And clean I did. Mopping and vacuuming. Putting on screens and raking pine needles. Changing linens and fixing the toilet. (Yes, I did. I bought the part and put it in all by myself! Pat on back!) But it wasn't all work!
There was time to read.
Time for some wonderful long walks and chatting with neighbors, meeting new ones.
Time for a swim and time to sit quietly and watch the Duckster Family swim by. Mom and seven babies!
Time to make friends with the inside birds as well!
No time for drawing or painting, but I did put the beach towels to good use!
Lizzie was in her element, too, enjoying the screened in porch.
I finally found the July issue of Country Sampler magazine (I'd been looking all over downstate and found it at the grocery up north!). Our blog friend Judy of Gold Country Cottage is the cover story!
I loved this page because it had a photo of Judy and her husband Jerry and now I know who I'm "talking" with when we comment back and forth!
An extra surprise was another feature with a blogger I visit, Carol from Art and Sand. (I am so wild about her blue and white and husband's paintings!) You are both inspirations to me!
Perhaps the best part of my short visit was spending time with my cousin David. This is David and I at the lake back "in the day." We spent years growing up at the lake together in the summers.
And here we are now!
It couldn't have been better! Just like old times -- only, well, older!
And now when we go up again, I can...
And I can't wait!
Sharing this week with: Let's Keep In Touch / Share Your Cup
I take it Lizzie travels well. My cat Dog did, too. Never got car sick or fussed. We went everywhere together, so it pleases me that you take her even for a short trip to the lake. Beautiful photos from your camera lens today, Jeanie. What a joy it must be that you have everything ready for the time you bring not just Lizzie, but all your herbs to the lake, too.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your cottage. I got rid of mine a few years ago. I got tired of taking care of two properties, it was expensive and I no longer wished to go to the same place all the time. But my daughter has nothing but happy memories of going there through her entire childhood up itnto early adulthood..
ReplyDeleteJeanie, I loved the old pictures. What fun you must have had in the summertime. I have got to get one of those magazines. :) I love the ladies in it. Blessings to you and yours, xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteYou wonder what Lizzie is thinking.
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful that you and David had a chance to enjoy the lake together again. It looks like a delightful place to visit and I know that you have fond childhood memories.
ReplyDeleteLovely post :)
How lovely to have a summer cottage in the family for so long and be there with your cousin. Thank you for all your lovely comments. Now next visit you can enjoy, and put your feet up.
ReplyDeleteCute post Jeanie. Sounds like you were a buy beaver at the lake. I'm glad you had a chance to clean and relax a bit before your "real summer" begins. Those are fabulous photos of you and David as children. The one as adults isn't so bad either ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice place to relax! I love the photos of you and your cousin.
ReplyDeleteSo many people I know went up to their cottages this past weekend to do what you did in preparation for the coming Fourth of July. I miss that kind of excitement and anticipation, from our old cottage days. Your place is lovely and so is that house in the magazine!
ReplyDeleteOMGOSH, Jeanie!! What a great post. I felt like I was right there along with you---except being company I wouldn't have vacuumed...okay-being me, I might have! lol Love the kid/adult pictures of you and your cousin. The older we get the more precious those childhood relationships are as we grow old together. Glad you had time to relax a bit. How is that book???? xo Diana
ReplyDeleteIt sound like even though you had all the opening up chores to do, you managed to get some summer sun time. :) And now you are ready for the 4th I bet. You've got to enjoy the season as it is always so short. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteYou RELAX sign reminded me that I have been wanting to make one for the deck! Cause that is what the furbabes and I do .....RELAX. I hope between the duck watching, the dusting and fixing the john you did find the time to relax! I was wondering just the other day when you guys would be heading back to the lake....now I know. Looks like a great place to go and visit and RELAX (yep, theres that word again)!
ReplyDeleteyou are so lucky to have a summer cottage like that, especially on a lake. I hope you spend more wonderful time there this summer!
ReplyDeleteGreat you could getaway and put your “touches” on the cottage.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to ready for summer fun when you go back . . .
Baby yet?
