Lutsen 2013

I am overjoyed to report that mom went home from the hospital last Friday with virtually no leukemic cells in her body, her white count, platelet count, and hemoglobin count slowly rising, and a sense of relief that I can't even explain.  Well, I had the relief for sure, and I'm assuming she did too.

 

This journey has not been easy.  We hit a very scary patch very quickly and there were simply no guarantees that she'd bounce back.  I am so very, very thankful that she did, and that we were granted more time with her.  Because it's just better with her here.

 

This is not to say that her cancer is cured, or that it won't come back.  In fact, we are pretty much sure that it will come back, but we have no idea when.  For today, it is gone, and I'm very happy about that.

 

Mom made it home just in time for our annual "Lutsen" trip with friends.  This was our 14th year renting a house with awesome friends and unwinding together. 

 

I think it's funny that we still refer to this trip as our "Lutsen" trip, even though we only actually go to the Lutsen, MN area roughly every other year.

This time we headed to a beautiful home a little north of Bayfield, WI, right on the shore of Lake Superior.

Being that we were kind of tucked into a bay at the mouth of a river, we didn't get the larger rounded Lake Superior rocks and crashing waves that we are accustomed to on the North Shore of the lake on the Minnesota side.

Instead we saw sandy beaches, which would have been nice if it were 80 degrees out, but that's not too common for this part of the country in Mid October.

None of us really mind though, because this trip isn't really about laying on the beach anyway.

It more about spending time with these friends.

 

 

 

 

 

Champagne and Knitting?  Don't mind if I do!

 

Our house was nicely stocked with Fiestaware and Pyrex.  It took everything in me not to just take them all home with me to add to my cupboards!

 

 

We played some games,

 

 

 

 

Drank some beverages,

Watched an incredible moon rise,

Ate some FABULOUS food,

(psssst!  Look what I cooked!  A whole bunch of root vegetables and they were soooo good!)

And went for a walk in the morning before the dew went away.

I can smell this picture.

I was a little worried what the status of the fall leaves would be since we were going a little later this year, but Mama Nature and her colors sure didn't disappoint.

 

Thank you again, Lutsen crew.  I know it was a little quieter year for me, but it was exactly what I needed right now. 

 

Good food, good friends, good wine.  Fresh air, laughter, and naps.

 

I absolutely cannot wait for next year.  FIFTEEN and going strong!

 

 

XOXOX

NH