Little Blake Lake

Well, the water might have been shut off, but the heat still works. And there was still sanding, painting, and cleaning to do. So Nancy and I returned.

We dined on frozen pizza and Australian wine Saturday night. We used a plastic bag hung on a nail outside the back door as our fridge.

Saturday's wind chill made the 50° weather feel more like 35°. But Nancy sanded the patches on the siding and even painted them. I spread more gravel on the stairs to make them more even and I watered the plants I put in last week. I washed some windows and vacuumed places that hadn't seen the light of day for a year.

I also listened to the second half of the Maisie Dobbs mystery, mostly while lying on the couch in the lake room. I admit that I had to repeat some sections because I dozed off a few times, but it was okay. (See ReadingBlog for comments soon.)

Oh, and the moon was fantastic. Saturday night was one night past full, and at 4AM, the shadows of trees were distinct in the yard and no flashlight was necessary to walk around. And even just before sunrise, the moon light was a treat. So was the morning light. The sun came up so far south and the absence of leaves made the light look so different from what we're used to, I went looking for photographs, but it's really difficult to see things anew even when the light is so unusual.



Saturday night's temperature got down to around 30°. But look! The lupin was still pushing up new shoots on Sunday morning. What's with this plant?



So today's feature is "The Shakespeare House." It's two-fifths outhouse and three-fifths storage shed. The storage is on the right. The outhouse is on the left.

The Hoveys (I think that's the name) were early owners of the cabin. Dr. Hovey, whose office was in the Medical Arts Building in downtown Minneapolis) left lampshades made with x-rays of former patients (we assume). Mrs. Hovey was an art teacher.

The story is that some (one?) of her students painted the inside of the outhouse. Because of the quotations on the walls, we were introduced to it as The Shakespeare House, or informally as "The Willie."



When you open the outhouse door, you see this guy peeking into a window. It's only weird when you close the door.



As you get inside, you look in vain for your image in the mirror.



You get to see some old family portraits on the wall.



One of the appropriate Shakespeare quotes appears on the wall behind the throne.



Another appears on the surface of the throne itself.



And when you're ready to finish and leave, there's this Shakespearian guidance.

We love this place for more than the vistas, the quiet, the water, and the serenity.

Next year we'll be back at the lake.

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