Now you are ready for a great summer at the lake.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful time, even if there was cleaning involved.
ReplyDeleteI was just away for 3 weeks and completely shocked by bugs upon my return.
Fixing the toilet - big pat on back indeed!
ReplyDeleteAwww, beautiful lake! Oh, I can´t even remember when I went for a real swim last time. The inside birds made me smile :-)
Always good to have a face behind the words, I agree.
Awww, such cute pictures of you and your cousin! Awesome when relationships keep on going so well! I lost contact to all of mine (but age wise I´m quite far from both sides).
Must be wonderful to have sucha place - enjoy and relax! :-)
This is a sweet post Jeanie. I was all go you (and still am) but then it got to your growing up with David and I fell in love. I can imagine the special times you guys shared. Love it.
ReplyDeleteHave fun at the cottage. Loved the younger/older photos! Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteSounds great! Enjoy the time!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful to see the duck along with the ducklings! Beautiful colored towel!
Happy to see your old and new photo!
Well done with the toilet fix, Jeanie! You are a true renaissance woman! :) So good to see how things are at your lake place... lovely as ever! Glad you had some fun time in between all the cleaning and fixing time. VERY fun your friends featured in that magazine--wow! Love the pics of you and your cousin David--such fun! Just a few days and your can be at the lake longer... sounds good! :) ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteGreat post! You guys haven’t changed much!
ReplyDeleteGreat you got to visit the cottage, and had some time for fun and relaxation... Even if there was a lot of work involved too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to start lake time! I don't know about you, but a little work makes me relax so much better, and now you've got it all ready for when Rick comes. Love the cousin time and your photos from the past always, always delight. I need to get a copy of the Country Sampler. I saw Carol's post mentioning her feature, and though I don't know Judy, it will be fun to see hers also. Connections - it's what I love most about blogging, better than Instagram or Facebook. Enjoy, Jeanie!
ReplyDeleteThe times of our lives are well-worth revisiting, whether it's at the lake, and in my case, "the ranch"....a place where all of us cousins, aunts, uncles, family friends would gather up in the Malibu Hills off the Pacific Coast. There we'd ride horses, the parents would cook Mexican meals around the campfire, my father and the family friend who owned the ranch and campgrounds would play their accordians, and memories were carved in stone. I understand my cousins still go to visit the well-aged owners (now in the late 90s). Oh....the times of our lives. They are worth revisiting.
ReplyDeleteHello, love these scenes from the lake and cottage. Love the cousin photos, great memories. You sounded busy cleaning, but now its down go have fun. Enjoy your day and new week ahead!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about cleaning that first time to the cottage! Memorial Day weekend is always a work weekend for us. I would love to get my hands on that issue of Country Sampler, but easier said than done!
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised about having to clean on your return to the cottage. It seems to me that in 2 or 3 days a dusty body can start appearing in the bedroom on furniture. Where does dust come from? Staying at the cottage sounds like heaven to me from views of the water, nice neighbors, and the ducksters of course.
ReplyDeleteLove your lake posts..how darn cute is that Lake frame w/ your dad? And the Cousins:) Fun to "know" peeps in magazines:) Like Carol in the Metro!:)Or when I met Fifi:)
ReplyDeleteI know how you look forward to going to the lake every summer. Smart idea to go up and do your cleaning so when you and Rick go for the Fourth the cottage is clean and all you need to do is whatever you want to do! Looks like you had plenty of fun this trip as well. I always love seeing pics of you, especially when you wee a child. You still look the same. Look forward to hearing all about your lake getaways this summer. Enjoy every minute my friend.............
