Up North: Ten Days at the Cabin - Pinch of Yum
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Up North: Ten Days at the Cabin

Skillet with eggs and sausage.

One picture of food.

Just one. That’s all! WHAT IS HAPPENING.

Last week Bjork and I returned from a ten-day family vacation UP NORTH (where I only took one picture of food).

If you’re from Minnesota, I know you speak my language: when I say we were up north, you just nod your head and smile. If you’re not from Minnesota, or the Midwest, you should just know that up north is really a three-in-one phrase –> it’s a general place (anywhere north of you geographically, probably in the woods or on a lake, ideally both because we get greedy about these things) and a general vibe (log cabins – like literally cabins made of logs, lake sunrises, the sound of loons at night, the smell of pine and campfire smoke, cozy sweatshirts) and a general verb (reading, boating, fishing, biking, camping, paddle boarding, canoeing, hiking, sunning on the dock all day).

“We’re going up north.” The sweetest four words to my Minnesotan ears.

One thing about blogging: it’s so amazing to be able to take work everywhere with me. No matter where I find myself in the world, as long as there’s just one little inkling of internet connectivity, I can do my work.

Blessing! and curse.

Because what happens is that then you can always work. So, um, you always work.

I decided that this year, I would fully disconnect from work while we were at the cabin. I checked in on a email a few times and pulled up Pinch of Yum here and there just to make sure nothing had imploded while I was out binge-reading mind candy books on the dock. And guess what? It all turned out fine. Here I am, back in action, feeling refreshed and happy. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Over the last few days I’ve gotten a few comments and emails asking if I would do a picture post from our time at the cabin. And I love you sososo much for asking because it means we’re VPT (vacation picture twins).

I mean, have you forgotten about my unsatiable desire for vacation picture sharing? My favorite posts on other blogs that I follow are ALWAYS their vacation picture posts, and I definitely win Creepy Interested? Friend of the Year when it comes to looking at what other people do on their vacations on Facebook and Instagram, so it’s only fair that I share a few little nuggets of fun with you from our ten days at the cabin.

Here’s a glimpse into life at the cabin! I hope you find yourself in your own version of up north someday soon.

Paddle on the lake.

Lily pads on the water.

People playing at a cabin.

Bags on the dock.

Feet on the dock.

Boy with a shoe in the water.

Woman holding the hand of a little boy.

Man wearing a hood and sunglasses.

Woman on a boat.

American flag on a pole.

Girl sitting on a chair.

Boy holding a toddler.

Man reading on a device.

Cookies on a napkin.

Boys on a paddle boat.

Man and woman paddle boarding.

Man paddle boarding.

Boy catching food in his mouth.

Woman laying on a board in the water.

Boy with wet hair.

Two women.

Man standing on a dock.

Boy holding a toddler.

People sitting around a table eating.

Two men at a table.

Boy kissing his mother.

Boys tubing.

Boy and toddler.

Boys tubing.Boy tubing on the lake.

Toddler wearing a sun hat.

People on a paddle board.

People on a floating dock.

Elderly woman holding a toddler.

Man drinking out of a mug.

Boy dragging a blanket.

Girl reading.

Woman cooking in a kitchen.

Four people on a couch.

Other Travel Picture Posts:

New Orleans

San Fransisco to Seattle Road Trip

San Fransisco to Los Angeles Road Trip (must-see places on Highway One)

Charleston, South Carolina

Emerald Isle, North Carolina

The Cabin (2014)

The Cabin at Lake Pepin (2014)

Filed Under: Life Travel

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61 Comments

  1. Pinch of Yum Logo

    THAT LITTLE BUDDY HOLDING HIS WATER BOTTLE. I can’t even.

    As a fellow Minnesotan and native up-northern (Aitkin, MN FTW) it makes my heart glad to see you singing the praises of our state. <3

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      As another lady from Aitkin I’m always curious where people consider “up north” and love being able to run into them randomly!

  2. Pinch of Yum Logo

    I also love seeing vacation pictures. These in particular speak to me because I love to be outdoors in a kayak or on a paddleboard or just in the water. This would be my kind of vacation and “up north” sounds like the place for me.

    From a blog standpoint, I also really like to see that you share things other than recipes even though the site is recipe focused. I’m a baby blogger and wasn’t really sure if I should share some more personal things, especially when I’m still building my content up. But I’m just going to say to heck with it and get a post up about my recent trip to washington dc. There are even food pics to share!

    Love your blog and all that you share with us!

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Thanks Meg! I love reading other bloggers’ more personal posts which is why I try to include a few of them from time to time, too. 🙂 Also, I selfishly just like having all my pictures and stories in one place! 🙂 ha.

