On Mother's Day

 Yesterday was a Talache day.  In other words, it was a day spent at one of my favorite spots on this earth.

It's a little strip of rocky shore nestled beneath the plunging slopes of the mountains I love and live in.

Lake Pend Oreille - the fifth deepest lake in the US.  And cold.

Some of my most treasured memories are kept along it's shores...  We made a few more to add to the collection yesterday.

We spent Mother's Day here last year, and the year before, and the year before that.  Perhaps even the year before that... suffice to say, we go way, way back!

The weather was perfectly spectacular.  In past years, we've had weather of all kinds - rain, hail, fog, and balmy sunshine.  But as Mother's Day was a week later this year, we had a day of pure, cloudless gold.

 

My Mother.  Spending this wonderful day at Talache is a perfect picture of her - there's no place she'd rather be.  Unless it would be salmon fishing up in Alaska...!

Words, empty words.  How could I possibly choose the right ones to convey what my mother is?

She's a true inspiration, showing me what pure, selfless womanhood and motherhood is.

Her strength, her selflessness, her dedication and her common sense are laced with a crazy love of adventure and a sense of humor so non-British that we always groan at each other's jokes.

My mother is the most inspiring person ever.  Someday, I think I'll write a book that will show her in her rightful place as the modern day Ma Ingalls.

My dulcimer is the traditional instrument of choice at Talache

And playing it while reclining in the hammock is pure bliss.

Eight families were able to join us, and children were everywhere!  Here they take a spin on a log.

(photo credit my Dad's iphone)

This here's my gorgeous sis Ellen.  

Her hair is naturally curly - I'm eternally jealous. :grin:

I take most of the pictures on the blog, but if I'm in one, chances are she took it.  This girl has major talent.

She's also genius at gardening.  And she makes a mean four strand french braid.  Her sense of humor is nearly identical to my moms - those two are dangerous in the joke line.

My sweet friend Wild Rose and her family were able to come, which was a real treat!

We took a stroll along the shore with our cameras in hand, shooting everything in sight;)

Ellen and Rebekah

The evening closed in, the shadows lengthened.  The bonfire was lit, and hymnbooks pulled out.

My favorite part of the day.