An In-law Tale

Author:  Diane Dempsey

In the 1960s my in laws inherited property with an older summer home on it at Carlyle Lake MB/SK (a border thing).

My Father in law was so proud of his acquisition and being a crafty guy, woodworking that is, he began planning a summer cottage get away from Winnipeg. My mother in law didn’t share the same enthusiasm but was happy to have her children plus help out.

So my hubby packed our Comet, our 3 young ones, myself and our dog and off we went on an adventure.  Are we there yet? Yep, finally, got lost but not going there.

Behold there it was, a small home and oh yes, an outdoor biffy. Inside was cosy, no kitchen cupboards, just shelves which Mrs D and I lined with oilcloth, table too. There was a very small wood stove & bunk beds everywhere. The kids loved it, picking berries & helping grandma bake and clean house.  The men cleaned the yard and made a spot for saw and tools, outdoors.

Then time for dinner, kinda picnic style sitting on floor, slept on it to. Tea before bed, chit chat and the story I shall never forget, picture this, father to son “when I first came to view this place, met the neighbours, we gathered for drinks, watched the sun go down, more drinks, sun came up, went to bed.  Awoke to feeling sick, ran to biffy to throw up but forgot to remove false teeth.  There they went, down in the hole but I saw em.  Able to dig em up, boiled and boiled em to clean em, I was sure lucky”.

From the corner of the room, in a quiet voice, Mrs D said “and I haven’t kissed him since”.

In closing, the cottage was sold that year, in laws moved to Regina, we lived happily in Winnipeg dreaming of our own summer cottage someday.

Hover over photos for caption, click to enlarge:

Map showing location of Carlyle Lake, SK relative to Winnipeg

Carlyle Lake satellite view

Vintage photo of Sandy Beach, Carlyle Lake Resort

A cottage currently for sale at Carlyle Lake, SK