Labor Day, The Lake, and The Life of a Pirate

Labor Day Weekend wasn't much different than any other weekend, except we were able to spend four days at Lake Perry with a lot of friends and a few beers...or maybe more than a few beers, but it was a holiday!  The weather was perfect with cool mornings, sunny afternoons, and nights that included live music and a lot of laughter. 

Background; I didn't grow up on the Lake, it just wasn't something that my family did.  Occasionally we would join friends and I did learn how to ski early on and remember getting thrown off of jet ski's, but that's about it.  Still, even though years would go by without me being able to enjoy it, I managed to always love the water...the lake or the ocean for that matter.  This year, I have been pretty fortunate to be able to spend a lot of weekends on the lake.  I have made a lot of new friends, have learned so much about myself and not to mention about boating in general.  Never did I think I would know how to drive a boat let alone park one and I can park one...with certain weather conditions and with a little help from the Captain.

I managed to capture some moments this weekend with my professional camera aka my iPhone.  It's a simple life out there on the lake.  I have learned that I can pack lightly, use a lot of dry shampoo and use carbonated water to brush my teeth if I don't feel like walking up the dock.  Not to mention, sleep on a boat without any problems, other than waking up early, but sometimes the mornings are the best out there. The water is calm, the air is cool, you can hear the sounds of the early morning boaters, the seagulls and ducks are out and about, and you can smell the local bar at the marina preparing food for the day.  Did I mention we ordered a Casey's pizza for breakfast one morning...with a big cup of Coca-Cola Classic...that certainly hit the spot! Besides, I love that we can venture down the dock and creep on our friends...to see if they are ready for breakfast or have coffee talks before venturing up to have Spicy Bloody Mary's with extra bacon or the infamous Rum Runner to start the day.

Maybe I will never be a real Pirate but I like to think I am...a Sailor perhaps.  My heart skips a beat every time I see a sailboat and one day, I will be sailing around on one and maybe even living on the water, you know, like a Pirate would do with my spyglass and endless amounts of rum.

"Wherever we want to go, we go...that's what a ship is, you know." Captain Jack Sparrow

Yo Ho!
Shona

 

Labor Day at Beaver Lake

One word, amazing.  My Labor Day weekend could not have been any better!  Meeting new people has become easier for me as I have gotten older and stepped out of my comfort zone, yes I used to be shy.  I was asked to join a group of people, which whom I only knew one of them, for the Labor Day Holiday at Beaver Lake.  One house, 14 people, 2 bathrooms, and 3 bedrooms...my first thought...how on earth will we all get ready in the morning? Yes, you are laughing now because it's the lake and probably thinking why in the world do you get ready...trust me, hair and mascara are still a must! 

 

I decided to accept the invitation and after talking another classmate into riding down with me, I am SO glad I did!!  We walked in to a houseful of people; clothes, bedding, and food everywhere....and did I mention an endless supply of coolers full of, um, ice :) Everyone was so accepting and we plopped down at the kitchen table and starting playing games!  Bingo!  And no, we weren't playing bingo! What happens at the lake stays at the lake!

 

Now to the lake part...GORGEOUS! I mean, beautiful, clear, clean and amazing views!  Two boats, 14 people, a paddle board, lake mat, and laughter all day long!  The weather was perfect, the company was even better and I witnessed a sunset that was to die for!  We were on the water all day and star-gazed at night. The perfect ending to the holiday weekend...besides walking away with some awesome new friends! 

 



 

Here is to new friends and good times! Lake Life!

Thanks to Victoria for some great shots!