Casa de Schmidt

Our humble abode is situated on the southern shore of small Lake Wissota, Lafayette Township, just outside the City limits of Chippewa Falls. This cottage has been here since 1938 when Fred's grandparents were given it as a summer place by their offspring. Fred's grandfather, Pastor Karl Bubeck and his wife and their eight children spent many, many hours here, as did Fred. We have been restoring, and gradually turning a summer place into a full-time lake home. You know the drill...new furnace, A/C, plumbing, windows, siding, septic system, well, roof, gas fireplace, and so on. One of the most enjoyable tasks for me has been to make the grounds beautiful. Growing up on a farm did not allow for much time for flowers, lawn and so on. BUT...now I have the chance to garden! Every year it seems to get better. The lawn is lush, partly from the fact that we installed an irrigation system that draws warm and nutrient rich H2O from the lake. Much better than dumping on a bunch of chemicals. Each year, I plant more and more perrenials, and hostas are my favourites.

We LOVE to have guests at Casa de Schmidt. In the winter months, it is a little bit of a challenge due to the fact that we have a master suite and just a smaller guest room. But in the spring, summer and fall, we have additional space in our Airstream (more on that in a later post). Sometimes, it feels a little like life on Golden Pond!

Christmastime is especially pretty with the lake all frozen over and white, and inside the fireplace going, with 10 stockings hung from the mantle (10!!!!, you will have to tune in to see who these "10" are for).

Fall is for packing up the pontoon, and taking a cruise up Paint Creek, which is aptly named for the amazing display of colors on the maples, birch, aspens and pines. Springtime finds us busy opening everything up, planting, bringing the Bullett (Fred's bass boat) and Original Cyn (my pontoon) and the Silver Sausage (the trailer) out of winter storage. Summer is truly fine. Swimming, boating, fishing, cruisin' on the 'toon, or just napping in the hammock.

Life is good, indeed.