Let's Dine Out

Don't let the summer come to an end without celebrating it's beauty with dinner on the dock.

or by the pool...........

or by the river bank..........

and maybe on your boat..............

Celebrate summer in all her glory before she tucks herself away for the winter.

our chairs

A good friend who has a special gift for being able to see things that others cannot see [she's psychic], told me that she saw two chairs sitting at the end of the dock. One is for me. one is for mister. We would be sitting on those chairs holding hands together many years from now. I had just met mister and didn't see how that could possibly be true.

.......... i had an artist friend put this picture of 'our chairs' together in a setting that i described to him. I gave the framed picture to mister as a gift. We are looking forward to the years ahead sitting on the dock together.

I don't know how i realized that the picture of our chairs would be adirondack, maybe it is the memories from my grandparents yard so many years ago, maybe it's the perfect fit that this style of chair offers.

source

source

In 1903, Thomas Lee designed the first version of the adirondack chair while on vacation near the adirondack mountains [new york state]. Lee offered Harry Bunnell, a carpenter friend who was in need of work, the job of producing the chairs. Two years later, Bunnell filed for and received the patent for the now famous style of chairs. Bunnell went on to produce and profit from the adirondack chair designs for the next twenty years.

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The muskoka chair received it's name from the muskoka lakes cottage region in ontario - north of toronto. When you boat along the lake and see a rainbow of colourful muskoka chairs on the docks brightening the waters edge.

uwharrie

Some of the chairs come joined at the hip with a slat table linking the two chairs. some have attached or removable foot stools. The slope and comfort of the seats makes the chairs comfortable, but the wider the arm the better the chair for resting your arms and your summer bevy.

pottery barn

relaxing in a sea of lavender...........

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retro cottage

I grew up going to the cottage of my father's best friend. I loved jumping off the dock to swim, the bolder islands that offered the a breathtaking beauty from the combination of majestic tree's and massive rock formations.

via coastal living

It may not have been painted in pastels {although i recall mint green} - but the cottage kitchen was a mix'n-match combination like this one above.

via Cdn house & home

Maybe the retro style at the cottage is what makes it all so comfortable in our minds. It's like comfort food. Comfort design anyone ?

via coastal living

My mother didn't like the water, which was difficult when you stay on a island cottage. Our first visit to the cottage was at night in the pitch dark. We all piled into the boat and drove across the lake not knowing where we were going - which may have been better.
My mother would cook big breakfast's with eggs, mountains of toast, pan fried tomato and potato. I loved the two sided flip toaster and i always offered to help make the toast.

via a lady's findings

Sleeping with the windows open at the cottage provided the perfect air conditioning, and the opportunity to hear the sound of the water at all times.

On our very first morning at the lake my mother woke and came out to the cottage porch. She couldn't see my or my sister anywhere. we were in the water at the end of the dock swimming. My father and his best friend [our host] were sitting on the dock chatting, so our mother was fine with that  ......  until she was told that the depth of the water at the end of the dock was 30 feet.

I loved swimming at the lake, loved taking the little boat out on my own [although it required a full can of gas to hold the front end weight down].

kahshe lake

For me the ideal cottage has enough convenience so that you are comfortable, but utilizing the natural elements and bringing in restored furnishings. Indoor plumbing is a must. Comfortable beds. Wood burning fireplace [not propane]. A grill big enough to accommodate a huge crowd. A harvest table so that everyone can eat together.

And a quiet spot to enjoy all that nature has provided. isn't that why you go to the cottage.


                  ............... simplicity
               
                                       ................ tranquility

                                                       ....................... bliss