POSTCARDS FROM . . .

The Lake.

If you live in upstate Indiana, or lower Michigan, or any other place with a lot of lakes in the area, you know what I mean. "We're going to the lake."

"The lake" isn't a specific place. At least, not with capital letters, like Little Lake, or Pretty Lake, or Blue Heron Lake. It's just The Lake. A generic lake, in speech, though it does have a name and a geographic location and water and cabins/cottages/year-round housing, boats, fishing, a marina . . . you know, the lake.

My daughter and I are in Day Five of our joint vacation. I'm taking time off from living in a small city. She's taking time off from her job.

Last Saturday we loaded my SUV with all our essentials. You know what I'm saying--the everyday stuff we're pretty sure, if not certain, that we can't survive without for the next week. Mine included books; journals; notebooks/tablets/Post-It Notes; pens, pencils. And paints. Paints come with their own entourage: easel, watercolor paper, paints in tubes/pencils/sticks, brushes; sketchbook (though I couldn't quite resist buying a new one, very small, when I went shopping at a dollar store for some things we needed).

We also brought clothes, in case you were wondering.

As well, we had a box or two or three of cooking stuff: baking dishes, condiments, potatoes and carrots to roast, a chicken to roast, and probably a bunch of other things. (We didn't know how well-equipped the cottage would be. We decided within five minutes that we could move in with just the stuff we brought and live happily for, oh, say, six months or so. Maybe years.)

Our accommodations include WiFi, so we both have what we need to stay connected to the outside world. (I like to connect with old TV shows, like White Collar and Father Brown.)

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The weather? Glad you asked. Perfect! We had a couple of days with nice sunshine. Then the temp dropped and we're having a couple days of rain. Ideal for staying inside and getting caught up on painting and writing and binge-watching old shows and cooking and eating. We had a chance to get out and find the local places to shop--we're only ten minutes or so from a university town with all types of businesses. I spent a happy half-hour in an office supply store--best of all, it was run by a lovely labradoodle, big, black, shaggy, laid-back, and as loving as any dog could be. His name is Rocky. He greets customers at the door, goes out to make sure they come in, then makes himself available for some doggy-time. (I got my dog fix that morning.)

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This lake has a large number of year-round homes on or near the water. There's plenty of traffic through the area. Our cottage is up on a hill, surrounded by extra land, dozens (really!) of trees, and a view down over the lower cottages to the lake. We've considered trying squatters' rights to the cottage. 

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Next week, Thursday's Child will be back home, watching the grass grow, keeping the a/c running, paying bills, doing laundry. You know the drill.

But for now, we send you greetings from The Lake. Hope you're enjoying where you are.

Blessings,

Thursday's Child