"Closing" in the snow

 Every fall I create a post about closing our cabin!

It's kind of a big deal for us... bittersweet

 I like going back and looking at each year that we close.

Some of it looks the same but this year, "week #2" looked quite a bit different then the past years....

It generally takes us 2 times up to "close the cabin" 

The first week is Pine needle and yard clean up

 We have no problem filling our trailer.

We take the boat in to get winterized and Rick starts the process of taking the dock apart.

In the photo above he's headed out with a ladder to get the canvas off the boat lift.

We looked ahead at the forecast and knew what was coming for week #2....

30 degrees for a high and SNOW, I think Mother Nature got her wires crossed.

October is a VERY busy month for us and it wasn't an option to reschedule.

Both of our boys set aside this weekend to be there to help. 

This was Saturday Morning, about 1 inch of snow fell

 by afternoon the snow was disappearing

Best part for me was hanging out with my grands

 They were eager to get out and play in the snow

 running and making snow angels :)

and snowmen

 My oldest son just hanging out in his chest-waders...no reason!

Getting ready to bring the boat lift in

I love my boys, so grateful for their help.

But it wasn't all work... 

 Uncle Gavin loves to play

Love!

 Of course there is always the making of something that involves dumping-in stuff and stirring.

 Sipping hot cocoa and playing games with grandma.

 Our closing crew left on Sunday Morning, always sad to see them go.

 Rick and I had til Tuesday to finish up.

For me that means, doing some laundry, and cleaning, 

then getting all the liquids and food perishables gathered to take home.

Did I mention mouse-proofing?

I have yet to see evidence of the little critters.

 I don't like the mess they make or the added work they create so

 I am thrilled we have not had that issue. 

Rick used to blow the water lines out and all that, but we now are letting someone else do that for us,

It's a lot of work and take a good 4 hours. 

We buy the pink liquid otherwise known as Marine Antifreeze for the company to use,

 it keeps things from freezing up.

Off we go, another season gone and a good one it was. 

We do look forward to spring when we start all over again, but....

I dont want it to come too soon as I want to be still for awhile and enjoy the peace of winter.

October is my favorite color

Rick and I are up for our last weekend of the season....

It's time to close the cabin, more on that to follow.

This morning we took a little drive on some of the backroads near our cabin

We saw beauty all around us. 

All I had was my camera phone so the quality is not up to snuff.

Same photo, different angle

It's always so pretty around the lakes, so many colors!

 Last night I took this from the edge of our yard, see the little "pop" of color on the right, 

and the sky was so blue.

Now back to Saturday morning. 

We did get snow, maybe about an inch.

My son took this photo from inside the cabin

By yesterday (Sunday) afternoon most of the snow had melted, but we still were getting spurts of snow from time to time

 Snowing

I saw this little snowman over on the other side of the lake as I was taking a drive 

 The neighbors oak tree next to our cabin. 

We are otherwise surrounded by pines so this tree is a welcome site in the fall.

Winter seemed to bump right into fall before it was done. 

I bet winter will back off so that fall can have its time.... too short this year.

Off the beaten path....

Normally I wouldn't pay much attention to mushrooms,

 but this one jumped out at Rick and I as we explored a near by 

nature trail in Northern Minnesota

I couldn't wait to see what I could find out about this little blue guy

 Lactarius indigo (milk mushroom)

It is edible! 

No I have no interest in eating wild mushrooms, 

I left it right where I found him.

We went off the paved trail and walked in the woods.

 the ground cover is really starting to show its colors

Love sharing life with this one. 

Reading about the different pine trees! 

We learned a lot then went back to the cabin to 

decipher what kinds of pines were in our yard. 

 White and Red Pines is what we decided.

 more ground cover

 little white berries.

So much to discover outside the bubble of your home.

Tell me do you like to explore?

Labor Day Weekend at the Lake

Labor Day was spent at the cabin with our son Brice and his family this year.

We had a great time with Scar and Lew, they are always in motion and keep us on our toes. 

We enjoy talks with our adult kids, games and meals together. 

WE ARE BLESSED

Just a few of the photo's from our time together 

Fishing with dad on the end of the dock

 Scarlett's request.... "Can we go on a family boat ride"?

Watching and learning as grandpa ties a knot to secure a hook

 Morning coffee on the dock

 Little Lewin fishing with daddy

 This little love, likes to cuddle on the boat and... "sing songs grandpa"

 Daddy and Scarlett, "Draw a creepy picture daddy"

Grandma loves the snuggles too!

 Swinging.

This year we added a disc-swing to a tree next to out cabin. 

The grandkids have spent hours swinging, it's the best purchase we've ever made.

 Brice and Jen just chillin' In the big swing.

 Love these four

Warm enough to play on the shore, and even wade in a little

It's quiet now..... 

Rick and I will enjoy each others company and reminisce about our time with family.

He does not disappoint....

I've been patiently waiting to find a wall shelf for my sun room at the cabin! 

a shelf to go along side the 16x20 canvas photo that I took last year here on the lake.

While on a little excursion to Walker a few weeks ago, I spotted this little beauty, 

a shoe shoe shelf... made from a vintage snowshoe

I asked Rick if he could duplicate it for the cabin wall, 

as I knew we already had the vintage snowshoes from his dad's garage.

I'm just gonna cut-to-the-chase....

I've got one of those husband who can pretty much do anything!

He did not disappoint.

It's perfect, I'm glad I waited

Thankful for my DIY hubby.....he's the best!!!