Weekend at the Cabin

One of the advantages of having a cabin is that you can decide to go without a lot of advance planning, no reservations required, just throw some food into a box and clothes in a bag and off you go. This past weekend that is just what Dan and I did. After he got off work on Thursday we set out for a couple days away.

For years we have been going the same way and for a change Dan decided to take a new route. I personally thought it was much easier, the “usual” way having way too many turns and different roads to find. In my own defense I will say that he has always been the driver and most often I could be sleeping or at least not paying much attention to the route.

As we were approaching the last leg of the trip we noticed some dark and threatening clouds that hung in the sky like a canopy. We turned on the radio and found there were tornado warnings in the area but it didn’t appear that we would be driving right into the storm. It got dark very early and ended up raining the rest of the way.

Because it was raining we wanted to quickly unpack the van and in the process noticed a little bird that kept fluttering around the door and really wasn’t too happy in the rain either. As the door was opened the opportunity to get inside was just too good and the little bird flew in low, and fast right over my head. I thought it was a bat and was actually relieved to find it was just a bird. However, I wasn’t too crazy about having a loose bird inside either. We ended up being able to trap him in the bedroom and Brian captured and released him.

I was wondering if any of my bird loving readers would know what kind of bird this is. The next day he was back fluttering around the door again – he certainly was a friendly thing.

The next day dawned and though it was chilly the sun was shining and it warmed up nicely through the morning. Since the boat was in we decided to take a little spin around the lake and see what neat things we could see. We were not disappointed.

Brian – our driver and navigator. He was already at the cabin when we arrived and stayed for a day.

Dan being the passenger.

An eagle spotting – one of the favorite things to see at the cabin. I love watching it soar, it is so majestic.

A loon spotting – there have always been loons on the lake; sometimes they have babies that are fun to watch. I love their mysteriousness and their dark, unforgettable songs.

The lily pads were blooming and nicely decorating the water.

Across the lake there used to be a resort called “The Hideaway” and as a very young child my family would vacation there. The resort is no longer in business and is privately owned but the little cabins are still standing. We have movie films of me when I was about four years old at that resort. Such memories – where have the years gone?

Our cabin is on the left rear

As evening approached the clouds were rolling in and I wanted to have a fire. We just got it started and going well when it started to rain. It was OK though as the large pine trees shed the rain. We were able to roast our hot dogs and enjoy sitting outside for a while.

I love the big trees that have grown up in the area. As you can see from the trunk how large this tree really is. I have no idea how old it is but when I look up at its gnarly old limbs I know that it has seen a good many storms and has stood the test of time.

This little baby tree is planted right next to the granddaddy tree. I think of the song “God Causes All Thing to Grow”.

On the way home we stopped at one of my favorite tourists stops.

The owner of this store is smart because there is a comfortable place for the grandpa’s to rest while the grandma’s shop.

Our last stop was at one of our favorite pizza places. We don’t have an Old Chicago in Rochester so we really enjoyed our pizza with the crispy crust, gooey stringy cheese and our favorite toppings. YUM, what a treat.

By the way, the cabin is for sale if you or anyone you know is interested.

Brian's Projects

This past fall Brian moved back to Rochester and has been living with us while taking some classes. Since he had some free time and access to woodworking tools he decided to try his hand at being creative and has learned to "whip" up some pretty cool stuff. His Grandpa was a wood worker as well, building about anything from furniture to toys. Dad is quite handy too and Mom (me) though I don't do woodworking I am certainly creative in other avenues. All this is to say I am not surprised at his natural abilities to put together some pieces of furniture.


His first project was a bread board, not just any plain bread board though.


A Chess board was next and the top of a sofa table.


Brian bought me a sofa table for Christmas from one of the furniture stores in town. Again, he duplicated the design but added his own special touch.


On the left is a table that my Dad made when he is was in high school. It was a Mother's day gift to my grandmother and is signed and dated by my father. Brian decided to make a table after the same design but with a little different twist to it. It turned out really nice. He is now in the process of making another one for a matching set.


Finished just today in the wood shop is a bookcase.

