Thursday, August 12, 2010

Relaxing Mini-Vacation

My husband and I are empty-nesters this summer for the first time.  We just got back from a lovely, quiet, relaxing 5-day mini-vacation at the cottage.


We both finished 2 books and started on our third and spent our time drinking copious amounts of tea and coffee.  On one of the cooler days, we sat wrapped in blankets reading on the screened porch while the rain came down.   It was heavenly.  I love the sound of a soft rain on the roof.


 Actually that looks a bit more like beer for him and tea for me.  Oh well, still relaxing.



It only rained one day.  We also had some lovely calm weather,




and the loon came by one afternoon.


Of course, I took a ridiculous number of photos, which is loads of fun for me.  I always set myself some silly challenge and then spent hours trying to get the shot.  This time it was to get a picture of a fish jumping out of the water.  Those fish are just too darn fast, is all I can say.  See what I mean...


My aunt and I went on a tour of the cottage country sights in preparation for our french guests coming next week.  It was a lovely afternoon with so many interesting things to see. Photos coming soon.


*****************

Yesterday was my father's 81st birthday - it seems I'm a day behind on everyone's birthday.  Oops.  He is recovering from surgery and doesn't have quite his usual vim and vigour, but it is returning day-by-day.  He does still have his gentle kindness, amazing knowledge of the world, and his quiet patient way, oh, and his love of a good dessert.  We celebrated his birthday tonight with Moroccan Chicken for dinner followed by strawberry shortcake.  Yum!

Happy birthday, Dad!

 
Linked to Friday Finding Beauty at Dipity Road,
FOLK Magazine Submissions at Funky Junk Interiors

16 comments:

  1. So beautiful and relaxing looking! Lovely shots too. Where is your cottage?

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  2. You take GORGEOUS photos! I can feel myself relax just looking at them.

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  3. Love your pics Grace and it looks like you had such a nice time!!

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  4. Oh how lovely and peaceful the pictures are. What a great little mini vacation.

    FlowerLady

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  5. Oh, blissful. I need to know they are happy, but I can't say I have gone into a decline since my kids left. I love the peace! (I don't tell them)

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  6. With temperature humidity index hovering around 108-112 degrees F the last couple of weeks, I'm jealous of the weather you had at the cottage. The picture of the droplets on the web is AMAZING. Hope your dad has a speedy recovery.

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  7. Wow. You captured some very beautiful images. They are all so peaceful.

    Enjoy your weekend.

    -Rene

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  8. What gorgeous photos and what a great place to just relax. It is so weird seeing you in blankets when it is so hot here. It's a small world.

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  9. Sounds like a perfect mini-vacation.

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  10. A perfect weekend getaway, even with the rain. Pictures were beautiful. Enjoy your weekend.

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  11. Grace you are such a great photographer, I felt almost like I was there! Sounds wonderful!
    x
    maria

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  12. I love a rainy day reading on a porch...yours is lovely..and so is the quilt!... and I adore the rainyday camp photo in the next post, Grace I hope this is framed somewhere in your house, it's priceless :-)

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  13. What a perfect vacation ... no running around trying to see and do as much as possible, leaving you exhausted by the time you return home. Your photographs are beautiful and leave me with a sense of calmness.
    Happy Birthday to your father!

    Deborah

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  14. looks like perfection to me! glad you had a great time. jx

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  15. Sounds like the most wonderful, relaxing getaway, Grace! I always enjoy when you share pictures with us -- from vacations, your house, anything.

    I hope you Father had a perfect Birthday*

    xo

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  16. This is MY kind of vacation! Reading in the rain, wrapped in an afghan or blanket....it doesn't get any better than that. I'd be interested to know what you read...

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