The "Closing Crew" 2020

A week ago Rick and I spent another chunk of time at the cabin before the final closing.

At the end of the week (last Saturday) our Son Brice and family came up to help. There are a few things that Rick can't do by himself and with a gimpy wife, the help was much appreciated. 

This is my "welcome" chalkboard that hangs in the entry of our cabin.

I love changing it up when we have family and friends visit.

Rick and I waiting on the dock for the "closing crew" to arrive.

After a brief greeting, the men got right to work as Saturday was the best weather day of the weekend.

Sweet Lewin (Supervisor). 

It's hard to believe that he will be heading up this crew in a hand full of years

Jenny was a big help as the "switch pusher" for the winch that pulls the boat lift out of the water.

It wasn't all work, I love watching my grands play and make memories at the cabin

This tree swing has been the best thing we ever did for the kids! They all love to swing

These two share a birthday so of course, we celebrated.

Rick had plenty to do before the troops arrived, All the needles had to be 

blown and raked up then delivered to the brush dump. 

That takes a day when your doing it by yourself.

He took some non-essentials off the dock, took the cover off the boat lift, and washed it before storing.

He gathered all things liquid to bring back to Rochester (otherwise they would freeze) and so much more... He's amazing and loves his cabin including all the "Work" which he calls fun.

One more swing pic. 

Scarlett is almost horizontal, she is being pushed by her daddy. Sometimes I have to look away

 

We are so thankful for our helpers, and family time spent together!

We finished up last Monday knowing we had to pop back up one more time 

to retrieve our "Winterized" boat! 

see more below....

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Just this last Saturday we made a trip up to get our boat. 

Typically we do this all on "closing weekend" but our usual guy broke his foot and we didn't know it,

 so we had to go to plan "B", which did NOT involve a quick turn around. 

With a light coat of snow, we took her back to the cabin.

We spent the night so I got to watch one more sunrise from my chair (through the screen)

All tucked in and ready for a long winter's night.

 

Grandbabes and more R & R at the cabin.

We spent a week at home, as Rick had more to do with getting his Dad's house ready for "closing", 

and... we needed to see family. 

Last Friday night we got to hang out with our two Rochester grandkids.

They were great helping their invalid G-ma prepare dinner! Afterwards, we made muffins.

We love spending time with these two they are growing up so fast, as grandkids do.

Saturday morning we packed up for another week at the cabin, as I've mentioned before, 

it's so much easier than at our Multilevel home in Rochester.

BUT FIRST...

 

A stop in the Twin Cities to watch out 2nd oldest granddaughter play soccer. 

It was our first time seeing her play, (her first year) we were surprised at her natural ability

and determination on the field. She is a force to be reckoned with.

Then there's the sibling at the games of the older one. Our little Lew.

He is helping gather the cones for the coach, who happens to be his dad... my son Brice.

After the game, we spent some time with my sons family at the nearby park.

Then off to the cabin we went.

The colors are at peak in Northern Minnesota, it's so beautiful

Rick and I went for a final boat ride before taking the boat in to be winterized.

Here sits our sweet cabin, our 5th year already! So many memories

This is "Closing" week for us Rick. 

I am not of much help, grounded by this cast and not being able to stand on it.

Our cabin is surrounded on 3 sides by giant pine trees, all of them shedding their needles in the fall.

It's a two-day process of blowing, then raking and hauling to the brush dump.

There is much to do, but Rick finds it fun, he enjoys all of it.

Brice will be here tomorrow and Sunday to help get the dock and boat lift up on dry land.

A foggy morning here at the lake

Side view from the neighbor's yard, it's fun to see our cabin from someone elses angle.

This is my entertainment for the day.

 These folks take out Boat lifts for a living, they are taking out a neighbors here.

We take out our own boatlift, it saves us about $250 a year, and Rick enjoys the process. 

         I'm loving the last few days here before we tuck the cabin in for a long winter's night. 

It's 77 degrees with only light breezes and a bright blue skies. 

Paradise!

Healing at the cabin

 September 15th marks the 5 year anniversary of purchasing our cabin on the lake. 

We still pinch ourselves and are forever thankful for this little piece of heaven.

So many amazing memories and friendships have been made here.

We look forward to the years ahead as we continue to share our cabin with family and friends.

This year is memorable for other reasons...

 COVID-19

We had less visitors because of it!

We tried to keep visits within our Circle of people that we are around the most. 

There is hope that this may be different for next summer.

Toe surgery...

I had surgery on my toe on September 4th. 

The surgery requires that I am fully non-weight bearing, 

 any pressure on the foot at all can undo the surgery, the fusion needs 6 - 8 weeks to heal.

This is very difficult, more so than I expected! Try doing any of your daily tasks on one leg... just try it.