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have a place like that. You have to be extremely rich or very lucky to do that in England - although I think I am lucky to live in a place with green views and pretty peaceful for London!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, how wonderful to have a lake house. Just the name always sounds so romantic. It is amazing when places sit for awhile, how much work there is to do to get ready for the fun time. Sounds like you are all set for a great holiday weekend..Thank you for mentioning me in your post. I'm glad you finally were able to get the magazine. It was such a fun experience. You and your cousin are so cute, then and now! I have that kind of a relationship with my cousin also and I wouldn't trade it for anything..Happy Tuesday..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteThe cutest of cute posts...the lake looks like a truly magical place. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHi, Jeanie...love this post..love that you spent time with David...love that you grew up together visiting the lake house.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place! I hope you got some relaxation time :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you mixed a little fun in with all the work...that's great! Love the old photos of YOU...you haven't changed! Still with that sweet smile!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful Jeanie, I would love to have a cottage on a lake. Is Lizzie used to the cottage and ok going outside? Well done fixing the toilet, I used to do repair jobs around the house years ago when I was younger! The old photos of you and your cousin are lovely.
ReplyDeleteWow, how smart of you to get cleaning done before the 4th! I can't stand to clean!! It'so nice you got to read and do some other fun things, especially hanging out with your cousin!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Wonderful you got a trip to the lake cottage. I love the photos of you with your cousin! I need to find a copy of that magazine!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised your cat travels with you, my 3 cats just hate getting in the car to go to the vet. Loved the duck and ducklings, so cute.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it strange how houses get dusty even though they are closed up? The same happened to me when I arrived from holidays, the house was full of fluff and dust!
Nice that you now have a beautiful clean cottage to relax.
Very nice to be able to catch up with your cousin and to finally "meet" your blogger friends in the magazine.
I bet it feels good to have it opened and clean so you can relax and enjoy the cottage on future visits! There’s nothing like being at the lake in the summer, especially for people like us who grew up going to the lake!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteYou have a cottage too, that's wonderful! what a great way to grow up, too - and that you still enjoy the lake is awesome. I give you a lot of credit for fixing a toilet - that is something i have not attempted. I do most of the mowing, cleaning, gardening, etc. at our cottage but the fixing stuff I leave to the guys. Perhaps I should expand my horizons....
Your own personal piece of Shangri-La.
ReplyDeleteYou and David haven't changed a bit:)
What a blessing to have such a cottage and i imagine cleaning it is very fulfilling! So, you've been coming to it since childhood!? Wow...Loved reading about your leisure time there too...
ReplyDeleteGreat and fun post! I loved seeing your cottage and all the family pictures. What a wonderful place! Lizzie looks right at home.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely got a lot done! I'm glad there was time for fun and visiting with your cousin, too. Lizzie is adorable. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Jeanie!
ReplyDeleteYou were a busy, busy lady at the cottage and I am impressed about your handi-work as a plumber! Although, really it is not a surprise to me, as I think you are one of the most talented and competent woman I know!
Love these memories you shared and oh the pictures of those past years are just the best aren't they.
Hope you'll join the garden party tomorrow.
Jemma
Jeanie, loved "my" quick trip to the cottage. It feels as if I've just had a little mini-vacation!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, I am so sorry I am late visiting Postcards, it has been a hectic week! I look forward to all of your lake posts this summer. You are off to a good start with your short visit. Getting everything fresh and ready for your return so you can enjoy your time and relax. I know it was wonderful spending time with your cousin!
ReplyDeleteI adore your visits to your lake cottage. How nice to have a special place like this to escape to. Special to also be able to spend time with a cousin.
ReplyDeleteYou might think I'm nuts, Jeanie, but I often read posts backwards... hence the three comments so far! Lol!!! I began reading magazines backwards years ago and think it stems from learning Japanese in 3rd grade in Hawaii after school.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look up Country Sampler! I just saw it on the magazine rack at Winco today but didn't pick it up to read it. It IS fun to see whom we talk with over the internet waves!!!
Bye again,
Barb :)
How wonderful to have a lake house to retreat to for relaxation and to relive good memories. I loved the photos of you and your cousin past and present. I notice the book you are reading--my book club also read that and I'll be having the discussion about it in August. I'm curious about what you think about it when you finish it.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds heavenly up there. I can't wait to see more.Thanks for linking to Keep In Touch.
ReplyDeleteLots of hard work, but I'm glad you got some fun in too! Those old photos are simply precious! Fun to see the two of you now. I've got to find the magazine. So happy for them both! I knew about Carol, but not Judy. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann