Nestled in the woods is a beautiful cedar log cabin.  It belongs to Grandma and Grandpa.  It’s the best place in the world, and that is where my children are for a few days.  Imagine the empty nest syndrome I am facing this week!

In contrary fashion to where we live, which is right in town, with a small lot, and only goldfish and neighborhood cats for pets, Grandma and Grandpa have acreage and a pond ripe for fishing, guineas and dogs and a cat, chickens — with eggs to gather, and a big strutting rooster to avoid while gathering said eggs.  There’s certainly room to run and play and build forts.

Going inside Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house is like going back in time.  There are many oil lamps around and there’s Grandpa’s large collection of antique bottles.  There are framed displays of arrowheads found through the years, which Grandpa has an eye for finding when no one else sees one.  The visible woods through the windows beckon:  come outside.  The cozy log walls and fireplace say:  stay inside.  It’s a happy place everywhere.

Grandma makes bonnets and aprons to sell, along with handmade wooden dolls.  Her sewing room is filled with pretty displays.

Walking down the little hallway that runs through the cabin is like a walk down memory lane.  My mother is truly a collector of all things old and sweet.

I see long-passed uncles, grandparents, and great-grandparents.  I see my mother when she was little and think of my third son.  I’ve always said that he’s proof that I am my mother’s daughter.  He looked just like my mother’s side of the family at birth, while I’ve always been the spitting image of my father.

Even the bathroom is pretty.  All old-timey and cozy, there are little rabbits gathered around the sink and beautiful cabbage roses on the bathtub curtain.  Visiting my mother’s house always inspires me to come home and clean so that I can be as proud of my house as I am of hers. 

Her garden will be unbelievable in a few months.  She reminds me of Tasha Tudor.  She loves being outside and tending her gardens and animals more than anything.  When she’s not doing that, she’s making something to sell. 

Every little place in the garden has a birdbath, or a bench, or some special thing that just belongs in a garden.

I love the fireplace-end of the cabin. I’ll show you again in summer when all the roses and shrubs are in bloom.

I also love the walkway that goes down by the cabin to the pond.

And I adore the red toolshed.

The grapevines make a little covered walkway by the chicken house.  This summer there’ll be plenty of grapes.

You have to be really brave to go into the chicken lot with Mr. Proud Rooster, enter the chicken house and gather the eggs. 

The children will have plenty of room to practice with their air rifles, with only the strictest gun safety rules in place, mind you. 

And all of the children love to fish, including princess of the universe. 

I know my children will be having a blast while I am here at home listening to the dead quiet of no children.  Think I can handle it?

Lynn