WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Robbie and Maggie at Chippy's Hollow, watching for Auntie Sue and Uncle Wayne. 

Wayne and Mark went by Gator to Charlie's to help turn a dock that he is painting.  Mark mentioned it's a hubbub of.activity there ... Maybe getting ready for the Shriner's BBQ in August?

Mark's electrified fly swatter!!!  Six dead, 600 to go. LOL

Tonight's dinner at Bear's Lair is angel hair pasta with zucchini and 4 cheese sauce!  We're going to play Cribbage to sharpen our minds. 

Bear's Lair, photo taken by Rick Moir when he was here earlier this month. 

TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

Just heard the news that Hudson Bay Company (The Bay on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg) purchased Saks Fifth Avenue stores in the U.S.  The Bay has been a Winnipeg department store staple since it was built in 1925-26. An interesting addition to this story ... Henry Tawns, Grandfather to Sue and Julie, Diane and Linda laid the cornerstone for this Winnipeg landmark building on September 25, 1925. He was a mason and foreman on the project. 

Flagship store on Portage and Memorial.

This morning is cloudy and 16C (61F) with evidence of overnight rain. Mark has started cooking spare ribs for tonight's dinner!  

Wayne and Mark went to Northern Harbour to move Neil Carlson's Hatteras to Bruce's for canvas work. 

Ribs, fries, baked beans for dinner tonight at Chippy's Hollow!  

Oh yes, and champagne tonight!  Kurian's are celebrating real estate closings on three investment properties. 

MONDAY, JULY 29, 2013

Mark joined Sue and Wayne on their annual trash pickup walk on Kendall Inlet Road.  The flies were merciless.  It's awful that crude people toss beer cans, coffee cups and sheer garbage on the road. We'd like to think it's only people using the public boat launch, but if that's the case what might those same boers be tossing overboard from their boats?!

We're going to make this a special day with friends ... A birthday dock party. 

Mark and Julie set up the tables and dock chairs for the festivities. Weather wise, 24C is expected. Since it cools down nicely in the evenings, we're planning to eat at 6:30ish. 

Charlie thought Wayne's new welcome statue a "hoot"!  

MaryBeth and Monty aboard their Princeton. 

Sue and Rose ... 

Lasagna, Rose's Caesar salad, and MaryBeth's strawberry shortcake made a celebratory dinner for both Heather's and Rose's upcoming birthdays!  It was a beautiful evening with lots of fun. 

Monty and Mark enjoying Strawberry Shortcake. 

SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2013

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away ...  WHAT?  Yesterdays is for Sunday breakfast. 

It was a great breakfast followed by a Canadian Tire shopping trip for water filters. Mark found a tennis-style racquet that electrifies to kill deer flies and the like!  Very cool, indeed. Those pesky flies have met their match this summer. 

Julie tidied up around Chippy's Hollow to make space for a recliner from their RV. Since new RV recliner chairs are waiting in Florida, two chairs became available!  Wayne has spoken for the matching one for "Bears Lair". 

Cocktails on the dock were nice with a good breeze off the bay. Very good. 

Tonight, Wayne is cooking chicken breasts on the BBQ and Sue is cooking sweet potatoes and fresh zucchini. 

SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 - LASAGNA

Life is good!  Sue, Mark and Julie are joint cooking today. It began with a grocery shopping trip to Safeway, then the Bargain Store (for aluminum pans).  

We've just unloaded the supplies and Mark is yelling "serenity now" and "Randy!  I need you Bro!!!"  LOL. Since its Sue's recipe, she's in command. Mark wants to pour a drink NOW. haha

What's that Sue's holding up Mark???  Haha. 

Sue ... "Bring that pot over here!"

Mark ... "NO. I want it here!"

Is that a smile or grimace, Mark?  Lots of laughs. Wayne just popped in but wisely went to do something in the boathouse. Smart guy. 

Two hours later, Wayne popped in to pepper it with his knowledge. 

5 o'clock and were having a "sample" pan of lasagna for dinner!  Yummy. 

Excellent batch !!!  Party planned for Monday. Yeehaw. 

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013

Sue phoned at 9:30 this morning wondering what happened to the early risers of last summer. LOL. Julie said that "they" had moved on. It's such a lovely cool morning ... And we sleep with the windows wide open and fans pulling in the coolness ... Ahhh. 

Wayne went to Winnipeg to return the rental van used to pick up the dining room set.  We are doing a run to the bank, grocery store and such. 

