Cabin In The Woods

Taking a moment on this anniversary of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, to reflect on, plus remember the terrorist attacks that struck America. Every victim, every fallen hero, every survivor, every family member, every search-and-rescue canine, shall never be forgotten.

Blogging Friends.... This is my first installment of our mini-vacation. The second--and, hopefully last--will come at a later time!! Enjoy!! 

Paradise. This one three-syllable noun has vastly different meanings to it depending on people's perspective. Some think of an island in Hawaii. Others may imagine up a foreign country village. Me? My idea of paradise is, and forever will be, the woods. We used to embark on camping trips when I was a girl growing up. With tents, sleeping bags, and stinky outhouses!! These camping trips served as escapes from our worldly city neighborhood. There was this one location from which we frequented every August. Countless childhood memories reside at that camping area. Aw, what I would give to return.... Our cabin in the woods was every bit as beauteous, every bit as breathtaking, and every bit as memorable. It was paradise. And spacious. Larger than the Ingalls' cabin in "Little House", for sure!! It was rustic. Plain and simple!! Kind of like me!! The front door lead to this mud room, where I kept Rose's food and water bowls. She ate there. Obviously!! That door lead to another, where a highway lurked. A highway. Whenever Rose ate, I stood out there with her, both doors securely shut, watching my little girl closely. Because. The back sliding glass door lead to an endless woodsy area. So. Rose's red leash was attached to my right wrist--or left on rare occasions!!--the entire time!! Yeah. Freedom for Rose was no option!! Not that I am complaining!! I would much rather hold Rose's leash than tether her somewhere to our red dog cable!! The moment we arrived at the cabin, my hound mix's ebony nostrils immediately inspected every corner, every floorboard, every staircase, every room. Repeatedly!! We hiked down these wooden stairs on a porch, explored the creek, and walked circles around our cabin. Repeatedly!! By the end of our first day, my canine wore me out!! Literally!! The bedroom where Rose and I slept in had up a steep, steep flight of stairs which lead to this loft. A loft!! Like where Mary and Laura Ingalls would have slept as girls growing up, only more spacious!! Atop the steep, steep stairs was this crevice which lead to the kitchen. Every time Rose and I walked down them, her block nostrils nosily poked through it!! Too cute, too cute, too, cute, too cute!! Our bedroom had a creaky door. It remained closed all night long. During our first evening, we started the fire pit. Everybody cooked hotdogs and brats!! Yummy!! Rose, safe from any flying sparks, was temporarily tethered to the porch's post. Afterward, some of us roasted colossal-sized marshmallows for s'mores!! Mmmm!! My fingers were sticky after eating the sweet treat. So I headed up our porch to wash them in the kitchen sink. As soon as I was finished, my ears heard this familiar high-pitched baying sound. Rose!! So I flew through our cabin as fast as my legs could carry me. They sped up once I reached the porch stairs. Down, down, down I ran. I then observed Rose's surroundings. Everybody had gone their separate ways, thus abandoning Rose!! Poor baby!! She hates being left behind!! Certainly my presumably neglected mutt's thoughts went something like this: Hey!! Where'd everybody go? Oh, they left me!! They left me!! Make a lot of noise. Maybe they'll come for me!! Oh.... They're not coming back. They're not coming back!! I've been left behind!! Rose was instantaneously silent the second I returned to her side, however!! But she did not bay for very long!! I can only imagine her thoughts upon seeing me: Mama!! You came back for me!! I'm saved!! Of course I came back....