"Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder"

This quote is so true.  We trekked up to the Northwoods this past weekend (by Northwoods I mean Northern WI obviously) to my grandparents' cabin.  I have such fond memories of visiting the cabin over the years in every season.  During the winter months, Papa and Grandma would take my sister and me skiing and about halfway through, Papa would stop and pull out a mini Snickers bar to re-energize us.  What joy!

Welcome to the Cabin!

I find myself being rejuvenated in the beauty and the stillness of being up north.  The little joys are found in walking down the middle of the road all weekend without seeing a single car, but seeing many deer tracks (shh.. don't tell Grandma!), in being cozied up in the cabin with board games and excellent company to keep occupied for hours with a warm bowl of Grandma's homemade chicken noodle soup, skiing in the woods without getting lost, or in finding the pileated woodpecker whose echoes could be heard among the trees.  Sheer bliss!

On our way to Three Lakes, we stopped at a little restaurant called Cameron House.  You may or may not know that I do not eat seafood or fish (I consider myself to be a seafooditerian if there is such a thing haha).  However, once in a great while (okay a few times a year), I will breakdown and CRAVE a fish fry.  Seriously, there is NOTHING like a WI fish fry in my opinion, and it was tasty (I think I'm craving fish now as a matter-of-fact ha!).  I also like Bake-n-Shark, but seeing that it is only found in Trinidad, I'm out of luck there! 

What a great little getaway we had!  Papa wasn't able to join us this time due to some prior commitments, and he was greatly missed.  Skiing just wasn't the same without him there!  But none the less, it was peaceful to be in the woods with no one to be heard or seen, enjoying the little things in life.  The weather was absolutely wonderful between 30-40*, and a light snow falling for most of the day. 

Oops!  a few snowflakes melted on the camera lense.

I ask for a nice picture, and he does this.  What's a wife to do but laugh?

Of course I'm no better when it comes to posing for a "nice" pic.

While inside, the competitive spirit came out, and we played Settlers, Ticket to Ride, Skipbo, and Scrabble.  I like to think I've inherited Grandma's competitive edge.  :)  No trip to Three Lakes is complete without wine-tasting at the local Winery so we've stocked up until our next trip back, which can't come soon enough might I add! 

Love this place!  The wine, the cheese, the tradition, the love...

Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.