Visiting the Cabin

From Thursday to Saturday Kristina, Peter, Alex, and Sidney stayed with the Glimsdals at their cabin on Long Lake. Long Lake is about two thirds of the way up the state of Minnesota, or about a four hour drive from St. Peter.

When Sidney saw the kennel in the trunk there was no way to control her excitement! She knew that we were about to have some fun. She began acting half her age!
The Glimsdals' place features an A-frame built from recycled metal signs, and a wonderful screened-in canopy for those times when you need a break from mosquitoes.
Sidney the water-dog? This crazy animal tried to get stuck in the swamp, but we brought her to the dock and encouraged her to swim where the water is just a little bit deeper.

Somebody has been playing in the mud! Sidney had an outstanding time at the cabin. She was continually bounding around in the tall grass and despite the arthritis in her leg she never seemed to get too tired.

We went on a self-guided drive around the Rice Lake Wilderness Area. Rice Lake is huge, but averages only 2 feet deep! There is one "deep end" where the lake reaches a maximum of 8 feet in depth, but the majority of the lake is very shallow--perfect for the natural wild rice and the 50,000 to 100,000 ducks that fly there every year.

In the picture below you can tell how green and shrub-filled the lake really is: the white truck in the corner of the picture is parked on solid ground but has just launched a small boat. The dark green line on the horizon is the opposite shore!
Peter and Kristina paddle into the lillies of Long Lake. Canoeing is a big part of the Minnesota cabin experience! Sadly the camera was left behind when we went out on the pontoon and motored around the lake pulling invasive, foreign plants from the water's edge and disposing of them.
Now this is one idea of a weekend at the cabin! Lounging in a hammock is a great way to spend a few minutes or a few hours. Too bad the mosquitoes bit me through my shirt...
This piece of artwork is entitled: View from the Hammock.

On the way back from the cabin we drove past an enourmous lake called Mille Lacs. You cannot see the opposite shore! There had been a storm recently, and lots of trees had been knocked down, especially by the northern shore.

Thank you to the Glimsdals!