but these friendships are priceless.

Barb, Craig, Mary, Bill, Jane, Mary, Lance, Barb, & Jerry

September is an excellent month for paddling!
These lovely ladies were celebrating the upcoming wedding of one of their B.F.F.s

We appreciate the many ways Borchers plays a part in memories for families and friends.  Congratulations to the bride and groom.

Carol Ann & Crew

Carol Ann & Crew including her brothers and their families, BFF's and their families, and Carol Ann's mom and sisters made their annual trek to Borchers.  We always enjoy groups that span three generations!

Meet the 2012 Canoe Crew

 Borchers held it's annual staff training.





The Borcher Babes, Sara, Amanda, and Madi,  practiced kayak retrieval.  These girls are so good, they can do it blindfolded!

Borchers deals in helping large groups of people get on the river safely.

Here is our friendly, helpful  staff, working the bugs out of our launching procedure.

 Borchers 2012 Canoe Crew

We love paddlers!

We love to host paddlers!   Young and young at heart!

Sarah, Gabe, & Chase

Bob & Jeannine

 Big groups and small

Fellowship Church 

Michelle & Brock

Beauty in Wood

The river is flowing and paddlers are going!

Mike takes his beautiful hand built wooden kayak
along with a Borchers kayak to Loud Dam.













Meanwhile some of the Borchers crew headed down river to paint some
not so beautiful wooden picnic tables at White Pine campground. 
Bushes, rollers, a gallon of paint from the DNR, and with a little effort the picnic tables look pretty good and are ready for campers for another summer.

Alex, Cheri, & Logan 

and the cousin who came along!

Happy Birthday Erin!

Back for a camping/canoe trip, Perry, Erin, Andy and Debbie.

Debbie gave us a heads up so that we could share a birthday cake with Erin!

Mrs. Lewicki's 4th Grade

Mrs. Lewicki and her 4th grade class took their annual trip downriver.






 

They caught a few sprinkles, but overall it was a great day!

Mrs. Casey's 5th Grade Class

Mrs. Casey and son, Sean, Marathon Paddler

 We were delighted to have Mrs. Casey return for her annual canoe trip down to Stephan  with her 5th graders.

 Landing at Stephan after a wonderful day on the river!

Rain, Rain Go Away

 

 It rained on Memorial week-end Sunday,
 it rained on Memorial Day night, a big storm with strong winds.

It rained on Friday and all day Saturday.

 Some venturesome (crazy) souls showed up Saturday afternoon to laugh in the face of the elements.

 
Into each life some rain must fall.  - Longfellow

Welcome Back Bible Truth!!

It was so great to have Bible Truth back again.  Love the kids and chaperones, tolerate the water blasters (barely)!  There were new and familiar faces and we shared memories of previous visits.

2012 Bible Truth Crew

Memorial Week-end Before the Rain

Saturday was cooler than expected, but many river enthusiasts chose to get out and paddle.

We used the opportunity to train a couple of new drivers and reconnect with our team.

Drivers Training with a full load!

Sara & Mark "Chillin' and Grillin"

Levi & Trevor had a birthday! 

(L-R, Evan Mike, Levi, Cheri, back to camera, Trevor, mugging, Jake)

Fisherman Favorites

Some of our favorite fisherman were back for their annual visit.  They waded, they drifted, and the fishing and the catching were great.

Tony, Jody, Seth, Larry the Leader, Allen, Scott, and Brian

Chuck is out on the river.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Borchers had mom's and kids enjoying quality together time on a trip down river.  Our new mom, Merriweather, has taken up residence in a wood strip canoe hanging under our pavillion.

Happy Birthday Mercedes

Today is 'Cede's Birthday!




She has delighted us for three years.

If she could learn to vacuum, she would be the perfect dog!

Time "Marches" On

We have made some changes to our "family".
Pearl has moved to Dallas.

New Owner, Rick, and Mark with Pearl

Our new girl is Scarlett Penny.
Pearl was classy and understated, Scarlett is bold!
I hope Mark can keep her under the radar ( literally!)
She's a head turner waiting for a ticket.

Winter Blast

We finally got snow!!
Wonderful, measurable snow!
and it lasted for a day.
















Eric and his boys made the most of it.
Finishing the winter with some great skiing!

Wonderful Winter Guests

We may have had strange weather, but we have enjoyed wonderful guests.

Mark and I are thankful for all of our guests and the friendship that we share

Doug & Linda became Borchers' regulars this winter.