Not sure where it came from, but hanging on our cabin wall is a little sign that reads:

cabin (ka ben) n. 1. a place where Minnesotans go every weekend to spend two days waiting for the fish to bite, the bugs to go away, and the sun to come out.  written by Lori Olson c. 1985

Now, i’m not about to start picking away at her glass half empty typical Minnesotan style, Garrison Keillor would be proud.  What I will take to task, however, is that one need not sit looking out the window wishing for the sun to come out.  Weather happens whether we wish, will, or whine about it.  With a sauna, a rainy day is a WONDERFUL day.

Every cabin/cottage should have a sauna, an insurance policy against cabin fever and Murphy’s Law.  Chances are a family reunion will fall on a weekend when a misty morning builds into a downpour by dinner.  We’ve turned a long rainy day into a wild fun party, speakers turned out the windows, floaty toys bobbing around the dock, and even an awesome game of Bocce Ball, all in the rain, thanks to the sauna, humming along, providing warmth and joy and a new outlook on a rainy day.

Does your cabin/cottage have a sauna?  If not, what is your weather insurance policy?

CAVEAT: I can’t speak to what this new age video is about, but it’s the only one I could find of this great song (30 seconds worth) by Ladysmith Black Mambazo:

There’s something beautiful about sitting outside in the rain, rainwater tingling the skin, steam billowing off one’s body after a nice sauna round.  Climates with rain, rain, beautiful rain are blessed with lush greenery, lakes, and fresh oxygen from the surrounding greenery.

Infrared closets and health club saunas just don’t hold a candle to your own authentic outdoor sauna where between rounds you can sing “rain, rain, beautiful rain!”

With your own authentic Finnish sauna:

• Sit outside in the rain like a crazy man with a smile on your face.
• Turn a rainy day at the cabin into a party.
• Turn a 3 day cold front into a beautiful day.

We have the drinking water issue covered in this post here, but what do you like to eat after a long sauna party?  I have experienced folks who dive enthusiastically into a candy bar (very American) and Finn’s traditionally break bread and slice up salty makkara sausage, but for me, I’ve refined my after sauna food to:

1. Pretzels – little sodium replenishment and no oily fats.
2. Cheese – dairy protein jives much better at night than meat protein.
3. Fruit – natural vitamins and fiber via Granny Smith apples or any fresh fruit.

These three foods work well together, without any red dye #5 or poly-splenda-msg-benzoate.

I sleep great after this light snack… Any other suggestions?