A vacation miscellany monday

by Rachel Marie Martin

Two weeks ago I told you that I would do a Miscellany Monday while on vacation.

One week ago, while on vacation, I did not do my miscellany Monday.  I was playing games, eating too much food, and laughing with my family.

that’s my daughter Grace laughing — that’s how I felt.

Now, today, I will do a Miscellany Monday post inspired by my recent vacation to the lake.  Because, lets face it — what vacation doesn’t provide numerous random moments?  In fact — all of July could be full of my random and quirky moments from the lake.

1) I am joyfully listening to the hum of my dishwasher.  Did I repeat?  Joyfully.  Our rustic cabins do not have a dishwasher.  Well, they do — myself.  My kids. My husband.  And again, myself.

2) When sleeping in a cabin where the curtains are made from sheer cotton is it critical to bring a heavy blanket to drape over the windows.  Tacky?  Perhaps.  But, if it allows the children to sleep past 5 am — due to the early rising sun — then let my windows be adorned with Thomas the Tank Engine blankets, and Cars, and whatever it takes to give the illusion of darkness.

that’s our cabin

3) Samuel is even more spoiled.  Our cabin is tiny.  Very tiny.  With paper thin walls.  I did whatever it took to keep Samuel asleep so that he would not wake up his siblings.  So now, my almost 10 month old baby is very much like a heavy, wiggly newborn.  Wants to be held.  Nurse on demand.  And sleep right next to me.  I am very tired.

Spoiled, yet oh so cute, Samuel

4) Apparently, there was some memo to the horseflies that I tasted good.  See pic below.  I don’t need to add any more words.  However, you may add words of empathy in the comment section.

my poor leg

5) Speaking of horseflies — any advice on how to stop the intense itching? And pain?  Both of which wake me up?  Right after Samuel falls asleep? Note — everything below I’ve tried.  Numerous times.

non-itching stopping products

6) The phrase — can you hear me now —  is uttered many times while we’re at the lake.  The coverage?  Spotty. Every time I uttered that phrase I felt like a walking commercial for Verizon while using my Sprint phone. Ha ha ha.

7) Texting, hoewever, worked.  Our texts? Bring me a NUK when you come to the beach or other profound ones such as dinner is ready or Samuel is awake or where’s the sunscreen raced between our phones.  I have no idea what we did before we had our phones.  Can you imagine?  I’d have to walk back to the cabin to tell them dinner was ready.  Or get a nuk. Gotta love technology.

8) Speaking of walking, I probably walked at least 100 times between our two cabins.  I wish that would have negated all the Nut Goodie Bars that I ate.  Oh well.  It was vacation. And please, no one tell me the caloric intake in one of those bars.  It needs to remain a secret.

my well-used recipe

9) Brennan went tubing behind the boat for the first time.  And he went fast.  And I prayed.  And now, all he wants to do is go tubing again.  The awesome teen in the picture with Brennan?  My cousin Noah.  Brennan thinks he’s the best.

10) I missed blogging.  While I was gone I received numerous emails, sweet comments and awards.  Thank you.  I appreciate each one — and I plan on responding this week.  Once I get that laundry done. (14 loads — empathy comments for that as well)

So there you go.  Round one of the vacation miscellany.  Next week I could talk about fishing, or that I put a leech on a hook (really), or the food, or driving with a trailer full of bikes and a canoe on top of the truck, or, or, or — we’ll have to see what the week brings!

Remember to link up to Carissa’s blog.  Gotta to love her.  Mom of two — newborn in there — and the author of an amazing blog and founder of the Miscellany Monday craze! 🙂

Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters

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18 comments

Theresa July 12, 2010 - 3:41 pm

Oh, those bites look like they would drive you crazy. I see in the photo some homeopathic oinment but have you tried Hylands bug bite relief? It comes in a stick and you rub it on. Hope they heal soon.

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Courtney July 12, 2010 - 3:44 pm

Looks like a great vacation – except for those nasty horseflies. Yuck. Love the pic of Grace. Beautiful!

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Candace July 12, 2010 - 3:52 pm

I just love the lake – even with the problems it brings it is still a delightful vacation!

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anythingbutperfect July 12, 2010 - 4:09 pm

your post made me laugh! and sorry for the bites! that looks like it feels awful! glad you had a good vacay! good luck with the laundry!

