Lake Ripley

This is the ninth year that I have come up to this cabin in northwest Wisconsin. My in-laws came here on their honeymoon. About five years later, they vacationed here with their first children. It has since become a tradition that their family comes up every year. And every year this family has expanded. From this young couple in love forty-five years until now-- there will be forty-five visitors from the growth of their family. Nine of their eleven children, eight married, and 26 of their grandchildren will catch the frogs, sunfish and snails. The lake will be toured, again. The skis will be skiid, the tubes tubed, the Masses attended, the grills grilled upon. We no longer fit in one cabin- not for a long time. We no longer can fit on the same week, either. We have spread to three weeks, hopefully overlapping a bit here and there. Ultimately, one cabin will be rented twice, and two others once. There will also be an RV (benefits come to renting the same place for so long- they really let us pack ourselves in and bring our dogs, etc).

We are currently on day 3 of our week. My mother and oldest brother are here until tomorrow. My dad was supposed to come, but alas, he has managed to evade yet another vacation. Please pray for him. Tomorrow, my mother's and brother's vacancies will be filled by my husband's parents and one of his brothers. Then, on Friday, my husband's oldest brother, wife, and eight children will arrive. We'll enjoy some cousin fun, fish, fireworks (probably) and then head home Saturday morning for some R&R before the week begins again.

The week is rather predictable: arrive Saturday late morning. In that half-day we (meaning the kids) try to fit an entire week's worth of activity that has been anticipated for a year. They quickly "help" unpack and rush off to the dock to check out the sunnies (panfish). Then rush to the frog pond and scope out later catches. Then they throw on their suits and vests (if you can catch them) and jump into the water. Later, we put the boat in and do a tour of the lake: what's new, what's old, what's falling apart, what's for sale, etc. The adults try to catch sight of the bald eagles that live here.

Sunday is a long drive to Mass (this is not a diocese friendly to the TLM). We get a coffee and cookies and eat our bag lunch. Then back to the cabin for more fishing and swimming. Each year seems to have it's target activity. This year, it's fishing. I think it has to do with grandpa's newfound interest in bass fishing (the grandpa who decided not to come). As of this morning (Monday), 150 worms have been sacrificed the the sunnies. This means there have been close to 450 casts of fishing lines. Maybe we'll go out further in the lake to try and catch something other than these little popcorn eaters.

My brother will actually head home tonight. He's big into geocaching, and learned that there's one hidden by the cemetery up the road. So they're doing that now while my mom takes a nap in her room, and the baby B takes one in mine.

Today is a perfect day. A lazy afternoon with enough clouds to dilute the sun's power, and enough breeze to keep the bugs at bay.

I hope and pray that everyone gets a chance to capture summer in their own way. It helps us get through the winter. And the homeschool year. and... and .... and...

I hope to post some pictures after we get home this Saturday.