Sunday was the day both Matt and I have been looking forward to since our lovely wives surprised us with this trip for our birthday. Whistling Straits was designed with the same raw freshness as a traditional Irish links course. The course is windswept, covered with bunkers (967 to be exact) and imported black faced sheep which makes it look like it has always been there. Whistling Straits hosted the 2004 and 2010 PGA Championships.

The day before at Black Wolf Run we met Bob the caddie. We enjoyed playing along side him as he worked with another player in our group so we decided to ask him to caddie for us the following day. This was a great decision! Bob had tons of course knowledge and helped us out quite a bit. Bob was featured in Golf Digest leading up to the last PGA Championship when he helped a writer count the bunkers on the course. It took them two days!

The views of Lake Michigan were amazing! The holes ran North and South along the lake and looked like at any time they could slide off and collapse. Below is my tee shot on the 7th hole named “Shipwreck.”

Matt hit a bunch of great shots including his tee shot on the 9th hole (pictured below). His three wood that got him to this point must have been close to 300 yards.

We were even lucky enough to see the black faced sheep up close. Janelle may have gotten a bit too close to take this picture. The sheep were brought over from Ireland and are rumored to be worth $12,000 a piece.

Matt hit a fantastic shot on the 17th hole, “Pinched Nerve”, a 223yrd par three straight into the wind to about 25 feet from the hole. I hit a good shot as well but not as close. Matt finished the day shooting 79, I shot 89. We both played well.

To be true to the Irish links feel there are no golf carts allowed on the course instead, we walked narrow paths between dunes to get from hole to hole. At some points it felt more like a hike than golf.

On the 18th hole we stopped off at the bunker that Dustin Johnson so infamously grounded his club in during the 2010 PGA Championship which cost him a penalty shot and the tournament.

Matt and I had a great time playing one of the most famous and challenging courses in America. Thank you Janelle and Brie for such a great gift and trip!

Saturday Matt and I played the first round of our surprise golf trip at Black Wolf Run in Kohler. Like Whistling Straits, the River course at Black Wolf Run was designed by famous golf course architect Pete Dye. The Sheboygan River weaved through the course and came into play on 14 holes. It was a stern test for both Matt and I but we had a great time anyway. Black Wolf Run is hosting the 2012 United States Women’s Open. We played behind a pro getting ready for the tournament.

Matt’s tee shot on the par 4 5th hole

My tee shot on the 13th hole

We’ve finally settled down after our great long weekend on Lake Michigan.

Brie and I planned the surprise golfing trip for the boys’ birthday. Josh will post more about the golfing, but I’ll fill you in on some of the other highlights of the trip.

We rented a house right on the water.

It was AWESOME! and less than paying for 2 hotel rooms separately. We found it on Vacation Rentals By Owner, a website Josh and I have used before and have always had great houses to stay in.

Friday afternoon, we found the courses and the boys checked the tee sheets at each course. Then we grilled out at the house, and had drinks uptown at Urbane.

Saturday morning, while the boys played golf, Brie and I got our nails done, then got our antiquing on.

I picked up this bust sculpture and a ceramic green bell pepper, while Brie grabbed a vase, napkin rings and a key holder.

Before picking the boys up we shared a double brat (two links, one bun) from Miesfeld’s Meat Market. Best brat I’ve ever had.

Saturday night we headed down to Milwaukee for a brewery tour at Sprecher Brewing Company. They have beer and soda, so all were happy at the complementary tasting afterward.

While there, I met a 2 year-old with impeccable style.

We finished up the night at a Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Restaurant, Comet Cafe. Josh and I had AJ’s Compact Turkey Dinner, which was turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing formed into a ball, battered and fried, and served with gravy. Um, yes, it was REALLY good. I also tried Brie’s Duck Confit Poutine, which was equally good, and Matt got some homemade Mac & Cheese. Josh and I left with a carrot cupcake, that we thoroughly enjoyed upon arriving back at the house.

We took it easy Sunday before the big round at Whistling Straits, but we did manage to hit up the Kohler Design Center. The Design Center has virtually all of Kohler’s bathroom and kitchen fixtures on display.

