Anticipation!

Mark and Goldy warming 
on the rocks 
of Lake Superior

"An intense anticipation itself transforms possibility into reality; our desires being often but precursors of the things which we are capable of perforrming."
~Scottish author and government reformer Samuel Smiles*

It’s been a really wet spring in the north woods. We’ve been waiting for the land to dry out enough to get the 87,000 pound CAT in to begin the excavation work.  Mark also had to clear trees off our road twice this spring – the first due to a heavy Christmas snow storm (a couple dozen trees were down from this particular storm – shout out to Bob and John who helped clear!) and the second due to the boundary waters storm a couple weeks ago.

Waiting for something as unpredictable and uncontrollable as weather isn’t something I’m good at, nor is Mark.  It makes me appreciate farmers and what they deal with day in and day out.  And now, there's good news! The word is work will begin next week on excavation, and the foundation will be poured the following week!  It’s all coming together with really perfect timing.

Goldy sleeping on Minne;
her last trip last spring.

On this day last year, our 11.5 year old golden retriever, Goldy, passed away. She LOVED being at our retreat.  She would have loved this summer and fall, with all the time we anticipate spending there.  Like us, she would settle in to the quiet peacefulness of the woods and the lake. She loved our walks and hikes, naps in the sunshine, canoe rides and swims.  I miss that girl terribly. She’ll be with us in spirit as we build and enjoy this special place in a new way. 

And so, we anticipate the turning of 15 years of possibility into reality.  Stay tuned for pictures  …  it’s gonna be big!

*According to Wikipedia, Samuel Smiles believed that more progress would come from new attitudes than new laws.  How brilliant!