Winterizing

We went up north last week for the last time this year. Time to spend a few more lovely days in autumn splendor and do some essential winterizing.

Here we put the boat in at the marina.

This mailbox is one of a long line of mailboxes at the marina, and every time I see this, I think, that's the most brilliant use of 10-cent stick-on letters I've ever seen. I'm not quite sure what goes in there, or whom exactly "Sumpn Else" belongs to, but I'm glad it's there because it always makes me smile.

The boat was loaded to the brim. Little people sat on stuff.
Please be aware this was a four-day trip.
No matter how much I wish we did, we just can't seem to travel lightly.

Barge at the pier.

Once we arrived, we thought we smelled something, and Viggo insisted we check mouse traps. He felt certain that the ones Grandpa had set (I have no idea when) had lured some unsuspecting vermin to their death.

He was right - we did find a mouse.  But the one Nate pulled out was pretty much fluff and bones. Way past its expiration date, so we knew that wasn't the source of the smell. We opened the windows and aired everything out, and that was the end of that.

 Everyone went out for a walk, except me. Why would I do that when I could do this instead?!

 Svea and Viggo clear some brush.

 Viggo stakes his claim.

These rocks were covered in water this summer, so our little pink monkey was excited to climb all over them.

 Svea. And her really, really long legs.

 Exploring the island is a whole new ballgame in the fall. The swamp had dried up, and Viggo and Svea were so excited to walk through part of it. Things usually covered in water were easily reachable and explorable. Fun!

 King Viggo.

Viggo found a fern with spores. This was an exciting discovery; he studied botany last year and his appreciation for the greener things in life has certainly increased.

 Elin called this the princess rock.

One day it rained all day long, but we stayed busy with nano blocks, legos, and lots of books.

 Playing chicken foot.

 It is so fun seeing the kids do some serious grunt work. Viggo sawed and chopped a lot of wood for our campfires.

 All that work was worth it. Making apple pies in pie irons.

 To help winterize, the kids scattered mothballs under the cabin to keep the critters away.

 This photo seems odd, but yes. We put some kayaks in the little cabin. There was a really good reason for this but I forget exactly what it was.

 Of all the things to find in the fall: a tadpole. Really?

On the way home we wrapped up our trip by stopping in Mora to see some special friends.

Goodbye, Lake Vermilion! See you next summer!