Life at the lake.

Today at the lake, a storm seems to brew and a granddaughter sleeps away the morning.  I am up early and just taking it all in.

 

A couple times a year I like to bring the oldest granddaughter home to the lake for her own special “Camp GiGi”…a few days that it is just her.  She is so wonderfully patient with the younger siblings and cousins during our regular family days, this is a treat for her to be the only one who gets to decide, who doesn’t have to wait on the smaller ones, who isn’t mediating disagreements between little boys…this is her “me” time.

She’s also a huge help as we get ready for the 4^th of July celebration.  Yesterday I was thinking about last year and the big flag we hung up over the plywood that covered our recently removed window, as we prepared for renovation.  Thinking about our old deck, which was torn off on July 6.  Thinking about moving Harry, the walking stick plant, that suffers silently in the wooded area behind the shed now, wondering if he will still recover from the shock of being moved in July.  A year has brought a lot of changes to our house, and we aren’t 100%, yet.

A temporary railing, a bunch of dirt, a change in the deck plan…we may never get done! It gives us something to talk about, however.  This week, we talked all around the “rest of the deck” as we decided to add a lower level, to accommodate the fire pit perhaps, or maybe the grill.   If we were younger, we would indeed be discussing a hot tub, but, it’s just not “us” at this stage of life.  We would rather take a slow cruise on the pontoon, listen to the hum of the motor…enjoy a peaceful evening on the water.  The amazing thing about life on the water is you go out in the boat and look at the same thing over and over, and it never gets old.

I mean, maybe it does get old at some point but it’s got to be only after years and years and years.  I think even small ponds could draw you in every day, in the same way that a view of the ocean can.  A little bench by a small pond, maybe a little pier to sit on, fish or not…have you ever sat in one spot on a big beach, watched waves roll in? It never gets tired.  You might get tired, as it lulls you in to peace – a nap is always a good thing.  The same is true with cruising the lake, watching the water lap up on the sides of the pontoon, looking at the wake behind you, watching over the front as you pass over rocks and plants and sand...mesmerizing. And you can take that cruise every night and it is always the same and never the same.

Welcome to lake living. Glad you are here. 

Oh, and hey, here's a link to my Lake Living facebook page if you haven't already, think about it! 

https://www.facebook.com/cindiswindowlakeliving/

Playing in the dirt.

I may have bitten off more than I can chew with my many areas to weed, cultivate and plant this spring, now summer...took that little 10-day Mickey trip and am a bit behind.

I do love to sit in a patch of dirt, though, and contemplate life. I have had many serious conversations with myself while digging out a weed. Have compared a bump in life's road, a hiccup in a plan, to said weed many, many times. Some very intense speeches have been prepared, but never delivered, to my husband, while I am elbow deep in black dirt.  Oh, if he knew the things I have shared with the hosta and ferns. He isn't always the subject of these talks - sometimes it might be over an unpleasant customer service exchange, or something that has stuck in my craw, as the saying goes, that will cause a plant to suffer through a few choice words.  Gardening is to be therapeutic, right? And, it is therapeutic to release your frustrations, right? Not to harbor anger or grudges?

Funny side story here…I found myself in a therapist’s office a few years ago, talking about some kind of crappy stuff and I mentioned I just wanted to feel well enough to garden.  He said to me “I am convinced you shouldn’t be driving a car, much less garden!”

Today, I feel a little behind the 8-ball in trying to get the yard a bit more ready for the next few weeks of fabulous that make up our summers.  I may have gotten a bit “pie in the sky” thinking a lot of the landscaping would be taken care of by this time, post renovation.  But, it’s a lot to have all four sides of the house disrupted and a bit more tweaking to do and expect the flower beds to all be fixed up. I mean, I got gutters last week, so only now can start thinking foundation planting.  Landscaping is way down on the list…and the budget.

  

This afternoon, however, I did play in the dirt on one side of the shed.  I did some talking to some people, some imaginary friends and some “ghosts”, perhaps, of friends past.  I did a quick review of the budget for landscaping in my head and what I still hoped to accomplish this year.  Aside from the piles of dirt around the house, which I have accepted for 2017, the moon garden needs help, the shed perimeter.  The small bed across from our bedroom and the area just behind it. 

This year, I cemented my fondness for my favorite yard tool, which is that claw like thing that takes out weeds like a champ and lets me get pretty agressive.  I discovered some favorite mulch.  Well, it’s not mulch so much as shreds of bark and clippings, and it's from last year ~ probably not to be found ever more and why do I do this to myself?   And, my favorite plastic trowel, which is awesome in a bag of my favorite mulch, and it cost me 25 cents during an off season sale at K-mart…which is now closed and I really bought it for the grandkids.   

I have a lot on my mind and the flower bed is a great place to release those thoughts.  Protect society and garden, people. 

Wishing upon stars.

This has definitely been a couple of “wow” weeks.  So much living here at the lake!

But first, a moment.  The beautiful white columbine, which I was worried about, has succumbed  making it about 0 to 10 at bats for columbine.  I’m leaving it in the ground, and watering it just like it’s still got a chance, but, I am not hopeful.

 

So the big report, however, is our vacation to Disney World with all five grandchildren and their parents.  Our son and his wife weren’t able to make this one;  we missed them.  We did have the best grandparent time of our lives to date, however.  Outside of each of their births, I guess.

 

I haven’t posted many pictures as there are just too many to choose from, and could never decide.  Even the “bad” pictures have worth so, even though I have tried to delete some, I just can’t yet.  Maybe in a few weeks. Besides, I haven’t seen them all yet! Each picture I look at, believe me, is special in such a profound way.  You understand if you are my age, and can look in those sweet, trusting, believing, honest faces.  My goodness.

 

I know people who have never visited Disney, don’t like Disney, don’t ever intend on visiting Disney.  I get it.  It’s expensive, it is over the top in Disney-dom, it is not for them.  Their hearts and minds don’t “go” there.  But, for us, our hearts and minds do indeed go full on Disney albeit mild mannered.  I may never be able to totally express how I felt all of last week, even with some cranky times, some difference in parenting styles, some desires for one type of food or another left unanswered, the heat, the rain…whatever those small shortcomings it was still the best time.  Thank you to my middle child, the wonderful mother of 3, who tackled our trip planning with determination and provided us a delightful experience.  You could not have done a better job.  Except for the suitcase incident, of course.  To the youngest daughter, who saw Disney through the eyes of her kids for the first time…I know it was great for you,and a big stretch to your budget, but, yay! We did it!

Returning after the ten days of being gone, with much yard work, the deck to finish, the plants that haven’t even made it in to the ground yet, the interior painting, and when will the kitchen cabinets get hardware? ~ it seems like a dream.  Magic, just like ol’ Walt wanted it.  Thanks Disney, for the memories.