The Orr Cottage

Whew!  We are FINALLY settling back into our semi-normal summer routine, after being on the road for most of the last few weeks.  So last we checked in, we had just spent a fabulous weekend in Oxford celebrating the wedding of Aunt MC and Uncle Eddie.  Since then, we have spent a weekend with friends on the river at Rock Island, time in Indiana at the lake with G.G. and Grand-D, and a long weekend in Black Mountain, NC, celebrating the 88th birthday of B, Dave's grandfather and Ev's great-grandfather.  More on Black Mountain later; for now, a look back at our time on the water!

Ev is getting to be quite a water-baby these days; she loves to splash in the pool at the Maryland Farms YMCA, and seemed to really get into chilling on the dock next to the river at Rock Island, too:

Some of the sweetest moments we've had this month, though, occurred during our stay at the Orr Cottage on Lake Webster in Indiana with Honey and G.G. and Grand-D.  Ev's visit was kind of like a visit to the homestead, since the Orrs (whose name Evelyn shares) originate in that part of the country.  One of Ev's Orr ancestors built the lovely cottage on the lake, and G.G. said that Evelyn is the seventh-generation Orr to stay there!  Pretty neat.

Here's the mailbox out front; we clearly had to take a picture on it:)

Ev relished our daily spins around the lake in the boat; the faster, the better for this girl!  In the picture above, she is holding her mama's adult beverage for her--don't be alarmed:)  Also, note that her life preserver is NOT completely fastened around her neck; she and the life preserver are not good friends.

She also helped G.G. and Grand-D with some planting and landscaping.  They even planted a lilac bush together in honor of Ev's first visit to the lake.

And of course, Ev received a plethora of snuggles from everyone all day every day:)

Finally, if you've ever wondered what Evelyn looks like in a freezing lake in the summer in Indiana, check out this video.  It's a little lengthy, but just a few seconds will give you the idea: