• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • SHOP
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT CATHY
  • CONTACT

CZ Design

A few days up at the lake

August 23, 2011

A few days up at the lake

IMG_1091

Last Wednesday, we packed up and took off for a much needed respite at our family's lake home in Nisswa, Minnesota.

Now some of you may or may not know this about me: I'm not really a cabin-y, Northwoods type of of gal. In fact, when the idea of "let's go up to the cabin" for the weekend comes up, I can often be heard saying, "Great! I'll see you when you get back!"

It's not that I don't enjoy it, but I definitely prefer the non-holiday weekends with fewer people. Call me an introvert. That's just how I roll.

It was just our family and Dan's sister's family this past weekend. A manageable party of eight. And as you know, eight is a great number for many games of Mexican Train.

IMG_1107

What is it about playing dominoes that is so much fun up at the cabin that just never seems to catch on the same way at home? Two words: cable television (and the lack thereof up North!)

As the days wore on and the play got more serious, Great Grandma's hat collection came out of hiding.

IMG_1268

IMG_1262

IMG_1277

Okay, so maybe Great Grandma didn't ride motorcyles in her day, but this one came out as well.

We had time on the boat and in the lake.

IMG_1245

IMG_1252

And time just chilling on the dock.

IMG_1117

And even some time to hit the town for some 'pretty good shopping.'

IMG_1129

Aidan got a feather in her hair.

IMG_1152

And I made a Jacob and Edward sandwich.

IMG_1128

We had tons of good food.

IMG_1210

And lots of bad facial hair.

IMG_1194

IMG_1195

And lots of dishes to wash by hand.

IMG_1256

And we enjoyed gorgeous, completely non-Photoshopped sunsets. It really looked like this every night.

IMG_1218

The best part is returning home with people who feel rested and ready to get back to work, and ready to get ready to head back to school.

Thanks for a great getaway, Nisswa.

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. dawn says

    August 23, 2011 at 5:21 am

    I’ve always wanted to vacation like this, hoping one day my dream will come true. Love the photos and the writing with them. So glad you went and enjoyed yourself.

    Reply
  2. Verabear says

    August 23, 2011 at 5:38 am

    Our family vacations were different, and we didn’t really have that many. As they say, it’s never too late. I hope we can have more trips as a family soon.

    Reply
  3. mary says

    August 23, 2011 at 5:55 am

    my brother has a place in WI that we head to every year. Been goin’ there for 8 years now, and we dubbed it Camp Mohandis right around the 2nd or 3rd year (llllloooonnnngggg story about the name- some other time. or not.). It’s seriously the highlight of our summers.

    LOVE these photos… this is truly what life is all about.

    You, girlfriend, are blessed. karma. whatever you want to call it.

    Reply
  4. katie squires says

    August 23, 2011 at 6:03 am

    Love the hats…cracked me up πŸ™‚

    Reply
  5. Kendra B says

    August 23, 2011 at 6:15 am

    What a fun trip!!!!!! I’ll be wishing for someplace like that to go to tomorrow when the high is possibly going to hit 116. I’ll remember why I live in Arizona this December LOL I have family all over Minnesota . . . where is Nisswa?

    Reply
  6. Sue says

    August 23, 2011 at 6:29 am

    God, your family looks cool as all get out!

    Reply
  7. Liz, Melb, Australia says

    August 23, 2011 at 7:19 am

    Unreal!

    Reply
  8. Annie says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:29 am

    My entire family is in Nisswa and Brainerd–great places to visit. Looks like you had an awesome time!

    Reply
  9. Kay Gregory-Clark says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:32 am

    Hey! Dan looks good with a mustache!

    Reply
  10. cathy says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:45 am

    The nice thing about our jaunts up north? Very nice for the budget conscious! We dont have to pay for lodging. Just bring food and voila, we can have a vacation.

    Reply
  11. cathy says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:46 am

    Its just outside of Brainerd, the Brainerd Lakes area. : ) Its not totally up North, but more North than not.

    Reply
  12. cathy says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:47 am

    Dans mom grew up in Brainerd, and the lake house was his grandparents. They built it in the 60s. It looks like a dwarf compared to all the ginormous log cabin lake mansions that surround it. But its got a lot of heart!

    Reply
  13. cathy says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:51 am

    well, we do rock old hats. ; )

    Reply
  14. cathy says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:52 am

    I keep telling him this, but he never listens!

