Sunday, July 16, 2017

Good morning! It's always interesting at Keewatin Place doing laundry. My hair was today's conversation opener ... a lady's grandmother had bright red hair like mine right to her death at 96. Alright! 

Today I bought acrylic paints, 10 piece sets for Sue and I, plus brushes. What a bargain! I also bought a canvas picture for the RV bedroom. (I've looked here and there before but this was the right subject (Moose) the right colors (to match bedding,) the right size (18x18) and lightweight. SCORE! 

So we're excited Darlene is coming to visit today. Sue and Wayne have dinner planned of BBQ chicken, new potatoes and garlic bread (fresh from the oven here at KP.)

On our way home from laundry and shopping, we spotted a beautiful doe on our road. 

We waited for her to cross the road and she was hesitant to jump across the grassy (wet) ditch. I wish I had got her in flight. So graceful. 

Darlene and her sister Marianne arrived about 330 and we went to the dock for cocktail hour. The loon came for happy hour too. We couldn't believe how close it came considering we have three dogs on the dock with us!

Darlene brought steak and chicken kabobs from M & M Foods in Winnipeg which Wayne cooked on the BBQ. Sue prepared excellent dilled potatoes and salad; A delicious dinner followed by blueberry pie! Tonight, we are playing Mexican dominoes. 

Darlene's little Foxy adopted Sue ... and was spoiled! Chicken this 'n that ... try this and try that. Haha. Foxy out-foxed them all. She only wants people food! 

We came home to walk our dogs ahead of the rain shower. They were so happy to see us, knowing that there is a new dog around the property! 

Mark, Darlene, Wayne, Marianne and me ... thank you Sue for taking the picture! We had a rousing game of Mexican dominoes for nearly 3 hours. Of course a little wine was consumed during that time. Cheers to Marky who won! 

Tomorrow, we are taking Darlene and Marianne to the Inn for breakfast and shopping at the Blue Heron. Ta Ta. 😜

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Hey hey hey it's been an odds 'n sods day. Mark helped Wayne put the stained glass windows into the boathouse and replace the weatherstripping along the overhead doors. There's much to be done on this huge lakefront property. (Yes, they've hired help here 'n there, but there's more work than available workers, it seems.) 

Sue worked prepping for Darlene's visit Sunday and Monday night while I cleaned Chippy's and aired the rugs in the sunshine. That done, we're going to Jim's for a visit tonight. We should have been boating ... it was a beautiful afternoon. 

About 730 we went to visit Jim at his beautiful lodge. He's still recovering from knee replacement surgery and an infection but is delighted to be at his cottage. 

Mark took this panoramic picture of Sue, Jim, Wayne and I sitting at his outside fireplace overlooking Clearwater Bay. It was a beautiful evening in the 70s and we watched some boats cruising by. 

Mark and me on the upper deck off the dining room. Yes, the flower pots are THAT big! 

Here's 2nd floor bridge which overlooking the living room below. Beautiful view ... sorry it's "whited out" in this picture. 

We came inside to the living room and enjoyed more lively conversation (and wine!)

The floors are gorgeous! 

The front portico's eagle carving. 

Jim's home was a featured build on Timber Kings. It's magnificent. If you're interested, it's the Lake of the Woods, Ontario series. 

This pic was taken when the home was nearing completion. Living room looking upstairs to bedrooms. 

Well, it's now 1130 and it's just Robbie and I still awake. Ta Ta til tomorrow. ❤️

Friday, July 14, 2017

Good afternoon. It's now 1230 and we are back from shopping at Walmart and Canadian tire. Of the two Canadian tire is the bomb 💥 ... nice store! We bought a few items for repair projects around here. Mark hasn't been puttering around here for 2 years! Wayne is busy changing the oil on the Windsor craft for tonight's ride. 

Randy and Dawn had granddaughter Makenna for 2 days this week. They went to a movie, lunch and to watch dancing at The Villages. It's hot at home in Florida but with rain to cool the afternoons. Speaking of rain, the Kenora area had 98mm of rain = 3.85 inches breaking a 1950 rainfall record. (To Mark and I it was just a normal Florida shower!) 😜

At 5:30 Wayne, Sue, Mark and I headed to the dock party on the Ranger (nice boat ... Windsorcraft not ready?) It was so nice to see everyone and catch up on their stories of life. 

Joanne and I watched Rose and Nathan ride the lift to the cottage. 

Beautiful evening ... lots of friends ... plenty of food (everyone brings an "appie) and FUN. It was 70ish with a light breeze. 

Penny made bags of caramel corn! 😜 Awesome delicious! (Made in the oven!)

Doug arrived in his new Lund fishing boat. I made friends with Gord (in blue) just in town from Clermont. 

Back home by 9:00 Mark and I sat on the dock. Can you see the Scotties and me? (He caught 2 fish ... and NO BUGS tonight.) 

😊 Schweet day. Tomorrow evening we're off to Jim's to see his new lodge! 

Thursday, July 13, 2017

As you can see I was an early bird this morning!

The flags are slack; the lake is reflecting mirror-like and I'm too lazy to go down the dock for a proper picture. 

