SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2014

Why am I awake at 3 a.m. the second day in a row? It is peaceful ... not even a Scottie stirring. Time for a diet sodie. ;-)

Sue is going to a community garage sale early this morning benefiting "It's a Dog's Life". 

My cousin Hugh in Australia sent me an interesting email ... new items coming on the market soon. 

This bathroom uses waste sink water to flush the toilet ... why didn't someone think of this before now? Great idea. 

What a neat idea for an extra outlet in the kitchen!

How about this extension cord stored in the wall? (Yes, North American plugs look different.) I love this idea!

It's been a dreary day, weather wise, but the FIFA World Cup has been exciting. Unlike our American/Canadian football with helmets and huge padding, I can actually see who's playing ... and I like it. Orlando is getting a team ... maybe we'll become crazy fans like I've seen on TV today. Ha. 

Yes, I can see it now ... 

Tonight, we're making Shrimp Scampi for dinner with salad and rolls. Yum. Maybe we'll finish our Mexican Dominoes later. We've been playing half games at a time! When Jim has a free afternoon or evening we're "fixin' to learn him". LOL. I think he will find it fun!

Tomorrow is Father's Day! Let's hear it for the wonderful men in our lives! Enjoy your day!

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014

It's probably a once in my lifetime event tonight ... the first Friday the 13th Full Moon since 1919 !!!

The next Friday the 13th Full Moon is 2047 ... so enjoy the Rose Moon tonight. It'll be the lowest in the sky of any full moon this year! 

Mark was up early to assemble the covered glider and the Scotties' big romp area on the dock. I laid around until 8:30 ... then walked. er, panted my way uphill to our RV on the driveway extension. Puff, puff ... no hills in Florida ... no stairs at home either! Pant, LOL, pant. I came back with a bagful of forgotten bits ... walked in Chippy's Hollow and remembered, yeah, I forgot the Mexican Dominoes! 

Wayne left early to see the computer-fixer in Kenora. He thought he had a virus ... the techie said it was just a benign one ... Wayne got home with "fixed" computer and couldn't access any of his emails or programs. Off he went to Kenora, again. (He has more patience than I do with Microsoft ... too many glitches!) 

Later, Sue and I are going into Safeway for a few necessities like Lotto tickets, wine and shampoo. (Yes, I was fooled AGAIN ... bought Conditioner thinking it was Shampoo!) I had just finished the red bottle of Herbal Essence Shampoo on our RV trip so replaced it ... I thought! NOT SO! There's apparently a red conditioner too. I now know that. Haha. Sue came to the rescue with a loaner bottle of Fructis ... hooray. 

This is dock party night! Sue and Wayne went to the first one at Heather's and Bruce's last week. (Mark and I were still on the road!) it's going to be a nice evening ... just spray on the Muskol instead of perfume. Mozzies are fierce at dusk. 

Two families of geese swimming past the neighbour's boathouse. They climbed out and came up on the grass. 

About 5:10 Jim arrived on his beautiful pontoon to ferry us all to the party. It was a great evening ... doodoo coils were lit, mozzies held at bay ... a beaver visited ... we spotted a pair of deer and the horde oeuvres fantastic!  About 20 partiers arrived ... a lovely evening!

Mark and Rose may have been "cold". LOL

Captain Jim, Kill-Switch Monty, Wayne and "This Wind is Too-Windy" Sue enjoyed the ride home. LOL. It was a fun evening!!  (Mary went home earlier to meet a Craig's List buyer ON HER OWN!). Whattt???  haha. 

Ta ta for now. 

CHIPPY'S HOLLOW - JUNE 12, 2014

It's a 45F Thursday with cloud cover. Never-mind, it's going to be a busy day! Sue and Wayne are leaving their RV at Anicinanbe for a few days to let the new asphalt driveway cure ... but they are moving into the cottage today! Yay. 

Mark and I arrived late yesterday afternoon and moved just the bare necessities into Chippy's Hollow. Tomorrow, we will move things over in earnest. It's nice to be here!!! 

Our trip was great ... but after 7 weeks on the road, it's nice to settle down. 

This summer is bittersweet. Since we left last September, for home, we lost two dear friends and long-time cottagers. The very lake lost its' zeal for living. All is plainer and duller without their personal zest. Rest easy friends. We remember our days in the summer sun. 

Wednesday night we were treated to a gorgeous sunset rainbow. 

Sue and Wayne saw this beautiful sunset over Anicinanbe about the same time. 

Mark and I finished "moving" just in time for happy hour. Sue is walking down with meatloaf and potatoes for us to cook tonight. You see, the K's have a slight problem in their cottage kitchen ... no water!  There was a winterizing mishap last fall ... "someone" forgot to drain the kitchen faucet and filter line. It happened. LOL

Haha ... Each time I think everything I need is out of the RV ... it isn't. Where are the Mexican Dominoes??? 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

HUMP DAY ... Wayne, Sue and Mark have gone to the cottage to get the water pump system started. The asphalting was finished yesterday, and will need a few days to set before we can park the heavy RVs on it ... especially K's. 

