What is the White Church Gallery?

Mike and Carrie Zaitz are renovating an old Methodist Church in Grindstone City, Michigan. Mike claims he just wanted a place to work on his art. He sold Carrie on it, since she's usually up for adventures. From that happy December of 2011 till now, the investment in time and money has seen the church rebuilt from its glorious bones into a work of art, in progress. Carrie is documenting the process because, well, it's easier to hold a camera than to hold an edging sander. She's done both, because she is having an adventure, but it is Mike who drives this project with his intelligence, talent and energy. Together they are working toward creating an art gallery. A gallery which holds objects of beauty and inspiration, but which always points back to the source, our heavenly Father.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Follow the Lights!

Every May, my birthday rolls around. And every May, my beloved husband finds something sweet and amazing to surprise me with.
It wasn't these...
These beauties were the by-product of his search for the perfect gift from Craigslist! He did find an amazing little piece of furniture for me but it's for home, not the church, though it does have quatrefoils on it. 

We had been looking for light sconces for some time, and our search had schooled us in the prices and quality we were likely to find. 
These had been polished.
We knew they were neither cheap, nor easy to find in quantity. So it was with utter amazement that he found this set of five doubles and two singles. All for one low price. 
Score!
Yes, they will need some love, both aesthetically and electrically. Someone had wire-wheeled some of the metal. I used Brasso and elbow grease on the one on the left, and it has a very different tone than the polished one on the right. But I will figure out how to make them match, never fear! They will be a beautiful addition of light to the Church!

Meanwhile, the protective plywood came off the front windows, and the front of the Church saw first light, again.
All closed up.

One eye open...


And the other...
Who's that in the window?
Why, it's Grindstone Mike, putting the final touches on the paint. 
Soon it will be time for dinner. How's it going, Dr. Fisher, of the Institute of Barbeque Grills?
Oh it'll just take 15 more minutes...
Right! Well, we'll check back in 20... 
Painting.
The windows look just great!
Just a few more to go...;)
They sure do let the light in!

Meanwhile...
Assistance from a guest!
And so it took a few hours, but the lads were able to find all the right places for all the right parts, and we did dine on burgers and dogs. Our first grilling in Grindstone Corners!
Yay-Be-Que!
Let's light it!




Sunday, June 1, 2014

Looking Down the Road

You know the road that leads from M-25 to Grindstone Corners, our little neck of the woods? It was a dirt and gravel road.
Our Little Piece of Heaven, and a dirt road.

Rybak's Ice Cream Store and a dirt road.
Yes, that's definitely dirt and gravel.
Dirt roads are...dirty.
Bring on the asphalt, please!
You can even call it ASH-phalt, I don't care!
Mmm you can smell the progress!

Yeah, that smell is tar.
It's definitely a Kodak moment for us all!
Now that Rybak's Ice Cream store is open again, Grindstone Corners has come alive. Ann Fisher is the proprietress of this historic and delicious establishment, and people come from all over for the high quality ice cream, the pleasant surroundings and the friendly atmosphere.
GC- corner of Rouse and Copeland roads.
 Not sure why the church icon is out in the lake, but it's pretty cute anyway. OMG! The FISH in Grindstone city are as big as a HOUSE!!!

Rybak's isn't on the old map, but it is the place to hang this summer.
We all scream for ice cream!

Come on up- the people are warm and the ice cream is cold, and the road is PAVED!