UMT Style

For people who love ADVENTURE

NATURE

CABINS,

CAMPING,

SIMPLE LIVING

New Flannels and jewelry are loaded into the Etsy shop.  
You can click to the link on the right side of this page.  

Thought for the Day

As you walk

and eat

and travel,

be where you are.

Otherwise you

will miss most

of your life.     Buddha

   When we were visiting my adventurous son in Hawaii last January he was suppose to meet us at a certain beach that issues only so many parking passes.  So we kept waiting and  waiting for him to arrive when all the sudden I spot him on a paddle board.  He ended up having to go to the next beach and he always has his "fun gear" with him.  So he just paddled on over with a backpack full of food and phone etc.

He asked me if I would like to try the paddle board.  I really did want to, but I let fear get the best of me, and made all the excuses…"you don't have a leash, what if I loose it?"  yada yada yada.  Finally I did try and had better luck on my knees.   I was still afraid to go to far.  Jeramiah put me up front on my knees and he paddled me around the bay.  

I really don't know to many young men who would do that for their mothers so it meant the world to me and I had so much fun.  Better to try and fail then to miss a chance at something new and exciting.          

  

Your Actions Show Your Character

One day after hanging out with Jeramiah and a few of his peeps on the beach, he started running around like a mad man picking things up here and there.  When he came back to us I asked him "What in the heck are you doing?"  His answer was "Picking up trash."  Then he turned to his friends and told them,  "When I was a little boy my mom would always make us pay our dues for getting to play at the park by picking up trash.   

As a mom that was thrifty enough to stay home with my 3 children I took advantage of parks, the library and museums quite often.  I wanted them to be thankful not to me but of what we are privileged to have available to us for learning, playing and growing.  

They all make me proud by their actions and sometimes its the smallest things in life that mean so much.   They soon add up to big things!  So glad it stuck with him, and who knows how many others are influenced?

JULY IN A FLASH

Summer hits and suddenly there are no blog posts!  So sorry I'm totally an outside summer person, and it's so hard to sit still in this weather!

We just got back from an EPIC trip to Colorado to visit my daughter Rose and son-in-law Drew.  So beautiful and packed with fun. Here's a little recap of some of our adventures.

We started the trip with a Rockies game

Then a Red Rocks concert-The Avett Brothers

Rose and I did some shopping for new dining room chairs.

Went to Boulder for some great food and adult beverages-
land of great beer ;)

Ed and I drove to Estes Park & Rocky Mountain National Park
and did some little hikes.  This one is of Bear lake

Saw lots of Elk!

Visited the famous Stanley Hotel where "The Shinning" was made.

We met Rose in Empire and drove up to Summit County (my old stomping grounds)
for a hike on Lake Dillon

 We also did this awesome hike in Morrison, CO.  This wealthy business man built a beautiful mansion on a cliff (that was quite a hike to get to) and a few years later it burned to the ground.  He had planned to build a home for the presidents of the United States as a summer home but it never happened after the fire.

Also I will be the guest artist at junk Evolution for Arts Alive month in South Bend.  Starting August 7th for First Friday until September 3rd.  Stop in and visit me on First Friday.  I purchased lots of new stone/natural beads while in CO.  They have awesome bead shops, so I hope to have lots of new items for you to choose from!

Wear Your Heart on a Tee

I'm designing a line of fun t'shirts with quotes and sayings that I love.  I sent the first one to Rosemary so she could model it where it would look the best...the Colorado mountains!  Rose and her husband, Drew went on a drive yesterday to one of my favorite little mountain towns (Salida) to explore new trails, restaurants and shops!  

I will be adding these to my easy shop soon, but I'm giving you (my loyal followers) first dibs!  The shirts are a try-blend, and are a fitted ladies style.  Rose usually wears a small and she's wearing a Medium (the smallest size I ordered).  The last picture is the truest match for the color, more of a muted try-color blend of blues.  Very soft and comfortable fabric that holds it's shape nicely.  $25.00 each.   Leave a comment here or on Facebook if interested.

MOUNTAIN CLOTHING

Flannels, and cotton shirts-All season mountain wear for Etsy.

This might seem like the wrong season to be adding long sleeved shirts to my shop but trust me, it's the perfect time!  We had a saying when I lived in Dillon, Colorado (at 10,000 feet) that we had winter, late winter, spring and early winter.  If you're like me and don't like humidity, Colorado has the perfect weather.  You can have a nice warm summer day, and in the evening still wear a flannel shirt or even a wool sweater.  Very good sleeping weather.  

So with that being said, this collection is literally perfect year round mountain wear.  We also always layer in Colorado because the weather temperatures can change dramatically.   I learned the hard way about monsoon season while hiking at about 13,000 feet without a jacket.   

I choose shirts that are worn to perfection, meaning very soft but in very nice condition.  Then I make them mine by adding a patch and our logo to the back (so you can show your own sense of adventure).  I always look for natural fibers and high end brand names with excellent quality.

I love the colors of this shirt, basic brown and red.

A red and white mountain patch

Not just for men!   Wear it with a sensible compass necklace that will come in
handy while exploring!

light weight cotton, red, white and blue

Thermal paired with a flannel

Front

Back Patch

Carheart

Army green work shirt

PURE MICHIGAN

I have been cooped up way to long and had a big weekend planned in the windy city.  When that got cancelled I was in a deep sad state.   I thought I would turn it around by doing something nice for someone else and  invited some friends over for Thai food.  They were busy and every attempted plan after that failed as well.  

 After setting my head straight, and putting on my big girl pants, I loaded my car with water, dog treats, and dog and headed North.  We only live about 12 miles (if that) to the State line of Michigan, but it's kind of funny how I always stay on this side of the line. 

 I set out to find some new places to acquire items for UMT and ended up only 30 minutes away in Three Rivers, MI.  A town full of beautiful historic building, but unfortunately most are empty.  I did find a fun shop downtown called "Centsible Treasures" and around the corner a coffee cafe that was pretty remarkable.  Across the street from the coffee cafe is Scidmore park, it sits right on the river.  It was a perfect day for sitting outside with Pax and enjoy the wild life.

I love old abandon buildings.  I think this was
a school.  So much potential!

Side street.  So sorry I didn't get one from Main Street, so
many great buildings!

L.A. Cafe

A wonderful egg tamale pie with sliced potato crust and coffee latte.

If you have small children and live in No. IN you have to check out this park!  It's really big,
has a playground, petting zoo, popcorn stand and lots of picnic tables and shelters.

Pax trying to make friends with the ostrich and a Lama

  On the way home I meandered  though a few little Michigan towns and in the end I was really glad that the weekend ended up this way.  I realized that Chicago is celebrating Saint Pats day and the town is a zoo, a green one at that (not my cup of tea).  And all in all it made me get out of my comfort zone and do some exploring on my own (well, with Pax and Siri!)  

Antiques and smudgy dog window.

The little town of Constantine.  Not a whole lot there but they do have an
awesome Art Gallery and hardware store and a new Brewery!   Again lots of
empty historical buildings,  so sad.

I didn't come home with a whole lot because I'm being very particular about what
I buy for the shop, but was happy with the outcome none the less.  How about
the tiny silver shot glasses from Germany, and the aluminum leaf  ice tea spoons?