Guess whos pregnant ?! We cant believe Bailey is already grown up (she is our neighbors dog and best friend of our mutt Frankie). .the vet tells neighbor Joe that come July there will be puppies at camp! Baileys owners are keeping one, others are going to friends, family and the doggie daddy.Shes expecting a bunch of blonde (and maybe chocolate?) mini Baileys..Charlie said when the puppies are old enough, she wants us to lay in a grass and let them crawl all over her..That sounds like a pretty good idea to us… *UPDATE: Note for clarity for some recent incoming questions and concerns : We do not own Bailey. We did not breed her. We are not breeding dogs or involved in the selling of them. The owners of both dogs are old friends, our neighbor is not running a puppy mill. Our own dog (and first child) frankie is a rescue from a high kill shelter – we found him 12 years agorescue.Fluffydog.net. We always encourage people to first consider saving a dog that needs a home. .To learn more see todays profile line. The story Why We Rescue… of how and why we chose to adopt vs buy : https://tinyurl.com/ybwpc5ml
Close calls.The lodge phone rang. I panicked. Nobody calls that line unless its the fire department (unpublished number). .Its David: Dont freak out but I rolled the Ranger back in the woods. I need you to bring me a towel – I bashed my head and I dont want to scare Charlie. ..It was almost dark. .Neighbor Joe runs over with the first aid kit to pick out the blood encrusted weeds embedded in his noggin then we head back up the hill to survey the damage & see if we can pull the Ranger out..David had been riding the trails making the rounds for downed trees, when he rode up on a log hidden in the underbrush (and dove out as it flipped over). ..My little brother Sam happened to be up this weekend – I texted him this pic of Davids head. In five minutes he was already hauling his lineman climbing gear up the hill up on the Bobcat. (This vid of him flipping the machine upright). ..David doesnt know what he cut his head on. And I dont know how we would have found him in the dark in the backwoods if hed have gotten pinned under the machine.Its getting close to Fathers Day. and feeling extra grateful for the close calls that turned into wake up calls. and for all the dads that are also husbands, brothers & neighbors.We cant always be sure whats waiting for us on the path ahead. So err on the side of caution, friends.
Without love, there is no reason to know anyone, for love will in the end connect us to our neighbors, our children and our hearts. -Martin Luther King Jr.Everyday we are surrounded by neighbors that are friends and friends that are neighbors here in this little rural lake community. .These are some peaceful views shared by two of our friends who were the first of thirteen to buy up here after we did: @brianguysmith1 and @geyer.morford – thank you for always pointing out the silver linings. Shots by Brian .
Recently, a beautiful couple came back here – to the place where they made their life commitment to each other one year ago..@_castlecakes & @e_roar – happy anniversary thank you for setting the example for all of us for what true love is.An excerpt that they shared that brings so much joy and clarity (a reading from @bellhooks_ )… words to live by for all of us:. . The moment we choose to love, we begin to move against domination, againt oppression. The moment we choose to love, we begin to move toward freedom. To act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of Love as the practice of freedom. We do this by choosing to work with individuals you admire and respect. By committing to give our all to relationships by embracing a global vision wherein we see our lives and our fate as intimately connected as those of everyone else on the planet.
Chipmunk Rescue Update: he woke up, and is stumbling around a bit now – thanks to the responses here on Instagram we found the animal rescue outside Lake Geneva about 20 min away, Fellow Mortals (a not for profit that takes in 2000 animals a year). They called right back and we just drove him there. They think they may be able to save him ?? Dunno yet..We wanted to keep him as a pet and call him SCOUT. (They said hell no). At least theyre able to save him. Hopefully. Its the little wins that get us through these days. ..We just found him on the ground! Hes still breathing. But we dont know what to do. Is there such a thing as chipmunk rescue? Is it possible that he fell from a tree and knocked himself unconscious ? His little cheeks are still full of food. how do we know if hes in pain or not??.Help
In respect for the #amplifymelanatedvoices movement, we will be stepping back from this space Jun 1-7 to amplify black voices who need to be heard. We stand in solidarity with black people. .Please know we hear you and we care. .Truth Matters. Black lives matter.
