What Happens at The Lake...

I survived Wild Women's Weekend XXIV – that's 24 years for those of you who prefer Arabic numerals! Our top secret location this year was... on a lake Up North.

Well, more specifically a gorgeous VRBO on the west side of Long Lake just east of Sarona and Shell Lake. This one was called the Loon Lodge and it was 100 percent appropriate for us loony sisters!

Not everyone is cut out for roughing it like we are. But we managed alright. Thanks for your concern.

A few inside views...

Main floor had one master bedroom and upstairs had two bedrooms.

The well-appointed basement also had two bedrooms plus this living area and a kitchenette that we never used. Perfect if you are looking for a getaway with multiple families!! Or a longer stay than our 3 nights/4 days combo.

The weather turned out to be simply gorgeous so we could enjoy a little time on the large screened-in porch.

Or out on the deck with the nice views of the water. Most of the color was past peak or off the trees, but we still saw plenty of beauty around us.

And my beautiful sisters, too! We had to get a picture in between talking and laughing and playing games and talking and crying and talking and laughing some more! It's so freeing to feel all the feels – especially so much laughter (like red-faced can't breathe or make a sound laughter) squeezed into one weekend!

My twin and I doing our own photo shoot!

Oh we'll never grow up! Which could be said of all of us. Thank God! 

This morning's sunrise was beautiful but also a sad sign our weekend was coming to an end. Time goes too quickly. We packed up and had our group hug outside while singing happy 95th birthday to Dad in heaven. Pretty sure he heard us. Along with the other loons on the lake!

I did have a brief visit with Dad on the way up to the cabin on Thursday.

And I had lunch with Mom, too! So it was great to see 90 percent of my family over this extended weekend. 

Got home this afternoon while hubby was at the golf course. Then we met for dinner at Portesi's to catch up over pizza. Jim and the boys had an amazing time at The Who concert in Portland and just hanging out together. 

We're both just feeling blessed right now. There are a lot of amazing people out there. And they're ours. 

Have a good week, everyone!

Tater Treats

Now that we're back, we can reveal where we jetted off to for our 22nd annual Wild Women's Weekend. Potato Lake. Up North between Spooner and Stone Lake area. Per usual, just a nice vacation home for rent that can sleep 7 sisters – and have a minimum of 2 bathrooms. (This one had 3!)

Some images of our amazing place and few of my amazing sisters. What a treat...

Yup, it's big. For health and safety, we each got our own bed, too. Well, my twin and I shared a king bed, which was basically the same thing.

Nice fire pit area but too windy and wet to use it.

Thursday.... That moment the sun was shining.

What happens at Sister Weekend stays at Sister Weekend!

Snack-palooza! Between COVID and the weather, we were hunkered down in our beautiful log bunker – with 100% chance of survival... and tight pants!

Got some funny masks for my sisters from the Ashbeck Interiors store in Rudolph! They say, Censored, Will Remove for Chocolate, Smile, and Trust Me My Lipstick Looks Fabulous!

On Friday... what to our wondering eyes did appear, snowflakes, which my sister Rayna from Phoenix did not want to get near!

No denying it's happening!

This big, gorgeous deck we didn't get to take advantage of.

Couldn't see the other side of the lake. In fact, we had snow both Friday and Saturday. 

Hungry as a bear on the way to Stone Lake fish fry on Friday!

Break in the weather Saturday so we could shuck masks and get fresh air!

When we realized we were the invasive species the sign was talking about!

We're the babies of the family, but we're slowing down! Just kidding. We're rock stars.

Another way to get our steps in! Wow.

Ro – my SKOL sister!

Nell and I hiding from Jack Frost.

And when the sun shines on the trees, we can see some fall color anyway!

It was a great weekend to be "stuck" indoors with my amazing R sisters! So much laughing, I think we burned thousands of calories! Despite the weather, the smiles, hugs, and my heart were warm!

Cabin Mates

Suppose it doesn't matter now if I reveal our actual location for Wild Women's Weekend 18. We were in northwest Wisconsin, north of that stretch of State Highway 70 between Spooner and Hertel. Just a cabin in the woods on a little body of water called Bass Lake. (Way common lake name in Wisconsin!)

Our locations are rather arbitrary. Mainly we want a nice place that sleeps 7. We learned long ago that the best way to find decent, somewhat secluded, lodging is through the Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO) website. Has worked out so far!

 View of our cabin from the lake side. Set in the middle of the wild, ha.

I knew just from the walkway to the main entrance that I was going to like it!

Open living room-dining area-kitchen concept, which served us well. Had a wood stove we ended up not using. Amazing how much heat is generated when 7 women get to talking. And laughing.

We don't always get seating for 7 at the table. This year, it worked out great having the benches. Ever heard of "bleacher butt" from being parked too many hours on your backside during a sporting event? Well, after the first morning, we ended up sitting on pillows for our long talks, card and game playing!

Kitchen area where we served up breakfast and lined the counter with treats, treats and more treats. There may have been healthy options but I wasn't looking!

The screen porch was a huge hit! There was enough seating for all 7 of us so we spent hours out here talking. It was awesome! We needed that.

The screened-in part led to another section of covered, but open porch.

There was definitely enough seating here, but we just got too comfy in the screened-in area.

The many, many, many steps leading down the lake. There was a dock and some boating options, but we mainly just stood down there taking nature photos. I'll share those another day. Today I just wanted you to get a feel for the place.

And see why my cabin mates and I had such a "Wild" time!