Meanwhile I'm getting the laundry caught up before we make the move!  

Well that plan fizzled! LOL. Pushing a button to close the big kitchen slide didn't work! After a little head scratching and a phone call to Giant Recreation in Florida, it seems a shear pin sheared. Haha. I guess that's why said pin is called a shear pin! Anyway, my trusty elevator man went under the rig with a drill bit intending same to replace the pin. Hmmm

Meanwhile, two bucks came to visit ... 

And, "Who's the man???" Mark is!  He fixed it and we'll be underway shortly. 

Tonight, Sue and Wayne are going to a golf banquet with Rose, Heather, and Bruce. We're very sure they'll have a good time; they're staying nearby so they don't have to drive tonight. 

Maggie just spotted a BIG OTTER ... the largest I've ever seen!  It sure got her attention, and mine. Wow. 

So that's today's BLOG. Ta ta. 

KENORA - TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2014

Good day, eh? My buddy Rick M commented ... yes, he does comment once in awhile, LOL, that I've become too "Americanized" ... because I said "Pretty, huh?" on a photo I posted. Sorry about that Rick, eh. ;-)

Cute puppy, eh? 

Yes, we're looking forward to Friday ... "Dock Party" Friday! I'm making Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls. Really! C'mon Rick ... let's hear it. Hahaha. 

Today, Mark completed our RV wash. It's quite a job at 40+ feet long and 13 1/2 feet high! No wonder he was stiff last night, eh? ;-)

It seems our inner driver side rear tire threw a balance weight during our drive from Thunder Bay to Kenora. Mark changed the tire and we'll go to a local shop for rebalancing. It was a chore getting it changed. When I asked why we didn't just drive to the shop and let the pros change it I was told, "Because I'm stubborn!"  We'll, okay then. LOL

While Mark was tinkering away, a beautiful doe stood watch. Eventually she saw he was no threat and walked to a nearby bush and began eating leaves. It's so lovely to see them up close! 

Tonight, we met Rose, Monty, Mary, Sue and Wayne at Boston Pizza for "Pasta Tuesday. It was good fun with good food!

Tomorrow, we may be moving to Chippy's Hollow ... we'll see. 

MUNDANE, JUNE 9, 2014

It's tidy-up day ... Mark planned on washing two sides of the RV today ... me, doing a load of laundry and washing inside windows. Sue, taking some larger items to the local laundromat ... Wayne was hoping for driveway construction. 

What we all got was a morning of lovely rain! 

It's now 4 PM, Mark has done three sides of the RV; (over achiever) ... but Randy would call him a "cheese eater". LOL. I cleaned the RV windows and wiped the tops of cabinets and ceiling fans (yes, we have 2!) but, alas, no laundry. Sue decided to read today. No laundromat. LOL. Wayne went to the cottage to meet the driveway "guys". (Mark suggested Wayne likely went fishing with Jim instead!). Haha. 

So, Sue, Mark and I went shopping at 2 o'clock ... Mark in search of lotto tickets, and wood "plugs" to conceal screws around the fireplace trim. (Apparently, we shook three wood dowels out on rough roads!) He dropped Sue and I at the mall ... then met us at the grocery store later. By 4 o'clock we were home.  

Tonight, dinner is at our RV ... Greek Salad, Hawaiian Chicken and Oriental fried rice. (This sounds like a United Nations "blend".) Heehee. 

KENORA - SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2014

It was a beautiful start to our day. We were up and on our way by 8:10 a.m. heading to Kenora, Ontario, 304 miles away. 

Sue and Wayne are staying at Anicinanbe Park right now. Their plan was to be at the cottage while the driveway work was done. Due to a late spring, road restrictions did not lift on June 1st as is usual. The contractor was unable to get their equipment down the road. 

We arrived about 2 p.m. at Anicinanbe Park. The new attendant gave us a great spot "up top" looking over the water. It rained the last 40 miles but since arriving the sun came out. 

Thus far, Mark and I have traversed 7,800 miles since April 22nd. That's a lot of sight-seeing! Today, we saw another moose and deer. It's just amazing that any creatures survived the coldest winter since 1898. -52 reported several days!

We're in #81 and K's in #70 ... great sites with lake views! 

Sue and Wayne came for cocktails at 4 ... then dinner is at their RV! Pork chops on the grill I think. 

Do you think the squirrels did this damage? See the holes in this beautiful pine tree!

I wonder if it can be saved?

It's certainly an old pine! Sad. 

Dinner was great. It started to rain lightly, just perfect for unwinding. We had just poured another glass of wine when Mary and Monty popped in for a visit. It was perfect timing and great to see them! We had some laughs and enjoyed the evening. It seems they have sold their beautiful lake home! Congratulations!