I am still at the lake...Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park to be exact.  It has to be one of the most beautiful places in Canada.  Rolling hills, mature pine trees, historic log structures....including the oldest log movie theatre in north america, one of the cleanest and clearest lakes you will ever see, a quaint downtown shopping and restaurant area, a top notch tennis club......I could go on and on.  

We are so fortunate to have a family place here and my children all have summer jobs here.....teaching tennis, scooping ice cream and working at the movie theatre.  It is a wonderful and safe 

community full of families who are all after the same thing....time to enjoy one another and create memories of a lifetime.

A very good friend of mine has a lovely home decor and gift shop here.  I have been very happy and honoured to have had the opportunity to help out at the store organizing, merchandising and displaying her wonderful finds.  Tomorrow evening I am so proud to be co hosting a private shopping event there with an intimate group of clientele where I will feature a list of "Lisa's Top Picks"! As with any gift shop, there are many hidden gems and this is no exception.  Her taste is exceptional and I am finding it difficult to narrow down a list to only a limited number of items!

However, carefully chosen items and accessories are the final touches that complete the overall feel of a home. Baskets, candles, trays, linens, greens.....all contribute in there own way to the overall style of the home you wish to create. 

Looking forward to tomorrow evening....with friends, wine and shopping.  What could be better!!

At the lake, we really enjoy al fresco dining.....that is dining outside with simple, fresh, locally grown foods.  We enjoy dining at the table on the deck, gathering around the fire or packing a picnic to take out on the boat where we enjoy swimming in the beautiful clear water or taking in a gorgeous sunset. Our favourite picnics are those with food we have prepared ourselves....

Fresh bread that has just come out the oven.....(I shared this recipe in a previous post), my Dad's homemade dills with the cucumbers and dill he grew in his garden,  rhubarb cake that Mom has made from the rhubarb patch in the garden...all so healthy and so tasty! 

And of course, presentation is also so important.  Packed in a wicker tote and presented on a wooden cutting board, it makes the experience all that more special.  And isn't that what life is all about....turning everyday moments into special memories! 

Life on the prairie is all about gathering together particularly outside in the summer and what greater enticement to gather around is there then a fire!  It is the place where stories are told, songs are sung, marshmallows are roasted and memories are made.  For our family, it has become a tradition that we all look forward to.  There is the initial "welcome to the stuga fire", the "family weekend fire", the "lets not cook dinner and roast hotdogs fire" and the "farewell fire".  With many more in between!

There are chairs for everyone.....and child sized sized chairs for all of the grandchildren too!  With a backdrop of beautiful mature pine trees and a gentle prairie breeze, it is the perfect place to gather...the warmth of family and fire.  There is nothing better. 

Back at the Stuga!  Stuga means "vacation house" in Swedish, which is our family's heritage. It is a gathering place for us all that my parents have created for our family's enjoyment. I am here for most of the summer along with my children who have summer jobs here. My sister and her family will join us for several weeks and my brother and his family will travel from the United States to be with us for a long weekend as well.  

We have had some wonderful times here over the years and created memories that will last forever.  Wonderful family meals, special times on the boat, picnics on the beach......so many memorable experiences.  What makes this all work so well is that we all contribute and do our part.  Having 5 adults and 7 children.....all under one roof...albeit with a bunkie...can have present its challenges.  I must admit that I do take after my father and rather enjoy a clean and tidy environment.  Others in our family....well, not so much.  I am so grateful to have discovered this fabulous product.....Lysol wipes!

In no time at all, I can have the bathrooms and kitchen completely cleaned and disinfected.  It makes life easy and keeps everybody happy....particularly the ladies with 6 men using a toilet! If everybody does a little and contributes in their own way, we are all able to relax and enjoy our time together.  Lysol wipes help me do my part!  They disinfect and leave a fresh and clean scent that lingers. And the best part is that everybody thinks I have cleaned all day....so I get to enjoy extra relaxation time! 

Drove home today from the lake to check on progress.  The basement is completely drywalled now which really allows me to envision the end result.  Now time for me to think about the finishing touches as the rooms become complete....

I am so happy with the Ikea vanity I purchased for the second floor bathroom that I am using the same one in this bathroom but in the dark brown stain:

Next decision is fixtures.......for sink and shower.  While perusing the aisles at Home Depot, I stumbled across these beauties.  

I love the modern and clean lines of these fixtures which will perfectly suit the functional tone of this bathroom.  Simple, elegant yet perfectly appropriate for a well used bathroom.

Now back to the lake....

Faith

Taking on any renovation project can be quite overwhelming. let alone renovating an entire house!  While the first and second floors are 90% complete, the basement is still a construction zone.  The drywall is up and the next step is taping and sanding which is very dusty and very messy.  So, the kids and I, along with our dog, took off for the lake and I left my contractor in charge.  I am feeling a little nervous about not being on site but I have faith in my contractor and I believe in this project.  

I came across this little quote that helps me remember to believe in my abilities and the choices I have made with respect to this project.  So far, everything has evolved exactly the way I had envisioned and I am confidant that the basement will be no different.  

Summer is here!

We are in the midst of a heatwave here on the prairie.  Fortunately, while having the electrical system in the house completely updated, I also had a ductless air conditioning system installed in my house.  Typically, options can be limited in an older house with a boiler system to noisy window air conditioners.  This system however is quiet and is mounted on an outside wall between the first and second floor......it keeps the whole house cool and comfortable!

The compressor unit is installed on the outside of the house and the tubing is hidden and housed in eavestroughs for a neat and clean appearance.  

It is a great system and a terrific option for older homes with radiators and boiler heat.