The ramblings of a woman,
wife, & mother, who loves:
Jesus / my man / the three,
learning about parenting /
mamahood / childbirth,
cooking foods healthy /
international / yummy,
pretending to garden /
write / design,
attempting to run /
exercise / lift weights,
enjoying traveling /
camping / adventures,
finding ways to love /
serve / sacrifice for others.

It is not to say she does these things
with style or grace, or even skill.

What I did over my summer vacation.

August 12, 2009 - 10:00 AM

North Shore

What do you consider a vacation?  Are there specific components you must have in order for it to be a legit vacation?

I do not sit still well for very long, I never have, ask my mom, and not even on vacation, ask my husband.  One of the things I have finally learned after 33 years, and over these last 6 months, is the value of sitting and knowing when to sit.  And yes, this old dog has learned a new trick.

It was only 5 days before we left when I was officially told by my doctor, "I think it's healed."  Those 4 little words not only meant I could ditch the boot and crutches but I could go on a vacation without them(!).  Thanks to my new trick of sitting, I was realistic and understood that since I had literally just learned to walk without crutches, planning the trip that involved backpacking around an island was way out of the question (for now).  Plan B, and the miracle of the internet, brought me to find this great little cabin we had stayed at years ago that would be perfect for my current skill level.

5 years ago, when we just had two boys and I was 7 mo. prego with Miriam, we drove around the entire shoreline of Lake Superior.  We had barely started our journey when we decided to stick around the area of Grand Marais, MN. Josh, specifically, thought it would be fun to just sit, read and relax there for a while.  It was difficult at first for me but I read an actual book, keeping one eye on the boys, but also letting them get sucked into throwing rocks for hours on end.  The cabin was tiny and technically nothing spectacular other than it is right on Lake Superior, had this amazing sound of waves crashing on the rocks, smelled like my Grandma's house and had an endless rocky covered shoreline.  Since that first time, we have always wanted to go back but we could not remember the sweet old woman's name who ran it that the cabins were named after. Until now.

For the first time when people would ask what we were going to do on vacation, I happily replied with, "A whole lotta nuthin.'"  Since the shoreline of Lake Superior is only rocks of varying sizes, our plan was for The Three to throw rocks in the lake all day and the adults sit on the shore, sit and read.  Did that plan work?  Yes.  That is exactly what we did.  For 3 days straight.  The Three threw rocks, rocks and more rocks.  Did they ever get bored?  No.  Could a kid get bored of throwing rocks?  Yes.  The 6-8 yr old kid in the cabin next to us threw in literally 10 rocks and then turned to his dad and said, "I'm bored." 

throwing rocks

Our kids, however, threw in rocks until they couldn't stand up.  At which point they sat down and continued throwing.  And when they couldn't sit any more, they laid back on their elbows and continued throwing.  And when they couldn't recline anymore, they laid completely down on the rocks and continued throwing.  Once they regained their strength, they stood up again.

fire and water

New trick in hand, I thouroughly enjoyed a relaxing vacation of just sitting.  I read a wonderful book, tended a fire, and was more relaxed than any other vacation.  Totally uncharacteristic for me but totally amazing.

Response to What I did over my summer vacation.

  • Kari said on August 12, 2009 - 6:56 PM

    Sounds wonderful Dana! I was wondering what would be the limit for a kid to throw rocks before he got bored. My two can also do this for hours but have not had the opportunity to see how long it could entertain them when that (and a fire) is their only entertainment. The lake/pine air smells wonderful as well. Did you have loons on your lake? I love their lonesome calls.

  • Dana said on August 12, 2009 - 10:00 PM

    Yeah, they did take some breaks in technical throwing, but it was still rock centered: Zeke started building up a dock out of rocks going into the lake and Max & Miriam built little ponds out of rocks. We saw no loons on Lake Superior, just geese and gulls, but on Crooked Lake there is a family of loons that hang out in front of the cabin along with a family of golden ducks (I think). Zeke does an awesome loon call too! :)!

  • leah said on August 12, 2009 - 10:04 PM

    sounds perfect! so glad you enjoyed yourself. i always feel a little weird thinking that i want to travel overseas to go sit and rest... but that is the way i feel. so glad the kids entertained themselves and you enjoyed the peace and quiet!

  • pavan said on July 29, 2020 - 8:16 AM

    sounds perfect! so glad you enjoyed yourself. i always feel a little weird thinking that i want to travel overseas to go sit and rest... but that is the way i feel. so glad the kids entertained themselves and you enjoyed the peace and quiet <a href="https://www.w3schools.com/">Visit W3Schools.com!</a>

  • pavan said on July 29, 2020 - 8:17 AM

    for information https://www.google.com/

  • said on February 9, 2024 - 11:36 AM

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About Me and This Blog...

Begin Our Adventures of Fall/Winter 2012 to CA, MN, CO
   Ladies Trip to Napa Valley
   My Parents Rode in a Plane!

Begin Our Adventures of Summer 2012 to MN and CO
   Vacation to the North Shore and Cabin
   Boulder for the Summer
   Life in Boulder

Begin Our Adventures of Winter/Spring 2012 to UT
   The Drive to CO/UT Begins
   Vacation in Moab
   Living in Moab / Denver

Begin Our Adventures of Fall/Winter 2011 to CA
   The Drive to CA Begins
   Living in the SF
   Living in the Suburbs
   Coming Home to IC

Begin Our Adventures of Summer 2010 to Eastern Europe
   Life at Czech English Camp
   Travels in Germany & Austria
   Travels in Czech & Poland

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