Summer time at the Lake Cottage

Hi Joe:

Well, its raining here, so no outside work. I want to continue about the cottage and what it was like with all the people there that made this place special in its glory days. This is my supposition of the Families.

The main purpose of the cottage was for Family time and to relax from the city or town and enjoy a simpler time as the Families were growing up and struggling with the day to day life. This was a place where the rules could be relaxed and everyone could explore who they were.

Parents of course were still watchful over the kids but it was the aunts and uncles that didn’t hassle them over certain rules. They in fact would encourage the youngsters to do their own thing within reason and still have fun.

This would make your Uncle or Aunt a person to admire more so than Mom and Dad. These people were laid back already because of there nature and the quiet calm and wisdom they had rubbed off on their nieces and nephews. Having said that, they also had a lighthearted side and that’s what was the most fun when they all played games of tag, hide n seek or duck, duck, goose, within limits.

These relatives would instruct the kids on the proper pronouncement of certain words read to them from the paper or magazine as they explored new ways to improve their minds and outlooks on life. These words will stick with them as they brag about “listen to what I can say” and do you know what it means?.

And now the ipads and iphones are the replacements tools the adults use to teach the kids and the kids also can teach the adults as they are more in tune with the technology used in schools. Reading in the bathroom is going to take a new dimension., not the same??, Or different.?. these models even have a piano and guitar programs on them and the kids can play them very well.

Before the advent of hand held electronic games I could imagine that reading out loud, coloring books and looking thru magazines or Sears catalogues was the way to pass time in the evening. They would have their snacks and washed up and now some quiet time before bed to settle them down.

This was a time where the family would bond on a personal level as each child would rotate around the relatives and say their good nights and review that special moment that was fresh in their minds. Hugs and kisses and then off to bed.

Once the kids were in bed the parents would play cards or read or just talk about the events of the day and their own world. The quiet chatter and laughter would drift to the bedrooms of the kids and give them a sense of comfort as the sandman came to put them to sleep. Sometimes the critters of the night might interrupt the sleep but only a short time.

Morning was another adventure waiting to happen as everyone slowly awoke from the sleep and began to go about getting food for the Family. Mom would start the kettle and Dad started the coffee in his usual manner and soon the smells of the breakfast was drifting around and waking the rest of the Family up.

The feeding was in stages as the kids were fed first and then the adults would filter in the empty spots or wait in the rec room for a turn. The kids would get dressed and the younger ones would dawdle in pjs for a while until someone would help them. And soon its time for them to go outside and play.

The day was spent swimming, playing in the fields and forests and getting back in time for a quick snack or lunch and then going away again to continue. The smaller of the kids would have a afternoon nap and the afternoon would laze away into evening. Suppers were the same, kids first and then the adults.

After the dishes were done it was a walk down to the shore and watch the big old sun set into the water ending another perfect day of bliss. The kids were given a quick bath and into their pjs again and the evening would slowly dwindle to bed time for the kids.

This was a wonderful time for all and it was sad to see the aunts and uncles pack up and leave, but the next day more relatives would show up and it all begin again. Summer time at the Lake just never ceases to amaze and revitalize people with a short visit. Time, well spent.


Cheese,........its coool!!

 So, Joe, want to be a kid again??.

The story is about this cottage and its magic

Hi Joe;

How did you enjoy the long weekend?. We were invited out to visit the in-laws at the cottage and this was an experience worth telling you about. The visit went well, but it’s the aura of the cottage that intrigued me the most. Other people just wouldn’t notice things that I was attracted to.?

The story is about this cottage and its magic on me as I first viewed it in its cornered shaded and heavily treed lot. It had a certain timeless grace to it and its little nooks and carnies held little stories of their own. As I wandered around in the cottage I saw lots of well worn furniture and special blankets, pillows and afghans in each piece as well as the beloved wooden chairs. And the pictures on the wall old and faded and significant.

And then there is the smell of the cottage. Many different smells and complex aromas have been generated with the people going about there daily lives and enjoying the simple pleasures this offers. Its like opening a can of coffee and you breath deeply and the calming effect this has on your self, the cottage has the same effect as well.

The bathroom was small, about the size of a closet on the boat. You think this area would have been the largest for the amount of people that depend on it. Maybe there was an outdoor can that was available for the men only. No, more discussion on that, but I can sure write a story if required.

There was no air conditioners, a ceiling fan in the kitchen, it was the cross breezes from windows and screened doors., Certain doors gave a squeak in protest of been opened and closed. The appliances all had their certain uniqueness and you could see notes to help the next cook figure out the stove. Charming and homely would describe this place and I could imagine all the special memories this place held to the Family. It was like putting on a comfortable sweater against the cool of the evening.

There no electronics, no TV’s, no phones, just a radio with rabbit ears, that captured some faraway signal, once in its life. A few jig saw puzzles and game boards were stacked neatly in the cupboards. Kids will bring their hand held games but there is a time limit on them, enjoy the out of doors, play with them later.

And the outdoor family Fire pit is always ready to warm and cook snacks like s-mores. It had a character of its own and it was easy to see why it was close to the house as many meals were served off its hearth. Gas Bar-b-ques are more efficient, and will in time replace this timeless treasure.

As I looked around, no dusty bunnies or cobwebs were to be seen, either very good house keeping or the breeze sure is stiff in here. There was a bit of carpet but mostly good old vinyl flooring and it was in good shape. The bedrooms were all arranged for adults and kids, so theoretically you could have slept anywhere. It was well cared for and neat as a pin when empty of guests.

