The making of a boat landing...

After talking about making a boat landing on our property for

 the past summer, it took just a couple of hours to actually make it a reality...

 

BEFORE:

 

 

AFTER:

 

 

 

And all the work, in between:

 

Riding out to the work site.

Hmm, which trees need to come down?



Trail made last year along the lake.



Dan started the cutting...

then Joe took over.

The littlest "helpers".

Hauling the wood out.  We put Matt's truck to work, too!



Dragging brush out of the woods.

The last of the brush going on the burn pile.

 Next up...moving dirt and bringing in fill.  Stay tuned!

Kitty Cat Lovin'

(This post is for you, Stephen.)

 

Notice he can only manage to get the cat butt-side up!

Photo Dump

Because August was kind a  blur for me this year, I recently discovered a bunch of pictures that definitely need to be posted but they're rather old news now.  Since this place is all about the memories of life at the lake, I'm photo dumping in this post.  So here goes...

Our budding naturalist...out to save the baby oak trees that were popping
up everywhere this summer.

Part of the NO MOW zone because we
MUST SAVE the little oak trees!!!

Threw my foot in this pic so we can compare size in the future.
We're calling this a "teen" oak since it was
bigger than the rest.

(Flower pics are all courtesy of Clare. Can you spot yet another oak tree?)

Miss Nonnie with the same pair of glasses for over 9 months.
(We all deserve a big pat on the back for this great feat.)

I'm calling this pic... "Girl with Attitude"

It was August so I had to take a few garden pics.

 

Therese discovered baby rabbits under one of my tomato plants.

 

They were a huge hit until they got big enough to jump out of the
garden box.

Now here's a happy camper!!!



Hot chocolate every morning....that was their plan.

Lots of misty mornings on the lake.  August was COLD this year.

 

More of Clare's photography...

This one is a weed that grew under the bird feeder.  Pretty!

Girl's Only afternoon tea.

Marianna's taunting the boys.

Homemade cat house.  Poor cat wasn't even willing to use it.
(Don't tell the boys...they were so proud
 of their handiwork.)

Clare made a birthday cake for the Blessed Mother's birthday.

Birdbath saw more action from Francis than the birds this summer.

Woohoo!! Johnny tamed our super wild cat.

Oh yeah, we actually did a little school in August, too.

Mama to 4 yo:  Where's your knee? 
(4 yo points to knee.)
How about your shoulder?
(4 yo points to shoulder.)
Where's your elbow?
(Yep. She got that one, too!)
10 yo to 4 yo:  Where's your digestive system?
(Huh?!)

School Shopping 2014

 

It was ridiculous how thrilled the kids were with new socks and underwear.

 

But this is the same bunch of kids that equates garage sales with Christmas.

 

Go figure!