Thursday, September 3, 2015

At the Lake


Happy Thursday to each one of you.  Here in the U.S. we're getting ready to celebrate Labor Day weekend, which is considered to be the last hurrah of summer around here.  For me, I hope to spend lots of the next month or two at the lake since I've missed most of the summer between my pm surgery and the smoke.

Our 37th anniversary was Tuesday and as a not very nice gift, Mandy and Miss Piper left at 6:00 a.m. to fly home to D.C.   This was the little Miss waiting for her hot chocolate to cool enough to drink at the airport after we dropped her off.  Starbucks has a coconut milk hot chocolate that she loves, which is nice since she can't have any dairy.  Look at those tired eyes.  It was about 4:30 a.m. and she was a trooper.
Looking out of the airplane window.
And yesterday, home in her kitchen cooking away.  I gave her the apron while she was visiting and she's putting it to use already.  Mandy said they've had a tea party already and Piper "baked" the cookies.  The poor thing was fussy the last hour or so of the almost 6 hour flight.  Sneezing and just fussy.  She said her ears hurt at landing for the first time ever and she's flown several times.  Yesterday she woke up with a full blown cold.  Gosh, we miss her.  Last night I found Papa going through his phone just looking at her pictures. 
I went to the lake immediately after they left Tuesday morning.  I could not stand to stay in the quiet house another minute.  Everywhere I looked, I saw my girls, so I escaped.  Dennis wanted to take me to dinner somewhere nice for our anniversary but I offered to grill him a nice steak at the lake and he jumped at that.

Last night, after we ate dinner, we walked down to the community garden.  With all of my "stuff" this year, I didn't plant anything.  Barry, the man who works down there every day who is in his mid 80's was there.  He retired from the resort two years ago but still does all the gardening in a huge plot.  He sent us home with a half dozen ears of corn, a bowl of strawberries and this beautiful bouquet.

I'm holding them as I sit and wait for Dennis who had gone to the camp office for a minute.  Chloe is intently watching for her Dad who is just beyond the playground.  She wouldn't leave me though.

These were some beautiful flowers that Dennis got for me.  Simple.  Just the way I like it and purple, my favorite color.

I took these this morning before I came home.  The blue sky is back at the lake.  At the bottom is the garden I told you about.  Where you can see dirt on the right is where the potatoes were planted.  This garden usually supplies the food bank for several small towns around Loon Lake.  For some reason the potatoes had blight this year and not one potato was harvested.  Very sad for the people who worked so hard and for the people that depend on this garden for their winter food.


It is SO GOOD to see blue sky again though.  I didn't think the smoke would ever be gone.  It may come back, because the fires are still burning.  The fire closest to us here in this picture, is about 7 miles away as the crow flies.  You wouldn't know it in this picture though would you?  The wind has been from the SW and blowing the smoke away from us.

Another of the view from our trailer.

My geraniums by the front of the trailer are doing well though, even with my neglect this summer.
I came home about 1:00 this afternoon to do laundry and we have Bible study tonight.  Tomorrow I'll go back, bright and early to spend the weekend there.  We will come back to town for church on Sunday as Dennis is giving the sermon this week.  We usually do come back for church every weekend.  It's only 25 miles so not far at all.  Then I hope to go back to the lake in the afternoon for a few more days.


There is a definite chill in the air here...it was 41F this morning when we woke up.  We went from 90's last week to highs in the 60's this week.  I much prefer it this way.  I read two books and knitted on my zig zag sock yarn blanket while being cozy inside during the past two days.  I forgot to take a picture of it, but it's growing quite well. The wind was blowing and I didn't like that because of the fires, but I was cozy and warm inside my trailer.  I love it there.  It's my HaPpY place. 

Please continue to pray for the people who are threatened by these fires and for the firefighters and support people.  They are all exhausted.  I feel guilty for lazing around but I really don't know what I can do to help.  Except pray.  Military helicopters and tankers were flying back and forth over the lake while I was there so I know that they are actively engaged in fighting the fires along with our local resources
.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend
.

