July 15
This is the lake early in the morning - still and glassy like a mirror. It's quiet except for the birds. The eagle hunts in wide looping arcs over the lake, quickly diving for a fish, and then carrying it off to it's nest. A muskrat swims by, disturbing the reflections in the lake.

Later the lake will hold fishing boats, and kids will fling themselves off an anchored raft out there. But for now, all is quiet.
Mae has the biggest porch now. Our cottage is next to them, so it's easy to visit and share meals.

We congregate on Mae's porch in the morning for coffee, Vanochka and talk. Then Mae and I break out the Scrabble game and go at it.

Manifesting Paradise ~ Book Photos
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This year we score the cottage with air conditioning. I gladly traded the cottage with the best porch for ac and a larger kitchen where we and Mae's family can all eat together. 

And I'm happy to have a defense if it gets stinkin' hot and humid. 
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Turtle on the Beach - Old Soul
Turtle on the Beach - Old SoulTurtle on the Beach - Old SoulTurtle on the Beach - Old Soul
Turtle on the Beach - Old Soul
Our new cottage even has a fireplace if it gets cold. That didn't happen this year, but I can remember many trips to Boulder Junction where we never got out of sweatshirts all week.
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From my porch I can see a muskrat swimming to the lily pads to pick out a tender one for breakfast.
We also have a tradition of eating the same comfort foods every year. Here are some of our favorite recipes.

Early in the week I make Aunt Millie's Easy Beans to accompany hamburgers.

The next day, I add the rest of the ingredients to the left-over beans to make my Easy Vacation Chili for lunches.
My Mom was so secretive with her potato salad recipe that we daughters didn't know she made her sauce with mayonaise and vinegar until we'd been making our versions for decades. By then, the mayo and mustard combination seemed right.

I know it sounds gross to add the bacon drippings to the salad, but it really makes this dish. It certainly can't be worse than deep fried fast food, and I only make it once a year.
CHAPTER 8 ~ LOOKING BACK
No phone, no TV, no interruptions
Can you spell competitive?  How about compulsive?
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