Summer Memories

Alice with Mia and Marcus

We just got back from a long weekend trip to the Adirondacks where we stayed with friends on Raquette Lake.  Back in February our church held a silent auction as a fundraiser and a stay at this cabin was on the list of items available for bidding.  We decided it would be a great experience for a couple of the grandchildren and were able to get it.
The appeal was multifold - a cabin on the lake, with swimming, boating, and hiking options;  also, we liked the idea that there was limited electricity (infrequent dependence on a generator), which meant the kids would have to rely on "old fashioned" forms of entertainment - stories, art, singing,  a campfire, hanging out together.
The weather was perfect - warm enough to swim a couple of times a day, cool enough to enjoy sleeping at night.

pitcher plant

We arrived by boat.  We had directions  to reach the parking lot, where to find the rowboat, and how to get to the cabin.  Our hosts, Alice and Fred Bunnell, were so welcoming that we felt at home right away.  They were eager to show the children some of the highlights that such an environment offers, guiding us through the woods, pointing out the special qualities of this kind of forest.  Alice is a retired science teacher and has been coming to this area for over 40 years, so we all learned a lot about the plants and animals that live there.

We went out in the canoe, Marcus learned to"row" one afternoon, Mia entertained us with handwritten stories and pictures in the evenings, we toured the lake in their motor boat as we learned some of the stories of the great camps and historic families who vacationed there.  And we sometimes went for ice cream - a special treat when you can't just go to the fridge and pull it out.  At meals there were wonderful discussions.  The kids listened and participated in a way that they don't often have time to do at home.




We were so thrilled to give them this experience; it was a very special time that only comes once in a while - a brief but meaningful episode that they can revisit in their memories for the rest of their lives.