Monday, May 27, 2013
Memorial Day weekend
It was cool and cloudy, but we lazily got a lot done.We were at Cafe Wren for breakfast, coffee, and wifi three mornings.
We got the decking installed on the dock and marked the boards that need replacing.
We admired a couple of the familiar bits of the environment: the deer herd next door and the wonderful handprints from last summer.I got the mast and the wind baskets out of the garage and up in the wind again. I think they need replacing. Not only is the cloth tattered, but the main swivel doesn't work well.
There is a bit of new construction next door. Beautiful wood from Sweden. Inside there's a wood stove, a box of rocks, a pail, and a dipper. We also have reassurances that nudity will not be a feature of this new building until after a few beers in January.
Cafe Wren had their annual plant and craft sale this weekend. I went wild and purchased some salvia to temp the local hummingbirds, a yellow lily to complement the red and orange ones in the front garden, and a red begonia for the "RedTom" (the top of the old lakeside fireplace).Nancy found a bit of artwork for the day lily garden out back. We both like it.
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| Monday morning anglers |
Meanwhile in the house, I did a lot of reading and napping. Nancy did a lot of writing (but not as much as she first thought).
Here's hoping your time was as wonderful.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
We got more cleaning and organizing done on Saturday and Sunday. Also some napping. Then we had adventure driving home through a BIG rainstorm.
The lake shore looked like it usually does in the early spring.
And in the woods, the trilium were beginning to bloom.
Yay! Spring!
The lake shore looked like it usually does in the early spring.
And in the woods, the trilium were beginning to bloom.
Labels: May 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Finally back at the lake
It's several weeks later than usual, but we made it back to LBL yesterday. No ice. No snow. No spring clean up yet from the grounds crew. And we need it.
The last heavy, wet snow brought down a couple big branches. One of them landed on the roof and then the deck. The new gutters barely got a chance. Now half of them have to be replaced.
No running water yet. The plumber has been delayed and very busy too. But good neighbor Skip pulled a hose from his place to our deck. That made it easier to heat water on the stove for washing dishes. We needed that.
We had a first. A mouse (or two) got into the cupboards. I sort of thought they were inaccessible to the little critters, but I was wrong. All the "Sweet and Low" packets were torn open and the little rodents really liked the dried instant soup packages. I wish they'd eaten the styrofoam as well as the contents.
There were good signs of spring as well as major cleaning jobs to do.
The last heavy, wet snow brought down a couple big branches. One of them landed on the roof and then the deck. The new gutters barely got a chance. Now half of them have to be replaced.
No running water yet. The plumber has been delayed and very busy too. But good neighbor Skip pulled a hose from his place to our deck. That made it easier to heat water on the stove for washing dishes. We needed that.
We had a first. A mouse (or two) got into the cupboards. I sort of thought they were inaccessible to the little critters, but I was wrong. All the "Sweet and Low" packets were torn open and the little rodents really liked the dried instant soup packages. I wish they'd eaten the styrofoam as well as the contents.
There were good signs of spring as well as major cleaning jobs to do.
It's a rainy day. Time to read and enjoy the views of the lake.
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Another new photo
From 5 May 2013, the day after the fishing opener. Photo by Gary Sankary of the lake in front of their place.
New picture of the lakes
Someone has posted the new Google Maps picture of the lakes Blake. It's much better than the older one.
See it at BlakeLake.com
See it at BlakeLake.com
Dealing with damages last summer
Somehow, this didn't get published last summer. I wrote it on August 3rd. I guess I saved it as a draft, but never posted it.
Here it is for the historical record:
August 3, 2012:
We traveled back up to Sidetrack today.
I had a 1:00pm appointment with a contractor who wanted the job of cleaning up the trees that came down in the yard.
I learned at the Andersen Window dealer that Andersen no longer makes skylights, so we'll have to completely replace the skylight.
While there waiting for the contractor, the insurance adjuster appeared. He did his inspection and came to what I thought was a good conclusion. The only real surprise was his conclusion that the steel roofing on the lake side will have to be replaced (along with the skylight).
[Here's what the deck looked like after being partially cleaned off.]
[The deck acquired a dip when the tree drove the support posts farther into the ground.]
[The Henny Handrail will have to be rebuilt.]
Then the contractor arrived with his bid for the clean up and his son's bid for repair work.
What a great result. The bids were nearly identical with the insurance estimates.
All is G for go.
Then a little later the construction contractor arrived to go over details of the repairs.
Nancy repaired the broken glass in the kitchen window. David and I picked up small branches and the boat.
[See where the boat ended up after fleeing its storage position down by the lake? It was up next to Skip's foundation.]
Then we all cleaned the deck. It was VERY hot and VERY humid. No fun.
At least a big fish skeleton probably left by an eagle and the blossoming tiger lilies were great distractions.
About 4:30, we came home to the air conditioning and showers.
Here it is for the historical record:
August 3, 2012:
We traveled back up to Sidetrack today.
I had a 1:00pm appointment with a contractor who wanted the job of cleaning up the trees that came down in the yard.
I learned at the Andersen Window dealer that Andersen no longer makes skylights, so we'll have to completely replace the skylight.
While there waiting for the contractor, the insurance adjuster appeared. He did his inspection and came to what I thought was a good conclusion. The only real surprise was his conclusion that the steel roofing on the lake side will have to be replaced (along with the skylight).
[Here's what the deck looked like after being partially cleaned off.]
[The deck acquired a dip when the tree drove the support posts farther into the ground.]
[The Henny Handrail will have to be rebuilt.]Then the contractor arrived with his bid for the clean up and his son's bid for repair work.
What a great result. The bids were nearly identical with the insurance estimates.
All is G for go.
Then a little later the construction contractor arrived to go over details of the repairs.
Nancy repaired the broken glass in the kitchen window. David and I picked up small branches and the boat.
[See where the boat ended up after fleeing its storage position down by the lake? It was up next to Skip's foundation.]Then we all cleaned the deck. It was VERY hot and VERY humid. No fun.
At least a big fish skeleton probably left by an eagle and the blossoming tiger lilies were great distractions.
About 4:30, we came home to the air conditioning and showers.
Labels: Storm damage
Fishing opener?
I don't think much fishing was done during this year's opener.
Labels: Big Blake, fishing opener 2013
