Category Archives: Family and Friends

Pictures and stories of our dear family and friends

Family and Friends, Mondays are for Memories, On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, The Cabin

Vermont, Round Two

July 23, 2025 steph 3 Comments

Our love for our little red cabin in Vermont is no secret around here. We’d already been at the cabin earlier in May, but we were delighted to be able to work in a second Cabin stay in late June. As always it was just what the doctor ordered! We overlapped the first couple of days with my sister Joie & hubby which was a first for us – and quite the delight from my perspective! We stayed in town with Chris (so thankful for that sweet guestroom!), and took exactly zero photos of the four (or five, depending on the day) of us, but trust me – walks were taken

thrift shops were visited

(all pink tags were 10 cents. Yes. 10 cents.)
and ice cream was eaten!
While we were together we also had our annual Dwinell Cabin Association meeting, with over 15 in attendence.

Zoom has really helped us include more folks in these annual meetings – and it was a great meeting! As our family grows, it becomes more and more important to be organized and official! We love that so many of this next generation are excited about spending time at the cabin. (Excited that they are paying dues too!)
After Joie & Fitz wrapped up their time, Gary started in on what was our big project for this trip – painting the cabin floor!

We got all the furniture moved to one side and Gary began sanding –

As he moved around with the sanding I followed behind vacuuming, mopping and taping. Soon he was into the painting!

Day two was (carefully) moving the furniture to the painted side, and begin the same procedure as the day before. Sanding, cleaning, taping, painting.

Second coat on the high traffic areas –

We let everything dry thoroughly before we tried to put the cabin back together again!

The floor looks great, areas have been cleaned that haven’t been cleaned in a good long while, and I may or many not have gotten all of the fine green dust off of just about everything!
These are the feet of floor painter –

We stayed down at Chris’s during the process which was great. Truth be told, it was a bigger job than we thought it would be. Thankfully it doesn’t need to be done very often (last time was 2017), and we now know that the next generation will be the ones handling the job next time. =)

After we got that floor done, it was a pretty relaxing time for us. There were no treehouses to build, no docks to construct, or giant rocks to dig up. Chris and I worked on our side garden which we are trying to make into a Native Garden. The hope is that eventually it will be mostly self-maintaining and filled with beautiful Vermont-native plants. This is the first summer to really work on it – and I think it’s coming along nicely! (Now if we could just keep the ‘native’ grass under control!)
Starting out –

In process –

And mostly done (well, for this summer at least!)

The bench was donated to the cabin in Elna’s memory, so I’m calling it Elna’s Garden. It’s a work in progress to be sure – but it is quite the lovely spot to sit and watch the sun set over the mountains.

We researched where to hang the new hammock (yard sale find!)

Looks good, but a little too close to the outhouse, especially on a windy day!
Final spot is a keeper!

Even has a view of the pond!
Besides the naps that we took, the books we read, and the ice cream we ate, some of our other highlights were –
-Celebrating Aunt Vesta’s 100th birthday at the Dwinell Homestead

-New custom door on the outhouse –

And of course – my favorite way to wake up

with a crackling fire and fresh brewed coffee!
We finished up our time there with another sweet overlap – this time with those sweet Chambersburg Fitzpatricks. It was just one day – but it was a pretty perfect cabin day!
-Chores

-Swimming and games (no pictures, sorry, but lots of laughing and splashing was heard).
-Trip for ice cream

-and finally a campfire (complete with S’mores!).

What lovely weeks we had at The Cabin! We were reminded (as always) what a family treasure this little spot is – and what a precious gift our grandparents left us those long years ago! This was our final ‘see ya later’ for the cabin this year, but we left with our hearts full of Cabin love.

And then we were off the next part of our adventure…

Details coming soon!

Thanks for coming along on our round two of our Cabin time!

Family and Friends, On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure

I’ve broken my record

July 19, 2025 steph 8 Comments

It’s been exactly one month since my last post, and I do believe that that is the longest I have gone between posts. Four solid weeks. Yikes – that’s a lot of catching up to do! And since I was already running behind at that point, I’d better get started –
The Ohio Week
Following our great week in Pigeon Forge with Alex, we spent the next week just hanging out with the rest of our Ohio gang. “Hanging out” might be a bit of an understatement –
There was a deck to repair/rebuild-

Ball games to attend –

Art Festivals to enjoy

and of course, lots of games to play!

