Our Cabin and Hearts Were Full

During the second week of August, we gathered with Don's kids and grandkids at the lake. This year, Rachel and Omar, as well as Reid, Emily, Sophia, and Omarcito joined us. (Matt stayed behind in Florida.) 

It was a full house, er, cabin. Rachel, Abby, and I roomed together downstairs, and Omar, Emily, Omarcito, and Reid were upstairs. Don had a tent in the backyard, and Sarah and Sophia had theirs in the front...until the wind blew it in the second day and we frantically moved it around back. 

Rachel made an epic road trip out of the occasion. After leaving her job, she departed Tampa on the first of August, swung by New York City for some Broadway shows, and arrived at our home in Massachusetts on Thursday the 4th. Don had left for the cabin that morning, and Sarah and I rode up with her in the afternoon.

Everyone else flew to Burlington on Saturday, with Don and Rachel providing shuttle service to the cabin. 

As usual, Don was the master planner, chief cook, and fishing guide. The man's amazing.

Not only that, he organized some friendly week-long competitions: for biggest bass, walleye, northern pike, and, not to neglect the non-angler (me), toad.  Cash pots ranged from $5 to $8 depending on who was "in" each category.

It was hot and humid the first two days. Neighbor Dave kindly took the kids tubing Sunday. The girls loved it, but the waves conspired against Omarcito. He went head-first into the water right at the start and was done. Momentarily dejected, he perked up when Dave asked if he wanted to drive the boat.

Though the rest of the week was cooler, we swam most days, and Omarcito paddled the kayak, (with propulsion provided by Omar). Don, Omar, and Reid took the kids to the Underwater Beach one afternoon while Rachel, Emily, and I went to South Hero. We stopped at Hackett's Orchard and Allenholm Farm, where I had my first (but not last!) brain freeze--a cider slushee/maple creemee combo--and Rachel and Emily had tiny maple creemees. We then drove through the birdhouse forest on to Snow Farm Winery for a tasting, courtesy of Rachel.

We took a road trip to Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge mid-week. Emily and Rachel searched the map in the visitor center for the refuges where they'd grown up. Emily mentioned to the volunteer behind the desk that her dad used to work for the Refuge System, and the woman insisted on calling the refuge manager out to meet Don. Turned out, he had been in one of the classes Don taught at the national training center. Sarah watched as they chatted, pleased to see how "famous" her dad was.

We walked the Discovery Trail then headed home after a stop at Devyn's Creemee.

Friday afternoon, Reid, Rachel, and Emily went to Kraemer & Kin brewery, and Don and I took the kids fishing for sunnies. It was chilly, but the boat was jumping!

It seemed there was nearly always a board game being played, with perennial favorites Yahtzee, Skip-Bo, and Clue supplemented by newer arrival Sequence and choices Rachel brought from her collection: That's Not Lemonade and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. 

One big Yahtzee game included six Yahtzees. Omarcito won it with two Yahtzees and 415 points. The night after everyone but Rachel left, the four of us played, and I got three Yahtzees and 466 points, a personal record.

There was volleyball and also a few badminton matches when the wind allowed.

Fishing was a priority, of course, with daily trips both early morning and after dinner. There were lots of memorable catches.

Fish cleaning proved equally entertaining, and somewhat horrifying.

Thursday night, we had a beer-batter, deep-fried fish fry.

Saturday morning, Don awarded the winners in the four contests:

• Biggest smallmouth bass: Reid at 19.5" (about 3.5 lbs.)
• Biggest walleye: Omarcito at 21.5" (about 3 lbs.)
• Biggest northern pike: Rachel at 19" (tiny; they weren't biting)
• Biggest toad: Lauri at 0.9 oz., squeaking by Sophia's 0.8 oz.

To say Omarcito was pleased with his victory would be an understatement.

Following a family portrait, Rachel drove Reid to the airport for a 2:30 departure. Don dropped off the Rodriguezes later, for their 5:00 flight. While Reid got home without a hiccup, the Rodriguezes' flight was delayed repeatedly, finally taking off at 11:15pm. They arrived home at 3:45am, after driving from Chicago...an unfortunate way to end such a wonderful week.

On Sunday morning, Rachel left for the White Mountains and Acadia National Park. She continued into Canada and on to Montreal, then down to Lake Placid, back to New York City for more Broadway, and home to Florida via the Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville, North Carolina. 

We parted with precious memories and dreams of doing it all again. We have so little time together, and we're blessed to have such a beautiful place to spend it.