Transformation

From Work Site to Beach House

Somewhere akin to working at the theatre just before opening night or being a member of a pit crew during the Daytona 500 was how we felt getting ready for Erma's visit. Sweeping compound, bleach and assorted cleaners,lots of brooms and elbow grease were used to clean things up while furniture, dishes, bedding, linens and assorted cottage things were brought back into the building and cleaned. The bunkhouse and the shed have been warehouses for everything in the cottage and they are far from empty; however it is now possible for us to have friends stay in the bunkhouse. In fact Gayle King who I hire to look after my mom will be staying there during mom's visit. Gayle was also very helpful in setting up the cottage and the transformation from work site to beach house has been amazing. While Gayle and I worked our magic, Rob the plumber was busy hooking up connections. After four long exhausting days we stood back and admired our new welcoming beach house complete with flushing toilet and hot water!!

Mom arrived on the 9th of August for her summer vacation. Although she had little warning of the changes we had made to the cottage she has adjusted remarkably well. There are things that both she and I will miss from the original cottage; however everyone agrees that the new beach house is beautiful. The weather has cooperated and mom has had days of paddling in the lake as well as a couple of bonfires.


She has enjoyeed visits from her good friend Jean, our friends Bob and Jan, cottage neighbours as well as her great neice Alison and her two children Chase and Sherry. Evening entertainment, the new Life series by the BBC has been a real treat and she has even had a chance to eat outdoors on a couple of occasions. Rob provides the daily entertainment as he puts the new siding on the building. Gayle and Brian have been wonderful and mom seems to be having a good holiday at the ripe old age of 89.