A Home (July 2019) — The Lake House Chronicles

We have a house in Indianapolis. We love that house, built in 1926, and all of the blood, sweat and tears that we have put into it over the years. The realization hit me this weekend, however, that our little corner of trees and water and sand in Michigan sometimes feels more like a home than our Indianapolis house of nearly 14 years. What is it really that creates a home? We have learned the names and stories of more neighbors in Michigan than those on our urban street in Indianapolis. No one calls or texts you – they just…stop by. To introduce themselves and offer a hand. What a wonderful concept.

Still a work in progress at this point…but very happy for our first Tuff Shed!

Our current “house” in Michigan (a shed dressed up for sleeping) has only those creature comforts that we deem essential to a week in the woods – a good bed and a hot shower overlooking the lake. Okay, if we are being honest…it also has Netflix on our phone before bed. Who can resist Stranger Things when you are sleeping in the woods??!!

Camp Michigan, as we like to call it, has a character that we want to retain as it evolves. The “mess tent” is essential and the site of the best morning coffee and amazing food in the woods. It’s always about the food with us. Who says you need a fancy Viking stove to create a delicious meal? Give me a grill and a hot campfire any day. As soon as the coffee is ready, I wind down the long path to the water, drinking in the songs of the morning. Frogs and birds and ducks and cranes are like an orchestra that comes alive as the sun comes up.

The “Point” is our waterfront where I sit every morning and contemplate how lucky we are to have our “camp”. There is always an activity or something new to explore at camp. Our neighbor came by on his kayak to look for turtles in our cove. No video games or social media…just turtles. Camp Michigan now has a dock and an ever growing number of toys…kayaks, paddle boards and floats, for now. And hopefully a boat in the days to come.

I dream of a treehouse at Camp Michigan…like this awesome modern treehouse by Nelson Treehouse in the Catskills.

We dream of a treehouse by the water for reading and afternoon naps. Maybe a nice place to have dinner by the water and a beach bonfire. Soon, I think. We permitted ourselves to not only dream, but take some concrete steps toward building a home. I think we are both conflicted about the desire for modern amenities and what that will take away from the experience of “roughing it” at Camp Michigan.

We met with Lucid Architecture and Scott Christopher Homes over the 4th of July holiday week. Pinch me! Eric DeWitt and Dana Grassmid of Lucid Architecture do amazing work of all kinds, but their portfolio of lakefront homes is unbelievable. We feel so lucky that they agreed to help us create our modest, modern cabin and home in the woods.

Lucid Architecture and Scott of Scott Christopher Homes both agreed to visit our property! There was an odd sense of inviting people over to our home – yes, we cleaned the picnic table! Lots of dreams were put into motion this week. Napkin house sketches with our architects is a great way to dream. And Scott Christopher, what an awesome, down to earth builder who spent so much time with us. He visited our property and talked shop and process with us, assuring us that we do not need to “manage” his builds. Hmmm…is that ever true? In any event, we feel very grateful to have assembled a team. An amazing, talented team, who design and build the gorgeous modern structures of our dreams.

As it turns out, we love it so much up here, we made multiple trips in July! The late night trips home on Sunday are a little tiring, but worth it every time. AND…drumroll…we have a boat! A 2003 Crest – a great little barely used pontoon that has found a loving home with us. Our pupkids LOVE it. I mean, eyes bugging out of their heads when you ask them if they want to go swimming. WATER DOGS. They grin ear to ear as they jump around in the water chasing toys and Frisbees. Cooper especially loves the Frisbee. We are still working on how to catch it – particularly challenging in the water – but he loves it anyway. And so do the parents. The west side of the lake is Ludington State Park and the Nordhouse Dunes. Breathtaking dune views and beaches, so many beaches! You can beach the pontoon boat in your own little sandy cove and play all afternoon. Our blue heaven.