Log Cabin

Summer has come to an end in Minnesota, so Lake Season is wrapping up here.  Traffic up north is slowing down, but some people use their lake cabins in fall, especially when you have a nice Log Cabin like this one.

The Log Cabin

You probably won't see anyone out on the water.  They're gonna be up their preparing for hunting.  Geese, deer, other game.  Some hardcore outdoor enthusiasts might be in a canoe.  They may not even be hunting.  That's not me though.  Going up to the lake is a summer activity in my book.

Paddling out into the water in the canoe

You'd need to have a place at the lake to camp out up there.  If you got a nice RV, you can find a public campground to set up shop.  If you have a buddy with a lake place, you can stay in your own vehicle or camper, so you don't disturb people in the cabin, and maintain a level of privacy as well.

Chilling inside the RV

Another great fall lake activity involves sitting out by the fire and cooking out.  Maybe some hot dogs or chicken drumsticks.  And you definitely can't do without s'mores.  Why sit out by the fire at night on a cold October night without graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate.  Totally worth getting chilled to the bone.

Cooking outside over an open fire

If it's too cold for you outside, then you can just sit by fire in the living room.  Snuggle up to your S.O. and just watch the logs burn.  You can fall asleep on the floor and stay toasty warm all night.

Sitting by the fireplace

My Lego people don't have to worry about some of this stuff, because they live in a more moderate climate that's a little less continental than the Midwest.  I'm thinking a little bit more like California.  I dunno, I'm not a meterologist or anything like that.  My Lego city is a fantasy world.  Duh...

Sets used: 5766, 60057

Lego Haul - 9/25/16

In anticipation of the Year 2 release for Lego Dimensions, Target had Fun Packs marked at 50% off, so my wife and I decided to grab a 71212 Emmet Fun Pack and a 71237 Aquaman Fun Pack.  Although neither of them would unlock new game content, in terms of new levels or worlds, they would allow us to complete some puzzles in unlocked worlds so we could continue to approach 100% completion.

The new Fun Packs from Target on 9/25/16

We didn't get a chance to play with them before the 2.0.0 game update.  I had to study that evening, then I had class the following day.  What a mistake that was...

71237 Aquaman Fun pack contents (left) and fully assembled (right)

We have a Wii U, because I've always had Nintendo consoles.  Their games are more fun, and a lot less serious than other platforms.

The 2.0.0 update for Lego Dimensions on Wii U broke the game.  Some of the new features, like allowing four-player action, doesn't do split screen well.  It sucks.  Sure, split screen would be great if you've got more than two kids who want to play.  But just the wife an I?  The old TV and gamepad layout worked just fine.  She'd use the big screen and Wii U remote, and I'd use the gamepad.

That's not the case anymore.  TV users are forced to play with a split screen.  My partner in crime can't see what's going on, and we have a 40" TV.  Trying to use menus to select worlds to travel to doesn't work at all, because things are located off-screen, so you have no idea what you're choosing.  In all, it's been a disaster.  The game is pretty much unplayable until this gets fixed.

71212 Emmet Fun Pack

This really sucks, because we were looking forward to the new content.  The new Ghostbusters story mode, new characters like Harry Potter, B.A. Baracus, Ethan Hunt, other stuff...  All down the tubes until a new update is released to fix this issue.  We've been trying to look up workaround, but no luck yet.  I'm not holding my breath for one either.

Emmet and Aquaman are ready to go, but they have nowhere to explore

Until this gets fixed, we're refusing to buy any more sets.  Traveller's Tales, Warner Bros., and Lego should have done better.  Brought in more game testers.  I can help, I've got some free time coming up in December and January.

Forest Police and File

I've shown you a few of the residences out by the lake, but it's not all relaxing lake homes.  Someone has to help keep the peace out there.

Forest Police and Fire Stations

I wanted a Lego bear, and I had limited options, so I got the 4440 Forest Police Station a few years ago.  However, the original design of the police station was open ended.  I needed to close it off so it could better contain anyone arrested out in the boonies.  I tried to use any many parts from this set, but I wound up with a lot of extras.  I also needed lots of white bricks to put it all together, but I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

Outside and inside the Forest Police Station

I also put a forest ranger lookout station on top of the Forest Police Station to keep an eye out for trouble on the horizon.  It works great, as the ranger can notify the fire station of potential wildfires that may need to be addressed.

Forest Fire Station outside and in

I got a 60010 Fire Helicopter for Christmas a few years ago, and I didn't feel like it was a good fit for a more urban area.  But out in wilderness?  Perfect.  I pretty much built the Forest Fire Station just to house the helicopter, with a landing pad large enough to hold it.  Once the forest ranger sees smoke, the firefighters can hop on an ATV to investigate further and call in the chopper if needed.

 Fire and police ATV's stationed out at the lake

The Fire Station out in the woods is a place where city firefighters can go out and practice their skills to ensure they remain well versed in their responsibilities.  There are plenty of apparatuses (apparatii?) to work on for all types of fire.  I should probably have a building out there too, but I just haven't bothered to put one together yet.

Equipment for the firefighters to practice with

As for the extra, leftover pieces after assembling everything?  I haven't sorted them out and placed them in the bins yet.  No idea if I ever will or not.  I may want to redesign a few things.  Or maybe go back to the original design.  Who knows?  Until I decide, I'll leave them in the ziplock bag.

Leftover pieces from 4440 Forest Police Station

Sets used: 4427, 4437, 4440, 6511, 7279, 30228, 60006, 60010