The beginning of another little end table is in the process of being created, along with another bread board. I think Brian has done a swell job and gets a gold star in my book. Yeah Brian!!

Maybe next he will make a footstool.

Remainder of the School Year

The last two weeks of school pretty much flew right by and June 9 arrived. The previous weeks had been taken up with doing inventory and finishing up the odds and ends that always pop up which helped the days go by fast.

It is customary that on the last day of school Mikaela will come and spend the morning with me in the library. Her school has always let out several days earlier than the Rochester schools and so while Denise is at work she would come and spend the morning with me. This year however, the last day of school was on a Tuesday and she is with her Dad on that day so I didn't think the tradition would hold. Lo, though, I was mistaken. One morning Tommy and the girls came for a visit. It just so happened that a couple co workers and I were going to walk to the Dairy Queen for lunch that day so Mikaela ended up staying and having lunch and spending the rest of the day being the library assistant. She was a big help scanning some books and helping me laminate some bookmarks for a teacher. It was fun for both of us.


Sitting in my chair - waiting for a customer.


Scanning some books for inventory.


Elise getting in on the action too.

I have been off work for three days now and they have been quite busy. Cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping were first on my list then came cleaning up the tulips and planting some flowers. I will post some in a few weeks after they have begun to bloom nicely.


We have had some really cool weather this last week with temps only in the 40s. One morning when I got up this was what the pond looked like. -


Happy Summertime!!

3rd Week Before Summer Break

As I sit and reflect on the past week I am so thankful for the amazing God that we have, for his word of truth: the Bible, for the freedoms we have not only in this country but for the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus, for forgiveness of sin, the holy spirit as resident advisor, counselor and friend. It is God who is my all in all.

Spring seems to be here for good. The outdoors is looking pretty dressed up these days and I have so enjoyed being outside. This past weekend I enjoyed several bonfires. My source of fuel for the last 3 years has been the construction waste but it is running low so Dan went out and harvested some real wood yesterday.

The leftover construction remnants and my new "company" wood.

The space behind our house has been a source of enjoyment to us. Directly behind is the storm water pond and beyond that some woods. On the other side of the woods is our church so Dan has made a point of mowing out a path for us to be able to walk through and arrive at the north end of our church property. Following is a picture journal of the walk we took together yesterday.

The wild flowers are coming up, along with many weeds. It is a little hard to know the difference between the two sometimes. It is continually changing as one day last week I looked out and there was a whole crop of pretty purple flowers in bloom.

The rest of the flowers are starting to appear as well. The tulips have gasped their last breath and now I have to wait until the leaves die down to pull them and then plant some annuals in their place. I hope to plant in a few places this coming week.

Two weeks of school and then summer break will be here. I would like to get involved in some ministry opportunities this summer and am considering what God might have me do. I started a new Bible study yesterday in the book of Daniel. Prophetic studies have always been difficult for me but Kay Arthur is such a good teacher that I am hoping I can learn. If you are interested in joining it can be found at: http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/precepts/. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" Hebrews 4:12.

4th Week Before Spring Break

Last week found us well into the month of May but judging by the weather it seemed more like April - a little chilly and a lot windy. Hopefully soon the wind will begin to subside and we can actually be outside without blowing away.

Monday evening I enjoyed an hour of 24 - one of the few shows that I follow regularly. Tonight is the season finale so we get to see how Jack Bauer brings the crisis to a conclusion - Go Jack. Also earlier in the day Dan go clearance to walk without his beautiful boot and he got to slip into his shoes once again. His foot is still in a recovery process but making progress. - Yeah.

The rest of the week seemed to fly by and before I knew the weekend was here. On Friday evening the girls and I attended the mother/daughter event at church. It was an enjoyable evening of visiting together and with other ladies as well.

The laundry and cleaning was waiting patiently for me on Saturday. Thinking that I was ready for something fun to do we decided at rather the last minute to make a run to Des Moines on Sunday to see Dee and Mary. It had been a while since we had been there. We got lunch together, hung out and visited in the afternoon and headed back home again.

I am switched from counting the weeks of school left to the actual days now. It is getting close to summer break.