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Skulls, Ponies, and Cheeseburgers – Our Saturday Jaunt to the Lake

After a week of below freezing temps, Tripp and I decided that we ought to go check out our cabin to make sure no pipes had frozen.  Like they had at out actual place of residence.  Since Kelsey had tons of homework which required the internet (I’m trusting her that  “homework” is not code for “Facebook”), we decided to make a quick trip there this morning and come right back home.

Because I’m a complete slacker of a wife and did not make breakfast (confession – I rarely make breakfast on Saturday mornings.  #1 because I make breakfast every other morning of the week and #2 because I don’t really like breakfast food), a stop by the McDonald’s near our house was order.  Tripp always get’s the same thing- an Egg McMuffin. 

Part of my responsibility as co-pilot on any given road trip is to assist Tripp with various and sundry needs which may consist of (but are not limited to):

  • Finding the PikePass
  • Programming the GPS
  • Putting money back in his wallet

and last but certainly not least:

  • Applying jelly to his Egg McMuffin
  • Refolding the wrapper so that when he takes his first bite, egg, ham, and cheese don’t come squeezing out the other side.

I am an indispensible wife huh?

Anyway, the hour and a half drive went by pretty fast as we talked about our daughter’s college plans, his new business, and my ongoing soon-to-be empty nest issues.  Just for the record, I would like to state that not one tear was shed by me on the ride there or back home.

We got to our cabin to find that everything seemed in order and thankfully, no pipes were frozen.

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We were quick to notice how low the lake level was.  Tripp read in the paper that it was six feet down, but it was at least 10-15 feet low. 013

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It’s so much different at the lake in the winter than any other time of the year.  It’s eerily quiet without the chatter of the usual cast of woodland critters and it’s sadly gray without the backdrop of Blackjack Oak tree leaves.

While Tripp was “resetting the cable box,” which IS code for “checking football and/or golf scores,” I decided to take a little walk in the woods across from our cabin. 

Not much to see this time of year except for lichen and fallen acorns and walnuts.

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Then I came across this!

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Which gave me a serious case of the heebie-jeebies so I hightailed it back to the cabin.

After Tripp got the cable box “all checked out”, we locked everything up and head back to the main road.  But not before stopping to say hi these pretty horses standing by the fence.

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Sparking the following conversation:

K – “What kind of horses are these?”

T – “They’re Paint ponies”

K – “Yeah, but they look like they’re older.”

T – “Well, yeah…they’re probably 10 or 15.”

K – “Well, isn’t a pony a baby horse?”

T – “Dear…”

At this point Tripp explained that while all ponies are horses, not all horses are ponies.  Apparently ponies are small horses.  Who knew!  He went on to tell me that a lot of paints are ponies because of their small stature.  Wild mustangs are considered ponies as well.  Really!

And who knew that my husband was such an expert in equine morphology???

We ended the conversation with Tripp telling me that I was a complete city slicker.  And me giving him a dirty look.

Anyway, no trip to the lake would be complete without a stop at the Princess for a cheeseburger. 

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And curly fries. Or onion rings.  Or both as the case was today.  All washed down with an icy cold Diet Coke.  But only one..Diet soda is a slippery slope for me.  I used to be a serious Diet Coke addict. 

So after a quick visit with owners about the current lake level and the purchase of two jars of local honey, Tripp and I were on our merry way home. 

Once I relocated the PikePass.

Peace, Kelly

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About Me

Hi There! I’m Kelly. I am a wife, mom, light seeker, homemaker, and storyteller. From an empty nest to an abundant life, all it took was a little time, a lot of faith, and the courage to see my life differently.

You can read more about my story here.

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