June: The month of rain!

The sun is shining finally this last evening of June, and we are basking in the glow while relaxing in the loft. We moved our homemade couch "The Lair" into the loft, and it is quite the spot to hang out. I just picked up the computer today after being repaired. Lucky for us, it was only a cable and not the hard drive so I can access the photos and add them to the blog!

The lair in the loft.

Some big projects had to take place after we moved in. One was the deck on the lakeside, which has been really only used once due to the rainy month. It is a nice to have, and we are so happy to have a spot to be that connects to the lake so closely. I guess working on the deck really got Fiona so tired she had to lie down and chill out. It must be a theme, because today Cora was sprawled out on the dock. You can see the water mat in the distance. This is a frequent stopping place for visiting ducks, and we now have binoculars to view their antics from the house.

No siding yet, but that will come later this summer.

Steps leading from the future garden to the deck.

The girls were playing pirates on the dock.

Another long awaited task was the installation of the kitchen stove, dishwasher, washer, and dryer. These were ordered at the end of May, but did not come in until last week. Mark finally got them installed this week. Our first meal using the new stove was a homemade version of hamburger helper. It was 6 pm by the time we hooked up the unit, and we were hungry! We cooked the pasta just 5 minutes, browned some burger, then threw them together with a jar of Ann's canned tomatoes and some seasoning and cooked until the noodles were tender but not mushy. I used to hate hotdish, but this tasted amazing! After a month of grilling or waffles, we have certainly appreciated our stove. We still don't know where anything is in the new cabinets, but once the upper cabinets and island counter top are installed, we will reorganize the chaos.

Look at that shiny dishwasher!

Our dining room in the afternoon light.

We also have a dryer next to our new washer. A first for us as a couple, we definitely will have a clothesline in the yard. Unlike our house in PF which was drafty enough to dry clothes year round inside even if it rained during the summer, this house is pretty tight and we will mainly use the indoor clothes drying rack during the winter when the house is dryer and the stove can aid in the drying. Just in case you are wondering, we have not used our dishwasher yet. And there is no microwave here. Some things have not changed.

About that toilet...it is flush. We do have plans to install a sawdust version in the basement, but the bathroom is plumbed for flush. Having city sewer made things easier for our decision, and we just don't have a great system yet for disposal. This will come when we focus on the garden next year. Speaking of the garden, Mark did plant 7 apple trees with hopes that some will stick around and be healthy. We will need to install a deer fence as this area is prime time deer traffic. Right now the side yard is full of wildflowers and stacks of lumber.

Our kids have still been reading as much as they can get their hands on, and they love to hang out in the new swivel chairs that sit beside the large windows with lake views. Other favorite pastimes include being in their new rooms, and for Cora at least, making her bed! We have been taking care of those small but time consuming tasks like hanging photos and hooks. Mark also made, installed, and painted a red door on the dressing room to the sauna. The ability to heat this space to 160 in just 30 minutes, be sweating within another 15 minutes, and then refresh in the very chilly lake has been a real pleasure this month!

Raif's favorite spot.

Cora and Fiona share a room which means Raif is finally in his own room!

Visitors have already been here, and we are expecting more next week. Kate Stout is a dear friend, more like a big sister to me. She came for a few days to say goodbye before embarking on an adventure of her own in Berkley, CA. We enjoyed a fun-filled day with friends Lou and Alice, their daughter Anna and her two girls. We tried to convince the girls that the lake was warm so they would join us in the water, but it didn't really work. (Maybe that is because the water was NOT warm!!)

A red door can be a symbol of a home that is a a safe stop for travelers.
We hope that this welcomes many of you in the future.

A fine catch of 5 rainbow trout enjoyed for supper tonight.

The glow of sunset signals bedtime to Fiona, and concerts for loons.

The hearth of the home which is admired now, but will be more appreciated in the winter months.

This next month brings camp for both teens. Raif heads to engineering camp for which he was awarded a full scholarship, and Cora will travel to Madison for Girl's Rock Camp with her cousin Thea. Raif continues to participate in summer ski training, and Cora has been working on a solo dance during open studio times. They both will march in the 4th of July parade with the school band. Raif with the trombone, and Cora will carry the big bass drum! Fiona does not have any organized experiences this summer. We will leave that for her future - plenty of time to be scheduled!

I am still working on my master's program - only three classes left! Mark has more projects than you can shake a stick at, and continues to work on the house as well. His parents are starting to remodel the cabin that we live in, and that will involve help from time to time. Taking time to enjoy the sun and water is important. We try to remember that even as we stay busy.