The new cottage is almost unrecognizable as what it once was. It's sad that those rooms that we spent so much time in every summer as kids are gone now. But there's no denying how much nicer and more comfortable the place is now. More inviting (the doors are still open to all family members). And, to be honest, as a kid the old cottage frightened me sometimes, especially the upstairs bedrooms. It's funny how an overheard fan and a new set of pillows make you feel more protected from the woods outside.

Also, as the long weekend went on I found more little reminders of the old cottage. Fish on the wall. Old nature paintings my dad's uncle Ralphie had done. This painting here is from the actual wall of the old cottage. Paint on wall. A lot of care went into preserving it during the renovation process. A cottage by a stream. In the bottom left corner, mostly hidden now by the new leather sofa, Ralphie painted the words, "This is where I go to find myself."