Bass Lake

I am back from Bass Lake.  We had the BEST time!  Mom and I drove straight through on Wednesday afternoon, arriving about 9:30 PM at the lake.  My Mom's friend Dan was waiting for us.  He showed us to our room, which was the cutest hideaway, with private bathroom, overlooking the lake.  The other side of the room, was an exact replica of the photo below.   So we each had our own big bed. There was a sleeping loft above as well.

We went to sit out on the dock for a little while.  It was very hot and muggy still.  We even got a few raindrops falling on us.
The next morning, I was up by 6:00.  I had to go say hello to my lake!!  I jumped out of bed and looked out the window to see the water.  Then whispered over across the room to my Mom...."hey...I smell coffee.....Dan is up!"  So we waddled on downstairs to begin our first day on the lake.

The water level was down quite a bit.  Normally, the water would come all the way up to the rock wall.   The cabin we stayed in was only two down from the cabin I grew up going to every summer for my youth, as well as into my adult years.  Sitting out on the dock, looking over at the covered dock where I would sip coffee with my Dad early in the morning.  Remembering the activity that took place over at Lee's.  So many wonderful memories.  They flooded my mind as I sat out on the dock looking over there.

 See the flag pole?  That is where it all happened.  Where 25 kids raced up and down the dock, from sunup to sundown.  Laughing, playing, having the time of our lives.  We skied all day long.  And I do mean ALL day long.  From 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, we skied.  Around and around the lake we would go.  My brothers and I, trying to outdo each other.  David was graceful on his ski.  Like a choreographed dance, he would swing from one side of the boat to the other, laying his entire body down to make the turn back in behind the wake....leaving a perfect arc of water spray every time.  Like a ballet, in and out.....never falling.  Mark, he was like a gymnast, popping up behind the boat, and immediately jumping high into the air every time he hit that wake.  Jumping, turning, lifting that ski way out of the water, seeing how much air he could get each time.  Zooming across the wake at high speed, clearing the entire wake on his jump.  He was an acrobat on a wooden ski.  Always an exciting thing to see.  I remember one time, my Dad's hat blew off of his head, and without skipping a beat, Mark, who was skiing behind the boat,  let go of the handle with one hand, bending down to scoop that hat up in midair, and plopping it onto his head for the remaining ride.  We roared in the boat at his quickness.  Then I would get into the lake.  Dad would say, "Jump in the water daughter" and I would put my ski on, he would take out the slack, and I would shout, "Let it happen, Captain!" and off we would go.  I was somewhere in between David the graceful skier, and Mark the acrobat, and loved to swing from side to side, spraying and jumping the wake.  Oh what a feeling. How we loved those carefree days on the lake, with our family.  My little brother Tim learned to ski later than us, so most of my memories are of me and my two older brothers.  Timmy was probably fishing from the dock, out of the little trap door!!
I sat out on the end of the dock, with my toes in the water, remembering those wonderful days.  There is something about this place.  The beauty.  The rustic cabins that dot the lake.  The people, the weather.  It is just heavenly.

Dan made us a good breakfast on that first morning, of scrambled eggs, bacon, cornbread and coffee.

We spent all of our time outside, either on the dock, or on the deck, overlooking the lake.

You can see my yarn bag there on the table.  I got a lot of flowers done, sitting in the shade, looking at my lake.
On the left is Gerry, and next to him is Marjie.  Marjie is Dan's older sister, and much more like a Mom to him.  He is very close to her.  Marjie and Gerry were neighbors, and both were widows.  One day Marjie asked Gerry to go feed the ducks with her, and a romance blossomed.  They were married a couple of years ago, and  have been smiling and loving life every day since then.  Gerry is a very spry 92, and Marjie is a remarkable 88!!!!  They are really something!!!!  I so loved meeting them, and getting to know them.  Such a wonderful example of living life to the fullest.  Sharp as a tack, always up for an adventure, never a word of complaint, and smiling....laughing, always!!!    They are exactly what everyone hopes to be!!!  I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this lovely couple!!!!
Dan (on right of my Mom) was the perfect host.  It was the most relaxing time!
Of course we had to make a couple of visits to The Forks for burgers!!
This place is virtually the same as it was 40 plus years ago, when I first came to the lake.

We didn't really do too much.  A lot of relaxing and eating.  I went from one shady spot to the next with my bag of crochet, and more often than not, wound up nodding off for a little nap.

Mom and I took the noodles out to the lake for a nice little swim one day.  The water level being low right now, we walked right down the steps from the front of the cabin to the water.

The Canadian Geese were out there on the lawn a lot.  Honk-honk!!
The sunsets were beautiful!  We always ate out on the deck, and everyone brought a dish to share, and we did potluck.  But I have to show you what the view from the kitchen was too.

Oh yes, I do believe I would enjoy cooking and looking out at this view!!!!  The kitchen was really cute, and cabiny, and a little funky too. 

Lots of rock, and knotty pine.  With a charming wood burning stove in the corner.

How I would love to be here in the winter time!!!!  Sitting there at the table and looking at the lake, with that stove warming the room.  Heaven.!!!
 Someone made homemade ice cream, which we enjoyed after dinner each night.

I loved watching the sun go down.  From the late afternoon, when the sun made the water twinkle like diamonds.

To watching the last boats inch in across the lake to the docks.

And then the moon appears over the water.

I tried and tried to get a shot of the moon casting the gorgeous light over the lake, on our last night there.  I was never able to get the right photo, but trust me, it was breathtaking!!!!

We all sat outside that last night, watching the moon cast that awesome glow over the water.  We watched until the moon slipped off over the mountain, and the light  was no longer on the water.
Goodnight moon.  Goodnight lake.  What a fabulous time I had with my Mom!  We got to talk more than we have in a long time.  Sharing this place with her, was wonderful!  It is OUR place.  Thank you Dan for the invitation to come for a few days.  It was wonderful!!! Every minute!!!  Wonderful!!!!!!
Tomorrow I will show you some pictures from Dan's  ranch home in the canyon.  Until then, go make it a 

GREAT DAY!  Like my friends Gerry and Marjie do!

  XO  Kris