(Giant cards were the perfect Father’s Day gift for Toby!).
One of my favorite moments during the week was when little Tucker (without prompting) climbed up into Gary’s lap for a snuggle.

It was a busy week spent with a busy family – but we were so glad we could spend the time with them! But soon it was time to move again…

The Pennsylvania Week
From Columbus we turned east to Pennsylvania – where we did our annual doctoring things (all good, thank you, Lord), spent time with the Chambersburg Fitzpatricks

and managed to connect with my college roommate.

We touched base with some dear SOWER friends along the way-

and spent the weekend back in the old neighborhood, spending time with dear friends!

I’m really bad at taking pictures when I’m having such a sweet time catching up with friends! Our hometown area has changed quite a bit in the 20 (!!!) years we’ve been gone,

(those were little 6 ft. pine trees when we planted them!) but it’s always good to sit down with the ‘old gang’ and remember God’s goodness to us throughout these years!

Cabin Days
So that takes us up to June 23 (just 4 days after the last post!) when we drove to Vermont for some much anticipated (and well needed) Cabin time.

But enough of this catching up for today! Thanks for coming along – I really appreciate your patience as we travel through this Sofa Surfing Summer. Trying to find those quiet moments to do this blogging thing is more challenging than you think!
Have a blessed Lord’s Day tomorrow, friends –

Family and Friends, On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure

So Much Fun – Part One

June 19, 2025 steph 2 Comments

Another three weeks have gone by since my last post – and let me tell you, they have been Very.Full.Weeks!
It started off with the
Absolutely Amazing Adventure with Alex

We’ve been doing the Take-the-grand-when-they’re-ten adventure for 12 years now. And each adventure has been unique and fun!! We’ve done Baltimore, Washington, DC, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Williamsburg, Galveston, TX, all things Delaware, and Lake George (NY) in past years. This time we decided on Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN. It was a great choice since if you can’t find something fun to do in that area you must be in a sorry state indeed!
There is one thing about these adventures, though – the kids still have all the energy of a 10 year old. But the grandparents keep getting older. So this year we opted not to go to Dollywood (though I’ve heard it’s amazing), and instead focused on other low-impact fun! Like a grand dinner theater,

some time in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park,

a foray into the Cherokee culture,

exploring the deep blue sea at the aquarium

and finding challenges at Wonderworks!

A true highlight was the trip to English Mountain Fish Farm for some fishin’ and catchin’ fun!

You were pretty much guaranteed a catch – and then they cooked ’em up just fine!

(OK – if you’re a serious fisherman this is not the spot for you. But if you’re a 10 year old girl who loves fishing, but hasn’t done much catching, this was the place to be!).

Whether we were out exploring the town, playing miniature golf, or eating at fun restaurants, we always ended the day in the pool! (After Grams and Pops took a power nap!).

This was our first adventure without Lizzie (the RV), but we had a sweet cabin (ok, it was a single wide!) in a nice campground close to the action, so we think it was a great success. While we missed having all our stuff with us (and a familiar kitchen), we still managed just fine! Games were played,

good food was eaten,

and naps were taken (no documentation, but trust me – they happened!).
It was a grand week, filled with memories and we’re so thankful we had the time to spend with Alex!
It was a pretty quiet ride home to Columbus

which brings us to Part Two of this post.
Check back soon!
Thanks for coming along to Pigeon Forge with us! If you’d like to see more pictures of the trip, you can check them out HERE!

Family and Friends, On the Road, The Adventure

Let’s see…

May 29, 2025 steph Leave a comment

Just where were we when I last updated here? Hmmm…May 16th. It’s been almost two weeks – and almost 2300 miles, so I must have some catching up to do! I’d better get started, eh?

Cabin Time
I finished off my last post with “We so love this place in May!” , and this year was no exception!

