lake life 2018

We are home again from a week at the lake. Immediately back to reality, which carried on without us, glad to have home to come home to, but clutching memories of 'home' in the wild.

This year, the trip almost didn't happen (we are add-ons to the growing family that owns that cabin) and we are so deeply grateful, never taking for granted the gift of the time, place, and tradition that this trip holds for all of us. (Here is last year's post. And one from 2016.) This place holds so many memories, so much growth made visible each year, and I am seeing more and more, a sense of place. ownership, and predictability for the kids (and me).

While the kids have gone fishing before, Brown Mouse caught his first real fish this year. Doing so was a powerful learning experience, unexpected and emotional. Both kids were deeply upset by it. Brown Mouse desperately wanted to bring a fish back to Grandma at the cabin, but was horrified at actually killing, cleaning, and carrying a fish, and Lala Bug was deeply upset at the inhumanity of harming an animal. We released the fish and, as the kids are not vegan or vegetarian, this prompted deep discussions. 

This year we were later in the summer than the past two years, so no wildflowers. It was incredibly dry due to lower than normal snow pack last winter, as well. We had M with us the entire week, the first time in a few years, which was such a gift to all of us.

 

We hiked a tremendous amount this year, exploring two new-to-the-kids lakes. This, of course, gave M and me the chance to share more stories and memories of these beautiful places.

 

 

Some of us snuck in some reading time, too. The kids blew through enough books that they both started in on Kindles. Kindles in hand, Lala Bug read at least two books from the Five Little Peppers series and Brown Mouse read several books from the Math Inspectors series. 

I finished How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott Sampson while enjoying this view (below), a gluten free beer, and leftover homemade (by my brother) enchilada casserole with a pile of tomatoes and guacamole. Perfect. And this really was the perfect setting in which to finish that book. It was such validation that M and I are raising wild children; children who know where they fit in, in nature, the importance of it, the appeal of it, how to care for it, and how to learn from it. We have children who seek it out.

 

The lake was so low this year, these two were able to wade from one swim rock to the other (to take photos of something...an Osprey?) And below, such competent paddlers now, more confident having practiced capsizing. There is something so special about watching your children and your parents paddle off, enjoying being active together.

 

And with that, the summer season swings closed and I reluctantly turn toward all that comes next.