This and that...

This is what happens....

When you walk down these in the dark 

 and you think your on the last step...

but your not.

Luckily my ankles are already trashed from repetitive ankle sprains in high school and college sports.

Therefore when my ankle turned over when I hit the cement only minimal damage was done.

On the other hand, my camera that I was carrying to take photo's 

of the Harvest Moon did not fare so well.

From the outside it looks ok, but it's not.

Sadly I will have to put my beloved Sony to rest.

A new Camera will have to wait....

My MacBook Pro that I have had for 7 years has seen her last days.

She has been a wonderful laptop friend for all these years.

She has never given me an ounce of trouble, not even one virus... ever!

She has been a trusty companion on my lap, editing photo's, initiating blogs, searching, investigating and keeping me up to date with the world around me.

Tonight I will order her replacement.

A couple of bonus photo's to cheer me up....

 His last Kayak ride of the season

Colors at the cabin

Morning at the cabin

Last weekend we put the cabin to bed and tucked her in.

Until next year....

Phase one is done...

 All that's left after the dock, boat lift and boat are out of the water.

 Last weekend our strong strappin' boys came to the cabin 

to help begin the closing-down process.

 Rick puts in his two-cents worth but these boys of ours do 

pretty good for only having done this once before.

 The best part for this momma is listening to the two of them banter back and forth as they work.

 They crack me up!

Gavin is busy taking off the side steps

It's a process and we are thankful for their eagerness to help.

Did I mention "little miss" and her mamma came too

Jenny, our DIL (Brice's wife) is in her last month of preganancy with #2!

 She is a joy and such a trooper to travel the 3 hours to our cabin.

Loved having Jennifer and 2 year old Scarlett to hang our with while the guys worked.

 Struttin' on the dock

We had plenty of down-time too....

Uncle Gavin & Scarlett out for a little stroll.

 Reading with Grandpa

 Brice surprised us and bought some brick to make a fire ring

We didn't get a chance to break it in due to wind and rain.

Cant wait for our camp fires at the cabin.

 Before we brought the boat in, we had to have a ride

 She loves the boat!

Be Still My Heart

 Just playing outside. I love this sweet granddaughter, and her cute little red cape

* * *

Things get quiet after the kids leave, 

we miss the pitter-patter of little running feet throughout the cabin, 

we miss the conversation, and just having family with us.

 So ... we keep busy, there was more to do

Rick is washing off the cover to the boat lift.

 And then there's that needles.... they are everywhere, and lots of them.

 We are blessed to have this man as our neighbor, 

 

John has a heart that serves and is always eager to lend a hand. 

We are grateful for John and his wife Judy who also had us over for dinner the night before...... Lovely people!!!

 

 Hanging up the hip-waders until next spring

One more trip up to blow out the water lines and tuck the cabin in for the winter.

A big fish story....finally

Rick took me out trolling this time while at the lake. 

It was nice and relaxing but the fish weren't biting, I didn't even catch a weed.

 I usually like to just sit at the end our our dock and cast....

early mornings are my favorite ...

this was a foggy morning.

 I day dream, and just think...

I listen to the sounds,  

loons calling, 

ducks quacking, 

watch the boats troll by, and hear voices from across the lake

 (voices really travel on the lake)

Rick is not "big" on fishing, but on this particular time out... He fished

**** Now for the BIG FISH story **** 

I was fishing on the dock like I do..... 

It was about 4:30, I've always heard the fish are biting around dinner time,

 so I usually throw in my line about that time. 

I've had some luck, but all small Rock Bass or Perch, 

on one occasion a small Northern. 

On this particular day.... 

this fish must have been real hungry

This guy almost got away...but I wasn't gonna let that happen....

I knew I had a big one by the bend on my pole, I didn't have a fishing net handy so I started to reel this guy in while walking towards the shore in hopes of keeping him on the line and 

getting a picture to document the catch!

As I got him on the sand beach he flipped and jumped off my hook, he slithered toward the water and started to wiggle away, I made a decision that he would not get away.... 

This had to be documented, so that.... 