I have rested on this verse a lot the past few months and I hope it will give you peace too.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28



Blessings,
Betsy

11 comments:

  1. Happy anniversary to both of you! Your flowers are lovely. Purple is my favorite color too. I'm sorry you're feeling so sad about the girls going home. I know you must miss them so much. I hope you'll be able to visit with them again very soon. Have a wonderful weekend at the lake.

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  2. Piper is adorable! Your temps there sound wonderful! We have had a very hot summer here,so looking forward to cooler temps. Your lake is lovely, I see why you like it there. Happy Anniversary !

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  3. Oh dear.. sorry the girls had to go.. just remember to treasure the time they were here. I know it's hard. Piper is such a darling child. I'm glad the rain has come to help put out the fires and that your smoke is gone and you have blue skies again. Miss you! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  4. It is so good to see blue skies near you again, Betsy! The flowers you were given are absolutely beautiful! I am glad that you and Dennis had a good anniversary celebration in spite of having to say good-bye to your girls. Know that you are often in my thoughts with love and that I look forward to our next time together. xx

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  5. I think going to lake is a brilliant idea, hopefully it will help you to get used to not having the girls around for a while - must be so difficult to say goodbye to them. I know that when we visit out in-laws, who live abroad, it is very upsetting when it is time to leave, for them and for us.

    Hoping and praying that your health will continue to improve, with some sunny late summer/early autumn days to cheer you.

    And happy Anniversary - we celebrated our 27th this Feb - where do the years go?!

    Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, hope the weather is kind.

    Helenxx

    PS thanks for all your recent comments, we do watch Indycar on the internet quite regularly and sometimes NASCAR as well when we can :)

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  6. Happy anniversary, wishing you many more happy years together. Hope Piper is feeling a little better soon, sounds like you all had a wonderful time parting is never easy when they live so far away. The fires really are frightening, all the people affected are still in my prayers.

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  7. Aww little Miss Piper looks so cute in her apron. I think she was awesome to have sat for all those hours on a plane. I am glad you were able to get back to the lake, I know that is your happy place. Wishing you a lovely day and happy holiday weekend, too. Blessings to you always sweet friend.

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  8. Oh, that picture of Piper in the airport with her little tired eyes....so sweet. It's odd because I have been wanting to know about the fires and there hasn't been anything on the news about it so I assumed they were out by now. 7 miles isn't very far from you!
    I've been praying for the refugees that are fleeing Syria and such struggles they are going through. There aren't enough hours in the day to cover all the ongoing struggles in our world. Worrying or being sad about them does nothing to help them though so I pray and go on with my day and am happy in each moment. If there is anything I can personally do God has promised to let me know. Iceland has opened their hearts and their country and the Hungarian people in disagreement with their government have gone out to the refugees passing by and given them food and supplies as they walk by. There is still goodness and mercy in the hearts of many! That is prayers answered for sure!
    Enjoy your weekend at the lake and what a generous soul to give you your beautiful flowers and food and your hubby too! I still want to see your handwork! LOL! Hugs..Sam

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  9. Betsy, I know you are missing those wonderful girls of yours. I can't believe how big Piper is. She changes with every visit. Her hair is so long and her face is looking more grown up. And she looks adorable in that apron. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the lake. It is still as hot as Hades here.
    Sending you a hug,
    Meredith

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  10. Hi Betsy, I came over here via Gracie's blog. I noticed that you mentioned knitting for charity which is something I do also. I'm wondering what charities (in particular international) you knit for. Thanks! Willow

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  11. So glad you had a nice visit with your girls. I miss my grandkids when rhey leave too even tho they don't live far. Happy Anniversary to you and Dennis. We're thinking about our anniversary getaway day in Oct. Something close and a dinner. Our temps have cooled as well. Chilly ladt night and most of the day. I enjoy the blue skies as well. Continued prayers for your inproved health. Hugs my friend!!

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