Fishing Weekend

A couple of weekends ago, after my Saturday library shift, I headed up north to spend the weekend with Kyle fishing. Kyle was already up at his camper, so he swung back by his parents' cabin to get me. Ollie and I enjoyed some relaxation by the lake until one of the lake dogs attacked her. I wish I had been wearing my garmin to see how fast I sprinted to break up the dog fight. It was terrifying, and both Ollie and I were shaking for quite awhile after, but luckily she's okay.

When Kyle arrived, she had to get some extra dad snuggles to feel better.

Then it was off to the camper! Ollie snuggled in for the trip.

Ollie has spent more time in the camper than I have. When Kyle was fixing it up last fall, Ollie would come with him and "supervise" his work from her perch at the table. Guess right where she hopped up to as soon as we got there.

We stayed up way too late for this gal, so when it was time to go fishing the next morning, I wanted to sleep. So we ended up getting on the water late, and boy did it get hot. We caught fish left and right for the first 45 minutes, and then it slowed down and I got pretty miserable. It was the most calm, still day on the lake, which is great, but that meant the thick hot air just stuck to you and the bugs feasted on my delicious blood.

Ollie offered to drive us to the fish, so we let her.

I think she needs some of those little kid goggle sunglasses that strap in the back, don't you? She has a fairly bad permanent film/scarring on her eye lens, so she's almost blind when it's really sunny out. It was pretty obvious on the lake that she couldn't see either of us; we'd talk to her and she'd stare toward our voice, but wouldn't be looking at us. Poor peanut.

Ollie was obsessed with the live well. As soon as we started pushing the fish we caught in the well, she wanted to jump inside and play with the fish (or possibly eat them, who knows). She decided she'd perch on top to keep them safe for awhile.

After we were done fishing, I treated myself to some Purple Cow ice cream, and it's just as good as I remembered from many years past. Mmmm.

We made a late lunch, cleaned up the camper and made our way back home. This photo was take maybe 3 minutes into the drive. Zzzzz.

And then when she felt like she was missing out on fun by sleeping, she sat in between us and toggled between sleep and wakefulness, all while sitting up. That pug is sure talented.

 

What a fun weekend with the fam!

Bemidji Cabin Weekend

My race weekend started on Thursday. Kyle worked until noon, so I got to spend the morning running errands. And somehow managed to sneak in a manicure appointment and a trip to my favorite coffee shop. Hashtag priorities.

When Kyle was finally off work, I somehow managed to convince him to take me through the Starbucks drive thru for MOAR COFFEE PLZ and Ollie enjoyed the long long drive thru line.

Poor Ollie didn't realize she wasn't coming along with us, so she was really mad when we dropped her off with Kyle's brother for the weekend. Even though she loves her uncle.

The drive was long and boring, and I made a crucial and poor decision to deviate from the pre-determined dinner plan (I researched all nearby restaurants and menus for hours before the weekend, I heart food), and it ended up being a bust. Except for this monster beer. They were joking when they said tall. Geez.

We got to our lake cabin resort after dark, so we ended up just going to our cabin and playing some card games. At what felt like midnight, I told Kyle we had to crash so I could get some rest. Only to realize it was actually 9:15. Whoa, it gets dark out in the wilderness.

The next morning I woke up before the sun and had to snag some pics of the fog rolling over the lake.

Life goals: lake cabin.

Kyle and I set out to explore some of the surrounding communities, but not before some selfies on the dock. Obvs.

#happiestonthewater

On our way to a sporting goods store (per Kyle's request, obviously), I had an inkling that Paul Bunyan was nearby and I made Kyle stop and take a picture with me.

After grabbing lunch, I decided we should do some more driving and head to Bemidji to the expo. The race started so late, I was planning to just pick up my bib the morning of the race.

I'm really thankful we went, because I was much more relaxed race morning knowing I was ready to go.

You all know how Saturday went, since a late start marathon and a slow time means that the race was all.i.did.all.day.long.

Sunday I sucked it up and walked down the giant staircase down to the dock to catch the sunrise. And my mom snapped this pic of us down there. Precious.

Sweet wooden "medal"(?) over the water during the sunrise.