Plans changed as Sue spotted a lost dog  on the property ... A tall black, long-haired friendly dog. Mark said it looks like a Belgian Sheep Dog. 

Tonight is a dock party on the island!  Sue feels its too cold ... 55F right now with a wind.  We shall see. Wayne won't be home from Winnipeg until 5:30 anyway. 

This is the new dining set at "Bears Lair"! Swanky. 

We may have found the black dog's home ... Fire Road 1 ... But, these folks have already lost two dogs to wolves. Why was this dog roaming today?  Right now, she is safe in the garage with a bed, food and water. 

Jim Gauthier picked us up in his pontoon boat, then Dowlings' and Floms'. It was a nice dock party and we were cosy out of the wind. 

When we arrived home, we found the owners had picked up their dog. A happy ending, we all hope. 

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013,

Since we're currently in Canada which is closely connected to the United Kingdom, it's important we mention the newest member of the Royal family ... His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, son of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and Kate Middleton).  Nice pic, eh?

Our favorite late night comedian, Craig Ferguson, does a hilarious skit on Prince Charles from time to time ... here is Craig portraying the new babe. LOL. You can catch Craig's humor on The Late Late Show. 

It's a cloudy and cool day, only 15C this morning.  Apparently a great day for shopping!  Mark and Julie made their first Groupon purchase ... Two leather recliners and ottomans for the RV !  What a great deal !

Then, Sue discovered an oak pedestal round table that expands to a 60" oval. This will fit Chippy's Hollow perfectly!  

Can you believe our luck?  Sue and Wayne found a beautiful birch dining room set for "Bear's Lair" ... Goldilocks would be pleased. LOL. So, Wayne and Mark are on their way to Winnipeg to pick up furniture.  

Julie is COOKING dinner for Sue!  Hot Diggity Dog and Fries. LOL

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013

It's a sunshiny new day!  Sue and Wayne went to the farmers market this morning. Fresh vegetables should be abundant now. Mark is puttering around the estate, then he and I are taking the Scotties for a boat ride. 

There's a cottage under construction on Clearwater Bay, nearby. The property was bought for 1.3 million and this is the "cottage" being erected. 

Later, rain is expected. Plans this evening are for dinner in Keewatin ... with Sue, Wayne, Mary-Beth, Monty, Joyce and Jim plus Mark and Julie. It'll be quite a date night !!!  

101 Westside is a delightful family run restaurant in Keewatin. Service was good and the food well-priced. It was a nice evening!  A funny story ... Mark drove Sue, Wayne and Julie in the big Dodge dually. He was watching for a wide parking spot and about to turn off the Main Street (Ottawa Street) when a late model Buick Enclave suddenly backed out of a side street onto Ottawa, rather far from the curb and askew. The doors flew open and out came Jim Gauthier and entourage. LOL. Mark decided we weren't any wider than Jim's vehicle where it was parked and pulled in behind it. Very funny ... lots of laughs!

TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2013

Good morning world!  What a wonderful time we had with Rose and Charlie, Monty and Mary, Sue and Wayne, Joyce Gauthier at their fish fry. 

Wayne and Mark took over frying the pickerel fillets ... Mary-Beth made this gorgeous strawberry shortcake and Rose made a delicious potato salad. Everyone had a grand evening. 

Sue took this good picture. 

Today, shopping and laundry followed by Happy Hour on the dock at 4 o'clock. Jim Gauthier dropped by on his pontoon boat for a visit. 

Sue has given "the big cottage" a name, finally, and it will now be known as "Bear's Lair". 

MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

What a rainstorm last night!!!  Luckily, no damage done around the property. We are in for a cool week according to the forecast. 

We had a big breakfast at "Yesterday's" with Rick and said our goodbyes. He is on his way to Winnipeg for a visit and onto Kelowna tomorrow. What a great time we had with him and look forward to seeing both Rick and Ruth around October when they launch their boat in Florida. 

Sue wanted a quick stop after breakfast at Walmart to buy something she and Julie saw yesterday. Wayne declined to go into the store to preview it, so away Sue went to buy it ... 

A beaver welcome statue. Cute, eh?

Mark puttered this afternoon moving topsoil from the driveway pile around the trees that need it.

Mark moving his 19th wheelbarrow of topsoil today.  

Tonight we're going to Dowling's for a fish fry!

SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2013

Mark, Wayne and Rick are going fishing (again) then to a shore lunch with Kendall Inlet neighbors. Although it sounds fun, Sue and Julie are staying to "hold the fort".  

Yesterday's for breakfast then Sue and Julie shopped for a shed. No luck!  Mark will have to design and build it. That'll be FUN. 

Meanwhile, our three men met up with Rose and Charlie Dowling and Mary-Beth and Monty Flom in Charlie's red Tahoe.  Fishing was great ... But NO shore lunch!  Apparently the "wires got crossed" and the seven of them wound up at Queen Island ... And no one there!  DRAT.   

Mark cooked us terrific hamburgers on the grill and we ate in Kurian's screened room. Later, we showed Rick how to play 99 ... We all had a lot of laughs ... Sue was the winner!

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2013

It's a bit dreary this morning so Mark, Wayne and our pal Rick Moir are going fishing in the Tahoe. 

Sue and Julie are going to town and to pick up a FedX package. Great story there ... Only in Canada!!!  Mark and Julie had their Florida neighbor and good friend, Lew Zido, forward mail via Federal Express. It was addressed correctly to the cottage. When the parcel didn't arrive, Mark phoned FedX International and was told it had been signed by "Bonnie" and left at the doorstep. ???  Who's Bonnie!  Well, after looking around the two cottages on Kurian's property plus the mailbox on their driveway, Wayne phoned the only "Bonnie" he knows in Keewatin, Ontario ... AND she had the package!  Crazy, but true. So, Sue and Julie will go to B & B Store in Keewatin to pick it up. You've got to be half Sherlock Holmes to manage here. LOL

The successful fishing trip was followed by cocktail hour on the dock with Rick Moir, Rose and Charlie Dowling, Sue, Wayne, Julie and Mark. Mark proudly showed off a new beer coozie, "Motorboat".  Family style dinner followed at the Kurian's with delicious pork chops and hat modeling shenanigans. Lots of fun. 

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Good morning y'all. It's dock party day and our friend Rick Moir is joining us for the weekend from Kelowna, BC. 

Currently a lovely sunny morning, 63F or 17C ... But it's forecast to be a chilly evening!  

Happy 33rd Anniversary to Linda and Randy ... Now at home in Florida.  Apparently they are still unpacking and reorganizing. (They sold their Pompano Beach property the week before we left on the big RV trip April 27th).  All their belongings were left in boxes at their Central Florida house until now. 

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

Rainy morning ... When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. LOL. Sue and Julie went to the mall then to the 2nd Street Bakery for coffee and pastry. 

Meanwhile, back at the camp, Wayne did paperwork and Mark trimmed the Scotties. 

This evening will be Caesar salad and pizza at Chippy's Hollow. 

Pizza was GOOD ... followed by watching Bruce Almighty. . 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Mark was up fairly early and moved some topsoil from the driveway heap to the lilac bushes.  Wayne and Sue went to town shopping and doing necessary errands. I, Julie touched up the paint at Chippy's Hollow and began making a wind chime. It won't be "In Tune" like the Moir's but it'll make some noise. Haha

Its a sunny morning with a breeze; and  not supposed to be as hot as yesterday!

While drying my hair dockside, a Merganser duck flew in, I suppose to check out the decoy, and scared the wits out of me!  What a "hairdo"!!!  Bright red spiky feathers on his head. If I was a duck, that's what I'd look like. LOL 

Our cruise to Ash Rapids Lodge aboard Jim and Joyce Gauthier's new Cobalt was great!  Dinner on the deck was wonderful; good menu and nicely served. Home by 8:30 in te to see our loons harassing the mallard duck family. Mother Nature isn't always fair!

TOOSDEE, JULY 16, 2013

Plenty of rain moved through lake country last night and brought us pure sunshine this morning.  This day may be the scorcher of this summer!

Mark found a huge snapping turtle attempting to climb the hill to Chippy's Hollow!  Now, how about a swim in the lake?  Yikes!

Chores day. :-/ ... Laundry!  Pay bills!  

This evening, Sue and Wayne are cooking pork chops!  It's great sharing the cooking chores; every other night is a night off.   Tomorrow, Wednesday night, is "Date Night" and we're all going with Gauthier's to Ash Rapids in their pontoon boat. 

Sue brought a WEE dram of rum for happy hour ... a ginormous mug. LOL. 

It turned out the pork chop dinner was balsamic chicken!  Yes, CHICKEN!!!  LOL