Lake House Diaries 4

      There were two locations where Greg and Ethel could be found in the next few years. If it was winter, they were in their cozy home in the city, entertaining friends and family, and planning for the next season at the Lake. Early Spring to late Fall found them at the lake. They were very predictable in those years. Their children were all married and independent, but always came to visit. It was known in the immediate family exactly where they would be and when they would be there. 

    On the trips home, their vehicle would be laden with canning and harvested vegetables from the garden. The trips back to the lake saw the van packed with items to add to the decor, more tools with which to tinker, and any other amenity that they might need for the summer. Having a workshop in both locations, Greg was never at a loss for something to tinker with, invent, repair, or create. 

     Fruit was a readily available commodity in the desert country so there was ample opportunity to can or preserve a lot of it. Greg invented and built a fruit drier that served them well for many years. At Christmas, the family would be treated to dried apples, apricots, plums and pears. The Walnut trees were beginning to bear and blanching and roasting them became an art and were a family favourite. The nuts were only available because of Greg's sharp shooting ability with the pellet gun, in his constant battle with the squirrels. 

   Their children and their spouses, and the up and coming bevy of grandchildren, began to book cabin time for the summer months. It was rare that more than one family at a time were there. There was plenty of room, with a basement suite and the original cabin on the terrace above the house, but each family wanted some privacy and also did not want to overwhelm Greg and Ethel with noise and busyness. They were getting older and needed their downtime, at least for a quick afternoon nap. 

     It was a great opportunity for Greg and Ethel's grandchildren to get to now them and to do a bit of bonding. Years later the majority of the memories of "Oma and Opa" would revolve around the times spent at the Lake House. Summertime at the lake became a great memory builder, memories both good and bad. Whether water sports or lounging in the shade with a good book, it was a time of no work, no school, no distractions, early morning walks, and mostly leisurely days of sunshine and good food. Of course, there were always chores to be done, but in those years, Greg and Ethel were young enough and strong enough to take care of most of the maintenance work. 

   But, then one early spring day, the first day of the season, opening day, it all came crashing down, and it would never be the same.