Saturday, September 06, 2008

Summer Ends At Shady Shores

I've blogged about the great time that we have at Shady Shores in years past. http://keepingupwiththesmiths.blogspot.com/2007/09/shady-shores-2007.html This year was no exception. We all had such a great time. We get together with our friend, Kevin, who used to work for me in San Fran. He has a bunch of family (cousins, sister, aunt, uncle) and friends who we join at this adorable little complex of cottages on Lake Huron. This isn't the best picture because it's taken from the street, but it gives you an idea of how the cottages face each other and are perpendicular to the lake. It's so quaint.

Each little cottage is about 500 square feet or so and have two bedrooms, a tiny kitchen/living room, a bathroom, and a sun porch. Ours is #7 (we've had the same one for all three years that we've been there.)


We played on the beach, swam in the lake, canoed and kayaked on a nearby river, and kayaked in the lake, played tether ball, shuffle board, and board games (including pegs and jokers) for four great days. It was so relaxing.
Everybody is so welcoming that we feel like part of the family -- hugs all around when we arrive and when we leave. The kids run around with all the other kids and have a great time. I think that they really like their Independence there.

T had lots of fun too. When he wanted some quiet time, he got out his journal of hand-made paper and his colored pencils and drew. He went out to the beach to be inspired by the scene that was out there.
I took a close up picture over his shoulder so you can see what he was drawing. He was focusing on getting the seagull just right.
We also went to a Paul Bunyan festival for a day and had a good time watching the chainsaw wood carvers and listening to tall tales. The boys even used am old-fashioned two-man saw to slice a "wooden nickle" (it was about 8 inches in diameter) and watched a boy scout brand it for them. I forgot my camera that day, so I don't have any pictures -- darn.

Here are the boys standing in front of the Shady Shores sign, like I have them do every year. What a great way to end the summer!


4 comments:

Ken said...

I think it's great that you are invited back each year. You all have such a good time.

jennavar said...

Good o'le Shady Shores. Such an awesome way to end the summer. What a great friend you have made to keep including your family year after year. I'm sure they feel like family now too. I love T's picture. Such an artist you are bud!

CaliforniaGrammy said...

Capturing a seagull in flight is no easy task, T. You're such a good artist and I love that you challenge yourself. The Shady Shore sign picture is a fun one to have to compare how the boys are growing each year. I can picture it in your scrapbook ending the summer section. Great family sharing their summer place with you. You have become an extension of their family!

Aunt Patty said...

So fun to see what a great place you ended your summer. I can imagine the boys do love it with all those activities and other kids. Beautiful scenery and fun family time together. I love hearing and seeing Tommy's artistic and creative nature, that is so cool!!