The Lake is Calm

Tonight as I sit on the porch the lake is calm, it has been calm all day.  Really the first day the wind has been calm since we came.  I can see the loons out on the lake, even though they are far away you can spot them.  I wish they would begin their night call, it is so etherial, makes me feel like I am in the wilderness...


We have had a great week, the kids have all come and gone and we are alone.  We are usually surrounded with family here, so being here alone is a strange feeling.  Our last day is tomorrow, I really don't want to go home,  this place is so relaxing, peaceful. 


The big project this week, besides sewing was painting the back porch.  the kids all pitched in with the scrapping and priming and John and I painted.

Sky blue ceiling, porch ceiling's should always be sky blue, right!!!

All back together and clean and fresh.


Have a great weekend.


Cindy

Life is good today

  We have had our fill of pizza and beer and are sitting on the porch, watching the sun set and feeling the breeze on our faces.  It has been a fun week.  Most of the kids are leaving tomorrow, we (my husband and I ) still have a week to go.  It is amazing what a week at the lake does for ones soul, calming, relaxing.


Here are some of the highlights.

The blocks are coming along, will work more on them next week.

Today was the parade for the 60th anniversary of the Caroga Lake Fire Department.

We had fun watching all the fire trucks and enjoyed the candy that was thrown.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Cindy

VACATION!!

Since the early 1930's my husband's family has owned a cottage (camp) on a small lake in the Adirondacks.  I started coming here when we were dating and we have come here every year since, that is about 36 years...oh makes me sound old!  Our children have grown up coming here and love it here.  It is the highlight of our summer.  As the kids have gotten older they are rarely here all together.  This summer is no exception.  But, we do have three out of four of the kids and their spouses and our granddaughter coming.  


My husband and I are here for two weeks, it has been many years since we have been able to do that.  The kids will come and go.


We become porch potatoes with this as our view, the breeze in our faces.  I think I become mesmerized by the beauty of the lake.  

The sunsets are fantastic, watching the sun sink behind the hills, listening to the voices across the lake, as the breeze dies down, and day drifts to evening.

My husband and I came by ourselves yesterday,  first time in about 30 years...  Our car was packed to the gills, he even asked me if we were moving.  I brought my sewing machine and the fabric for Baby E's (#2 grandchild) quilt and bedding.

The fabrics.

I knew there was an iron and ironing board out here just was not sure what kind of shape they were in.  The iron is basic and works great, and the ironing board is just that a wooden board.  with padding and a cover.  Vintage to say the least!  

I wonder if the National Washboard Company is still around?  I have a washboard hanging in my laundry room at home made by them.

My work space for the next two weeks is the back porch.  When it is not filled with people eating.

More posts from VaCa land coming... this is a picture I took last year very early in the morning.  The water was so calm, like glass.

Relaxing,

Cindy

Dress the Nest: Rachel's Nest and Bird Themed Shower

 Hi! It's Sarah, here. And I'm back to share a little bit of my sister, Rachel's baby shower with you. A few Saturday's ago we celebrated her and her little baby-bump with a shower we called: "Dress the Nest." I used all found materials to create the decor: cardboard, scraps of fabric, left over binding tape, paint chip samples and more. The only thing I purchased were the fresh flowers, which came straight from the grocery store and were very reasonably priced.
Here'a a look at the invite:

I've blocked out the address so you all don't show up at her front door:-P

Here's a look at my parents house, all decked out:

These letters are cut out from cardboard: dressed up with yard, fabric and mod podge and paint. 

The mantel with the bunting from scraps and left over binding tape. 

These little birds were cut from paint chip samples, free from the local home store. To make the template I used the bird graphic from the invite and just increased the size, printed it and made a tracing template.

The buffet centerpiece.

I put the book pages in the centerpiece to echo the library/book theme that was also a part of Rachel's shower. In the invitation we asked guests to bring their favorite children's book as a gift to Rachel, to help her build her children's book collection. We had a separate table set aside for the books:

I cut about thirty little birds and scattered them throughout the house in different places. It created a nice affect and solidified the whole theme.

The guests of honor.

Fresh flowers are a MUST for any party! These flowers came from the grocery store. I selected colors that fit the 'yellow and gray' palate. 

The shower started at 10am and we served brunch. Here are a few of the items we served that corresponded with the theme:

Bacon Egg Nests

Cupcake Nests. 

My beautiful sister and her beautiful belly.

Sophia, loving her baby and waiting for her baby cousin!

Helping Auntie Rachel open presents.

Breaking in the bathtub for her cousin.

If you interested in more details about this low-budget decor be sure to email us your questions or post them in the comments.

--Sarah