  3. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Technically two pictures of food. I spy four caramel, pecan, chocolate clusters next to the keyboard. 🙂 *salivating* Where’s Sagey? Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing Lindsay! BTW-What camera /lens did you use?

  4. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Yay for vacation pictures!!! I am also a vacation picture stalker, so I very much appreciate these posts 🙂 My husband and I went up north this past weekend and it was awesome! We visited Itasca State Park for the first time. Taking a dip in the headwaters of the Mississippi was a neat experience. So glad you had fun and were able to relax!

  5. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Such beautiful pictures and how amazing to not only be able to take that time to disconnect, but do it surrounded by family. I hope to start a tradition of family vacations now that all the kids are grown up!

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      Yes! It’s one of our favorite family traditions. Hope you are able to find and enjoy time with your family too, Jessie! Thanks for the comment.

  6. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Raising my hand as a vacation picture stalker too. Love the pictures. Us Wisconsin folks love the up north to and hopefully I will be back there this weekend.

  7. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Well now you’ve made me homesick! I was born and raised in Minneapolis and spent summers and lots of weekends at a cabin ‘up north’ on a little lake called Lake Lougee, right by Pelican Lake. I don’t miss the mosquitoes (which I’m kind of surprised didn’t show up in your photos, since they’re that freaking big). But the sound of loons at sunset? Yeah, that I miss like crazy.

  8. Pinch of Yum Logo

    So sweet. I grew up ‘Up North’, and never truly understood the magic until I moved for college and work. Now my non-Midwestern husband looks forward to our trips Up North every summer. Thanks for sharing your photos, they made my heart swell and long for the Northwoods.

  9. Pinch of Yum Logo

    As a fellow Minnesotan, there truly is nothing better than going up north to escape for a while. My family’s never had a place up north, so growing up I would have to rely on friends and Girl Scouts to take me on trips!

  10. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Hi Lindsay,
    Funny story – My husband and I are currently living in the Philippines in Cagayan de Oro (we’ve been here about 4 months) and I came across your blog when I searched for an “easy dinner” to make us one night… Needless to say I’ve read all your posts on your time in the Philippines and it was so nice to be able to relate to some of the things you experienced:) (like..the..heat..)

    We’re from South Africa and outdoor fun is our “up north” too. We have a plot at a dam close to the town we grew up in and your pictures in a way reminded me of that -skiing, boating, swimming, kanoeing..:) and sjo….I missed home for a moment there! 🙂 Looking forward to a day at the dam (lake…) when we go back:)

    Really enjoy following your blog – I came across it at such a cool time:) thanks for sharing your beautiful food and stories. xx

  11. Pinch of Yum Logo

    That little guy in the water. Oh my! (heart-eyed emoji). This is definitely one of my most favourite posts on Pinch of Yum (and you know, there’s just so many of those). Thanks for sharing your holiday pictures with us, Lindsay, they’re beautiful!

  12. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Hi from someone else “up north” in bemidji. Looks like a great vacation! Glad you unplugged.

  13. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Your sister’s (I think) chaco tan line is impressive! Looks like a great time!

  14. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Friends’ vacay photos are THE BEST. (We’re kinda friends, right?) Especially because I didn’t get a summer vacation ’cause we couldn’t stand The Midwest Winter That Would Not End and jetted off to San Juan for a week in March, plus now Rob is getting married over Labor Day and we have to go to North Carolina to see it, so there’s no paid time off left in our yearly queue. (But we do love Rob; congrats to him!)

    Figured since you shared your personal photos, I’d share something personal, too 😉

    Thanks for sharing! And welcome back!

  15. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Such an incredible family. I’m glad your grandma could go along – 4 generations – how cool is that!?!
    And your photography is stunning, Lindsay!
    Hooray for “Up North”!

  16. Pinch of Yum Logo

    I’m *so* glad you were able to take time off and truly relax. I love, *love*, *LOVE* your pics of your vacays and your family!!! Maybe I’m weird, but I love seeing/hearing all about my favorite bloggers’ family + family doings. It’s like I really know these people, even though I’ve only seen pictures of them. Thanks SO much for sharing, Lindsay!! Your family really seem like wonderful and loving people, and I think it would be a great pleasure to meet you all in real life someday! <3

  17. Pinch of Yum Logo

    I love these pictures! The cabin is so beautiful. I’m glad you had a wonderful, relaxing time with your family. My favorite pictures are the ones of Charlie, especially him in the lake — too cute! I was wondering what are those four little treats on the napkin in the picture of the MacBook Pro?