Welcome to the weekend at the cottage! Here are a few things that have been happening around here lately. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, or maybe treat yourself to a hot chocolate or a glass of wine (it’s five o’clock somewhere!), and settle in for some reading and browsing.
My September Beach Getaway
The past summer was one of those summers, by which I mean there was so much going on that I didn’t get to the beach once. I love being by the water, sitting in a comfy chair on the sand, in the shade of a big umbrella, with the gentle murmur of the waves the soundtrack for the book I’m reading.
Early last spring, when I booked my time at the cottage, I had to work around some other plans for late summer and early September (little did I know at that time that I’d be moving in late August!), so I chose a week in the middle of the month. That was risky, because although there’s no guarantee of perfect weather any time, September can be either beautiful or miserable, if my past experience is anything to go by. Having spent one week in September several years ago shivering and huddling by the fireplace while rain lashed at the windows, I was wary. To my good fortune, this past week turned out to be perhaps the most glorious I’ve ever spent in this special place.
I’ll let the photos and their captions speak for themselves, but I will say that I arrived tired and worn down, and departed this morning feeling more relaxed and refreshed than I have in months. The first five nights there I slept a solid 10 hours; that, coupled with hours of reading on the beach and crocheting on the deck, was the best tonic I can think of.
I’m so very grateful to be able to spend time each year in this special place.
Welcome to the Beach
Walks and Sandcastles
Food at the Beach
Water and Sky
Ah, Relaxation
Recap
Those muffins I made at the beach? They’re my oat bran banana muffins. It’s an old favourite recipe, and I urge you to check it out if you missed it earlier. I measured out the dry ingredients, plus the sugar separately and packed that with the pantry items I was taking. Then I just had to buy the wet ingredients when I shopped in the local town and, voilà, I was able to bake these muffins one morning.
And, can I just say that the tea towel is absolutely right?!
You look wonderful Marlene. Sounds like you had the perfect R&R.
Thanks, Susan — nothing like a big hat and a pair of dark glasses!
C’relaxed, refreshed, renewed.’ Oh, how I could do with some of that.
Now I just have to see how long it all lasts!
love your towel and all the nice beach picture that is a lovely place…..
It’s lovely, indeed.
Depending upon the view, some of your beach photo could easily be mistaken for “our side” of the lake. I’ll miss going there more frequently and hope that I can get back there one more time this year. Zia’s house may be sold over the winter and I doubt I’ll get be able to go back. When I did get there last month, I pre-measured and mixed the dry ingredients for a cherry pie. It was so much easier than scurrying around trying to find ingredients in that area. The nearest semi-equipped grocery is 35 miles away!
Aren’t those Lake Huron beaches treasure, no matter which side of the lake we’re on?! I do hope you’ll find a way to continue to spend time there, despite the sad changes.
You and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to taking some pantry items for our stays at the beach. Although there’s a town with a good grocery store only about 15 minutes from where I stay, it just doesn’t have the selection I’m used to in my moderately-big (little by your standards, lol) city life. I bet you enjoyed that pie!