Showing posts with label cottage life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cottage life. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Summer at the Lake

 Summer at the Lake

Sharing some pics of our summer at our lakehouse cottage....

Spending Time on the Water!
As always, swimming is the best way to stay cool!
Our dogs love the boat rides!! (Blankets mandatory.)
Family gatherings
 Swimming and kayaking 
 Hubby kayaking on the lake.

Enjoying campfires and food!
S'mores, of course
Fresh strawberries for dessert!

 Projects
 i made a new sign for our porch/entrance. 
Hubby is a BIG rock collector...this year he added these giant rocks as landscape around our yard lighthouse.
 Hubby built a new table for our pontoon boat!
I love how he customized the cup-holders to hold our favorite cups.
Gardening is a favorite pastime.
 Our back patio and pergola.
 Our Wisteria had lots of blooms!
 Many annuals in our baskets and pots.
 My mini-fairy garden...with a camping/fishing theme.
 My mini-flag says it all!


“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” 
Linking over to these blog parties:
Friday Linkup @ Whatever, It's All Good
Wake Up Wednesday @ Sew Crafty Angel
A Morning Cup of Joe @ The Cottage Market
Freedom Friday @ My Turn for Us
Flaunt It Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring 
Creativity Unleashed @ Shaken Together Life
Creative Collection Link Party @ Classy Clutter, and Blooming Homestead

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Thursday, August 11, 2016

Favorite Summer Activities

Hello, Cairn Cottage Friends! 
I hope you have been enjoying your summer. I can't believe that it's mid-August already! Summer seems to fly by way too fast for my liking! I know for some of you, it's back to school time for your kids already. My hubby and I were just talking about the days when our kids were in school and getting them ready and that we were glad to not have to think about that anymore, as empty-nesters. 
The heat in the Midwest has limited some of our activities, like fishing and outdoor projects. But even with the very hot and humid weather, I would prefer a few more months of this over the snow and freezing temps! 
 I definitely made due...like sitting on my air-conditioned 4-season porch and surfing the internet...
...sipping on (hot or iced) tea. I had to share this cute frog tea set that I got recently at an antique mall. Isn't he the cutest thing?
Fishing on hot, humid days required some interesting maneuvers, like floating on an air mattress while throwing a line out. But we have caught LOTS of fish this year (actually we have already beat our record for number of fish caught in a summer - over 600 bluegill, perch, bass, catfish, Northern Pike, and crappie!!!), which we have filled our freezer with for the coming year!
 I attended the local fair with my mom also, an annual activity we do together. Boy, was it ever a very hot day!!!
We saw the animals...my favorite are the llamas! :)
And there was a really cool live butterfly exhibit that allowed us to walk through a tent with many butterflies in it.

 My uncle, who is a very talented wood-carver, entered this piece in the fair and won grand champion!! Way to go, uncle Max!! 
 Our vegetable garden continues to provide many veggies for us. From my green beans (that have provided several gallon ziploc bags of beans for us to freeze for the winter)...
(Just for comparison, check out a picture of the beans back in June.)
...to my hubby's pepper and tomato plants!


 My flowers have done exceptionally well in the heat, as well!



Needless to say, summer at Cairn Cottage has been good!
I know it won't be long till Autumn will be here and it makes me sad to think summer will soon be over. I definitely am taking advantage of every hot summer day. Actually, I think I will go take a dip in the lake this afternoon! 
Hope you enjoy the rest of your summer, too!!
   Ann 
“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” 
Linking over to these blog parties:
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Inspiration Monday Party @ I Should Be Mopping the Floor
The Inspiration Board Link Party @ Homework
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Tuesdays With a Twist @  Stone Cottage Adventures 
Clever Chicks Blog Hop @ The Chicken Chick
Wake Up Wednesday @ Sew Crafty Angel
A Morning Cup of Joe @ The Cottage Market
Freedom Friday @ My Turn for Us
Flaunt It Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring 
Creativity Unleashed @ Shaken Together Life
Creative Collection Link Party @ Classy Clutter, and Blooming Homestead     
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Sunday, October 25, 2015

Fall Projects/More Autumn Pictures


Hello, Friends!!
I’m back once again with some more fall pictures. It sure seems like fall has lasted longer and later in the season and I keep finding beautiful things to take pictures of.
From gorgeous sunrises over the lake...
... to fall colors on our trees.
I love taking close-ups of the intricate nature of each leaf...


 ...Then there's the annual migration of the Coots. With cooler temps starting up, they have been feeding right out front of our cottage.

 It’s been quite a crazy few weeks here at Cairn Cottage, too. We have had to go through some difficult situations – the passing of my father-in-law, as well as getting ready to soon step down from my job at my church.
But throughout it all, we have continued to keep ourselves busy.

My mom stopped out for a visit and threw out a line. No lucky catch that day, though.
...While she enjoyed the quiet lake view, hubby and I started one of our projects.
 ... I glued the stones as hubby positioned them on top of one another.
Some of the stones had to be cut to fit.
The completed project!
 A stone bench, which has to have a wood seat attached yet, was also completed. (It will be a great spot for keeping warm by the fire pit.)
 Today, we completed part 2 of a project we actually started in July... a fence to keep our little doggies in the yard. Of course, hubby added some of his rocks for beauty and effect.
 Here is a picture of the area that he also landscaped long ago with more of his rocks.
...As the sun set this evening, we saw the moonrise. A beautiful orange glow on the autumn trees was breathtaking!!
After such beautiful weather and views, all I can say is this...

May you have a wonderful week ahead!
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