WE LOVE OUR LAKES in Minnesota, dubbed “The Land of 10,000 Lakes.” In reality, our state has more than 10K, but that’s a nice, round, marketable number.
And because we love our lakes so much, we spend endless hours enjoying them year-round, especially during the summer. I was well into my sixties before I experienced cabin lake life.
Recently, Randy and I headed to a family member’s lake property south of Crosslake in central Minnesota, to us Up North since we’re from southern Minnesota. Randy’s youngest sister and her husband have graciously invited extended family to stay in their guest lake cabin. And each summer for the past several, we’ve made the four-hour drive north to relax at the lake.
As someone who grew up on a dairy and crop farm with only two childhood vacations in her history, none of them at a lake, these cabin stays have proven tranquil, relaxing and lovely in every way. There among the tall pines with a clear view of Horseshoe Lake, I feel such peace. Isolated. Disconnected from the world unless I opt to connect via my smartphone.
Time has no clock here. No schedule.
Awaken with the sun or sleep in. While away hours fishing from the dock, lounging on the beach or reading lakeside. Pull a kayak into the lake if you’re a water lover, which I am not. I like water, just not being on water. Watch the loons while listening to their haunting call.
Delight in the imaginative play of the grandchildren, this year forming the Shovel Team with their over-sized beach toys. For me, this is part of the joy of lake life, this time together with Izzy, 7, and Isaac, 4, who always anticipate their family vacation to the “brown house.” They look forward to helping Grandma assemble s’mores, to swimming and playing on the beach, to ice cream at Lake Country Crafts & Cones and to pizza from Rafferty’s. We are building life-long memories.
This is perhaps what I love most, this being with family. Mornings and afternoons and evenings spent together, then sleeping under the same roof. Meals mostly charcoal-grilled and shared. Walking hand in hand with the grandchildren down the long pine-lined driveway. Collecting shells. Washing sand from little feet. Cuddles and hugs and sitting on the bed playing a card game with made up rules.
And this year, solar system artwork created by artist-in-residence Isaac taped to the log walls in our bedrooms.
This is the stuff of Up North at the cabin. Generational connections defined by love-filled, joyous moments at the lake.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Glad to see you had some time Up North too! Nice to be with family when the weather’s good and everyone can run around (or just lounge around) outside! 😁
I am thankful I could manage the trip. It was good to get away, even if I struggled sometimes due to my health situation. The grandkids were especially loving, with lots of hugs for Grandma.
Exactly. This is how life is meant to belived. Those family times in special places. Perfect. We are looking forward to our family week in Maine for all these reasons and more. 😊
Nothing better than being with family. I I just wish Miranda, Caleb and John could join us. Seldom are we all together. Can’t recall the last time…
I love how you write about the simple joys of your time with family and your time at the lake.
It will be a different, less quiet experience in August with more of the family there, but full of new memories where your grandkids will be able to get more comfortable with cousins.
Dear Rosie, thank you to you and Jon for sharing your slice of heaven on earth with us. We feel blessed and grateful.
I’m so happy you are able to do this!!! Wonderful! I hope you’re feeling ok throughout your time.
I managed, Gretchen. I had one really good day at the lake, one bad and three so so.
You take what you can get, eh? I’m
Glad you had one great day!
Exactly…and be thankful for the good days.
beautiful, peaceful, fun, and rejuvenating – glad for you both
It was all of those and more.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
I like the photo of the blue heron on the dock!
I look forward to our family time at a cabin up north, coming up in August. TAZE and MAAL will be there!
How wonderful that your entire family will be together in August. So happy for you and Gary.
I like the heron pic also.
I LOVE no clock, no schedule Time 🙂 Plus there is nothing better than gathering to connect and make memories! I recently took a much needed vacay and the parts I loved the most were time with the mister as well as just having the time to sit and eat and enjoy and experience it – no hurrying and rushing about – ahhhhh bliss. ENJOY
Thankful you could get away and relax with no schedule. We all need that.
Beautiful.
Thank you, Keith. You and your family would enjoy time at a Minnesota lake cabin. I hope you three are doing well.
Doing ok. We were just upstate helping Nicole’s mom. She was flooded out of her house two weeks ago. A weekend of intense yard cleanup. Workman came to clean out her basement of mud and treat for mold. Luckily the rest of the house was spared, but no hot water or air conditioning. Her car was destroyed. Now we have this heatwave…… Best to you and Randy!
Keith, I’m so sorry Nicole’s mom experienced severe flooding of her home and then destruction of her car. I’m sure she was thankful to have your help and support. The heat and humidity have been awful in Minnesota also. Tomorrow is supposed to be better…before the next heat wave. Good to connect with you again, even if your news is difficult to read. Take care.
One of these days I would love to get out your way. I know the family would love it. We’re having an uptick in COVID here surprisingly.
Oh, yes, Keith, you and your family would enjoy Minnesota. We have a lot of bike trails, too.
I heard cases were ticking up again. I don’t like hearing that, especially since my primary care doctor is nearly 100 percent certain that my neurological and other issues are a result of COVID, even though I never tested positive. All of my issues started following a nasty virus in January. My many symptoms are on the long COVID list. I feel unwell most of the time, which is why I can’t blog much anymore. I can’t tolerate much screen time with some days being better than others. I’m trying to post twice a week. Mostly I need to work on my paying freelance jobs. I’m frustrated beyond frustrated. I’m not used to being sick.
You describe lake life so beautifully! It is lovely in this area. We live in Breezy Point, so you weren’t too far from us. But my husband and I do find it odd that people describe our area as ‘Up North”, when we both grew up much closer to the Canadian border. 🙂
Thank you, Rose. Yes, the cabin is quite close to Breezy Point. I can understand your finding “Up North” an odd description. 🙂
This sounds like a wonderful vacation!
It was (is). So thankful for this place to go each summer.