Memorial Weekend in the Sun

Kyle and I both had to work Saturday until 5pm, so as soon as we were off work, we were packed up and lake bound. Ollie wanted to wear her sundress. Obvs. Kyle took forever to load up the boat, so we had time to take a selfie.

We had several pillows and blankets in the backseat for her to make herself comfy on and nap. She chose my kelly green kate spade tote, because she has taste and an affinity for team green.

When we finally got there, we were treated to a gorgeous sunset.

And a giant fire to keep the bugs away. Holy hell the mayflies were OOC!

Sunday morning Kyle took off for fishing at an ungodly hour, so Ollie and I hung out with his parents all day and were treated to a lunch time pontoon ride. Ollie loves the pontoon.

At one point she smelled some cabin's lunch and kept sticking her nose in the air to inhale heavily. It was hilarious.

After the pontoon ride it finally warmed up so it was time to do some sunbathing. Ollie had to join. She tanned topless, #rebel.

This might be my new fave pic of her.

Kyle got home from slaying the fish, and Ollie continued to smile from ear to ear. We started to be concerned, as she usually gets ~22 hours of sleep a day and she had woke up at 5am because she was on lake time, apparently (which is reverse for pugs, I guess) and had yet to sleep/nap by supper time.

We were treated to another pontoon ride after dinner, and that finally did her in. But she had to hold my hand while zonking out (i die).

When we got back to the cabin it was FINALLY time to enjoy some s'mores. Which I had been craving for at least 10 days.

For anyone concerned, Ollie slept the hardest she's ever slept in the history of ever and barely moved when Kyle got up to go fishing. She burrowed under the covers further with me and zonked out for another three hours. Is this why parents bring their kids to the lake? 

Monday we woke up and had barely eaten breakfast when the rain started. 

We put up the umbrella and continued to enjoy the droplets while reading until the thunder and lightning started to come a little too close. 

Kyle and his dad got home from fishing early. I convinced him to take the kayaks out with me. I thought for sure I was going to eat it crawling down the wet rocks to get in to the kayak, but I made it down unscathed (this is known as foreshadowing). We bopped around the lake and visited the turtle areas and then we went out to a random point on the lake that seemed like a good goal destination. On the way back I challenged Kyle to a race because I was feeling cocky. I lost, but it was pretty darn close.

On the way back up the rocks, the rock I stepped on gave way and so did the rocks under it, leading part of the rock wall to collapse and a giant rock to fall on my foot. Derp. My big toe took the brunt of the fall, thankfully.

My hair got larger and larger as the 88% humidity day wore on. Uff. Family pic FTW. The only time I'll post a bad photo of myself on the internet is if my pug looks extra cute.

Cabin Weekend

After work on Saturday, I finally made it out to Kyle's parents' lake cabin with the pugbear in tow to finish celebrating Kyle's birthday.  We had dinner and then it was time to go out in the pontoon for a ride.  

Kyle had to kayak out to the pontoon because something wasn't working right.  And while his dad was charging the battery, he decided to take Ollie out for a stroll.  She's wearing her Packers coat because there was a pre-season game on Saturday.  Also she looks adorable in it.  So there's that.

Ollie has been out to the cabin more than I have (dang you school), so she has a "spot" on the pontoon and it's in the driver's seat with her Grandpa!  Captain Ollie, at your service!

LOLZ U GUYZ I'M NOT EVEN WATCHING WHERE I'M GOING!!

The night wouldn't be complete without a fire pit and s'mores.   Mmmm.  I <3 smores.

Sunday morning was spent with a cup of coffee overlooking the lake.  And GORGEOUS summer weather.  Bliss.

Which segued into mid-morning book reading in the same chair overlooking the lake.  

And then Kyle coerced me in to taking the kayaks out with him for a spin.  At the last minute he decided Ollie would come with him again because I was too big of a wuss to have her in mine.  But after she kept trying to jump ship out of his kayak, we finally switched her, mid-lake.  Oy Pug.  She loved it though.

Once we got back to land, I figured we might as well find out if she could swim, so I took her for a little swimming lesson.  She can swim for about 8 seconds before she starts to sink like a brick.  Then we had the bright idea of finding an old school life jacket for her to wear since we don't have a doggie one yet.

Genius.

Cabin weekends are the best.