It's my favorite kind of living. One day I hope hubby and I will retire to someplace on a lake. Our little cottage still looks much like it did after my grandparents did a little renovating in the 1950s. We feel so fortunate that our grandparent's bought the cottage and passed it on to future generations.Many of the original old cottages like ours were built with single wall construction and no insulation. I'll try to dig up some interior photos and share them with you...they are interesting old places....but you sure can't use them in the Michigan winters.
Here's my mom doing what you can find us doing on almost any day it's not raining.
We moved around a lot as kids, but we always came to the cottage in the summer. We have had the same neighbors for 30+ years (some of our families have been here generations..ours for 5 so far), and it's the one place where we see friends from when we were little. Now our kids have grown up playing with their kids...such a nice thing.
Even the pup likes to float!
Mom and Dad on a boat ride.
Here we're going down "the channel." It's a long channel cut into the woods many years ago, and now it's home to a few cottages and a lot of turtles, frogs, dragonflies and deer. On this day we actually caught sight of a deer drinking.
My nephew loves to help Papa drive.
The lake is very populated with cottages....much more so than when I was a kid. The old cottages are being bought up and torn down or renovated beyond recognizing. I understand this, but I miss the old cottages and the quaint atmosphere. Views like the one above, with huge new houses next to small older cottages are common.
There is a whole row of little cottages that are much as ours was when Nana and Granddaddy bought it. I love the little old cottages. Since they are disappearing so quickly, I'm collecting pictures of the old ones. This row of about 25 cottages is a treasure.
This is my sister Jennifer working on a project on the front porch. We got inspired by a book we were reading to do an art project. Mine is not quite finished yet...when it is I'll share it with you in post. Hopefully by the end of the week!
11 comments:
Loved the boat tour of the cottages - it sounds like an ideal summer for kids (and grownups too). Your family is very lucky to have had this to enjoy for so many years and for many more to come!
~Jean
Yep, I'll be at the shop the week of August 3rd. Please come, I would love to meet you!Here's my email address: jandppoe@comcast.net
Jan
Oh, how wonderful to have a cottage passed down through generations!! You really do own a little piece of heaven on earth! I love the quaint little cottages, too... Donna
I forgot to mention... the picture of your poodle on the inflatable raft and the one with his head poking through the boat window are priceless!!! LOL...Donna
You just described my DREAM LIFE. All of it. Sometime I will live on water. Wished my Mom could join me! LOVED THIS POST!
Hi there,
I have missed you. Have you stopped by my new blog yet? I can't remember who all has been there. Okay, the pup on the raft is an absolute hoot. I loved all the pictures. What a dream to have a little cottage on the lake. If you are going to be here around the 3rd, I could meet you at Jan's shop, just let me know.
Hugs,
LeAnn:)
Your dog is a hoot! What a cutie!!
I loved living on a small lake, but ours was too small for anything other than a canoe or tiny fishing boat.
Those cottages are so special, but I'll bet most were second homes back in the time. Makes me wonder if the newer houses are the primary residence of the owners.
You described my life...moved a lot as kids but always came back to the family's summer cottage of 5 generations. Thanks for sharing yours!
Julie, you're right, there are more year around residents on the lake now. But most of the homes, even the big ones, are second homes of folks who live in Chicago.
This looks like the lake I went to as a child in the mid 1960's with my Grandparents. Gun Lake? I have good memories of playing with my aunt and uncle (who were my age) and of eating trout for the first time. Glad you posted these pictures.
I'm glad you enjoyed the pics! I think Gun Lake is north of us. We are near Dowagiac, MI and St. Joseph. Growing up at a cottage is a special memory to have!
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