Addendum to Lily Bay - Round Two

Isn't she just the cutest?

Lily Bay - Round Two

The whole family got to enjoy Lily Bay this past weekend! Here are some shots...

Nikkia practiced the chords to "The Nazarene" by Michael Card on the drive up.

Blueberry Meadows

This time the whole family met "Grandma Blueberry",
and Papa says we'll make picking there a tradition!

We came upon the nostalgia-inducing remains...

... of a once-glorious fort.

 

'Twas a wonderful weekend.

Four Sisters Venture North

For those of you who keep checking this blog and see nothing new except the page design, my apologies, and may this post be worthy of your wait. =)

Nikkia, me, Jessie and Amanda visited PapaDama and Dama up at our beloved Lily Bay last weekend (July 29th - August 1st). We got there on Thursday night and stayed until early Sunday afternoon. We figured the time spent there to be around 2.58 days. Yeah, we like figuring stuff like that.

The drive up was very significant. Jessie has recently gotten her permit, and she eagerly availed herself of the four hours of driving opportunity.

On our way up, we spotted a sign for "Blueberry Meadows". Nikkia (the eldest and therefore naturally the decider of any suggestion that arises) was feeling adventurous, so we turned off the main road and continued several miles before arriving at the sought-after location. We pulled into the dirt drive and up to a tent where an old lady stood waiting for us. We decided to give "pick-your-own blueberries" a try, so we met the old lady, who kindly led us in the art of blueberry picking. The berries were huge. Their color was a chalky slate blue. She instructed us to err toward picking the bigger ones because they are sweeter, but "when in doubt," she said with a grin, "just taste one".

Up at our grandparents' cabin that evening, PapaDama and Dama lost no time in beginning the Lily Bay experience for us. We went for a pontoon joy-ride on the lake! The temperature was cool; we talked, sighted loons, and I even jumped in for a quick swim! (I had put my suit on under my clothes just in case an opportunity arose...I hadn't been swimming all summer and was so excited for the chance.)

That night, Nikkia noticed this wall-calender welcome from Dama as we settled into the lovely guest room that was to be ours for the weekend:

We each have nick-names...for various and sundry reasons that are not to be disclosed this day. Nikkia is "Otter Eyes", I am "Beaver Angel", Jessie is "Princess", and Amanda is "Curly Locks".

The following days were simply delightful. Friday was rainy, but we didn't mind. We played Mexican Train...

 (it's even more fun than Chicken-Foot, Mr. K)

...and fiddled around...

(Amanda gets a casual lesson)

...and PapaDama relaxed and read the paper.

(that is, until I interrupted him for a picture)

And then, to our glee, the rained stopped! Bring on the swimming!

 

Time to go back to the cabin! Jessie and I sat on the front edge
of the pontoon to dangle our feet in the water (a tradition).

On Friday night, PapaDama took us all out for a fish dinner at the Timberwolf, a family-run restaurant in Grand Rapids. Their multi-grain bread and herb whipped butter is unprecedented. Mmmmmm!

Saturday dawned sunny!

bathing robin

 

Amanda and I played the bean bag game in the morning

(while Nikkia and Jessie were out fishing with PapaDama).

We left the game out, and when we returned only a few hours

later, we saw this busy spider's considerable achievement.

That evening: crappie fishing!

 Amanda didn't want to touch her fish, so she asked me to hold it for her.

Then, she apparently ditched her qualms, because she soon kissed the thing.

(Okay, so she didn't really touch it.)

Finally, I caught a keeper! It is so cool to watch these lures travel under water.

We mentally divided ourselves into two groups

(based on our early-morning activities):

"The Fishers"

 "The Sleepers" =)

Thanks PapaDama and Dama! It was a fabulous weekend!

On our way home we stopped for Dairy Queen (courtesy of PapaDama)!