Lake Life

Grappling with an off mix of sadness and contentment tonight.  Balancing gratitude with grief, joy with empathy.  The blessings that abounded in my life this weekend against the deep wounds that marked this weekend for my friends.

Right now, for this post-- gratitude will come out on top.  We had a perfect weekend, and I was deeply, deeply grateful for every moment of it.  Sunshine, water, family, free time.  A deep breath for my soul.  

A picture tour of our first taste of lake life this summer:

Leaving Thursday night? Brilliance.  We woke up to this.  Coffee and stories on the porch..

a little bird watching....

Even when she's grumpy she is stunning...

The morning was a bit chilly but it felt great in the sun, so we wandered in the field looking for arrowheads and fining snail shells.

The kids and Nat went to Lulu's to pick up some cymbals for our music room...  and rediscovered the swing...

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The classic Farley's moment-- nakey children at play on the porch....

Jack caught a bullhead!  All on his own.  You should've heard his slightly panicked voice calling us down...

A wonderful twilight picnic at Long Point with the Union Springs clan (after  very sweaty 8 mile run to get there, on my part).... including wading, hunting for lucky stones, conversation, and the finding of this toad, Hoppy Sitstill. 

Saturday we went to a farm auction!  It was a hoot.

One of the items up for auction was the carriage we used at our wedding.  We didn't buy it.  Sadly.

We transported the troops back to the cottage for the afternoon.  Here's our vanful, about to launch into the chorus of "Let it Go. "  Of course.

More fishing.  Lots more fishing...

Nat and Randy spent the afternoon rubbing linseed oil on farm auction treasures.  I sat and watched.  The kids played perfectly together.  We had gin and tonics.  It was grand. 

This was the moment when Ivy handed me two fishing poles which had been carefully baited with two small dead fish.  I noticed this AFTER I took them from her.  When asked what kind of fish they were, Jack responded, deadpan: "Bait".

Love these kids together...

Off tomorrow for 3 days with 8th graders in Washington D.C.  Wish me luck.  See you on the other side!