Here Comes the Ice.

After gaining and losing that massive amount of snow in November, we seem to be in a more "normal" winter phase now with occasional flurries that don't require twice-a-day snow removal.
The lake is beginning to ice over - enough that the snow is actually sitting on it.

And the ridiculous ducks that were trying to sit on the first skim seem to have moved along.

I wonder if this winter will make the lake more usable for skiing and snow shoeing than the past many. So many years of freeze-sink-flood have made the lake "no fun" for anyone. Even when you know there are feet and feet of ice out there, seeing rooster tails behind the snow machines means the skiing will not be great. Fingers crossed for a good cold snap to give us some nice ice.

Despite how grey these pictures look, we had nice sun today and a lovely pink sky is beginning, so tomorrow should have more of the same.

November White and Wet

Since my last post, we had a record snowfall for the month of November. We were right up there with Buffalo - we actually made the Global news last week when the 400 was closed and we got more than 90 centimeters of snow in 30 hours.

A true sign of how bad it was is that curling was cancelled. That never happens!! But for two days - last Thursday and Friday - they didn't want people driving to the club because the highways were so bad.

Because most of you don't have snow yet, I decided to share some of the beautiful 'Christmas card' shots that I took. If we never had to move any of the snow, I could sit and admire the beauty all day long. Unfortunately, the need for food and water means getting the snow out of the way to get into the car.

Using my barbecue perspective to show you how much snow we had, here is a shot from the same angle as last post.

Here is another look at the entire deck. By the time we got around to clearing it, it was well over three feet in the drifted parts. (And yes, Virginia, we did have sun for part of one day this month.)

After shovelling and blowing  the driveway for 9 days straight, you can see that the level of snow is just below the window sills on that side. And there is a big drop below there - so probably 6 feet of snow in some spots. That is where I dump the scooped snow from clearing around the cars.

And now it has been raining off and on since Saturday morning and this is the deck today.

So we get to start all over again tomorrow. The forecast is for more snow. But I don't think it will be like it was these past two weeks. Fingers crossed!!

The Flakes are Falling

It's another grey afternoon and as I stare out the window, I realize that I missed my post about the first snowfall - that happened on Hallowe'en. In the 20+ years that we have been coming here and living here, that is the earliest yet. Previous record was November 5th. Not a good sign.

Here are some pictures I took out the windows on the morning after that first snowfall. Once again, the leaves and snow are fighting for real estate. We never seem to get that final clean up done before the white stuff falls. Oh well....

It has been snowing on and off since then, but mostly not staying. However, as I returned from a workshop in the GTA this past weekend, this is what James Bay Junction Road looked like.

Snow tires are on the truck and the car will get them on Wednesday. I think the forecast is for about 15 cm here, so tis the season for the good tires. Rumour has it that we are in for another winter like last year's. I hope they are as wrong as they have been about most other weather forecasting.

But like it or not, winter is coming. It is as inevitable as people leaving after Labour Day. It will happen whether you want it to or not.

The Colours are Coming

The sunny days and cool nights have Mother Nature's paintbrushes on high speed this week.

I took these pictures from the car on Monday and today there are twice as many trees that are turning. Will try to take another batch soon. The sumach have gotten redder by the day this week.

Since George's web cam doesn't show any colour yet, I decided these were worth sharing.

Where is summer?

It is July 30th. We are stuck inside - again - with rain and very cool temps. High today (according to iphone weather) will only be 19.

Okay, so if we are a month behind, July's weather was June's. August's will be July's - unless August decides to do September's. Fingers crossed that will not be the care.

The only happy living things around here are the plants. They are ENORMOUS! There are thistle-like weeds at the side of the road that are well over 6' tall. And folks who have been coming here for the 20+ years we have been here can't get over how green everything is.

Oh well, no sense in beefing about it, since it won't change anything - oh to heck with that - of course we can complain.

Here's to a warmer, dryer August! And sunny weather for our AGM on Saturday, August 2nd. 
Our hosts will be Adrienne and Peter Boersma (of Boundary Lake, driveway near the recycling bins and our message board).

Look for the bright green sign in our Message Board for directions. 

Hope to see you there. 

Another Art Bombing

Not sure where you all are, since the lake is very quiet, but when you do come, you will see this on your drive in Blue Lake Road.

Here's a little closer view.

Once again, something that looks totally at home in the pond. It will have you doing a double take.
And then smiling.

Hope it is still here when you come!!

PS Took the first water temperature last Sunday and it was 19 degrees.

Leaves, Bugs and Keys Keys Keys

I am happy to report that the leaves are pretty much out. They seemed to pop in the last week.
With them, unfortunately come the bugs. Ya gotta love when blackflies and mosquitoes overlap. A feeding frenzy.

But the biggest pest this year are the keys. Thousands upon thousands of them everywhere. A banner year, according to everyone I have spoken with. Apparently it happens every five years or so, and I am sure we can thank that merciless winter for this year's yield.

Apparently, if they are on lawn areas, you can weed whack or mow them to get rid of them. But seriously, they are sprouting in places where the degree of difficulty for growing is horrendous. I have already devoted hours to picking them out of the driveway, pathways and river rock. And today, I will begin on the lake side. Here are just a few pics I took.

pathway in the garden

front "lawn" (and I use the term loosely)

garden bed

Bug suit, bug spray, rain boots and gardening gloves will all be in style while I pull bucket after bucket of seeds from the garden. You can sit in one spot and pull hundreds without moving. Yikes!!

Oh well, boats are in so we can have a lovely cruise before dinner as our reward.