The Cabin - Okema Beach, Emma Lake, SK

On our way home from Candle lake we decided to head east to Emma Lake.  My great-grandfather built a cabin on Okema Beach (Emma Lake) in 1931 and as far as we knew it was still in the family. Growing up I'd seen many photos of my dad and his mom at this very cabin.  I called my dad for a rough idea of where it was.  After a few failed attempts and a fish and chip lunch with the kids my dad remembered Okema Beach.  We asked a local and they pointed us in the right direction only a mile down the road.  When my dad first spent the summer of 1944 there the cabin was not too far down the road,  well now 66 years later it was much further down the road as more cabins have been built on the lots.  I was  eagerly looking for the name Sewell hoping it would be posted at the end of the driveway like many of the other cabins, I would later come to find out that the sign was hand painted with a feather by my great grandfather.  Much to my delight I spotted it "The Sewell Cabin", I thought "this is it" and didn't hesitate to knock on the door afterall this was such an opportunity to bring the past into the present.  I knocked on what I thought looked like a miniature door and to my surprise I was greeted with a very warm hello by who I would soon find out was my second cousin.  They welcomed us with open arms gave us a tour, took pictures and offered to have us for supper.  It was such a comforting experience to be in a place I so often saw in photos with dad and a grandmother of whom I wasn't forunate enough to meet.

Summer Road Trips 2010

Change of plans, the thought of going back two years and posting pictures and journaling of all of our trips in Saskatchewan thus far seems a little overwhelming right now.  I have now decided to start with this summer and gradually work my way backwards. 

This summer we went on two short camping trips to Candle Lake Provincial Park and Douglas Lake Provincial Park.  I must say I fell deeply in LOVE with Candle lake and have mixed feelings about Douglas Lake (mostly due to our partying camping neighbors). 

We spent the first weekend camping at Minowukaw Beach  at Candle Lake.  This was the first campground that felt like "genuine" camping to me (as a BC girl I'm used to evergreen trees in the forest).  The weekend skies were overcast for the most part but the sun made an appearance just enough to get my hopes up.  We spent our  time beachcombing, going for little hikes, visits to the playground and the local camground store where we splurged on kinder eggs for the kids for $2.50 each (WOW)!

Our campground backed onto the lake and as soon as I saw it I could picture where I would place my camp chair to enjoy my morning coffee.  It was the pefect lake view accompanied by the tranquil sound of lapping waves up against the rock lined perimetre.  This was music to my ears and almost drowned out the word "mom" as my children voiced their regular requests.  It's is simple pleasures like this that bring me back to what I feel is really important in my life one of which is emersing myself in the enjoyment of my family.

Douglas Lake Provincial Park

The most recent weekend we spent at Douglas Lake.  I must say, I was just a little disappointed when we got there.  It might have been the temperature of 34 degrees and trying to set up the tent and my indecision as to which campsite I liked best.  The surroundings were so different from my much admired Candle Lake, there were bushes and small deciduous trees (no evergreens to speak of).  I felt like we were the only people tenting is a sea of motorhomes.  I say to myself  "do not ruin this weekend just because your expectations haven't been met, just enjoy it".  This is often what I say to myself during an event I have so looked forward to.

Set up camp, downed some lunch and now it's time to hit the beach.  Well it was refreshing that's for sure!  The kids played in the sand while I body surfed the waves.  This is a solitary activity I have come to love, as I feel completely at peace in the water. 

We spent much of this weekend swimming, playing in the sand, enjoying the ever so long walk to the beach and playing at the park.  Our first morning couldn't come soon enough though, although the kids slept we were kept awake by our partying neighbors until at leat 3am.  Groggy isn't even the word to describe how we felt but of course like any parent we carried on as usual despite our burning eyes.

We attempted to hike to the sand dunes which we later found out was 2 hour roundtrip.  I think we made it 3/4 of the way and the kids had other plans.  The kids had made some of their own discoveries so a little fun was had.  To avoid another sleepless night we cut our stay one night short, stayed for supper and stopped for an icecream in Elbow on our way home.  It was another memorable trip.