Work Hard, Play Hard

When I mentioned a to do list for the cottage we were mostly focusing on all the indoor things.  Organizing the kitchen so it was easy for renters to find (and hopefully put away) items.  Finishing the rooms so they were cozy and cute and a little more "us".  Adding artwork and finishing touches to the common rooms.  

We had a few outside projects to get to as well.  Filling in the stairs with more crushed stone so they aren't a tripping hazard.  Weeding out some grass and mulching so it doesn't grow right back.  Planting window boxes.  And drilling them so the plants didn't drown after the first storm revealed they might.  Neatening up the boating and paddle storage so that paddles weren't tipping over on us repeatedly every time we tried to access a boat.  (That was getting old fast!)  Fixing the dock so it was a little less tippy.  My dad and my stepmom Penny came up the first few days we had the cottage in the summer.  I think I finally get where my brother and I get our endless drive to work and keep busy and not relax till things are finished.  My dad at 77 is still quite the workhorse.  My stepmom is ten years younger and just as hard a worker.  She sprained her ankle one of the first nights we were at the cottage going in for a swim after a big rainstorm, after being guilted by her eldest granddaughter ;), but still participated in the weeding and work from a chair with a foot brace on.    We'd be just finishing lunch and they'd be talking about what was next on the project list.  Um, relaxing?!  Pretty please?!  We had quite a list already but somehow my dad managed to add to it.  

Filling in the steps (all 36 of them) was quite a monumental task.  Three tons of stone dust was delivered and the bucket brigade of children, parents and grandparents carried it all down.  We had fun trading off tasks of weeding, prepping the steps, carrying the stone down in buckets and filling in the steps.  We spent a few hours working together to accomplish it.  The kids might not have wanted to participate in the weeding of the garden but they love to help us with projects like this.  They helped us with all our patios and stonework projects at home.  They like building.  And working hard.  And feeling a sense of accomplishment when a project is done.  Don't we all?  It was a nice little lesson in a favorite motto "many hands make light work".  We promised them a swim and a boat ride when we were done and that if we all worked together we'd all be done faster to get to the fun part.  

While they were here we also moved some ferns to soften the front entrance and give our frog a place to hide.  Planted these two window boxes in back and the three big ones up front.  My step mom also wanted to plant our planters.  Every year for Mother's Day she does it for her daughters and daughters -in-law for their front steps.  I love to garden and usually have pansies already growing in my pots for Mother's Day.  So she's never done mine.  With the cottage mostly rented out for the summer and not knowing if anyone would water them or if the rain would be enough I planned to store the planters in the garage this summer.  Penny offered to plant them for me and found out about a great garden shop in a nearby town from our neighbors where we had fun looking for inspiration and fun future purchases.  Nothing like window shopping! 

One of our planters down by the lake.
Everyone decorates for lakeside visitors. 

I have to make this cute sign.  Or at least attempt to! 

My window boxes are going to look like this when
I'm at the lake more often to take care of them!

Did I mention that we have a garage?  A big garage.  With lots of storage in it and under it and over it.  And it was full of stuff.  The previous owners lived in Florida.  They brought a lot of things here but probably didn't bring a lot home.  There are even boxes of stuff from the previous previous owner.  The last owner did clear out their personal items from the owners closet like we asked and took most of their tools etc with them from the garage which they had told us they would.  They also took a teak table, a silver fish beer opener, and some "life is better at the lake" double walled cups, not that I noticed ;).  They left everything else as it was.  The only storage areas the tenants have access to are the barn (storage under the backside of the garage) and the area under the front porch.  We moved the adirondack chairs and boats out of there so except for a few fishing rods and some lawn toys there is really no reason for renters to go in there.  And the garage and above garage storage are locked and for our eyes only.  We really didn't want or need to deal with them before the summer.  We wanted to put them off till the fall and not even consider organizing them.  On the way to organize the boat area (that was on the list) we ended up cleaning out this:

Above the garage storage: old rugs, filing cabinet, office chair, ripped tube for boating. 

Under front deck: kayaks, paddles, chairs, wicker, old dock styrofoam.

Under the garage (the barn):  (OUR teak table and chair set in boxes before
they took them ;(, sleds, gardening supplies, old shingles, an old comforter (ew!)

Everything in piles and nothing accessible. 

The inside of the garage wasn't terrible.  But there was a lot of stuff we didn't need.
An old karosene heater, plastic fuel storage that were so old and sun damaged they crumbled in your hand.
Boxes of christmas decorations, kitchen supplies from previous owners etc.

We did eventually get to the boat area.  But not before we had emptied the barn of everything we didn't need and consolidated all the extra supplies and tools in one place.  We organized the spaces and separated into trash, recycling, sell, and donate piles.  I have to admit that would have been daunting with just Rod and I.  It was nice to have my dad and Penny there to give their opinions and help with deciding what to do with everything.  We probably would have managed to put it off in the fall too until next spring so it's nice to have it done.  We even got a call from the trash company the next trash day.  Apparently our idea of a little extra trash and theirs is very different:

Recyling on the right and trash on the left.  

Due to the order that we did things we did upcycle the filing cabinet into a great storage unit for our paddles and such down by the dock.  It's nice to get a canoe out and not have a domino of paddles falling on you as you do so.  The boats are labeled with our cottage name (DuckHead) and camp number so that if any blow away (apparently common on the lake) we can locate them again.

As much as we work hard we do play hard up there too.  We end every day with beer or wine or margaritas.  A bbq and fresh salad along with s'mores top off the night.  We fully believe in working hard and playing hard.  Lots of boat rides in kayaks and canoes.  Some lounging in the hammock and in the lake in floaties.  Fishing off the dock and just chatting over appetizers and drinks.  Such a nice visit!  My dad even put on his "On Golden Pond" hat for pictures.  They are already booking their fall week at the cottage.  Maybe they will relax a little more than on this visit!  But probably not.  I'm sure my dad will be tinkering around with projects and to do lists. And Penny will be working hard right next to him!  Working hard and playing hard.  Can't think of a better place to do both.  

Thanks P & P!!

We love to work around the yard in our bathing suits
 so we can just jump right in the lake to cool off!