A Vacation at Home

On this Labor Day weekend, we are having a quiet vacation at home to welcome fall.

My oldest daughter and I cleaned the dock and prepared it for a cozy evening...

...while the 'men' work on the tree house.

I gave this sign to my husband for Father's Day one year.  It welcomes the fishermen and boaters as they go by.

As the sun sets, the children go for a canoe ride...

...and I yell from here, "That is too far!  Come in closer!"

Rowing all in sync...

...and not so much in sync!

I grabbed the basket of food from the kitchen, that my daughter and I prepared earlier...

...while they float close enough for Rob to see.

The menu was roast beef subs, pasta salad, shrimp salad, fruit salad and tea for us and lemonade for the kids.

We had a shrimp boil the night before, so with the leftover shrimp, I made a salad.  I am not much of a cook, but this turned out pretty good!  I cut the shrimp into small pieces, added some red onion, boiled egg, celery, shredded carrots, salt and pepper, mayo and topped it with some cayenne pepper, dill and green onion.  Yum! 

Evening time on the lake is so beautiful...the sun sets in colors of yellow and orange, the boats meander by and all is quiet.

This old fishing basket holds my 'several days old' flowers from the Farmer's Market. 

A corner on the dock is ready for our meal.

The grain sack was purchased from a vendor in Charleston, SC.  I put two standard pillows inside to make the cushion and the bench is now comfortable.  The table runner was on clearance at the end of the season from Pottery Barn.  The large basket was made by a man in our town who crafts many different sizes of this basket.  It is very sturdy and finds many uses in our home!  The large burlap pillows were from Target a few years ago.  The quilt on the hammock was a gift from my mother-in-law.

A little fish hangs above the hammock.

We are now full, it is late and everyone is tired from the day of work and fun.  My daughter and I clean up.  These little containers for the salads are from World Market.  They have a fun, vintage look.

My husband sits for some much needed R&R...

...as my two youngest children snuggle under the warm blanket. 

~

This was such a nice day...no commitments!  We tinkered around the house and enjoyed the quiet evening, just the five of us.  I love the days that are unplanned and simple.  A vacation at home...hmmmm...turn off the TV, don't answer the phone and go outside...I think I might like more vacations like this! 

Welcome fall!

I am joining the CSI Fall Project Challenge!

...and celebrating with these great sites!