The Vacation

The cabin Kathleen rented turned out to be far better than we were expecting! No water, no electricity and only an outhouse, but it was sitting high above the ground, and no wildlife visitors (mice, bugs) except flies. We were very pleased to see that it had a propane cook stove, propane refrigerator, and propane lanterns, that hung throughout the cabin. Very rustic and very "get-away."

A fire pit was built outside, off the deck, out of what looked like a huge sawn down barrel, and a picnic table sat off to one side. During the evenings a fire was lit, and smoke filled the air as the flames from the fire consumed the damp wood. Firewood was dragged over by the kids from an already cut and stacked woodpile.

Planks, supported on each end by tree stumps, circled the fire on three sides. The children were driven from one of the benches to the other as light breezes played with them, coming first from one direction and then the other, sending the smoke their way, seemingly following them. Stinging their eyes and filling their noses with with the dry, acrid smoke.

The kids (mothers/fathers/children) stayed busy....boating, fishing, hiking, badminton, taking walks and playing cards. Walking the kids to the outhouse, cooking over the fire, and carrying all the dishes to the campgrounds below, where they could be washed under an outdoor spigot filled with cool, potable water, also filled their time.

It rained the first two days, so on day two Andy and Nick went fishing, and returned late afternoon. Following advice from the friendly townspeople and other fishermen, they had finally found a hole where Nick caught his first fish. He brought it back for Madison and gave it to her. He had promised her a fish for her birthday (11 yrs) and here it was--ready to be cleaned. Andy helped her clean the fish, then Nick and Victoria cooked it and the kids ate it. It was very tasty!

On the last day everyone hiked up to the ice caves, except Timmy (4) and I. We headed back home early with the packed up truck. The rest of the family all came home, well-spent, late that afernoon. Everyone slept like a rock that night!

Victoria and Kathleen were still in vacation mode this afternoon. I had seen them starting to put up a tent. Later I walked out and there they were....set up under a mosquito netting tent with a camping table, with attached benches on which they were sitting, enjoying their juice drinks and a visit.

Tonight the lure of the midway carnival rides, at the state fair, took them to town. Kathleen scanned the schedule earlier and decided the first thing on the agenda was the pot-belly pig race. The children were excited and looked forward to the rides and the carnie games.

Life is good.