One more time we drove out to the place where memories have been made over the years
Many many memories since Dad K helped Alvin build this place we call our summer cottage. The place that love built on Hampton Haven.
Memories, so many
Some of them I wont lie,
Some memories have been very hard
And seem to be tied up in a bundle that is stored away in my heart.
I know they are there
I know the pain that was contained within those memories
I know the faithfulness of God through those times
Memories like that will never leave this heart of mine.
But this weekend as we drove up and parked, knowing this was the last weekend of the season
I knew more memories had been stored away in my heart
Which makes closing up easier to do.
The colors of the leaves on the trees were brilliant on the dreariness of the days
Yellow leaves popped with color up against the darkest tones of the evergreens
And in between were some interspersed pockets of orange and red and rust
As if the Creator had taken a brush and painted the strokes of brilliant colors
This is fall
And the weather was rainy, with some sunshine
And wind that would have taken Dorothy and Toto to Kansas!
The lake always takes on a look that is more repelling than appealing
And the sounds of kids playing and motorboats racing across the water are also sounds that are now non existent in this dreary fall day
The cottage amidst the trees is waiting to welcome us
The sound of the pellets is a welcome sound
The floor is cold and I wonder why we didn’t make it more insulated
But soon the warmth has chased away the cold and we are able to take off sweaters
While we enjoy a nice hot coffee
It is so quiet here
As if everyone has gone somewhere else for this last weekend of R&R
Before the wind blows all the leaves off the trees and the clouds drop the first flakes of snow
But this weekend we don’t want to think about that
Instead about our kids coming, and the sound of the grandkids laughter and talking,
And the smell of turkey and ham cooking
And the feeling of abounding gratitude on this thanksgiving weekend
Where this momma and granny’s heart is full as I have my tribe around me
Poppa and I soaking in the last conversations and laughter and antics in this place until May
It is a hard thing to see summer come to a close, and autumn running right behind it
Although sometimes the appearance of autumn feels more like the days of pre winter
And one doesn’t know whether to wear shorts or long pants,
Ball caps or woollen toques
And we know that we should take an inventory of the things in our closet
BEFORE the morning that we need it
But somehow it doesn’t seem to be necessary today.
The closing of the cabin
Taking home all the groceries that were brought out but not used
And a reminder of the things to bring next May
(We have to remember the oven cleaner!!)
Winterizing takes some time
To blow out lines and put antifreeze into things that need to be kept from freezing
But my good man will do that this week, as the power was out for our last night/day at the cottage
A good excuse to do it later when Hydro has come through with restoration of power
(Mental note as I write we are 18 hours post outage and still waiting to hear it is on - but it doesn’t really affect us any tonight)
We started a tradition, encouraged by my daughter (in law) Leah who used to do something like this when she was young.
We write in a notebook, each child telling her what to write, looking forward to the year ahead until we are back and into summer.
But before she writes, she reads what was written this time last year, and there is some nodding of heads, some laughing, and maybe some looks of deep thought.
It is a measurement of time.
This has been a good year.
A combination of cottage and camp
Of laughter
And resting
Of working and playing
It has been many suppers together, and some good cottage breakfasts
We have talked, laughed, debated, and prayed.
Oh, and Poppa has measured the kids at the beginning of summer and toward the end
The pole in our living room is another way of measuring time.
It is the way it goes here at 5 Hampton Haven
The opening and closing of the cottage is signalled by the turning on and turning off of the community water (which we noted must have its own power system as that did not go off with everything else this morning!)
It is the way the calendar ticks by,
Day to day, week to week, month to month
Crossing over into a new year
And then as the snow melts and the leaves come out on the trees surrounding this cottage that love built,
We will come back out
And no doubt we will say, it feels like we just left. Can’t believe how time flies.
Just can’t believe it!!
Till 2026 May long, (Lord Willing)
J
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