Getting Pre-Game Jitters....Ya vol!

Who else do you think I would be cheering for?

Ya Vol ~ !

Martha has got nothin' on me...

Just saying...

An oldie but a goodie~!

So...yeah.

The Storm That Hit Wildcat Island

This summer we lost both our dock and deck from record breaking

high waters on Lake of the Woods, Kenora.

Oh yeah....

...AND BECAUSE OF A HUGE FREAKING STORM~!

I know - I know.

I know what your thinking.

Who cares? It's just a dock, right?

Boo - hoo you lost a deck - cry me a river! 

Lauren, just make another one, right?

I agree...but I ALSO kinda don't.

Here's why... 

The dock is how we live. 

We need our boat to get to the island.

Therefore we need a dock when we get to the island.

Pretty straight forward, eh?

(plus ~ how else are we going to get my 92-year-old-granny in the water

if we can't push her off the dock - right?)

And the deck?

Well, we Wells'ssss have made so many memories on that thing.

Like what?!?

Like big life decisions - You wanna have a fire tonight?

Kids played on that deck - Stop leaning on the railing! or I'm gonna get the hose!

Vows were taken on that deck - Do you Bryan, take Megan.....YES-YES (of course!)

Deep conversations were had on that deck - I think I'm suffering from...

severe gas, trade spots with me.

Individual moments of reflection/realizations - 

HECK, people have even peed off that deck...well, I never did.

But I am sure someone did.

All that to say, we lost everything in less than a week. 

I would therefore just like to take a moment to say goodbye.

Goodbye and good job mother nature, it's all your fault!

(and nothing to do with man or global warming - naw!)

You may have won this summer but we Wells'sssss will be BACK!

You can count on it ~ with more vigur that ever!

Here is mother laughing in my face...literally, she didn't

just say it, she SPRAYED it.

Ew.

 This was the mess she left behind....

sigh*

Anyone who wants to come to the cottage summer 2015

(only if you own a hammer and an 8 pack)

is more  that welcome!!!

*Important Note: Individuals need to know how to hammer

(license is preferred)

 and

be comfortable to work shirtless!

(cheeky but very sweet smile)

Oh and single.

(tee-hee!)

R.I.P.

The Cottage Bum Look: Nothing Fits

Looks like a normal shirt, right?

Errr - think again.

Umm, hello....

...wait a second...

... oh la-la-la-la-la!

Okay - okay.

This shirt is just inappropriate now.

Yup - totally inappropriate.

NOT an okay shirt to wear Lauren!

Doesn't matter what the angle is lady - no is NO!

You cannot wear this shirt at a bar, in a car, or on a boat - 

not even riding a goat!

(Lauren you dope!)

I don't care how long or how much it covers down there.

Sigh*

Well, at least I can wear my shorts up high.

And shoes you say?

Well, they are always a perfect fit here at Lake.

Summer fashion trends by Lauren Wells.

Boom.

A Running Memoir from this Feburary

Every year my school organizes and takes part in a 

Fun Run 

that involves the whole school 

(all grades from primary to secondary).

Teachers are also allowed to run with their students,

 however;

each year I have been designated to a certain station.

This year it was a water station, last year it was a cheering station.

Of course, I loved working at different stations but I feel

my skills could be used elsewhere this year....

MISS WELL WANTS TO SET A NEW ISD RECORD WORLD 

FUN RUN RECORD!

Why not? What gives? 

When do I get to make my running dream come true, eh? 

Run a wicked fast time, pass students along the 

way, set a new record, enjoy the fame and glory...

sigh*

(dreamy look)

Pardon me? How long is the run you say?

Errr....5 km I think? 

ARE YOU LAUGHING!?!

Laugh all you want but I am still going to train for the big race this coming Feb.....

...fingers crossed they let me RUN this year!

p.s. I laughed out loud when I saw the picture below.

These two boys were not running - in fact, not sure if they had run at all.

They were walking and talking so slowly that the bus that picks up staff after the run is over

caught up to them and had to STAY behind them.... 

I couldn't handle it.

Why not go out and help the little guys, right?

(she says in a passive aggressive voice)

Pretty sure I didn't let go of their hands once.

At one point when they wanted to walk again, I tried to 

convinced them that skipping was easier then running

but faster than walking.

"It's like a fun-mini break but you are still moving forward - cool no?"

These kids just looked at me like I was nuts.

What else is new?

But all in all, such a fun morning and overall a great idea...even if some kids don't run.

I love getting out of the classroom and I love seeing student forced to participate

in this run/walk - hah! 

(that gawd I am not a PE teacher)

Plus February is a great time of year - not too cold/not too hot.

Perfect.

p.p.s. The finish line is the best part...you think you had just finished running a marathon or something.

So many people cheering and so much

commotion at the finish line with tents, music and sometimes free ice cream!

Hah!

Okay - okay.

It really looks empty in this picture but I swear there is TONES

going on behind the photographer - believe me!

So...yeah.

That's running at ISD.

Random Lauren, random.

Cheesey Canada, I love you!

Just saying....cheesey but cute.

Funny but cheesey.

Quirky and weird = Canada 

I heart you, you big hunk of freezing cold!

So...yeah.

Happy Belated Canada Day, Canada.

(Typique Lauren)

Top 10 Things I Love @ the Lake

Let the count down begin....

#1 - Start the morning off right with some KICKASS - without question.

#2 - The beautiful view never gets old.

#3 - Love having comfy shoes to wear...debatable.

#4 - Easy puzzles to work on....

....yeah RIGHT! 

This puzzle has to have 1000 pieces!

By the way, who hangs their laundry out in the middle of the winter?

#5 - Comfy, lumberjack/cottage clothes...how is that different from what I normally wear?

Good point.

#6 - Endless time to spend getting vitamin D

(a.k.a. sun tanning) 

#7 - The screened in porch...except right now it's being used as

a drying rack - ha!

#8 - Looking at a map of this lake and going WOW!
FACTS: 

Lake of the Woods is over seventy miles long and wide.

There are 14 552 islands total.

It would have the longest coastline of any Canadian lake but

unfortunately we share it with our neighbors down below.

You're welcome!

#8 - Best chairs ever invented. 

Period.

#9 - The garden that has so many weeds to pull....I LOVE WEEDING!

Better than cleaning...why?

Because 

A) You work on your tan

B) Kinda exercising...a little?

C) Immediate satisfaction.

#10 - Best kitchen to work in

Some of my best dishes have been invented in this creative space

Example?

Meatloaf (with uncooked rice inside)

Chocolate chip cookies (thought salt was sugar - classic)

Frozen yogurt Popsicle (I added way too much cinnamon) 

(which prompted someone to ask - are there bananas in these?)

Raisin Bran Muffins (Had no raisin so cut up prunes - not the same)

Zucchini Lasagna (Vegetable mush with a lot of cheese)

(I basically ended up calling it vegetable chilli)

Tacos (I over cooked the shells so every time you took a bite the whole thing would fall apart)

Apple Crumble - (ran out of oat so crushed bran flakes...again, not the same)

Those muffins were NOT a disaster...coconut-date delights!

Hahah!

BONUS - Meeting the dogs after a year away.

And this year I was surprised by a new lovely face...DYLON!

.

Awwww

Photos do not do this dog justice.

Humbug!

So...yeah.

Top ten things I love at the Lake.

Boom.