cottage report

We didn't see any wolves, but no one fell through the ice...so all in all, it was a good weekend at the cottage.

It was 5-year-old Brittany's first time visiting the cottage in winter, and she was great. Super-enthusiastic, unafraid, willing to try anything. We had great ice conditions for crossing the lake on Saturday, with a top layer of snow that was firm but not icy; it only took us 30 minutes to get across.

I opted to use snowshoes, which I've started to prefer over cross-country skis. I like the solid footing, the fact that you can feel more of the frozen lake beneath your feet with each stride.




Ginny had to carry Jamie (her small terrier) part of the way across because his legs were too short; he kept sinking into the snow and getting frustrated. Poor little guy.

Once we got to the cottage, the others shovelled snow and opened up the sleeping cabins while I played with Brittany (who had been very patient during the sled ride across but was obviously anxious to start PLAYING :-)). She and I explored the forest, built snow forts, made snow angels, investigated interesting animal tracks. It's amazing how much more you notice about your surroundings when you're with a young child.



Dinner that night was meatballs with gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetables. We decided to just soak everything and leave the cleaning up until the morning, after breakfast. One of the challenges of winter cottaging is the cleaning up...there's no hot water easily available; lake water (or snow, if you don't have access to any water) has to be heated up over a stove.

If we got to the cottage and found that we had no power (sometimes a bad storm will kill the power lines), we would have had to make the decision whether or not to stay. Most of the cabins are insulated, and Jeff's dad's cabin has a particularly good wood stove. With a young child around, however, we'd probably have opted to go back.

I crashed first on Saturday night, around 8:30 pm (!). Ginny, Jeff -and- Brittany opted to take a sauna and then jump in the snow, the brave souls. :-) I was fast asleep by the time Jeff finally came to bed.




After breakfast and packing up yesterday morning, we finally set off. Brittany was obviously highly reluctant to leave; she was having too much fun.

It had snowed during the night, and small drifts had piled up on the frozen lake, making walking somewhat more difficult. I led the way back to break the trail on snowshoes, hopefully make it easier for the others.

I love the lake in winter. There's a certain wild beauty that isn't there during the warmer months, and it's definitely more quiet (most of the sane cottagers and campers stay home :-)).




When we set off yesterday, the sky was a brilliant blue, the sun reflecting off the snow and ice in dazzling whites; I was grateful for my sunglasses. The snow had drifted in small wave-like ripples across the lake. It was almost as if the winter had caught the lake during a breezy day, freezing it in time.

I could feel the snow crunching beneath my snowshoes with every step, my breath going in and out in small warm puffs, back and leg muscles pleasantly sore from outdoor antics with Brittany and shovelling snow the day before. But most of all, I was looking around me, soaking in the desolate beauty of the frozen lake, the sunlight glittering off the ice and snow.

And suddenly I found myself starting to cry. Great, I told myself. Your cheeks are going to freeze now. But I left the frozen tears on my face, happy-stupid tears, and trekked the rest of the way back to the Portage Store parking lot with the others.

I think I've left a tiny part of myself behind in all that snow and ice. But that's okay...I know I'll be back again eventually to collect it. :-)




Links/Updates:

According to this spam study, it takes about eight hours between posting an e-mail address online to when that address starts receiving spam.

Wired has article about weblogs after National Public Radio (NPR) ran a 3-minute piece on blogging.

---

Today's Blatherpic:

	Brittany waits patiently in the sled as the adults get ready for the trek across the lake. The marks on her face are from a facepainting session at the supermarket in Huntsville where we bought supplies.
	Brittany tries pulling Jeff's sled instead of riding on it. Note Jamie (my mom-in-law's terrier) sitting alertly at the front of the sled, urging her on.
	Me, after peeling off some of my zillion layers, about to get into the car for the trip back home.
	Brittany helps get water from the hole Jeff chopped in the ice. All drinking, cooking, and cleaning water will be taken from this hole.
	Jeff reads a picture book to Brittany by the fireplace in his father's cabin after she changes into her flannel pajamas.
	My snowshoes.