The front deck was ample, with tables and chairs, perfect. There was a lot of room and with a rail on top to hold your plate of food ,all you need is a chair and that’s how you eat your meals. You could see every one and talk without our spraying them with your food. Ain’t, life grand.??. Life experience, priceless.

But, because of the age of the principal owners this was surely the last year this cottage would have its original Families here as the place was going to go up for sale and no one was willing to buy it and carry on the traditions. I think that, All the special memento’s would go in the trash and then it was a done deal. The usual kids treasures of stones, drawings and feathers and pieces of drift wood.

That is a sad thing, as the grandkids and their ilk will never know how unique this place was to their great-grandparents, thee grandparents and the parents where they sent all summer long here, learning to swim, growing up and bonding with the land they called the Summer Place by the Lake. Telling a kid about it is one thing, but let them live it, the experience, is another. Lessons about life.

I don’t know what the reasons are that the younger age group of kids are turned off about. If it’s the price of the cottage or the hassle of getting there that makes less attractive. Perhaps the lack of luxurious accommodations and surroundings. They are perhaps the ones that find going to the “the Blue Mountain Chalets” as perfect source of activity. Not, the same.!!

Best time of all is when everybody is making supper and dinners and as the burnt offerings are been prepared on the Holstein grill and its smoke and aromas whetting everyone’s appetite. Hot dogs for the kids and burgers for the adults with corn on the side and a famous homemade salad and crusty buns.. I can imagine the noise as everyone was digging in and trying to talk with a mouth full.! Towels and napkins, please.

Its like ritual happening 3 to 4 times per day that a makes this all special, all I know is when you are near water you are always hungry and the kids are twice as hungry. Cooking outside is better than a hot kitchen, everybody gets a break and only one is a fryer aka a cook.

That warm and fuzzy feeling you get when its over, plates are loaded, people fed and your dinner is cold. Yes, been the camp cook, is a privilege all onto its own.!! No dishes to do.!! And you are expected to do this again.??? Anybody else, want a turn??. Many a fine times are spent at this location and the chats that were held, beyond priceless.

This nostalgic moment is brought, by Many Beers and Ales, and mighty fine wines, brought here ever since the cottage was built, a lot of malted beverages was consumed here, processed here and left here to mingle with the earth from whence it came. I am sure if you scouted around you could find some empties of glory days waiting to see the light again. Cycle of life, you bet.!!

Hey, Joe, want to buy a cottage, I hear we can get a real deal.??. ,those nooks and carnies sound interesting .!!.

What I miss about Christmas.

A letter to Joe

Hi Joe;

I haven’t written to you since I sent the card at Christmas and it had a very short note in it about the Family, so its time to give you a real letter. We are all fine and it was a busy time for us again and you know I didn’t enjoy it as much this year.

I don’t know why but the misses felt the same way and we just couldn’t tell what it was that we didn’t like or maybe what we missed. That’s it we are missing something with the festive season and I will try to explain what I think it is.

Well number one I ain’t a kid anymore that would explain a lot, wouldn’t it?. When we talked about our child hood it was Christmas, a special time for us all and we told our stories of what it was like in each household. I am not from here and we did Christmas about the same way anyway.

First of all been a kid you have basically had no worries other than to behave and listen so Santa would give you a good gift. We were lucky if we got one special gift and the rest was candy and fruit. We were excited like our kids are now and could hardy wait to see what we got.

We try to keep those days as simple as possible but I am afraid that is going to get tougher each year as those boys get older. The boys still believe in Santa and I hope that stays until Jacob is old enough to find out. We will have to do some explaining and hopefully it goes well.

The kids are different now, then when we had our first two and things were really simple and we enjoyed that, we all loved Christmas and because we were younger as adults that counts for all lot. Now, that we are older and the burden of raising 3 young boys with special needs at our age is a challenge.

It sure takes the HA, HA, outta you pretty quick and there are days when we question “did we do the right thing”? and when we see those sweet faces all tucked in at night and giving a good night kiss and telling us they love us, yes “we did the right thing” and we thank God for this special favor that was given to us.

Heck, it don’t take long to verve off course does it?, I believe that I just did a digress from the topic. Another thing was that special, the smell at Christmas with the turkey in the oven. Pies cooling on the rack and my Dad and Mom having a Christmas cheer, looks like a rye and ginger to me. They had a few of these and it began to get louder as well.

We played and the gang came over and soon it sounded like the Bus terminal on a Saturday and everyone looking for a place in get in line. All our cares faded for this short time and celebrated with each other and toasted those that were in heaven and hoped they were happy as we were. No electronic toys and it was still noisy with the toys we had.

Now I notice that the toys are geared to an individual playing them and not as much for two or more. So we buy games that whole bunch of us can enjoy and build memories for them later. We did buy an iPad only because they use them at school and when they need to practice, then we have one. This toy is a natural for them and they use it like they built themselves.

Well, thank goodness they are willing to show me when I get a chance to play with it, but I have to wait my turn or get it later when they go to bed. You can’t mess it up, so its safe for old guys to use. Well, its time for another little night cap and I gotta go to bed because 24/7 at 6:30 am or sooner, these boys are up and ready for another day.

Take care, Joe, and Happy New Year.