Today I packed up the suitcase and backpack, threw the rest of the diapers and some extra wipes packages into a crate, and we drove up to the lake house. I started this blog back in August at this house. Something just seems fitting that I will keep blogging from here these next few weeks.

I did find that I can quickly pack a bag with the few things I have deemed essential. I left behind my heels and nice dress I threw into the suitcase on the way down here “just in case,” same with Little Man’s nice outfit. We don’t need them out here, and if something comes up, well, we’ve got a sewing machine and plenty of sheets (so many sheet sets in this house, I don’t understand it).

Once we got up here, I took Little Man for a short walk. It was nothing fancy; I have neither a stroller nor a wagon here, so it was a quick walk. He had just spent 2.5 hours cooped up in the car, not taking a nap (I have never met another child who just will not fall asleep in the car! He fights sleep at home as well, and will gator roll, flailing his arms and legs, to wake himself up if he feels himself starting to drift to sleep if he’s not in the bed), so I wanted him to move around and get some fresh air. I have missed this place. When we got back to the house, my dad had the garage open and was checking the ATVs for gas, and starting them up. Little Man was so excited, “Oooooh! Ooooh!” he yelled, pointing at them as he ran to the garage. When I picked him up and sat him on the seat next to Papa, he had the biggest grin from ear to ear. My child is definitely going to become a gear head, and that is perfectly fine with me.

As I watched him run to the garage, I noticed this planter my mother has had for several years that is sitting in front of the garage. It is a chair, with wheels, and a big hole in the seat for a large flower pot to sit in. I looked at it and thought “That would make a perfect outdoor toilet, in case we have some kind of sewage issue.” I would just have to wheel it to the back of the house, and I would place it close to the treeline by the little gully. If I wanted it to be fancy, I would put it near the rear of the garage, over a compost bucket, and run the hose out – my own redneck composting toilet with a bidet!

I’m really looking forward to spending some time up here. LIttle Man loves going on ATV rides, and I can just let him run around the yard, doing his own little thing. There are toys here he has not seen in 6.5 months, so he will definitely keep busy. Best of all, there is ONE television for the whole house. Last summer, the only time I turned that television on was when we had tornado warnings during a major storm. We went down to the basement to shelter for a while during that storm, and afterwards, I turned the television on to the local news to see how the rest of the night would look. We’ve a few books here, and with so much nature, going outside will be our top priority.

There are not a lot of people up here; I did see a handful of cars drive by as we were getting ready for dinner, but there are only a handful of houses down the road, so I’m not too concerned about it being packed with people. Even the holiday weekends up here, it’s not too crazy unless you’re out on the water. So, expect some classic trail and lake photos; a call back to when I first started this blog and was posting 5 times a week. I’m definitely looking forward to it all.