The End of Summer
The end of summer is a time for reflection on where you have been and where you are going. Summer, for me, is a time to travel north. Some would think I am escaping from the heat, the hustle, and bustle of life, and perhaps, some may even say it's because of the men working from home in my space.
The truth?
All are true in a way, but they are not the main reason I migrate north. I go because my sweet little cabin calls to me. It beckons me to come and sit among the giant pines and to enjoy the majestic views from my porch. My heart sighs with pleasure when I walk in the door for the first time. Burdens whisk away as relaxation settles in. Life is suddenly gloriously simpler.
Sitting by the firepit to get warm…without a fire. Ruru merely wants to get warm and the sun will do.
Isn’t she lovely?
This way to paradise.
My little lady boasts no tv, no technology, only a record player that takes me back to the days of Fleetwood Mac, Journey, Styx, and Simon and Garfunkel. The porch encourages me to sit and be still.
I love to share my little piece of heaven with others. Friends and family who come to visit can indulge in hiking the White Mountains, swimming in the lake, shopping, enjoying a picnic lunch by the river, or merely rest on the porch, which entices, “Come sit, relax, and find peace.”
Every year there is a project. This summer, we decided to restore the tennis court out back to its former glory. Trees had taken over the court, and if we did not do it this summer, we would have lost the window of recovery. My sisters, brother, and brother-in-laws' worked tirelessly to cut down and clear all the trees. It took hours, but we enjoyed working together as a team to ‘get r done.’ At one point, I prayed that the clouds above would open up and pour on us simply so I could take a break. When the first drops fell, I was cheering inside. My brothers and sister just kept right on moving. Hahaha! I went inside, and then guilt overtook me, so I ventured out to help finish it up. In October, Lindon, Brian, and our neighbor, Charlie Hadlock, worked hard to remove the remaining stumps with his bobcat. Next year we will finish the project. I am excited to see the final project and enjoy the flat space that cannot be found anywhere else on the property.
Sometimes a girl in the woods gets into trouble. I locked myself out one afternoon and had to break in through a back window. I broke a pane in the process. My wonderful husband replaced the pane, and all was well once again.
The summer is a time of peace and tranquility. A place to go to get away from life and be one with God, with nature and the organic me.
Our good friends the Dennis’s join us every year for the last week of summer. We have a week of fun.
Dinner with Ruru and friends
Fishing
They love to fish
The girls love to relax
Sweet Cinder-friend with a heart of gold!
Then we put the cabin to bed for the winter, and the field mice move in.
The field mice don’t like plastic. So we do!
Packing up so the field mice don’t help themselves:)
My little lady is ready for sleep. See you next summer. Sleep well.
The summer’s end is bittersweet for me. A new season. A time to return to life as usual, to the time of hurry up, get busy, get to it. Change happens, and so must I. That’s okay. Life is an ebb and flow of seasons, both still and ever-flowing. I love my Florida life with my grandchildren, my children, and my amazing hubby. When I get to enjoy both places with them — pure heaven for me. My life is blessed beyond measure to have my cake and eat it too.
