Green Lake 2012

Our Green Lake Family

We were so fortunate to spend another summer on Green Lake in Wisconsin.  This year, so that we could share our time with our entire Green Lake family, which includes our family and our friends, the Usedoms, we rented a home and cottage on the Southeast side of the lake.  We wanted to have enough room for them to stay with us.  The Usedoms grew up in the house right next door to our old summer rental, on the West side of the lake, in an area known as the Princeton Cottages.  For 18 years, we have jumped in and out of each other's boats to go water-skiing, tubing, and wake-boarding.  We have shared meals together outside of our cottages overlooking the lake.  And we have caravanned to the middle of the lake to watch the fireworks together year after year.  The Usedoms still have their home right next to our old cottage.  You know the old saying, "There is no place like home."  And that was true again this year.  If I could only don my ruby heels and tap them together...
The home and cottage we rented this summer, although in theory large enough to accommodate our group, was not quite what we expected.  It was a very old home, previously part of one of the original hotels on the lake...and, seemingly untouched in many a year.   Dusty, dark, and dirty.  During our week out there, we found many clues that indicated the owners were largely unaware of how their home was being taken care of.  They live in California, and trust the maintenance and management to a local group.  The dirty dishes were one, the dirty floors another.  A mouse nest underneath the range top in the back cottage...yuk.  But to top it off, a dead bird under one of the twin beds? Just disgusting.  Needless to say, we promptly requested our cleaning fees returned in addition to our security deposit.  Don't get me wrong, we don't need much when we stay at the lake.  Our old cottage was less than simple - a few beds scattered throughout the place, one bathroom, a kitchen.  No luxuries, except for the TV, which didn't make an appearance until a few years ago.  Who needs it all when you've got the lake to keep you busy, right?  Well, that has always been our theme during the summer and I would love to keep it that way.  We like it simple, but we also prefer the inside clean and the wildlife outdoors,   Call me crazy, but I doubt we'll be asked to write a review. 

Aside from those little surprises, we really did enjoy our week out there.  There was a lot of boating, swimming, a golf outing, and of course, the annual Bocce Ball Tourney.  Wait, hold up.  I can't mention golf without giving a shout-out to Mary Usedom, who got a HOLE-IN-ONE during our golf outing!  Whoop whoop!  We had record temperatures this year, with the heat index hovering around 108 degrees.  And with no air conditioning in the house or cottage except for one room, we spent most of our time neck-deep in the lake, which was the warmest I've ever experienced in all my time out there.   For a lake as deep as Green Lake, which is usually just a few degrees warmer than chilly, it was a real treat. 

The flag from Mary's Hole in One.  Mary and Rick

Squaring off in Bocce Finals

Horsing around

Max with Uncle Dominic

Max and JJ hang out

Vincent, Rick and Dominic

Since we were on the SE side of the lake, we could watch the fireworks from the dock.  Some of us even observed right from the water!  The fireworks show was beautiful as always.  This year's event marked the 4th anniversary of our engagement and Max's 1/2 birthday too! We hope this will be the first of many summers on Green Lake for Max.  We've always wanted our children to grow up around water.  Having a home (or renting one) on a lake is a dream of mine for my children because it has been one of those precious memories for me.  Max certainly took to the water, which makes all three of us happy.  It was so much fun to watch him kick and splash and chase after water toys while floating in his canopied swim raft.  It was like he was just waiting to return to the water after a 6-month hiatus outside the womb! 

Max and Canaan at Norwegian Bay

Next year, we decided to rent a home just down the shore from our old cottage.  We'll be in the same bay we grew up on.   Since rentals go fast, we already have it pegged so we won't be stuck with another less-than-desirable option.   To mark the anniversary of another summer with our great Lake Family, the Usedoms lovingly purchased an engraved paving stone at the new marina.  The stone will be revealed later this Fall.  So thoughtful!  It will be fun to see it there year after year when we make our ice cream runs to the parlor.  I think Dad would have really liked that.  I'm sure he was watching our vacation with a twinkle in his eye.

Thank you all for another fun summer vacation on Green Lake!  We love you guys and can't wait for next year!

Max and I with my sister Cristina and Canaan

Max with Mommy

Rick, grilling lunch from his perch