They also have 25 or so, bathroom and kitchen models designed by famous people using their products. They range from the practical to extravagant, but fun to look at for inspiration nonetheless.

Brie and I accompanied the boys out on the course on Sunday afternoon, to enjoy the sunshine and take photos. We finished up the night at Texas Roadhouse with some comfort food and margaritas.

First of all, Steve brought up this artwork when he helped us out with the patio, so you know it’s been around awhile. I first hung it over the sofa, as low as I could, but it was just to large for that space, and hung to high.

After moving it up to our bedroom, I realized it was the best place for it and it looks great with the blue-black doors and navy window panels.

Then, between all the rounds of landscaping for the side yard, and back of the house, I got to painting.

After we had Settergren’s (our neighborhood Ace Hardware) repair a couple panes in our bedroom windows, I could finally finish painting the trim and inside of the windows. You can see the painter’s tape on the outside of the left window. I still need to paint the outside.

I also used this method for cleaning up those window hinges and latches. Now they’re glowing brass just like the other hardware upstairs.

Lastly, all the doors upstairs are all completely painted and all the hardware is cleaned, polished and reinstalled.

You’re probably thinking, “Wasn’t that done long ago?”

Well, no, I hadn’t painted the other sides of the bathroom door and other bedroom’s doors and none of that knob hardware and been reinstalled. But Josh and I finally worked together this weekend to finish it all up. It’s pretty nice to be able to close the bathroom door without fear of a dog swinging it open while you’re doing your business in there.

First, it was tan-ish.

Then we painted it pink and purple.

And now I’ve scaled it back to just purple and white.

While Josh was golfing, I just went ahead and did it. I loved the kooky-ness of the coral and black raspberry together, but as light and fun as the coral was, it still made the room heavy. I painted over it with Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee, the same color as the ceiling and other various spaces in our house and the room feels so tall now.

Lucy turned 6 today. She and Pippa celebrated with Poodle Puffs from Lulu & Luigi.

And birthday hats.

That is, in our yard!

First on Thursday, I found this dining set on Craigslist.

Under REALLY short notice, Josh’s Grandpa Tom was able to meet me in Prior Lake with the suburban to pick it up. Thanks so much Tom! I love the chairs. It’s a pretty old set, but it was in great shape and the price was right.

Then Friday, my parents were coming up to help us trench and bury our downspouts. They went out of their way to pick up this.

I found these on Craigslist also. They were also a great price and I LOVE the bamboo frame. I really dislike the cushions, but I’ll change those out later.

Oh yeah. Josh and my dad buried the downspouts.

This will keep the water from backing up near the patio. It also let us start laying out the flagstone.

We got it all laid out Saturday before it started to rain at noon.

Sunday, Josh and I went to Gerten’s. I know, it’s like our weekend ritual by now. Today we picked up shade loving plants for next to the fence on the south side of our house and a few plants for next to the house. We picked up Black Hen & Chicks, Brunette Bugbane, Forest Frost Hen & Chicks, Brise d’Anjou Jacob’s Ladder, Blue Prince Juniper, Islamorada Astilbe, Chocolate Chip Ajuga, Carefree Celebration Rose, Bressingham Beauty Astilbe, Old Fashion Bleeding Heart, Sister Theresa Astilbe, False Forget-Me-Not, Electra Coral Bells and Red Sentinel Astilbe.

We also used the rest of the Hostas left over from the back planting area.

Pippa got her first haircut today!

This was the back of the house next to the porch. It’s always muddy and was pretty bland with Hostas and a Dogwood.

So, today we headed down to Gerten’s to use a couple giftcards we got for Christmas and came home with this:

That’s an Annabelle Hydrangea for next to the patio, a Canadale Gold Wintercreeper to put behind the Dogwood, 3 Sugar Plum Coral Bells, a PJM Azalea to put in front of the electrical meter. We also got 3 Flame Grasses for the other side of the sidewalk, next to the fence.

We kept 6 Hostas in the mix and this is the result. Less mud.

Since finishing up the patio we also built a garden box for the north side of the house. It’s 3 x 12 so we should be able to plant a few vegetables in there this summer.

For now, it’s where we’re also keeping the other Hostas until we know where we want to transplant them.