If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, than this one is worth a million. Taken at the height of the July 1st long weekend, it succinctly captures the vestiges of the day.

It’s our dock. But it could be any body’s dock, taken anywhere in Canada. Out of all the photos I have of our cottage, this one is my favourite. Odd, considering it contains no people or even a picture of our cabin.

What it does show is all the fun we’re having. The toys, minus the boat and wake board, are all lined up, ready for our beck and call. The long blue water skis, the stacks of soggy beach towels, the life jackets and wet suits strewn over chairs or left to dry in the sun, the balled up tee shirts and flip flops, all waiting for their owners to come back and claim them.

I see this photo and I yearn for summer. I miss the feeling I get standing on our dock at the beginning of the day – that feeling of infinite possibilities. Should we take the kids for a tube, or how about a paddle before the sun gets too hot, or maybe a wake board? The day opens before me like a flower, waiting to be picked and enjoyed.

When I ask my son what he misses most about the cabin he immediately replies, “Spending time with you, mom.” My husband pauses, reflecting on the question and then slowly answers, “The beer.” Hmm, not what I’m expecting, but we all enjoy the cabin in our own way.

If I had to rank what I miss most about the cabin it would likely go like this:

• The lake – despite its frosty temperatures and unwillingness to rise about 74 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s still the best part of the cottage.

• The boat, while it makes a very loud beeping sound that can be heard clear across the lake, it pulls me out of the water on one ski. I just wish it wouldn’t speed up so much and then die going around corners, but maybe that’s just Bill having a little fun.

• My wakeboard, it only cost $149 (Costco), but it is the best wakeboard in the world.

• Our cottage neighbours, People don’t do happy hour in Vancouver, at least not the moms I hand out with. At the lake, it’s socially acceptable, even encouraged, to be a little tipsy at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

I’ve left the fifth one blank. I’d like to hear what you miss most about your cottage.

Cheers,

Julie

P.S. Don’t forget to send you cottage pictures to julie@cottagedaily.com for your chance to win the romper featured above.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 19th, 2007 at 5:18 am and is filed under Current News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.