This holiday weekend...

. . . I hope you get to do fun things with family and friends; things like....

                                                                       Go for a hike

                                                          Get together with friends

                                                            Go up in a hot air balloon

                                                                  Get out on a lake

                                                                       Visit the shore

                                                                  See something historic

                                                                  Participate in a sport

                                                                Celebrate with family

Have a safe, happy Fourth of July!

Good bye for Now

Son #1 jumping the wake & doing a "grab"

Our eldest son left last night to go out West to the college town where he lives.  My husband and I drove him to the airport.  We had packed early yesterday morning, the end of our vacation on the lake.  The end of vacation and our son's leaving made it a doubly difficult day.  To spend a carefree time with the people you most love in the world, well, there's nothing to replace it. 

As a family, we discussed all that and how lucky we are to have our health, to have a ski boat, to be able to rent a lake cottage, to bring our family together.  We had wonderful weather, only one day of rain, and we took that day to go to the movies together and see "Inception" on the big screen.  I don't recommend it.  "Matrix" is better.  But I digress.

While there is much bickering amongst the four of us, there is much camaraderie as well.  I had a talk with son #1 and he reminded me he's been out of the house five years now.  He was 18 when he left for college and he hasn't moved back.  I'm proud of him.  I'm also proud he tries very hard not to rely on us for money when he's low. He's making his way as a man now and he reminded me to treat him as such.  Hard task when Mamma has her boys together and falls back into the old patterns.  I can't deny it. 

  Son #2  doing a 360  on a wakeboard

#2 son leaves in a month for a beach city in Florida.  We'll miss him very much.  However a peaceful time is coming for us, sans children.  We are ready for the separation.  He is too and I think he'll be most happy by the sea. 

Gone Fishin'

"Gone Fishin" a popular title for print articles, signs and email, is code for "I'm on vacation"...which I am.

Fishing on the Lake  Summer 2010

We are, for a very short time, not empty nesters.  Our chicks are home to roost as we pursue a favorite summer activity, a home on the water, this time a lake.  We are in Maine in a waterfront cottage with a dock for our ski boat, a basement room for our dogs, a fire pit, a comfy house with lots of windows overlooking the lake.  We brought very little for the week as everything has been provided except the food and liquor.  Bathing suits, shorts, tees, sunscreen, lots of food, beer, soda and dog food.  My husband brought his hammock and cameras.  I, obviously, brought my computer although this is the first time I've opened it since Friday.  It is Monday.  I'm through one of three books I bought:  "That Old Cape Magic", Richard Russo's latest, then "The Girl Who Played With Fire" Steig Larsen's # 2 in his series; and John Irving's latest, "Last Night in Twisted River" which the bookseller assures me is akin to his older style of writing, i.e. "Garp", "Cider House Rules", "Owen Meany".  We'll see.

Oh, and by the way, the glasses are dirty, there are crumbs everywhere, the food is eaten as soon as I buy it and there's no running around naked except for the boys who think they are God's gift in the physique dept.  Oi.  What was I musing about in my last post???????

Ta ta for now.  Off to the boat to get in some quality time with the menfolk while they wakeboard and waterski. 

 

Theme Thursday Summer

Summer, for my family, is all about being on or in the water. We celebrate summer weekends on deep New England lakes. We tow the boat to the ramp, back it down and gently pull the boat off the trailer into the water. The boys and my husband water ski and wake board. I drive. We pack a lunch and picnic on the water. We doze in the sun, floating on a raft or the swim deck of the boat. We take lazy spins around the lake to admire the beautiful summer homes. We wonder if, some day, we will live on a lake. We imagine the house and the dock we'll enjoy.

We also celebrate summer each year at a beach. This year it was Anna Maria Island. We swim, body surf, play Frisbee. We pitch an umbrella to shade us from the hot sun, slathering SPF 30+ on for additional protection. Our hearts are light and our minds are free. We take sunrise or sunset walks, ride bicycles, play tennis, scout out delectable restaurants or grill at home.

Summer is all about heightened senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell. Our sight is enhanced by the unparalled summer light whether it's broad daylight, long twilight, rosy dawns, the Northern Lights. Summer sounds include everything from lawn mowers to boat motors, recurring tides, splashing water, the laughter of children at play; the murmur of adults talking on a warm summer night. Touch the sand between your toes, the beating of the sun on your skin, the refreshing feel of the water. Taste the grilled food, the cold beer, the exquisite pleasure of a meal after a long day at play. Smell the sea, the barbecue, the newly cut grass, the scent of sunscreen, the way your child smells after a day outside, bathing suits hung out to dry in the fresh air. This is what we wait for. This is what we love: Summer in all its glory.

Relaxing on the boat

Walking on Water

Up from the Sea

Greased Up and Ready to Go!

"Where do you want the umbrella?"

Beach Motel 60's Style

"Ahh, I have it all to myself..."

For one more great summer scene I've already posted and didn't wanna repeat, go here.