Cabin Trip 2010

The Rachal Hikers

Hikes and Dirt

We spent the last two weekends in July at the cabin in Wilsonia.  Beautiful weather - especially this last weekend.  Cool enough to walk without sweating.  This was Eve's first trip to the cabin, and she seemed to love being in the great outdoors.  The first weekend we took the kids on a hike down to Big Stump via South Boundary trail.  Harry and Olivia hoofed it and Evie rode in the carrier on Dad.  Would've been fine if we hadn't chosen to do the loop.  Kids got pretty tired at the end, although Olivia is quite a trooper and didn't complain much.  Harry, on the other hand, had to be piggy-backed most of the way up.  He drags his feet, shuffles along, and whines a lot.  Not quite the hiker yet.  Lily was spending the weekend with a friend, but she joined us this last weekend and we took a hike from the cabin through the campground and to the picnic area for lunch.  Came back up through headquarters and got ice cream - always fun.  Lots of people there - everyone trying to get in one more weekend before school starts.

 

Bathroom Blues

We've had bathroom issues at the cabin - a new shower was supposed to go in almost two years ago now.  The guy we had hired was less than efficient.  Took way too long and put in a shower way too big.  When we arrived, he was still working in the bathroom and there were large holes in the wall between the kitchen and the bathroom - never a good sign.  The old shower and the scrap metal and sheet rock was thrown out on the back deck, which I knew Gramma would not like.  To top it off, the new shower was so large, there was hardly any room between it and the toilet.  One side was exposed fiberglass, so I knew this was not the right shower - it was meant for a "pocket," which we don't have in that little bathroom.  After sharing the information with my uncle and grandparents, the work was stopped and we now have Mitch (the guy who built the back deck) working on the bathroom.  Hopefully it will be finished by Labor Day.  A new corner shower has been custom ordered for the space.

Mom & Eve practicing the wave

 Critters

A masked visitor

 On our first weekend up, we saw deer in the meadow behind the cabin.  Not unusual, but always lovely to see.  The second weekend, we had a visitor of the masked variety - a raccoon.  He came up on the back porch to eat the birdseed Olivia had put out for the birds and chipmunks.  He was scooping it up in his little hands and didn't seem the least bit worried we were watching him through the back door.  We shooed him away only to have him come right back up to the door and peer in as if to say, "Hey - anybody home?"  Very brave indeed.  Kind of cute too, but I know what pests raccoons can be.  Realized the original handyman hadn't bothered to put the boards back in place where he had crawled under the cabin, so the raccoon was hiding out there.

Magical

 We are so blessed to have the cabin and that beautiful spot in the mountains.  The kids are so excited to go up - just like I was as a kid.  Olivia loves to put out birdseed and wait for "chickmunks."  She and Harry spent a lot of time exploring out back and collecting pine cones with Dad.  They also love sleeping up in the loft - a special little room for kids.  Harry had one small tumble down the stairs, but he was okay.  Besides, he has so many bruises skinned up knees from our walks, we can't tell which are old and which are new.  He plays hard, just like all little boys in the mountains.  We had fun playing the "matching" game on the back deck or watching Olivia color yet another picture. It's funny, but the kids seem to get along better up there too.  There was less fighting and bickering, and more playing and laughing.  I think it truly is a magical place.

Big Brother

Harry bringing up the rear