Saturday, June 13, 2020

Lake Journal

We have begun going to the lake again! Though these photos are all from past years, I'm sure some will show up from this year as well. 


Much has changed since my great-grandfather bought a bitty cabin on quiet shores back in the 40's. He had been missing the fjords in his native land of Norway, so it was great to have a place to enjoy water again after long, hot days of farming on the edge of the prairie.


In 2001 my uncles decided it was time to expand. Mom's family was growing exponentially as my cousins married and started their own families, so the old living room, bit of kitchen, and two bedrooms large enough for a bed and no more were feeling cramped when we all gathered. Plus, the addition of indoor plumbing would not come amiss!

A favorite part of the addition is the loft lined with knotty pine.

Some years later we started a family journal where all my relatives can record their stays. It is fun to go back and read of the many special times spent at the cottage.


On June 15th, 2008 Mom wrote: 

Our 1st "Sunday at the lake" for the season. We had our annual grilled hamburgers for Father's Day. The 60's weather with a north wind kept us all [nearly 30 people] indoors where we were cozy. We also brought carrot cake to celebrate Mom and Dad's 65th wedding anniversary which will be this [coming week.] 

This journal is Dad's [Grandpa's] Father's Day gift where we can record the events that happen here in the [family] cabin. [My cousin] Sarah entertained all of us by taking the 1st swim at 8 pm in the 50 degrees weather.

In 2010 I wrote:

June 3-4-5, Hannah and Dorothy

Came out to a mild and still afternoon on Thursday, the 3rd. Just Dort and me staying out of the way of the first week of [Elsa's] bakery business at home and giving the rest of the family a break from caring for Dorothy, who is still recovering from a broken neck. The halo came off last week and she is wearing a rigid neck brace for this month. 

Dorothy at home in 2014


Since Dort loves the lawn swing and I like sitting by the lake, we spent several hours out there until it was time to make supper - Dorothy busy with her graduation balloon (on a 2 for 1 sale on the way here!) and I with my crocheting. Very quiet on the lake. A couple boats tooled by and one skier was out later in the evening. A few sprinkles in the evening and some heavier rain during the night. 

Must mention a strange, loud bang/thump I heard when settling into bed - followed by a gurgle in the toilet. I listened closely and heard nothing more and saw nothing unusual in the bathroom, so slept soundly through the night on the lovely futon in the loft with Dort snoring in the pink room. 


June 4th - Woke up to NO WATER!

No, the lake hadn't drained during the night; that would have been an amazing (and sad) sight, but the faucets inside and outside of the cottage gave only a little dribble before sputtering to a stop.

We managed the morning very well on our water bottles brought from home, the bit of water that was left in the kettle, a pitcher of water from the neighbor's hose (with their permission, of course), and buckets from the lake dumped into the toilets. The breakfast and dinner dishes had to pile up in the sink until two uncles came out around 2:00 and found the cause of the "thump" last night. A hose had flown off the pump and must have hit the side of the pump hut with some force.

After double-clamping the hose back in place and priming the pump, we were done with our adventure of living with rationed water. Time to do dishes! ...


June 5th
Raining or sprinkling all morning. Sun came out just before 3:00. Dort and I had more than an hour out on the swing before getting a bit too cool from the wind. Smaller waves than yesterday's white-caps and the temp. got up into the low 70's. One family at the public access [next door]along with a few others in and out. Several boats with people skiing and tubing.

A thunderstorm started rolling in around 5:15. We'll be heading home after supper sometime. It was so nice to get away and have a little time to think and pray as well as do a bit of relaxing - in a busy sort of way... Better spend some time with Dort now. ~ Hannah

If you want to get to know my aunt Dorothy more, look back at this post.

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