On the Shores of West Hunter Lake

Our Sunday travels took us to the Pierach family cabin about an hour north of the Twin Cities, in Zimmerman. Nestled on the shore of tiny West Hunter Lake, "Foersterei," as it is called, has long been the spiritual home for the Five Pierachs. The cabin sits on a modest lot, and has only recently gained the kinds of amenities most of us take for granted. But for nearly 40 years, it has hosted countless celebrations and lazy afternoons, and if there were a Hall of Fame for relaxation, the cabin would be enshrined on the first ballot.

This afternoon, Coco and Elliot got a little taste of what a wonderful spot the Cabin is. Armed with a small plastic watering can and a pair of water-resistant sandels, Coco was more than prepared for an afternoon of fun. She usually managed to distribute the contents of her watering can fairly equally between the lawn and her belly. When everything else was soaked, Omi dug into the archives and produced a swim suit that dates to the early '70s. I think my sister Lele, who turns 44 on Wednesday, was the last to wear it ...

The afternoon went as afternoons there do: We ate watermelon and steaks from the grill, found a caterpiller, took a long walk, and capped things off with a little spin in the old rowboat. Elliot took it all in from his usual perch, and was mostly unfazed by the relentless kisses of his adoring sister, Grandparents and the early-May sun.

All-in-all, a fantastic spring day on the shores of West Hunter Lake.