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Elizabeth Rose July 12, 2010 - 4:35 pm

Hey, who ever said waking up at 5am was a bad thing? 🙂

Oh, Rachel. Don’t even get me started on bugs that bite and leave itchy spots, spots that reduce one almost to tears in the tiring search for a product that actually WORKS. When I go outside, the bugs see me as an all-you-can-eat buffet. 🙂

Beautiful photos! It looks like a beautiful vacation spot.

In Christ,
Lizzy Rose

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Matter of Fact July 12, 2010 - 6:42 pm

Looks like you all had a fabulous time on your vacation !! The cabin looks cozy, makes me want a getaway to a tiny cabin by the water to read and relax !!! I know what it’s like to try to keep little one’s asleep in tight head quarters. We use to go to Lake Okoboji and spend a few days , I had 3 little ones all under 4 !!! Glad your back safe !!

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Our Family July 12, 2010 - 8:08 pm

Looks like you had a wonderful time (minus the bites -so sorry)!! What a wonderful time to relax, have fun & enjoy your family!
Jessica

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Gwen Toliver July 13, 2010 - 2:45 am

You gave me some much-needed laughs!! We’ve put nearly 2700 miles on our van in the past 2 weeks so I can relate with the craziness! Maybe we can trade laundry piles – it’d be fairly equal since we each have 9 in the house – it might be fun to do someone else’s!!! 🙂

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Barbie July 13, 2010 - 4:55 am

I can’t wait to hear more about your wonderful vacation. Sorry about the horseflies. I don’t have any remedies for you, unfortunately. Doesn’t technology amaze you? I’ve had phone calls and texts from my kids, while were were in the same house. Now that is pretty insane, don’t you think? Would love to make those Nut Goodie Bars one day! Glad you are back!

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partialemptynester July 13, 2010 - 5:07 am

OMGoodness, I can relate to the bites…I blogged about my fall and a spider bite that had my eye swollen shut after the July 4th fireworks…someone asked me how I knew it was a spider bite and do you know? I’d had a spider bite same time last year sitting in the same spot to watch the fireworks, swollen arm for weeks…craziness! I use hydrocortisone combined with ibuprofen (double duty)…my eye is looking much better, hope your leg is 😉

And by the way…those nut goodie bars have a months’ supply of protein in them…healthy, I tell ya, they’re healthy :)))

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Lynn July 13, 2010 - 5:34 am

Continuing to lift up prayers!
Psalm 31:5-8: Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth…but I trust in the LORD. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Prayer Bears
My email address

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carissa @ lowercase letters July 13, 2010 - 5:52 am

aww, vacation style miscellany is the best kind! samuel is too cute not to spoil! ; ) the nurse on demand stuff is so exhausting, though. i feel ya! mmm… nut goodie bars – how vacation worthy! i am ready for a vacation at woodland.

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Heidi July 13, 2010 - 6:55 pm

Great post! LOVE the way your blog looks!

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ali @ an ordinary mom July 13, 2010 - 10:09 pm

Bug bites make winter sound so much better… until winter comes.

Only 14 loads of laundry, eh? Quit your compaining 🙂

(kidding! um, I hear ya and can totally commiserate on the laundry matter… they just keep wearing clothes, so I guess we need to keep washing them, right? Sigh… why are neverending chores so neverending?)

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Crystal Roberts July 13, 2010 - 10:24 pm

ok, I feel a little sorry about your laundry…what a cute post, really enjoyed reading. Very glad you had a great time, I thought the text part was hilarious and I can sooo relate to the nursing on demand resulting in a haevy well fed spoiled baby, I did that very thing this past weekend with my boy, and I couldn’t help thinking I spent more time with him than anyone else : ) Or a little like an udder mother : )

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Crystal Roberts July 13, 2010 - 10:24 pm

ok, I feel a little sorry about your laundry…what a cute post, really enjoyed reading. Very glad you had a great time, I thought the text part was hilarious and I can sooo relate to the nursing on demand resulting in a haevy well fed spoiled baby, I did that very thing this past weekend with my boy, and I couldn’t help thinking I spent more time with him than anyone else : ) Or a little like an udder mother : )

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Crystal Roberts July 13, 2010 - 10:24 pm

This comment has been removed by the author.

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Chocolate Covered Daydreams July 14, 2010 - 4:05 am

If only I could be a stowaway. That looks like so much fun! (All except the horsefly bites. Did you know that one of the bites was heartshaped? I guess that must mean that they really do love you!)

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