This evening nature created quite a show. It had been really rainy this afternoon, and when it let up a rainbow appeared. I reflected on the riches of the lake and on being here with Lake and my parents: the penultimate gift of spending time with my family. 

The lake is incredibly still and quiet after a rain subsides and the summers’ amusements have officially passed. The setting resonates as wilderness at this time of year. It’s quite a treat to be sitting by the fire my dad built taking in the lakeside attractions: fire, clouds, lighting. I remarked that it feels like we are camping, to be out here at the lake this time of year, in October, the end of the season. Then because we have a snug cozy cabin and endless warm fires kept up in the hearth by my parents I further elaborated 

Glamping!

And grandpa made the addendum 

Gramping!

Ha! We think that’s pretty right on! We’ve found the pot of gold right here. Grampfire lakeside!

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While Grandpa held Lake, Nana and I lept into the red canoe and snuck in a paddle out into the misty dusk. The sliver of a new moon was just rising over the hillside behind us, and again the mist was rising up off the water all around us. It was enchanting. We breathed in the fresh air and the fading light and then turned and paddled back to our family’s cozy nest, our own pot of gold. 

We woke up feeling well to sunrise over the hill and mist rolling off the lake. From there the day just unfurled like a good dream, truly beautiful and peaceful. We are enjoying our good health, our good weather, and our good society. 

The day opened with loud thunder and my tummy echoed the ominous rumbling. The ensuing two days and one long night foretold a tale of great intestinal distress. I guess you haven’t really been a parent until you’ve been breastfeeding on one side and vomiting over the other. Luckily my parents didn’t mind getting up at 3 am as well, taking over Lake care and stoking up the fire, while I was completely out of commission. 

Today I was trying to balance my desire to eat with the likely retaliation of my gut later on. It’s hard because I’m hungry and I also need to keep on providing Lake his meals. So after being sick all day yesterday and not eating anything I was feeling literally depleted by dinnertime. My appetite encouraged me as I tucked into a fine meal of Dover sole, baked sweet potato wedges, polenta with salsa and green salad. I took a double portion of everything. The night was one of recompense. So today I didn’t eat really tried to stick to the BRAT diet, a few Banana slices, Rice and chicken soup, Apple slices and Toast, well toasted rice tortillas. It required exercising much restraint not to have the second bowl of chicken and rice soup. But if my body’s not ready, it’s not pleasant. 

I’m hoping that the night will be uneventful and tomorrow the tummy thunder will have passed. 

We have this tradition in our family, and like many family traditions I suppose, no one is sure where or why or how it originated. We love it though; it’s like a game. The good luck game. The challenge is this: the first day of every month, the very first thing you say out loud to start off your day is 

Rabbit! Rabbit!

And the very first thing someone says by way of response is 

Rabbit! Rabbit!

And if you remember in time so that the very first thing you say out loud on that first day of that month is

Rabbit! Rabbit!

**then you can enjoy good luck all month!**

It’s twelve chances per annum to have a full lucky month. We make it fun in my family and my brother and I especially try to remember very early in the day to text each other different double rabbit icons to help each other maybe remember in time too!  It’s hard to believe how difficult it can be to remember to have 

Rabbit! Rabbit!

be the first thing spoken aloud in the morning. So many other words or thoughts or phrases can edge in ahead of

Rabbit! Rabbit!

without even intending to stray off topic. 

Good morning honey!

Bye honey!

Ow!

What time is it?

What time are you leaving for work?

Oh, the sun’s out!

What time is it?

Is that Lake?

Argh, mmumff, what time is it?

Will you be an angel and make me a coffee?

Yipes! Rabbit! Rabbit!

Today the day broke with thunder and I heralded the morning with no one around to hear. But I remembered in time and sung the rabbit praises. What a cause for celebration! We’ve missed it the past few months. Lake has managed to garner all my waking thoughts and words. I’m feeling so blessed to have the good graces on October, now. And we could really use it as our house hunting continues! Meanwhile Nana and I had a glorious little walk down the peninsula with Lake and some autumn color. Great way to start the lucky month of October!