(Let’s be real – I love this place ANY time. But being able to see its ‘bones’ more clearly is always a delight!)
Gary got the water up and flowing, and of course did the first mowing –

I checked out the pond

and aside from the lack of frogs (maybe it was too early?), all seemed well with our little fishing/swimming hole!

I did my best to beat back the cobwebs and multitudes of Asian beetles (some still moving, most not), along with accomplishing some basic “First-up” chores on the inside of theCabin!
We played lots of our favorite Cabin game (Rummicub), took in a local high school’s performance of Annie (great job, kids!),

managed to meet up with the brother and his wife for lunch (always wonderful)

and of course managed to do some necessary Ice Cream Research (someone has to do it!).

It was a great two weeks! The weather was very spring-like – sunny and in the 70’s the first week, rainy and (maybe) up to 50 on the second! But chores got done, naps were taken, books read, and friends and family connected with.
From the first leaf

to the summer green

we love our ‘first-up’ time at the Cabin!

Seeing Old Friends –
We spent Memorial Day weekend with our friend Lynne in Ludlow. What a sweet time we had with this dear old (as in we’ve been friends a long time!) friend. We were able to help out with some chores –
like cleaning and organizing the work shop –

but mostly we just enjoyed hanging out, letting Gary beat us at Rummicub

and feeling oh-so-thankful for the blessing of a long enduring friendship!

It’s always good to spend time with Lynne!
From Lynne’s we began our trek back to Ohio. But first there was an overnight stop at another “old” friend’s home in Wellsboro, PA. Sally and I go back to pre-baby days,

and although our lives have taken us in many different directions, including divorce, job changes, church changes, moves (not to mention 20 years of us being who-knows-where), the Lord has kept us ever so beautifully connected!

We both had our first babies in 1976 (our bicentennial babies), shared all those new momma moments together! Here are our two girls (with another little one from church) in their (totally unscripted) yellow Easter finery!

And here is Lara’s daughter wearing the same yellow coat and hat!

It was such a good visit! A bit too short, but we had a wonderful time of sharing how God has worked in our lives through the years – whatever our circumstances, He was and is Faithful!
As an added bonus, we made a quick drive out to see the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon –

More of His Handiwork!!
We drove in the rain the next day (aka yesterday),

and aside from some frustrating traffic along the way, it was an OK trip. The trip brightened significantly when we were able to snag our recent college graduate (who has a teaching position lined up for the fall! Yay!) for lunch in Kent.

The sandwich was great – but the company was better!
Today was new tires for the truck, and then getting organized for our trip that starts tomorrow! It’s Alex’s turn for her big Grams & Pops Adventure! We have a cabin reserved in Pigeon Forge, TN, and I’m pretty sure we’ll find enough fun to keep us busy for the next week! The computer is staying in Ohio – so I’ll work on catching up again when we get back!
Have a great weekend, friends!

Family and Friends, On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure, The Cabin

One week into the adventure!

May 16, 2025 steph Leave a comment

And it’s been grand!
While our first official destination was Columbus, OH, and visits with our kids, we did make a quick stop along the way. We were able to connect with some sweet SOWER friends who live outside of Cincinnati! It was a quick stop, but one that did my heart good! Of course, I failed to get a photo of us together, so we each took selfies and shared them!

Not quite as fun as a together shot – but it will serve the purpose for our memories! We love being able to connect with our SOWER family on our travels!
The timing for our Ohio visit was to be able to celebrate our oldest granddaughter’s college graduation!

Prior to graduation day, we were able to spend time with both of our Ohio families, which included (but was not limited to) –
New hair designs,

dog walking,

(not sure who’s walking who here!)
baby almost walking,

a little Bluegrass

and lots of good family time!

With a shortage of available tickets, we didn’t get to watch Ellie graduate “live,” but being able to view it on TV in the comfort of her apartment

worked just fine for us. (Naps may or may not have happened during the commencement speeches. We were so cozy!)
It was a good visit all around! We’ll be heading back that way for more family fun at the end of the month, but right now we’re enjoying some very precious Cabin time!

We so love this place in May!

More Cabin Talk in days to come..
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend!