The Cottage - Part 2

With the benefit of a little time and distance, plus being safely installed in my new home, my cottage woes seem worlds away. I am no longer perched on the edge of a suspicious-looking couch on a blanket trying not to let any of my skin make contact with the actual fabric on the couch, nor am I intentionally ignoring something that spilled on the carpet beside my feet. Despite our somewhat dodgy accommodations, we had a nice time at the cottage. The owner made a few helpful improvements during our stay. He had the sandbox weeded and removed a leaning tower of wood from beside the slide. He installed a screen in our door. He disposed of the dead mouse in our oven.

We still got to swim, fly kites, have picnics, sit by fires, go out on a boat, etc. All the traditional, happy memories exist. They are just tempered with other memories. Hannah actually refers to the cottage as "the spiderweb cottage". As far as the kids are concerned, apart from the spiders, there was nothing wrong with the place. They had a great time. And looking back, I think Scott and I did, too.