I was lucky to borrow a knee scooter from a good friend to help me get around.

Healing at the cabin has been so much more beneficial than our split-level home in Rochester. 

The cabin is a single level dwelling, with a very large bathroom. Getting around is 100 times easier.

NO steps to navigate!  Whoop whoop.

Of course, there's something to be said for the view...quite healing!

We have the best friends who brought us dinner the second night we were here. 

So we hosted and they brought the food, we love you John and Judy 

Our people

We are sad that our friends J & J have sold their cabin this summer. 

They will be moving back to Arizona to be near family, but we've been promised, told that they will return for visits in the summers to come. We are spending whatever time with them that we can...

we will miss them so much!

Hazy sunrise

I got on the boat... It was a bit tricky, but I did it.

and then......

Yesterday, we had a very impromptu visit from my big brother Rick and his wife Cindy.

It was their first visit to the cabin.

We enjoyed our time with them, lots of talking, sharing stories, good food, and games.

My sweet SIL brought us some yummy food and took over as hostess while I 

sat with my leg elevated.  The visit was short but sweet!

 Happy 40th anniversary your two! 

The boys... lots to talk about on our boat ride this morning.

Next week, stitches out and a new cast, whoopee!

There's always the Farmer's Market...

Rick and I recently visited the Farmer's Market in Park Rapids, MN

(about 6 miles from our cabin)

 It offers a lot of handcrafted and homemade goods along with fresh vegetables from local gardens.

 We scored some fresh-picked sweet corn that the farmers had just returned from picking. 

He had run out mid-morning, so back he went to pick some more.

I bought a small jar of Strawberry Mango Jam form Bonnie Jo

I should have got a close-up, so many flavors to choose from.

Betty Jo gave me a hand out titled, "How to use that Jam"

Many of the things I wouldn't have thought of myself. 

Back to the lake, our little piece of heaven.

Early morning on the dock.

We are on vacation this week and enjoying every minute of it. 

My little sister Jodi and niece came for a short visit...

just to get away before Jensen goes off to college.

 Jodi brought me this sweet (personalized) coffee mug, 

"Big sis" & "Little Sis" 

Me holding a coffee, her a blended drink, out hairstyles similar to the real thing, 

and our names printed under the photo.  <3 p="">

We are looking forward to a quiet week at the cabin, the weather is perfect, we may do some painting, and tonight we will join our friends "The Otto's" for some patio-dining at one of our 

favorite restaurants north of town.

Life is good!

Family week at the cabin

It's always hard for me to know which photos to choose for our Family Week at the cabin post.

 I have so many photo's that I want to share and it's just hard to stop! 

I hope you enjoy the Picture-story of our little family at our cabin up north. 

There's no particular order, just random photo's of the people we love most of all. 

This is the 5th year already and these little ones have grown so fast, 

the youngest Lewin wasn't even born yet the 1st year.

Scarlett, Carson, Lew and Audrey

Brianna's Husband Chris came this year for the first time. 

It was a surprise to us and we were beyond excited to have him share in the fun at the cabin. 

He had a great time and there we're many "firsts" for him.

 Sometimes the tube is just for playing on

 Diggin' holes and building sand castles (Carson)

Lots of coloring (Scarlett) 

Boat rides with unlicensed drivers. (Grandpa and Lew)

Our three, Gavin, Brianna & Brice

Just Audrey <3 p="">

Swingin' (Brice and Lew)

Jennifer and Scarlett

breakfast on the deck

The swimming raft is a fun place for all the grands to hangout.

11 of us all together.... My heart is full.

Playin' football with Uncle Gavin

Audrey showing me her hand-stand splits on the raft

Always games after the littles go to bed.

Love my people

 These 4 play so well together.

Did I mention this one loves fishing

Carson's very first smallmouth bass, Grandma is the designated hook-taker-outer.

We both love to fish, but he out-fished me this week.

Chris and Carson cooked up his prize catch for a taste of fresh bass.

Scarlett and Carson....little buddies

Fire and S'mores

He always squats or...

lays on his belly when he fishes.

 Brianna and Chris Kayaking

Trying to rush grandpa off the swimming raft.

 Momma and son time (Brianna & Carson)

 Dad (Brice) and Son (lew) on the tube. 

It was Lewins first time so just a slow ride.

 Our little joys

Carson is giving his dad some first time fishing pointers  :)

New memories were made, always good for the soul as we

 continue to make our Hemmer/Lewis week a priority every summer. 

We love watching our grown-up kids laugh and joke with each other, and the laughter and pitter-patter of little feet fills our hearts with gratitude for family. We are truly blessed and thank God for this life, family, and our little cabin on the lake.