A short visit to the cabin today

The drive to the cabin is a couple of hours or less from my Northern Virginia home, and I don’t get there anywhere near as often as I wish I could – and really should. Thankfully, I have assorted people that can take care of most things most of the time, but it’s best if I could go myself once a month or whenever there’s something specific to check out. Between the reservations and my busy schedule, sometimes it takes a while for me to get there.

Today I had an opportunity to go for several hours, which I did so I could assess what I need to do the next couple of weekends, as I have the next couple of weekends free and plan to spend both of them at the cabin.

As happens almost every time I go, I walked in and experienced delight at just how sweet and cozy the cabin is! I suppose if I lived there, I’d get used to it, but as it is, I always go through this whenever I get there. I just love how the cabin turned out. My builder, Bryan, has to be happy with it and the job he did. Of course it’s not perfect, and I could make a list of ways I’d love to be able to improve it. But darn, it’s cute.

So while there, I didn’t find anything really cosmic that needed doing, though even without going to check it out, I know there’s enough that I won’t be able to get it all done in the next couple of weekends. I have a few people there that can help me out when needed, and I figure I’ll have to call on them for some of the stuff that needs doing.

My neighbor Mike dropped by while I was there, and we chatted awhile. He’s going to take down a dead tree that he’s been worried about falling on my cabin for years. I’ve hesitated for probably three years now, but since the other one that he was worried about fell on the cabin a few weeks ago, his concerns have become more real to me. Plus, as Mike points out, this dead tree will also take out the power line when it falls – this is easy to see. Mike is on lay-off status now, so I’m happy that this will give him something to do at a time when he needs it.

Since the last time I was there, Mike has added a feature to the setup for his boxer, Ginger, that gives her a nice amount of freedom of movement. Now, Mike and his wife are not like most of the people that get away to Paws & Reflect, or me, although they are like a lot of the folks in the area – they keep an outside dog. It’s very sad to us, yes, but I have to say that considering she lives outside and in an unfenced area, she has pretty decent digs. He built her a huge pen that has plenty of shade and shelter but also chain link fencing, and it’s very secure. He keeps a heater out there for her in the cold weather, he told me today, and I believe it. Anyway, what he’s added is this cable that runs a good long distance of the yard, a few feet higher than my head, and she’s tethered to it in such a way that she can run around quite a ways in all directions before she reaches the end of her leeway. So, she certainly doesn’t have it as good as my guests and my own dogs have it, but for an outside dog, she could do way worse. You can see Ginger as a puppy in this picture, in the fenced dog area at Paws & Reflect.

While I was at the cabin, I got to do something I love to do – I read the guest book entries. Guests say lots of nice things, and are very helpful to future guests in making recommendations and relaying what they saw and did that others might enjoy. Here’s part of one entry that I particularly enjoyed reading:

Every year we enjoy a long weekend getaway of hiking & comfort! Last year we rescued a Jack Russell to complete our family. (Juliet, our Huskey rescue, wanted a playmate.) We were thinking of placing the two in a kennel (god forbid) when I came across this place! We all enjoyed ourselves in comfort! Spoiled, in fact. Wish we could stay longer to enjoy daily hikes on Skyline Drive. The girls (Juliet & KC) enjoyed all the toys & we enjoyed the hot tub & view! Thank you for opening your cabin to us dog lovers who can’t seem to part with them!!

I love that I’m able to give folks a vacation spot where their canine family members are as welcome as they are.

Katie at the Cabin

This past weekend, Katie brought her mom and dad to Paws & Reflect for a little last minute getaway. As Russ and Roberta figured out, there's a LOT to do in the area where Paws & Reflect is located, but they chose to take it slow and easy -- also a great choice for a getaway at the cabin. One of the great things they found about being at the cabin at this time of year, before the leaves return to the trees, is that you get a better sunset than you would in the late spring, summer, or early fall.

In this photo, pretty Katie poses on the DogIrondack Chair

Katie's mom has joined the club of Paws & Reflect guests that want an electronic doggie door after seeing it in use. I guess Katie took to it, which some dogs do and some don't. You just never know till you try it.