I have a project today. The old solar path lights need cleaning and reassembling. Me thinks it a lovely day for such a job. 

It's now 9:45 and we see the lights are on at the path. Yay! We had dinner with Sue and Wayne; perogies and BBQ pork loin with a salad. Tonight, everyone was worn out from the day's chores so we sat, drank wine and yakked. 

SHP was part of the act. Haha. Speaking of an act, here's Wayne at the barbecue ...

Is he praying for a tender BBQ loin OR swatting mosquitoes? 

Sue phoned Darlene and invited her for Sunday and Monday nights along with Foxy. She accepted so we're looking forward to seeing her. Tomorrow night is a dock party then Saturday night we are going to Jim's for drinks and a visit. Mark and I are interested to see his new lodge. 

In Oklahoma, Bonnie and Roger were playing dominoes and sent a picture of Ella's pup Annie, 7 months. 

Hey Bonnie ... we see you too! 😜

More tomorrow. ❤️

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Good morning! It's a gray day start. However, it didn't stop Mark from making a few casts down on the dock! He went to cover the Crestliner, but I saw half an hour later it was still uncovered. Ha ha. If it's not hunting brain it's fishing brain with that man. 😇

We're going to the farmers market downtown and to pick up a few things. It's our turn to cook tonight and Mark as prepared meatloaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli. I'm going to make a lovely thick gravy; perfect for this kind of (Florida) winter-y day. Yes folks, sometimes this is summer at the lake. 😕

It's 2 o'clock and we're home from shopping ... and eating Chips at Ye Olde Chip Truck in Kenora. THE best ... with vinegar and salt. 

This afternoon Mark wiped down the Windsorcraft after its rain bath yesterday. I vacuumed and readied for our meatloaf dinner party tonight. Sue and Wayne will be here at 6. Although it's a chilly day there's been NO rain yet. 

Dinner time at Chippy's Hollow ... Sue, Wayne and Mark.  After dinner, we went up the path to play Mexican dominoes at Sue and Wayne's. Mark and Sue were in heavy competition but Mark won the last two rounds to win the entire game. It was fun! (I had dreadful hands each round finally going out on the last round!) 

It was chilly walking down to Chippy's at 9:45. I saw "something" in our yard after Mark took the Scotties for their last walk ... too small for a bear but what? 

Ta Ta til tomorrow. 

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Good afternoon. We actually slept in this morning finding the bed reasonably comfortable for the first time since we got here. This is rather funny. Both Mark and I like to sleep with our head raised a little such as a two or 3 inch incline. At home, we have the bed raised. In the RV, we purposely level it with an incline. At Chippy's we felt like we were sleeping with our heads downhill. 🙃 So, my rather genius husband suggested we buy some Funoodles to place between the mattress and the box spring around the pillow area. Perfect! Einsteinium! 🤓

Wayne was working in the boathouse when Mark walked the dogs first thing. He was having a new shaft installed in the boathouse to lift the Windsor craft. After that, two mechanics arrived and have been working for the past four hours. Fortunately, they are out of the weather but the poor boat had to be backed out of the boathouse. It and the Crestliner are both outside ... but the new Ranger is in the other stall. That will be another job for another day. According to the mechanic, we are in for three days of yucky weather. 

So, it was a perfect day for cooking. Mark made a couple of meatloafs for later in the week and I baked a cake for tonight's dessert. We are meeting Jill and Bob at Ristorante Italiano at 6:15 along with Sue and Wayne. It should be a perfect rainy evening for Italian food downtown! Afterword, everyone is welcome here for my chocolate cake! Yummy. 

Sue's little Chipmunk is fattening up for winter. 

It's 4:45 and dark outside like wintertime. Yikes! Where's the sunshine and long evenings? Friday is forecast to be nice. 🤞 

Arrived at 6:15, got a lovely table and met up with Jill and Bob for dinner! 

Wayne, Susan, Mark, Julie, Jill and Bob ... awesome dinner, great drinks, and wonderful company! 

Back home, it was cold 'n windy. Brrr 

Mundane July 10, 2017

Good morning sunshine! We were off to the post office and Keewatin Place by 9:15 ... chores done and home to relax by 11:30. 

Dragonfly on ship's wheel at the boathouse. 

The lake is quiet today except for a couple of yakkers staining a new boat shelter down the shoreline. 

Shhh people ... we're relaxing 😎 with the Scotties. 

Robbie was stretched out like a frog. Mz B never stops looking around ... then, Mark cast once and caught a Walleye. 

As you can see, Robbie and BeeZee were interested! Once Bee smelled the fish she was excited. 

Sue joined us on the dock at 330 for happy hour. It was 79F ... perfect afternoon! Like us, she'd been busy with laundry now that Kyle and Gavin went back to Winnipeg. (We'll see them again late July.) 

Wayne spent his day in Winnipeg and arrived back at 6:30. As it was "leftovers" night, we were all fending for ourselves. Tomorrow night we're all meeting Jill and Bob K at Ristorante Italiano for dinner. 

Mark just checked online weather and saw we have a flood advisory at home! Really? We'll phone Randy for an update. 

More tomorrow.