From the North Woods

"Her house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking, best, or a pleasant mixture of them all."

This is what I get to do all week. Sit by the lake, watch the cottonwood trees blow in the wind and figure out a way to spend more time here in the summer. We're in Steve's hometown, Alexandria, MN. It's the quaintest little town I've ever visited. I'd rather come here than anywhere for vacation. There's something like 400 lakes in this little town. And the cutest antique shops ever. Steve's mom is spoiling us with wonderful food and lots of knitting tutorials. Which I seem to desperately need. I've restarted Taylor's beanie 4 times. Or is it five?

I spent a little time at Steve's childhood home (where sister Julie now lives) and her house is full of wonderful priceless treasures. A virtual antique store in its' own right.

(Cousin) Daniel, Steve, and Emme were concentrating on something yesterday.....

and so were Grandpa, Josh, (brother) Jeff and Elea......

....a little remote control boat.....that kept getting tangled in the weeds......

Aren't the simple pleasures always the best?

Stay tuned for more vacation fun. Wonder if I could talk the retired Naval policeman whose house sitting for me to blog for me too? Maybe that'd be too much to ask.

Special message to my blog readers:
I'm so thankful that you meet me in this 'space'. I'm so grateful that so many of you have taken the time to introduce yourselves and become friends. And so often when I visit your blogs, I find that you support the writing and the projects here by linking to them and sharing them with your friends. I'm always so amazed and humbled by that. We are friends, you and I, and I want you to know that I notice and appreciate your kindness. You are some of the most amazing and talented people in the world and I feel privileged to know you.

I thought it'd be fun (and I'm flat out copying Emily at ChattingattheSKy) if you'd tell us all where you're reading from. Just city and state or just state if you'd like. And if you're not a blogger and you've never 'registered' to comment, it's not hard at all. Just type a comment and then it will ask you to sign up with blogger. (This does not mean you have to sign up to write a blog, you'll just have a sign in name and password). Take the time to do it because I know there have been times you wanted to comment. So sign up with blogger and then leave a comment about you're from. It'll be fun. It will.