MONDAY, JULY 15, 2013

Mid-month already!  It's a sunny start this morning; 70 degrees at 9 am. It just may be a swim day; maybe. Lake water never warms much over 70 here but Mark and Randy have braved it a few times!

Wayne and Mark prepared a top-notch fish fry last evening on the dock. The picnic table was laden with curried coleslaw, tomato/avocado salad, tiny roasted potatoes, fried pickerel (walleye) and wheat rolls. Food tastes better outdoors, doesn't it?  

We trooped up the hill to Kurian's screened porch for coffee and cake. Tony and Aurelia served a beautiful (homemade) chocolate cherry cake. 

And so we have a gorgeous start to this day.  We have been fortunate as recent severe weather, including tornadoes, occurred in a 100 mile radius. 

Lunch of Edam, Gouda, Brie and Blue cheeses with garlic salami, Canadian Rye bread and pickles was enjoyed by all. 

Aurelia, Tony and Chessie said their farewell and started back to their home in Lockport about 2 o'clock.  It was a fun weekend!

Mark is cooking bacon wrapped chicken,  sweet potatoes and green beans for dinner this evening ... at Chippy's in the air conditioning!  Later; dinner finished, we sat on the dock and listened to the wind in the trees. Goodnight all. 

SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2013

Chessie (formerly known as Chester the Molester) was thrilled to see Sue and Wayne. They rescued Chessie and took him to Tony and Aurelia in Lockport, Manitoba where he became the light of their lives!      

Sue, Wayne, Aurelia and Tony went to Yesterday's for Sunday breakfast. At 12:30 Wayne, Mark and Tony went fishing in the Tahoe ... Maybe a fish fry tonight on the dock???

SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2013

Mark was Blog photog this morning - snapped this peachy sunrise from Chippy's Hollow deck.  I wish we could play a soundtrack to this scene; a white-throated sparrow singing his melodic song; a common loon's eerie call echoing across Kendall Inlet. 

This afternoon, Aurelia, Tony and Chessie arrived in their RV for a weekend visit!  

4 o'clock on the dock with all dogs on deck. LOL. After much barking and water spraying, peace reigned and we had cocktails!

Tony cooked a sausage stuffed pork loin, grilled veggies and pasta. Excellent!  Peach pie followed. Yummy. Too much wine was consumed while interpreting Aurelia's "English".  Lots of laughs!!!

FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

It's "Dock Party" day!  We hope the weather cooperates.  Alberta and Saskatchewan suffered a deluge along with tornadoes! Manitoba has heavy rain and it is moving east. We'll see!

Urban flooding is a serious issue affecting many older cities. The rainwater typically has been directed toward central sewers dumping into rivers and lakes. With global warming and more rainfall, the current trend should be toward  "soft engineering" - allowing rainfall to soak into parking lots and landscaping thus reducing the immediate impact on storm sewer systems.  Paved parking lots could go the way of the dinosaur. Maybe sod roofs will make a comeback???  Photo of a Vancouver home sporting (sprouting!) an "Afro". LOL

Meanwhile, Sue and Wayne went to town this morning while Mark sanded the deck rails, organized recycling bins and FISHED.  Julie found it a perfect day to prep for tonight's party - cheese puff pastries and spicy jellies.  Sue is bringing warm Brie cheese and crackers. Yummy.

Judy and Chris Rousseau hosted a great dock party.  We sat in their screened porch until the rain passed through about  7 o'clock, then onto the huge deck/dock. 

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2013

Last evening, a Mediterranean pizza at Boston's ... wine on the dock ... the loon family bonding ... finding a bear on Kendall Inlet Road; all wonderful. What will today bring?

Wayne left early, taking Macy to Winnipeg for an ultrasound.  Good news ... no bladder stones!  

Robbie and Maggie had peanut butter jars to "clean" before recycling!  Now their beards may need attention!  What a treat though. :-)

Sue, Julie and Mark took recycling to the main center, then onto Dufresne Furniture to look at recliners and dining sets. Sue bought a dog picture ... I'm sure Wayne's voice was on the wind, "Just what this cottage needs, Susan!!!"   LOL

Next, Safeway food shopping ... and Jim Gauthier "trying to run Julie over for an Autopac claim, LOL". Funniest thing was he bounced over the curb after stopping to chat ... guess she should have been worried!!!  (We heard hilarious stories from his RVing days!). 

Just a half an hour until we all convene  on the dock for cocktails. It's a beautiful 79 degrees and sunny. 

Sue and Wayne are handling dinner tonight!  

WEDNESDAY JULY 10, 2013

Last night we ate dinner on the glider, dockside, and sat talking until 9:30. It was a beautiful evening after a wet, windy day!

Pam arrived home to Minneapolis safely ... we all enjoyed her visit ... thanks for coming Pam!!!  It was great fun. 

We're off to a slow start this morning. We know Sue and Wayne are busy cooking for their party tonight, so we shall make ourselves useful and sweep the steps and do a few chores. THEN, we're taking Robbie and Maggie for a boat ride. 

The photo below caused quite a few comments on Facebook. LOL. Julie has not "changed teams" nor become a lumber jack!  She is wearing a "Kenora dinner jacket". Haha. Very popular in this neck of the woods. 

Mark and Julie took Maggie and Robbie for a boat ride on the 14' Crestliner. A perfect, cloudy day!

While Sue and Wayne entertained their dinner party guests, Mark and Julie had date night at Boston Pizza and walked down the pier afterwards. Back at Chippy's Hollow, mama loon fed her two babes while we sipped wine. We were treated to quite a show when papa loon flew in and the eerie tremolo began, followed by yodels and hoots. They are beautifully tuxedoed birds in the summer. 

TUESDAY JULY 9, 2013

Awoke to a morning thunderstorm and 57 degrees!  

Pam is on her way home to Minneapolis. We had a great time with her here!  Last evening, Wayne took us into Kenora on the Windsorcraft ... an hour trip each way. We dined at Borelli's, authentic Italian.  The pasta was so light ... we ate it all. 

Years ago, we took our boats to Yellow Girl Bay, tromped around an island in the vicinity and discovered rustic cabins. We thought it an abandoned fishing lodge. Apparently we were wrong!  During WWII, Canada accepted boatloads of German war prisoners, 33,798 in total, from England. During their years of imprisionment, these POW's were treated well at 26 camps in Ontario and paid a wage for voluntary work. SIX of these camps were located in Lake of the Woods!  After the war was over and prisoners repatriated to Germany, many immigrated to Canada and settled in the Kenora area!!!  

Wayne is putting his new BBQ grill together today, Sue is readying their cottage for a dinner party, Mark and Julie took laundry to Keewatin. 

Now, at 2:15 the sun is peeking through the clouds.