Meagan's Cabin Initiation and Other Stories

Though I have known Louis Sowinski since 2nd grade when we started riding Bus #5 together, I feel like the evolution of our friendship is now complete. For years I’ve heard about his family’s famous Michigan cabin and the hilarity that inevitably ensues every trip. It’s always been one of Brad’s favorite spots for a guys’ get together. A few weekends ago we realized that we all just happened to be free (a miracle), so we met at the cabin – wives included this time! It was everything I was promised it would be. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends. As you will see below, it’s a true shame that we have no fun together.

Most of the crew (this was the second night, after Chad and Kate had to take off with Little C). Brad and I brought a special bottle of wine to toast the weekend.



One of Brad’s Purdue friends, Keith, asked after reading the blog last month, “Do you guys ever do anything except eat?” Fair question. Louis and I, who are kindred spirits in our love of cooking, had way too much fun feeding everyone.

Great food started the first night with Louis’s steaks cooked over the fire and cucumber/jalapeno salad from my garden.



For night two, I brought corn and green tomatoes, which I fried up with Ethiopian spices!, from the garden. We had an all finger food dinner with the FABULOUS bbq Louis cooked up for us. Oh, and I discovered that Amanda and Heather are great sous chefs. Thanks, girls!







The only time we left the cabin was on Saturday for lunch by the river.

The whole crew was there this time: Brad, Nate, Kyle, Chad, Heather, Louis, Kate, Amanda and me (behind the camera).





Little C (that would be Christopher Jack) came along with his parents, Chad and Kate. Basically, that means that he is 32 years ahead of me in making his first appearance at the cabin. Bob and Bonnie sent him a giraffe toy that was a huge hit.




Not only did we eat a ton, but there may have been some dancing that weekend. Forgive me, all, for posting these. They were too good to pass up. I know, we have no moves.




All the boys had fun trying on the various hats that were available around the house. Kyle had a couple different looks going, and then Heather caught a fabulous shot below.





Blue steel. Some of you may have seen a similar picture around Christmas time last year. It’s a good look for us.



General merriment





Heather and Amanda are ridiculously, annoyingly, photogenic.




Half the fun was reliving the weekend via pictures and video. The morning before we all left we gathered around Louis’s computer to go through them and laugh. Great, great weekend.



The garden is going strong into August. As some of you saw on my Facebook posts, I picked 100 cucumbers one week. Yikes! As you'll see below, pickles were in order. And everyone I see has cucumbers shoved upon them.




It's also been tomato time. Yay! I wait for this every year. There is literally nothing like an Indiana tomato - red all the way through, no need for salt, pepper, olive oil, anything. Just perfect.



Always have to include a couple dog pics. Luke has been especially cute lately!

Luke cuddling with his "brother", Cal:

Luke hogging the beds below. Gracie doesn't seem to mind.


Okay....I still have more pictures to go! I'm going to start another post to cover those. If you made it to the bottom of this post, you are too kind.