I just read my last post where I was musing whether or not my "pains" would go away if I stopped weeding. That actually worked. But the trade off is a damned jungle of a garden -- outta control with weeds -- and I guess I have to buck up or lose everything!
We have been staying at the cottage for the last month or so, and it has been wonderful. Despite the fact that I had to return here every day to deal with dogs and chickens and gardens, it was worth it every night I sat on the porch or dock and watched the sun set and then listened to the lapping of the water as the community settled itself to sleep and eventually complete silence ensued, with only the occasional cry of a loon to be heard. Both evenings and early mornings became my favorite. To wake up to a lake that was as smooth as glass was a treat, and Charlie and I would climb into the boat and jet to Sunapee Harbor for an iced coffee or breakfast. Our first morning home, we have to adjust to the sounds of inland living! No water! No boats roaring this way and that. Instead some giant truck was going down the hill and it sounded like a jet engine. I set bolt upright in bed, wondering if the world was coming to an end. I always thought this place was so quiet, but it's actually not. Lots of traffic on our road it seems. I don't like it.
Blodgett's Landing has been a part of my story since I was a young adult. It is where Peter and I came together, where our romance took root in a series of small cottages, as he would move out of his winter rental to move in with his parents on the lake. Oh, how I hated it when he did that! He became a slave to the dinner bell and our easy going routine would be harshly disrupted by his "I have to go home for dinner." Oh, I could write a novel on the dinner wars. Perhaps I will. Or not! I just spent the last week at the cottage preparing a slew of dinners to freeze for his parents, who have had health issues keep them from getting to the lake before this weekend. My biggest complaint has always been that when we would actually get to the lake, we would be on the dock, enjoying the sun and water, and we would have to go up to the porch at six thirty for dinner, which would then mean the best time of the evening would be spent on a tiny porch with many bodies, with the awning down to block out the sun. It drove me bonkers. I do, however, find it interesting that I did that this past weekend, with me being the architect of the design. I prepared the meals in the morning, losing my coveted time of enjoying the glass lake, etc. to chopping and stirring. Then later, back in the kitchen at my favorite time of evening to get dinner out to the table, for, you guessed it, a six thirty seating! What made it all tolerable was that I had spent the weeks prior to that enjoying the things that I like to do. It's kind of funny to realize that it wasn't the meals, or the time of the meals, or anything to do with the meals I had a problem with. I just wanted to see the sun set. I do love sunsets. I could sacrifice one or two because I had been gorging on them prior to it.
But I digress. Over the years we have returned to Blodgett's Landing for months at a time whenever we had something big happening to our "inland" home! But the last time we lived there for any significant amount of time was when Charlie was three. He is sixteen. It has been a long time, and over the years I have been convincing myself that I am okay with that, and that now the kids are older, I don't really have any reason to go there at all. They certainly don't need to be watched while they swim, and they can drive themselves over! I just assumed that other than visiting with Peter's parents, my connection to the cottage and the Landing itself would sort of die a natural death. But this past July at the lake has been so relaxing for us all. It is closer to both Maddie and Charlie's jobs, and even Peter, who does so love his own bed, realized that it's kind of nice to come home after a long, hard day at work and take a swim and maybe even a boat ride. He even commented that he thinks he would live longer if we lived at the lake. What I liked the most was that he was free of TV. He will get home and sit in front of that thing until he goes to bed. Hey, I watch TV too, but only late at night, only taped shows and not to become a couch zombie. His complaint is that while he is watching that, I am on the computer. True, that, but we don't watch ANY of the same shows, so why stop what I am doing to go sit near him and try to socialize while he stares at it. It's a problem, a problem I have pointed out before, but it was completely a non-issue as there really is no TV at the lake (there is, but it's old and there are no comfortable chairs to sit in while watching it) and so we would relax when he came home, together on the dock. It was nice. I will miss it. I can already feel my stomach clenching at the thought of him returning to the living room to while away his few hours before bedtime. But perhaps he has learned that there are other ways to relax, which would be nice.
It wasn't hard to return home last night because there are too many people there. What is an idyllic get-away for a family of four is way too small for eight plus people. Yesterday morning I thought I was going to burst because I couldn't find an open bathroom for over ten minutes!
The one good thing about being home was that I was actually able to sleep in. I am a bit sleep-deprived, for no other reason than I wanted long days I guess, and hopped out of bed bright and early to eke out every single hour I could! But this morning I just felt like I didn't ever have to get up. Which is good! Hard to sleep in at the cottage when you can hear people outside doing things and all you can wonder is, what am I missing? But here I am missing weeding and cleaning out the chicken coop -- I think I can prolong that!
I also haven't had an writing opportunities as I only have an iPad with me when I leave my inland house! So this feels gooooooood and while I could write until dusk, it is apparent my thoughts are scattered and so I should stop and put them together a bit before rambling on more!
Things I would like to go into depth:
The Landing and its significant impact on my life. The way being in a small community can be both charming and irritating!
The cottage and what it has meant to myself and my family. Dealing with other family members.
And more, I am sure!
No comments:
Post a Comment