Each season in Minnesota brings new routines and rituals. Summertime at our home has its unique set of rituals because it involves putting away all the stuff from the last season and taking out all the stuff for the new season. Then the reverse at the end of each season.
In the beginning of summer we need to empty our garage to put the snowmobiles away from the winter. We created a crate system for our garage to stack two of our snowmobiles and put the third one in a crate so we can stack things on top of it. It requires some maneuvering on our part but we decided that we are going to use the space we already have and not construct a storage shed. We don’t like the idea of more property taxes if we were to build a storage shed.
Another part of getting ready for summer is getting the boat ready to go in the lake. Each fall we pile all of our outdoor furniture in our boat on the trailer and then put the boat cover over the boat. When our kids were younger their bikes also went in the boat for the winter. It looks a little like the Beverly Hillbillies when it is all loaded. In the spring we need to reverse the process, taking out all of the stuff in the boat and placing it in the yard or on the porch so we can use the boat. The boat gets cleaned and serviced and then put in the lake for the summer.
Before we can put the boat in the lake we need to put the boat lift in the lake. Each year we’ve learned to be more creative in doing this because depending on our timing, we will have one to four of our children around to help. The past couple of years my husband and I have managed to do the job ourselves because we just couldn’t get the schedules coordinated with the kids.
It’s not enough for us to have one boat to take care but we also help my Dad get his 20+ foot sailboat in his lake and out each year. It’s a comedy routine because nobody seems to remember just how we did it the last time. Did we have the boat and trailer parked uphill or downhill to make it easier to put up or take down the 25′ mast? Mom and Dad are in their early 70’s and my Dad still thinks that he and my Mom can do it themselves.
Fortunately for Mom they don’t own a truck large enough to do it without our truck. Last fall the day we took the sailboat out there were actually snowflakes falling. Dad doesn’t want to miss one day of sailing. The same is true for the fishing boat. Everyone knows the fish always bite best in the fall. So we are usually taking the dock and their boat lift out in very cold water.
One summer ritual I partake in each year is water skiing. I have water skied every summer since I learned how at age 12 except for the summers I was pregnant with our children. It’s not that I love water skiing but the thought that at some point in time I will no longer be able to water ski is not something I want to admit. So every summer I put on my suit, pull out the waterskis, rope, and have my husband drag me around the lake just one time just to say that I can still do it. Did I mention that I really hate being wet?
Last year my muscles ached in my arms and legs for three days after skiing. Maybe I’m in better shape this year. Not likely. We will see.
Grandson Jack's Look of Concern as He watched Grandma Ski
Flying Gma's Blog 
Thomas Stazyk
August 23, 2010 at 3:39 am
Don’t give up! Use an inner tube if you have to (but that guarantees you’ll get wet!).
flyinggma
August 23, 2010 at 8:14 am
Last year I waited until September to water ski. I was smarter this year. Yesterday it was in the 90’s and the water actually felt good.
When I was all finished our neighbor walked over and said if I ever wanted to try a wake board they have one I could use.
I’m afraid to try the wake board because if I could actually do it that would mean I would have to wake board and water ski each year.