 I wouldn't be accused of telling a BIG FISH story!

I dropped my pole, got into the water and grabbed this guy with both hands

 pinning him to the bottom of the lake. (only about 6 inches deep)

Once I had a good hold of him, I gripped him harder then flung him up on the grass.

My adrenaline was ramped-up as I yelled for Rick to "come quick", 

he was just heading out on a bike ride so I was glad to have got him before he left.

I got my camera, and the rest is history

24 inches long,  estimated about 3#

No I didn't keep him.... I thanked him for the photo, and let him go!

Bits and pieces from the 2nd half of summer...

 It was a good summer for the flower beds. 

 Lots of sun, plenty of rain and a little luck.

We weren't around much this summer

I was so glad mother nature took care of the plants

The second half of the summer has been a bit quieter at the cabin, but not too quiet...

The 1st week of August we enjoyed a long weekend with

 my sister Jodi, and her family

, 

We love walking into the entry and seeing this pile of shoes  :)

We also had Brianna and the kids up for a "re-do" which I posted about Here

Back to my sis and her family...we had such a good time!

 My nephew Sam and niece Jensen kept Uncle Rick busy

 pulling them behind the boat on the tube and ski's.

(photo taken by my BIL by Darin)

Sam had never water ski'd,  he picked up on it fast!

 He was kicking off a ski and slaloming on the first day.

(Photo credit, Darin my BIL)

 Me and my sister Jodi, it was so nice to spend time with her!

Girls day in town,  a little shopping and lunch at the Minnesoda Fountain. 

 Love this photo!

 My Brother-in-law Darin took it from our dock.

It's amazing how many stars the camera picks up that we cannot see with our eyes.

Beautiful shot Darin!

Life beyond the cabin....

spending time with our sweet grands

A day at the park with Audrey and Carson

climbing the huge rock

(Taken with my phone in low light, so blurry but still so sweet).

We got to have our littlest (S) overnight last weekend

She is so fun and such a good girl. 

 Last night we had our oldest overnight before she starts school next week.

This morning we had a coffee date at Caribou...her choice

Today Carson and I had a date, he chose Barnes & Noble to play Lego's and trains.

 We also got to have ice cream (special treat)

and play-time at Grandma's house.

Rick and I will be heading up to the cabin this weekend.

We've been busy, I wouldn't change that for anything but now...

 it's time to relax, just Rick and I. 

A re-do at the cabin

 Written from a grandma's heart....

This weekend we were able to have a Re-do.....

 Brianna, Audrey and Carson joined Rick and I at the cabin for some new memories!

We were not about to let Type 1 diabetes steal his (our) joy!!!

A happy thriving boy, who loves to be on the boat...

...but would rather be driving. 

This little guy is a nut on the boat,

 he loves to steer on open water and even makes (little boy) sound- effects when he

 turns suddenly to the left or right.

 

He loved swimming and playing with us in the water.

 

 we played lots of games and puzzles

Just barely 4 and he plays "Sorry" like a boss....he is one smart boy!

 Oh*My*Heart*

Carson is a joy, he is strong, brave, smart 

and he's kicking diabetes in the butt!!!

In 6 short weeks...

*He can tell his mom & dad when he feels "low"

*He asks about how sugar is in the food he's eating,

 he's even starting to say, "how many carbs is this"

*He has let Grandpa & Grandma do blood sugar checks.

Side note... No grandpa and grandma should ever have to poke their grandbabies, 

but we do it out of love, and wanting to be part of his life no matter what!

*He no longer cries when he gets his insulin injections

* He's all BOY! 

 

We accomplished the re-do with so many GOOD memories at the cabin! 

We are all learning together how to help Carson live with this disease, 

short of a miracle it is not going away.

I choose to pray for that miracle... that there will be a cure for diabetes!

  We have that hope in Jesus, He alone is can cure Carson because He is a God of miracles!

Type 1 Diabetes sucks, and I'm still mad about it! Sigh, deep breaths....

 It is a 24/7 disease that not only Carson lives with but 

so do his amazing mom, dad and sister.

They are the super stars, and we are so proud of them!