    Reply
  15. Debbie S. says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:57 am

    Welcome back! πŸ™‚

    Reply
  16. Jenn says

    August 23, 2011 at 9:03 am

    Love the Brainerd area! Nisswa is a must when I go up there!

    Reply
  17. Laney says

    August 23, 2011 at 9:08 am

    That looks awesome. Lucky lucky you!

    And I love Mexican Train. I have a friend who has a set like that one and we make a point to make it choo-choo to annoy our significant others. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!

    BTW, my gastric band surgery is this Thursday!

    Reply
  18. jennifer Camplin says

    August 23, 2011 at 9:16 am

    Cathy… glad you did went.. turn out nice getaway!!

    Thank for sharing!!

    Reply
  19. Ellie A. says

    August 23, 2011 at 9:29 am

    Oh that sunset.. Just total awesome. Planning a trip early November to Rhode Island.. My goal to capture the most awesome sunset from a light house πŸ™‚

    Reply
  20. jesa says

    August 23, 2011 at 10:17 am

    It’s nice to see pictures of the family just relaxing and having fun on a little getaway. Times like these with no agenda, time restraints and just a handful of people are some of the best I have enjoyed.

    Reply
  21. Ali says

    August 23, 2011 at 10:26 am

    Looks like every vacation we have taken in northern WI! LOVE IT!

    Reply
  22. Briana N. says

    August 23, 2011 at 10:26 am

    Aw- did you make it up in time for the Nisswa Crazy Days? πŸ™‚ We were there a few weekends ago…had to stop at the Chocolate Ox, don’tchya know. My family has a place right on the edge of Brainerd and Nisswa so we are there a few times each summer.
    Oh- and I agree, Mexican Train is a cabin staple. I’d also recommend Bananagrams and Telestrations.

    Reply
  23. cathy says

    August 23, 2011 at 11:05 am

    Good luck, Laney!

    Reply
  24. cathy says

    August 23, 2011 at 11:06 am

    Oh wow. I dont think we hit the Chocolate Ox this time. WEIRD. Probably because there was so dang much candy in the cupboards at the cabin.

    Reply
  25. Annie says

    August 23, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    I love it there. Haven’t been in a long time, though. My grandfather was a contractor and built a lot of the lake houses up there. Grandma had a greenhouse and sold fruit and veggies to the summer people; we often got to “help” with the picking. We ate WAY more than we picked.

    Thanks for sparking such a great memory!I got all choked up thinking about it.

    Reply
  26. LeeAnna says

    August 23, 2011 at 2:49 pm

    so jealous here.

    Reply
  27. Sara Mangan says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    We were in that neck of the woods right before you were. We did, however, hit the Chocolate Ox. Taffy and ice cream…. it was so good and so worth it. We had to go on a sugar detox when we got home.
    Glad you were able to get away and enjoy some time relaxing. I love it up there.

    Reply
  28. Nancy says

    August 23, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    I have spent lots of time in the area too – in a variety of cabins (relatives) on the Whitefish Chain. I love it there!! I was there a few weeks ago and went to a wooden boat show and saw lots of awesome antique boats. It isn’t too far north but it feels like another world. Looks like you had a great time – love the hats!!

    Reply
  29. Maud says

    August 23, 2011 at 10:27 pm

    I’m so jealous Cathy! My father-in-law lives just up the street from there on East Twin Lake and we were supposed to be there now, but life happens and plans change πŸ™ We always have such a wonderful time canoeing and laying out on the dock!
    Thanks for sharing the pics πŸ™‚

    Reply
  30. DanaMK says

    August 24, 2011 at 6:30 am

    Sounds like a great time up at the lake!

    Reply
  31. cathy says

    August 24, 2011 at 8:09 am

    We saw the wooden boat show too! It was at Bar Harbor in Nisswa. Cool, cool boats!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Categories

  • Cards
  • Crafts
  • CZ Life
  • Free Downloads
  • Products & Classes
  • Project Life
  • Scrapbooking
  • Tutorials

Archives

Footer

About

I'm Cathy Zielske and this is one of my homes on the World Wide Web. Want to learn more about me? By all means, click the link below:

  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Let’s Connect

If you have specific questions that can’t be answered by stalking me on social media, please click below:

Categories

  • Cards
  • Crafts
  • CZ Life
  • Free Downloads
  • Products & Classes
  • Project Life
  • Scrapbooking
  • Tutorials

Copyright © 2023 Cathy Zielske Β· site by bello via design