Tuesday, September 11, 2012

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....
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

12 comments:

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

It's scary being left!

Sounds like a wonderful cabin.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

Unknown said...

Raeyln welcome back and we hope you had a lovely time. Sounds like you did and it seems the cabin was a lovely peaceful place. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Best wishes Molly

Remington said...

Well of course you came back.... Great post, my friend!

Mary Lou said...

Daisy, Bella & Roxy....
Thank-you for the comment!!
It is scary being left!! Especially to Rose!! Now, for me? I was left behind once. During some Youth Group shopping trip. And my Attention Deficit Disorder made me utterly oblivious to whether or not I had even been left!! Yeah. I had something going on in my head at the moment!! Hee, hee, hee.... ;op

Mary Lou said...

Molly....
Thank-you for the comment!!
I so appreciated the "welcome back"!! And you have now given me two, my sweet Blogging Friend!! ;-D
I awoke this morning--interestingly after getting only six hours' sleep--feeling myself again. Refreshed, no longer tired, just happy!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

Remington....
Thank-you for the comment!!
Yeah. I am not going anywhere!! Rose is stuck with me--her weird and crazy Mama--until the inevitable occurs!! Well. Since canines age faster than humans, and I am seemingly hard to kill, she should have zero worries!! Zero worries. ;op

Suka said...

Such a great story. I remember the Little House books, such great reading. Nice how you made the connections to your experience in a log cabin. It sounds like a fantastic place to get away; and a night time fire, eating s'mores, sounds like a great time.

Rosie must have been scared when everyone up and left! Glad it did not take her too many howls for you to return. :-> And I am sure Rosie knows you would have returned regardless, because she knows you are her mom and you love her. :->

K and Suka

Suka said...

[I wrote a comment about five hours ago and I see it has not appeared. If this is a repeat please delete. Thanks!]

I love your story and how you made connections to the Little House books. I grew up reading those books and they provided such great excitement. Your cabin sounds like a perfect get-away and I am so glad you and Rosie had such a fabulous time. Sitting outside at night, by a bonfire, and making and eating s'mores sounds perfect! I am sorry Rosie got left behind but good thing you heard her right away! I am sure, though, that she knew you would come back for her regardless. She knows you, her mom, loves her!

K and Suka

Mary Lou said...

K and Suka....
Thank-you for the comment!! I truly appreciated it!! Well, both, actually!! ;-}
I decided to "publish" your second comment, because you took the extra effort in writing it!! Which, again, I appreciate!! Sorry for the delay in putting it up.... I experienced quite a busy day. Dental work this morning, then church tonight. And in between all of that, I found time for Rose, as well!! Whew!! ;oP
I am glad that you appreciated my "Little House" reference!! I also grew up with those stories!! My Mom read them to us!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

K and Suka....
PS. I must be very, very tired. I accidently "published" your first comment, as well!! And now I haven't a clue as to how to delete it!! Oops!! ;op

Alison said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful vacation Raelyn. I don't think I remember these "Little House" books, but this Cabin sounds awesome!

Mary Lou said...

Alison....
Thank-you for the comment!!
My Mom read the "Little House" books to us!! You should read them as well. Good books is all I am going to mention!! Plus we would also watch reruns of "Little House on the Prairie". I think I am infatuated with Michael Landon's laugh!! Hee, hee, hee.... ;op