Summer flows into Fall at the Cottage

Sailing in the fall requires warmer attire.

Sweet Boat had lots of good sailing this summer and fall.

Two days after the tornado hit Goderich we had this sky and another tornado warning.

Goderich will never look the same in our lifetime. Buildings can be rebuilt but the loss of the trees is such a tragedy.

Fall sunsets take on a look of their own.

Huronview has a special harvest dinner in September that we wouldn't miss.

Rob continues work on the cottage with smaller projects. This fall he will be building our kitchen cabinets in the basement of the condo.

The garden on the beach was a success.

Happy Thanksgiving???

My annual bathing suit picture was taken on Thanksgiving weekend this year complete with a turkey accessory?!

This picture shows our bird house where we hope to attract purple martins next spring. The bird house is made of cedar logs and the green steel roof matches the roof on the cottage. It was made by a gentleman in Belgrave whose business is called Extreme Birdhouses.

The weather was amazing and what a treat to be able to get out for a kayak in October. The pictures were taken with my new Fugi camera---dustproof, freezeproof, waterproof and shockproof---just what I need!!?? We are looking forward to getting some good underwater pictures this winter in The Bahamas. If only I had had my camera with me when I had my shark encounters last winter?

The leaves told us it was Thanksgiving but the temperature of mid 20s C/ high 70s F made it feel like summer.

The mum plant looked absolutely beautiful in its autumn radiance.

Mom enjoyed both her visit to the cottage and her dinner.

It was not hard to be thankful for this lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Cyrano's Adventure North

Cyrano, our cottage neighbour's Bayfield 32 gets to fly her geniker on the last leg of our journey south to Bayfield. We had sailed her north to Tobermory for the long weekend so that our good friends Doug and Jane Dotzert could experience a wilderness weekend on their boat.

The admiral loves the Michelin Man....our Mustang survival suit.

Cyrano may be a Bayfield 32 but she can kick up her heels. After close to 12 hours of sailing from Cove Island south in 25 knot winds we decided to overnight in Kincardine.

The night sky in Cove Island Harbour.

The rock colours are stunning in the north.

The resident ducks in Cove Island Harbour are quite at home with sailboats.

Doug and Jane had a great long weekend despite the weather.

We had a couple of days to get ready for the owners after our 20 hour sail north from Bayfield to Cove Island near Tobermory.

The entrance to Cove Island is very pretty.

Doug and Jane, our neighbours at the cottage trusted us to deliver Cyrano north for them....that is friendship.

There is lots to explore in the Cove Island and Tobermory area of Fathom Five National Park.

Sunsets are always a joy in the north.

Cyrano had a good adventure north.

Ninety and Still a Beach Girl

At ninety I hope to be doing as well as my mother. She came to the cottage for two weeks this summer.
Rob and mom enjoy a paddle in the lake.
With Gayle's help mom was able to enjoy both great dinners and good care.

We enjoyed dinners on the patio most every night.

Mom's friend Jean always joins us for an afternoon soiree.

A Picture Says It All

The cottage looks and feels wonderful after a busy spring of projects.

Rob used the cedar ceiling boards to finish around the bathroom and laundry area.

The deck and beach are looking very inviting.

The new refrigerator arrives on the trolley. The last refrigerator brought to the cottage was bumped down the cedar stairs one by one.

After 35 years of doing laundry in a washer spin dryer we have new machines along with a new refrigerator....what luxury!?

Our garden is doing very well for its first year....tomato plants, beans, lettuce, green peppers and herbs...all this on the beach!?
The glass arrives by trolley piece by piece. The stairs look great after several coats of varnish.

The new mattress arrives on the trolley and up it goes over the railing to the loft.


This picture shows our new glass railing and the new Martin bird house.

We love our new rattan bed and so does Heart Bear!

Beach Bash Guests Go Bonkers

Some guests got carried away in their enthusiasm to decorate the bonker tree???The decorating was not meant to be a contest; however the men seemed to feel that higher was the challenge.
The host and hostess look very festive in their Deck the Trees party wear. This year's annual beach bash was a festive occasion and to celebrate we decorated one of our trees in fish floats that we flew home from The Bahamas. In The Bahamas many islanders and in particular those who live on Cat Island decorate their trees and homes with these floats as a way to ward off evil spirits. I think we can safely say that we are well protected from the spirits after this decorative extravaganza.
The bonker tree looks very good as do the bonker stars.
It really is quite amazing what people will do at a beach bash.

No More Sawing in the Living Room

The maple flooring is laid and the saws have now been banished from the living room. We are busy getting the cottage ready for my mother's visit later this month.
Choosing boards is more complicated than it sounds.
Christine collapses on the couch after a long day of laying flooring.
Rob uses his new air compressor nailer to nail the maple flooring.

Our maple hardwood flooring arrives from Bruce Hardwood. Thirty boxes are brought down the lift and carried into the cottage.