Cabin Fever

The Hammons spent the last nine days traveling the Northwoods of Minnesota. My grandparents' bought a cabin on Sand Lake in the 50's, and generations of my mom's family have been going every summer ever since. This summer, for the first time, we went up alone. I was really worried we were going to burn the place down. But we didn't. Everything was great. No, everything was perfect. It was a lot of fun to watch Lily running around doing all of the things I did as a kid. Last summer she was just starting to walk, so she didn't really do much, but what a difference a year makes. 

This was a crazy summer. Joe worked long hours, it was ridiculously hot, I was tired and cranky, Lily was getting sick of me, I made lots of big cakes, and we were all at our wits ends. Then, suddenly, it was all done. Joe finished his position as Summer Associate, I worked a couple of days, a few doctors' appointments, and we were off. We REALLY needed a vacation. A time to rest, relax, and just be together as a family. 

The trip started with a fun visit to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area to see my college roommates, Kate and Christina and their families. Lily and Ava had a blast... 

It was COLD at the cabin. Most nights went down into the 50's, and a couple even the 40's. This meant mornings were for snuggling on the couch reading books while mama sipped hot coffee and made delicious breakfasts. 

It was nice to have a kitchen that you could really cook in for more than a week. And cooler temperatures so that you actually wanted to turn on the oven. We baked and grilled and cooked to our hearts' content. It was really nice to just be domestic for a couple of days, playing inside and out, reading, knitting, just being. Here's Lily getting ready for some fun in the sun.

And oh the ice cream. I don't know what it is, but Dairy Queen vanilla soft serve ice cream just tastes better up North. Lily agrees. 

Baby Gandolf picked up daddy's fire stick and said "You shall not pass."

I picked up an honest to goodness porcelain tea set at an antique shop in town for super cheap. Many chilly morning were passed having elaborate tea parties for all of our friends. 

In the middle of the week we went up to Duluth to see some more friends, Jill and Jim. Jill showed us all around the Great Lakes Aquarium, let Lily terrorize all of her pets, and then took us out to dinner. Traveling really is more fun when you have people to visit. 

Jill also told us about a 108# agate in Moose Lake. I've been going there for 28 years now, and had never heard of this. So we had to check it out. It's smaller than I expected it to be. I'm a terrible judge of weight and volume, though. Lily wasn't terribly impressed, but she insisted on bringing her new friend, Binksy, along for the trip. Thanks Jill!

We hiked a bit. Nothing crazy, just enough to feel like it was worth it. Lily had great fun tramping around for a bit, then when she got tired we threw her in the baby backpack. Don't be misled by this picture, she LOVED it. The whole time she was in it, she just kept saying "Ba-pack! Ba-pack!" She seriously thought it was great. 

We went to the Carleton County Fair on our last day up there. Lily tried her first pony ride. She stayed on the horse just until it started moving. Then she was done. So we walked next to the pony for the rest of the ride.

Then finally, as a break in the middle of the second day of driving back we stopped at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Christina and Ava had given Lily this pretty little purple fairy dress when we visited them earlier, and we bought a pretty little flower wreath for her hair. She had a great time there, too. Lots of people in funny costumes, interesting food to eat, fun things to touch, and just a nice place to run for a bit.

So that was pretty much our trip. Fun, easy, relaxing, restful, and a definite retreat. I feel much better. More centered, more calm, more ready for fall and school to start again.