VACATION WEEK FAVES

 

I'm writing this on a rainy Thursday morning on a lake in Plymouth MA, since Dave and I are on our anniversary vacation.  I'll probably finish it early tomorrow morning in time to link up with other grateful bloggers who share five fave blessings from the past week at Susanne's site. 

Zoom in and see that my father in law has 
"gone fishing" 
his favorite pastime. 

A bouquet of flowers
from the company Dave works for

• FAMILY TIME:  Between the wake, funeral, and luncheon for my father-in-law (Warren) on Sunday and Monday, and some hotel breakfasts and dinners, we had a lot of family time this past week.  All  7 of Warren's grandchildren were at the funeral and all 4 kids and spouses of course were there, along with his cousin and his family, and 3 of my husband's older cousins plus 2 spouses. And of course we met many town folk, fellow church members from his life long church, and former electronics students. The grandchildren came from NM, NY, NH, MA, Canada, and Scotland. The cousins came from NH, MA,  and Maine. Dave's sister came from CA and his youngest sis and her hubby from NH.  Dave and I of course from NY and his brother and wife live in the same town that my mother in law lives in so we all gathered after the luncheon at Peter's home.  His oldest sis was in charge of the wakes, Dave arranged and ran the funeral (and our daughters read the Scriptures) and Dave's youngest sis was in charge of getting the luncheon catered. I'm thankful everything went well and that my mother-in-law was peaceful with all the chaos going on around her. 

our youngest (Claire) and her Aunt Kathy
having fun after the luncheon

left: our oldest girl (Courtney)
and on the right: her cousin Hanna
(everyone was still in their funeral clothes)  

Hanna sailing on Long Pond in Plymouth

hanging around the fire pit at the hotel 

Courtney decides the funeral dress is comfy

Sunset over Lake Nippinicket
aka the Nip at our hotel 

Relaxing in casual clothes again!

• RELAXING!  Monday afternoon, many of us gathered at Dave's brother's house in town for games and fellowship. We ended up ordering Thai food the night before and ate it in our hotel dining room with the gang so that evening, because of the luncheon, we had leftovers back at the hotel around 8: 30 pm.  But before then, we played corn hole, went for walks,  got caught up on the news from our nieces and nephew, and just relaxed. Claire had to leave for NY by 5 pm to get  back to her apartment and kitty in NY and Courtney had the evening with us at our hotel. She was  heading back to NY the next morning so we spent some time around the outdoor fire pit reading and talking. Later that night, we watched a  British detective show on PBS.  We were exhausted but thankful the stress of the funeral was behind us and we could relax with some of the extended family. And there was a gorgeous sunset that night, too! 

A view of our living/kitchen/dining area
image courtesy of the Resid*nce Inn 

Valhalla aka La Petite Chateau
Long Pond, Plymouth

• ANNIVERSARY VACATION!  Dave's older brother owns a very small camp in a private community of Long Pond which is right outside Plymouth MA. Our niece from Scotland was staying there with their daughter and her new husband during the funeral days but once they all left on Wed morning, the cottage became ours for our anniversary vacation. They are not allowed to charge rent or rent the camp out per community rules, but they can have family stay.  This was a photo from the boat launch that is open to the public of the camp.  The sailboat and kayaks you see are from our beach house days.  When the beach house was sold, Peter and Kathy acquired the boats.  Dave and I are so thankful for this free stay on a quiet, beautiful lake.  (in MA they call almost all lakes "ponds" even though it's bigger than some of the lakes in the mountains of NY). 

My sitting area
after a quick swim late Wed afternoon

The deck area 

Dave relaxes on the bed 
in the one room (plus a bathroom) Camp

Kitchen/Dining area as seen from the wall of windows

"living area" with a futon that can be a bed if needed
it faces the wall of windows and overlooks the lake

• OCEAN DAY!  Thursday was a day to fully embrace as ours. We had no obligations and no extended family coming down to the camp. Wednesday night a huge thunderstorm blew through and broke the high humidity for a while. Dawn was cloudy and drizzly but by 9 the sun was out and the skies were perfectly blue so we dressed in casual clothes and took off for the Cape Cod Canal trail (a paved path for bikers, walkers, joggers, roller bladers) which runs for quite a ways. We picked it up at the Sagamore Bridge (for those of you familiar with Cape Cod and the 2 bridges to cross over the canal) and walked 2.5 miles to the Atlantic Ocean/Scusset Beach. We hadn't been to that beach since our youngest was 6!! It was sunny and warm but we had water and took a rest stop at a bench.  We met some interesting people who bought their RV from the city we live in! They were on vacation and live in central MA. Dave and I walked to the ocean, I snapped some pics, we rested on the rocks and then walked the 2.5 miles back. Amazingly, I had no headache and no upper back pain or neck tightness.  My back was stiff that evening but the headaches have stayed away for part of the week so I'm thankful for that. After the walk, it was about 1:30 so we needed lunch. We went to this place for amazing fish and chips for me (with coleslaw that was delicious!) and scallops for Dave. We then did some grocery shopping for Friday evening's dinner and then stopped at a soft serve place in the town where the beach house used to be. Once we were back at the camp, we crashed...I plopped on the deck with a book  after a quick dip in the lake and Dave took a nap on the bed. I'm so thankful my pain level was at a 1 and that we had this entire day to ourselves. 

The Sagamore Bridge that goes from mainland to the Cape
We parked here. 

Sails on the Cape Cod Canal
heading to open waters

Cape Cod Canal Bike Trail
(and walking, running, roller blading)

sea roses along the sand dunes

the path through the dunes 
leading to Scusset Beach/The Atlantic

Scusset Beach about 11:45 AM
And the Atlantic Ocean......BEAUTIFUL!! 

• PEACE:  I'm thankful for peace that pervades our bodies, minds, and spirits when we just sit and are still. One with nature and God the Creator of this beautiful nature.  The song of the birds in the early morning, the quack of the ducks as they make their way across the lake, the breeze in the morning sunshine, the splash of the comorants as they dive for fish, the quiet talks Dave and I have had wihle traveling or sitting on the dock, or in the cottage, the crunch of the fried fish and the salt of the fries, the sweet tang of the icy cold ice cream we found at a soft serve place with amazing  flavors, the lapping of the waves both at the lake and on the ocean.  All of these things are possible because of our Lord. Being still is something I will always incorporate into my day. No matter where I am. 

Long Pond
Plymouth, MA
7: 15 AM today

That sums up our week and the things I'm most thankful for. 

I hope you all have a marvelous weekend...I know in NYS many of the high schools are graduating tonight and tomorrow and summer is off to a great start!