Postcards From the Lake: Family Fun and Crisis!

We've been enjoying beautiful weather at the lake -- warm (hot!) days and cooler nights, so perfect for sleeping. Well, this one sleeps all day, heat or not!

 

  

It's nice to be able to say we are fully settled. Well, almost. Work on the beach is never ending, but the yard is looking good and it's looking pretty cheery around here. Hot days, pleasant evenings.

 

 

 

We spent a good deal of time cleaning. I've been somewhat mobility impaired for a few weeks (it's improving) and Rick, as usual, did the heavy lifting. It started when the carpet cleaners were working next door and came in to do our rugs. Well, with clean rugs you have to go all the way! 

 

The  worst job was our bathroom shower. We have a high iron content here and the walls had become bright orange. The only thing that takes it off is Bar Keepers Friend. When I do it, I tackle a small area at a time. Rick went whole hog, with no gloves. Do you remember when I used the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on my face and got a chemical burn? Well, too much Bar Keeper's Friend without gloves does the same. It was gone in a couple of days with aquaphor and lotion but LOTS of peeling! The shower looks pristine and shocking white! But don't do this at home without gloves!.

 

 

It didn't stop him from kayak paddles across the lake. I kept an eye on him with my zoom!

 

 

When he came home from his paddle, he brought me flowers! 

 

 

 

Despite the work, we managed some lazy and relaxing time too. Rides for Rick and our daily New York Times puzzles! 

 

 

 

I've been doing lots of reading. And yes, to those who have asked, I have done a bit of art. 

 

 

 

Not a lot yet. But I finished this painting of the windmills at Kinderdijk, Netherlands. . . Not that fond of the windmills and sky but I really liked the reeds at the bottom.

 

 

For something completely different, a  family portrait of crazy cats. I may cut them into individual  squares for cards. I haven't decided yet.

 

 

 

And the best part of it has been time with family. My cousin Jack came by a couple of times and we enjoyed chicken on the grill. 

 

 

A few days later, the Ohio cousins arrived! We are like siblings, having spent every summer together for a decade during our teens and early 20s. Now there is a new generation. This is Grayson!

 

 

And this is his big brother, Aiden! 

 

Aiden was having more fun than anyone -- and we were all having loads of fun. This was his first visit to the cottage. He loved the lake (which he called "the sea.")

 

And he also loved pushing Grandpa, Grandma and Cousin Deet (that's me) around on our rafts. (Below, with his dad, Jeff)  It was incredibly relaxing -- laying on the raft and being pushed along. No effort required!

 

All was well -- then CRISIS! Their toilet broke! With six people, including two seniors and a toddler, you need a working toilet! So, Jeff, Lauren and the boys headed back for Cleveland. It was too bad it ended up being such a quick trip. Now you see 'em, now you don't. (I was happy to let Mutty and Howard use ours as needed!)

 

My cousin and her husband stuck around for a few days trying to make arrangements for toilet repair. (Fortunately, I could provide temporary accommodations when needed!) That meant we got to have more fun plenty of floating-on-a-raft-time. 

Our cousin Jack returned to see them and we enjoyed dinner out.

 

Meanwhile, the toilet repair people could come so they stayed an extra day. That was fun for me because we don't see each other often. We spent a lot of time floating on the lake and laughing.

  

And, we had a final dinner out at a nearby golf resort's sports bar. The service was terrible. The food was great, but pricey. Still, you couldn't beat the view!

 

And where was Rick for all this? Unfortunately, he had to leave before that, needing to get home for appointments. He took off on his bike, traveling in the heat wave!

 

Now I'm home for a few days too -- appointments and celebrating his birthday. It was a good thing I came home when I did -- the air quality got into the 176 zone and the sky looked apocalyptic. (As I write this, air quality is 366. Glad I got used to masks during Covid!) My cousin sent me this photo and no, it was NOT taken at sunset. Needless to say, they packed up quickly and left and their son who was coming up was caught and turned back. 

 I'll miss this. 

 

It's good to see Rick, though I'll miss my lake! But I'll be back!

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