UPDATE: thank you so much to all of you who shared your links and ideas on how to help/ support/ make change and bring more awareness – FOR THOSE WHO HAVE requested a list of what tangible actions we have made and will make : please see below .#peace to all ..Waking up this morning looking out this window and looking for ways to help. I start most mornings here and am always struck when thinking about what life in America was like 95 years ago when this place was built. Were the people that stood here in this same spot in 1925 compassionate? Empathetic for their fellow humans? Were they even aware of racial injustice? Or sadly were they indifferent?.The view of nature outside these windows has not changed. And, unfortunately societys view on racial equality has not changed nearly enough. .We want to do more to help and are going to start this morning by donating to a racial justice fund: but feeling admittedly ashamed to not already have the answer to this: .Where are the most helpful places that our donations can make an actual difference? (We realize that donating wont fix this, but we feel like it cant hurt to at least make an effort)..To date, for almost as long as we have owned camp, we have been doing these things:. . donating the camp for inner city kids in need, (from a full week takeover to groups).gifting packages to school auctions to support ethnic diversity (and those who teach children about racism).donating camp packages to fundraisers to promote diversity of all kinds .. educating our young daughter on the meaning of racial injustice, humanity and equality ..but it doesnt ever feel like enough, especially in times like this- so we are now also going to try harder and donate to some recommendations that we get here as well..Trying to keep positive this morning and every morning we will not give up hope for a brighter future where human rights, love, equality & justice for all are here for good. ..#blacklivesmatter … @bobcoscarelli for @countrylivingmag cover
Just in!The tiniest & most under appreciated trophies. .Folks collected these after reaching a summit, hiking an epic trail, or if youre like us, by visiting a national outdoor treasure.Hiking staff medallions where one of the most popular souvenirs in the 20s – 50s at outdoor tourist attractions.Since then, the walking stick has been a steadfast symbol of Trail Life In America. Scouts got the ceremonial standard hiking staff during their rank advancement, but anyone can whittle their own walking stick to show off their medallions collected from hikes around the country.But the real staff medallions are scarce today (they stopped making these badges the traditional way- the modern ones are just enamel pin style). You can only find the antique style at fleas, eBay & antique stores. We where happy to finally find a collector who sourced one of his makers for us. .Ours started with a sketch of our tent hilltop. Then a relief was hand carved, that was turned into a die, that was used to stamp the metal, then hand-painted with spot color (pulled from 40s palettes). Ive always been drawn to theseantique hiking staffs and have picked up a few at fleas in Prague & Vienna. (The best flea where everything is cheap because compared to the states, anything less that 100 years isnt really considered old). .Its sad that somebody spent a lifetime collecting each each trophy – then instead of their life long hiking companion being handed down -it ended up at a junk market 70yrs later.Well never know the hiker who traveled the world to fill this stick. But by the looks of it, they took their last trip in the 40s. And here we are. Some 70+ yrs after theyhammered in their last trophy- we just added one more.This new one is from the most unlikely place on the other side of the world, where what we lack in mountain ranges we make up for in love for the same big sky.Thank you to the stranger who got this stick started for us (there are 3 more spots left we want to fill when we see more National Parks). There just is never enough time. #goals .The Hiking stick Medallians will be in the new camp store .More at #wandawegacustoms
Who else likes to smell like dirt and woodsmoke at the end of the day? .We tilled and seeded two acres of land, cut out a 200 foot access road out of invasive scrub. Took the bobcat out to repair the beach & retaining wall. Brought in two dump trucks of wood chips for the trails. Seeded a hillside of wildflowers for a future cutting garden. Then ended the week yesterday by repotting 114 begonias Into their seasonal homes. (Today we are replanting the herb garden and taking delivery of cords of oak and hickory.).Everybody here smells like dirt, and we dont mind it..Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm. John Muir ..Thank you to @bradandjen (first 6 shots). Last couple of Bailey and the garden in earlier seasons.
So inspired by this photographer power couple (last pic is them)Looking back at all the moments they have captured here at camp, and motivated more than ever by husband and wife teams who somehow make partnering in life and business look easy. .Check them out at @bradandjen of the lovely wedding weekend of @stanqwash and @kassiecouey
