Its never enough time.By the time we found you in that kill shelter foster care you were already 3. We didnt dream that wed get 15 more years with you. They thought that you were nothing special.No pedigree.Untrained and ungroomed. Its why they said we were the first family who’d come to even meet you in 6 months.We knew these last years have been stolen ones -Arent dogs only supposed to leave us a 12, 13 if were lucky?We kept looking for 2nd & 3rd opinions- hoping for a different answer.We tried like hell to get in all of the ‘lasts’- Pupcup of (triple serving)- One more car ride – Last dip in the lakeBut nobody tells you about the lessons of regret(I cant not see your face barking at the kitchen door waiting for me to stop working and come out to throw you the stick)you ruined our stairs – your nails carved deep ruts from years of bounding up themNow those scars are the part of the house we love most.Every morning when we were loading up the car to head to school he trotted over to get in with us – never wanting to be left behind Knowing that we couldnt take him with us, Charlie grabbed his face by the scruff and said I love you. As months passed and we watched him walk slower to try to make it to the car door shed add another I love you. By last week she was up to a string of 8 – she couldnt leave without getting them all in. This Friday, we all got to hold him as he said goodbye. In his last minutes Charlie did not stop saying ‘I love you’ (as many as she could squeeze in) until he couldnt hear her anymore. Theres never gonna be enough time or enough I love yous for those who hold our hearts. Dog people know that they have souls. Frankies will be with us forever. OUR SCRUFFY BEST BOYLOYAL CAMPER GREETERFIERCEST PROTECTORSTEALER OF HOT DOGSWe dream of you chasing all the chipmunks now.We didnt deserve you.Thank you for teaching us to take and give all the love while we can. To never turn down the invitation to go throw the stick, and to hold close all those good scars. RIP, dear boy.FRANKIE July 7th, 2023 *if you are going through this yourself, and need help- look upLap Of Love
The best boy.You are breaking our hearts.Last shot.Last night on the dock.Sunsetting. Trying to explain to Charlie what is happening to you now.David says you are 18 now. I stopped counting at 16.Just too hard to accept that youve already defied all odds to have been with us this long.Sweet boy- The only thing you ever did wrong was grow old.We dont deserve you.How do you know when to make the call? This is impossible
How we spent our 4th(In reverse) -New shuffleboard court, finally poured- its predecessor was poured before our time, so it was about time- several tons of topsoil spread & seeded – 2 magical hours driving Hockney weed cutter through the lake to harvest invasive species – Dragging the swim raft out to lake center (PIVOT!!!)- scraping the dock before hitting it with its millionth coat (90 degrees is ideal weather for this task)- scrap/ sand/ paint / repeat our geriatric rowboat Not shown :- me wielding a chainsaw on a pole like a crazy person clearing 30 yards Of invasive buckthorn at 6:02 am – every nail broken – Joe & Ellie sweating it out with us Thanks @nicolemarietoalson and @petercreigtoalson for letting us cap off a long day with a tractor full of fireworks David (first pic) and Charlie (second) much prefer this part of camp life
VOTE!Were shopping for new bikes for our fleet. We love our vintage rides – but the time has come to augment with new offerings (that have modern brakes)Trying to decide what the official Camp Wandawega Bike will be.NEEDS:-As close to indestructible as possible -Vintage style (surprise)-Easy on the arse -Green, red or creme (our building palette- cause somebody will lose sleep if we have millennial pink parked in the bike rack) – 3 speed to climb the hills around here Scroll for options >>>Any other finds / brands??
This is pure joy. All day long. Were here for it, And this beautiful group of people that come back to us every year. (Volume up for last video) @BDMACKEY88 @LUKEWARMTODDY @ASTRO_KNOTT @MARSHALLTOOLBOX @DAN_GARVEY_ @STEPHENSTRONG45 @BENJI_FRED @STEPHRNSTRONG45 @ZACHATTACK1286 @BDMACKEY88 @RYANGUETZ @SETH85 @tcander
Our friends from @pendleton.au have been sharing scenes from some of our rooms for the last few weeks – (weve always been fans of historic American brands) and love to see some of the big ones like @pendletonwm sharing some love for small businesses like us Pics from the Wandawega suite at @graduatehotels ( featuring part of our line with @crateandkids – and Charlie at 12 & 6 )
Pour myself a cup of ambition.We believe that every camper needs fuel.What we stock around camp:- @nordskovcoffee – canteen coffee (Folgers)- canteen self serve (nespresso)- instant espresso (packets)- instant coffee (think old school Sanka)Ways to get it:- Pour over – French press- Lamarzzocco – Vintage percolator – Nespresso- Enamelware campfire pots ..Pics by @erikengstromphoto HLC camp mug by @stemsandforks