Rabbit! Rabbit!

Lake has started putting himself to sleep. Around 8 o’clock he gets tired, he might even rub his eyes. He’s happy to get into bed and fall asleep soon after. This is new and pretty fun!

Since we drove across the state today from Seattle to Newman Lake on the border of Idaho, Mummy is quite ready for bed too! The rain is falling on the roof of the cabin outside in a very welcoming and soothing manner: beckoning for bedtime. We all heed the call! But not before gazing adoringly at Lake… So cute sleeping in his new box bed! 

We are so happy to be back here at the Point Petite cabin for a few weeks with Nana and Grandpa! Hello, Newman Lake! Goodnight Lake!

Lake and I had a great urban wander today. Beautiful day! Apple pie. Ten plus miles. We were celebrating his fourth month complete. He’s officially doubled his birth weight. Living well by all accounts.

A perfect day… I’m glad I spent it with you. 

We packed up efficiently and set out for another day hike. After one last loll in front of the grand fireplace which provided Lake the opportunity to make friends with Leila from Beijing, we headed out to the Longmire area trails. Michael chose a 4.6 mile loop along Rampart Ridge which included a section of the Wonderland Trail. It really is a wonderland, with mosses thickly carpeting the forest floor and lichens draped all through the trees. Lake was in contented awe interrupted with bouts of sheer glee! We are already looking forward to coming back again next year. 

Happy First Anniversary, us! We love our life together. So happy to be three! We feel truly blessed. 

I just can’t get enough of this! The mountain was shrouded in mist this morning creating a different kind of enchantment. Lake and I went back up to the Skyline Trail via the Golden Gate Trail this time. We were just going to head up to Myrtle Falls after breakfast, 

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but the mountains beckoned and we just kept going. The vaccinium huckleberry leaves painting a brilliant red mountainside. 

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We saw two black bears! A mama and her cub. My favorite! They entirely made my day. And waterfall after waterfall after waterfall!

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For this jaunty excursion I had my running shoes on and no backpack or water. Shhh… but like I said, we were just going up to the falls that are a third of a mile away. To get a breath of fresh air. We went quick and light, stopping often for photograph opportunities, and to take in full enjoyment with all of our senses. The feeling of the Freedom of the Hills was with me strongly. Lake loved it too!

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Our first full day up in Paradise we hiked the entire High Skyline Trail… up to the snow! It’s an ambitious five and a half mile loop with an impressive 1700′ elevation gain. The panoramic views! So much mountain today! And such blue sky… to compliment an intensely bright sun! We really gave ourselves over to it and went all in.  

We just came back from our now annual trek to Mt. Rainier. We can confirm for you that it is beautiful and relaxing and completely out of all connectivity range. Pay phone only. It was nice to be unplugged for a bit. 

While National Park Service is celebrating its 100 year anniversary, we are celebrating our one year anniversary. Since you have to start somewhere, it’s just as well to start where you are! 

We had been to Paradise Inn around the tail end of September last year and the enthralling memories stayed with us vividly throughout the entire year. It’s magical because the Inn is preparing to close for the season, and many of the summertime visitors have returned home. It gets quiet. Meanwhile the mountain is fully engaged in this incredible show of autumnal magnificence. 

We decided to go back this autumn and continue the tradition. It’s actually a tradition started by the Ayres Grandparents; Michael has fond memories of staying in Cougar Rock Campground with his parents and sister and spending time reading and playing in the great room of Paradise Inn where their grandparents had taken their lodgings. 

We skipped the campground step and went straight for the charming rooms. Last year we had twin beds, with the shared bathroom down the hall. It’s something special! This year we stuck with the shared bathroom down the hall, (it gives it an authentic climbers’ bunkhouse feel) but we opted for a double bed. We also brought the Instant Pot for hot meals cooked in the room and eaten downstairs and Lake brought his own auxiliary sleeping unit. 

 

We had a great time using the Inn as our base camp, with Lake along for the holiday!

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