Oak Hill Lodge Celebrates Kat's 30th Birthday!

Saturday, May 2 was the day we celebrated Kat's entry into her third decade of life! The Lodge played host to a barbecue in her honor. Pulled pork roasted on the grill tickled guests appetites as they played corn hole and bocce ball while enjoying a perfect, warm and sunny day! Barbecue King Eric served up hamburgers and hot dogs, Wisconsin folk brought along brats and sauerkraut, and there were salads and condiments to round out the menu. Kat made a fabulous sangria, aided by advice from Erica to grant reprieve from the first round of summer ales. Guests were convinced they had arrived at the right spot by the large "glowing" 30 displayed (much to Kat's chagrin) on the front of the Lodge as well as the pink balloons and streamers.

One More Picture...

that says it all... the teamwork... the cold... the AMOUNT OF WORK to be done! We must have been CRAZY! I wonder how we had such confidence that it would all work out when I look back at these pictures. We never blinked, never doubted ourselves. The kids must have had their moments, but they never let on. Thank goodness! If we had seen the reality of the situation instead of the dream, we might not have had the courage to pull it off.

From the Ground Up

I take you back now to the time when the foundation went in. We were fighting the coming of winter as it was to be poured just about Thanksgiving time, leaving us precious little time to cap the basement before the snow would fly. Thank goodness Pete had introduced us to the power of air guns! There were to be over 8,000 nails in the decking boards alone, a crazy job to do with a hand-held hammer. Larry Hallowell of Chester Rice Co. had done a great job with the excavating allowing us the largest possible basement despite hitting ledge; 8 foot on one end and 6 foot at the other. Randy McClintok followed right behind putting up the foundation forms and pouring the cement. What a thrill it was to see it go in. Then, it was time for Eric and I to swing into action and get the rear above ground basement wall up. The whole gang arrived soon after to help us get the floor joists and sill boards in place so the long and grueling task of getting the decking boards on could be accomplished. The snow had already begun, so each time we worked we spent half the time removing snow from the tarps which covered the joists and whatever had been laid of the floor. I remember more than once when the snow had mixed with rain and we were left with enormous chunks of ice which made the tarps sag between the joists and proved exhausting to get out. Naturally, the tarps did not completely prevent snow and ice from getting into the basement, so by spring we were left with a frozen skating pond in what would someday be Root Cellar Pub. Our hands would get so cold that we would use the exhaust of the generator to try to warm them.

The Whole Reason for Building...

... was to make sure there is always a place where the entire family can gather and just "BE TOGETHER". We do so love being together! Now there are two very important, ever-changing reasons to stay close. Their names are Alexa and Lawson. What fun it is to watch them, hold them, love them! We have a ways to go before the Lodge will be finished, but in the meantime it is sure fun to gather there as often as we can. Next time will be on Easter. Erica will be missing, but she will be home again soon. Meanwhile, the oaks of Oak Hill will be jealous as she stands amongst their mighty kin the Redwoods, and Lexi and Lawson will eagerly await her hugs!

Baby Bump Mayer is Feted!

Thank you Mother Nature... and thank you all attendees! Oak Hill Lodge was once again the host of another warm and wonderful gathering of Allen Family friends. Although due to feel the wrath of another frightful winter storm, it managed to hold off long enough to have Baby Bump Mayer's Baby Shower. I will no longer curse the Spirits of the Night who seem determined to overdue the creepy decor of the Lodge on All Hallows Eve by staging the most frightful rain storms, or the Fairies of the Summer Garden who seem to reverse June weather for August weather when daughters plan their wedding dates based on "the usual" Maine summer... but will rather be eternally grateful that the week-long prediction of a substantial winter storm managed to begin just as the last guest was safely on the road!

Redwoods and Oaks

A photo from Muir Woods only begins to show the massive nature of the California Redwoods! A "tree hugger" and garden enthusiast, I really loved seeing these giant trees. Their bark is so beautiful with its rugged, craggy appearance and Casey told us that it contains chemicals which make it extremely resistant to the many forest fires which spontaneously break out in the dry heat of summer. The gift shop offered 6" seedlings which had been sterilized to insure no unwanted viruses would be transported with them, and we bought one to be shipped back to Maine. It must be raised in a pot for 3-5 years before being transplanted into the ground. Although I am not convinced it can withstand the Maine winters, I can just imagine this great tree joining the mighty oaks of Oak Hill.

California or Bust!

Eric and I went on a big adventure, visiting Casey and Erica in San Francisco. They were amazing tour guides! We saw SO much of the Bay Area, including observing (cautiously) Elephant Seals mating ritual at Ana Nuevo, vineyard tours in Nappa and Sonoma, and visiting the great Redwoods of Muir Woods. Somehow, I am able to relate most everything to Oak Hill Lodge.... (well, except possibly the seals!). The barrels in which the fermenting wine was stored at Rombauer Vineyard were made of oak. We went on a tour of the wine caves and there were thousands of barrels. Our guide explained that they were made of French Oak rather than American Oak as it is 200+ years old vs. 50-100 years for American (although 4 times the price, the age adds much to the fermenting process).... so thankfully, I guess the oaks of Oak Hill are safe for a while! The wine was superb, the company the best... and I learned yet more about one of my favorite things!