Wednesday, September 03, 2014

So, That Was Summer??

I can't believe how fast two and a half months can fly by!  

There was so much going on - camping, BBQ's, fishing, parties - that there was hardly any free time for work!  


Arrowhead Park

We managed to camp up in the Muskoka area.  The weather was cooler than usual, but the fish were biting a lot!  Everyone that wanted to fish caught something.  We were spoiled by the fish that week!  We figure we must have caught close to 200 fish that week.  It was great fun.

Small fish - she must have used a real worm...


Size 13's on a 5 year old

The dock in Huntsville

Dock shadows

LP with another nice bass

Largemouth bass has him beat for size



The 'Fish King' showing off his latest lunker!


Helping stack wood from the pallets



We rented a couple of kayaks and a SUP to play around with one day.  Lots of fun.  Now the grandparents are looking to buy a couple of kayaks for themselves!




We spent some time getting eaten by the mosquitoes at Dyer's Memorial.  It's a husband's memorial to a faithful wife set in the woods of the Muskokas.  It also was a place to go in the dark and scare people in our teenage years.
The Memorial at Dyer's

A small rock bass couldn't resist the lure

These blow-up bumpers were lots of fun for the kids around the camp


Bun-Head stuck inside the hole


A lovely family photo at the Lookout Trail in Algonquin Park





Locking up the canoe after an evening paddle




Soccer Season

The boys all had pretty successful seasons.  Despite some crappy weather some nights we were able to get in most of the games.



Brother KP was called up to play on his bigger brother's team when there were a few kids away for holidays.  He played 4 games with them.  He did a great job holding his own and was more than happy to play.  He totally dominated on his regular team, playing with Half-Pint.  We lost track of the number of goals he scored this year.

One night even Half-Pint got called up because LP's team was so short of players.  It was neat to see all three of them on the field together for the 2nd half kick-off.

LP's team lost in the final game.  It was his last game in this league, next year he has to move on to another league or pick another sport.


Older brother giving encouragement and instructions


Game on!

The Grand Pavillion

Well, it's almost all done!  A bit of wiring for some lights (and maybe future ceiling fans) is all that's left.  It has been tested out quite a bit.  We've had lots of dinners out there under the roof, and a few gatherings of friends and family.  

Removing dirt to put the gravel base in for the concrete

Packed gravel waiting for the concrete to be poured

Pondering the finished product




Rondeau Provincial Park

Our last camping trip was to Rondeau for a weekend.  There were trails to ride bikes, the beach, some fish to catch, ice cream to eat.  One afternoon was spent at Greenview Zoo checking out the animals and playing around the big playground.  The weekend provided nice weather and a good way to wind down the summer.

ICE CREAM!


Hiding in the ball pit





The Axe Project

I found an old rusty axe head in the back shop at work.  I brought it home, cleaned it up, reprofiled the edge, sharpened it up.  A splash of paint on the head made it look almost new.  I shaped the new hand and stuck the head on it.  A matching strip of paint, just for fun.  Just about done, I just needed to clean up the sharpened edge a bit.  Apparently it was pretty sharp - I gashed my thumb open on it when I was changing positions.  Now it is truly mine... after bleeding on it!  

Almost complete

Time to repair some leaky skin.









Oh, one more thing...


... Goose season is beginning!  Time to put something in the slow cooker!


Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Summer Solstice




A late spring storm rolling in across the fields



Now that summer is officially here we can celebrate warm weather, camping, barbecues and hanging around outside.  School is almost done for the year and the boys can hardly wait to spend time playing instead of having to be in classes.

We've got some camping scheduled, so that's something to look forward to.  We've already had a couple of weekends away - with the in-laws, and with the London Jeep Club.





The Mounds

With the Jeep Club we went to The Mounds Off-road Park in Mt. Morris, Michigan.  We camped at Wolverine Campground - a great little park right on the shore of the Holloway Reservoir, near Davison, MI - and enjoyed getting muddy with a bunch of Jeep friends.

Christine managed to get stuck in some nice, thick, goopy mud.  Despite some wheels spinning and mud flying she was not able to get out.  With a little tug it all worked out.  The Jeep was covered outside and in.  Even The Teacher's daughter, who was riding with us at the time, was covered.  She was not impressed!

The Teacher climbing up the rock pile


The Teacher's daughter doesn't like mud...

Yeah...  She really does not like mud.
(Brother KP looks on in jealousy!)

Jeeps are just big climbers for kids to play on

Fun getting this dirty, not so fun to clean...  Christine got it dirty, I had to clean it.




Port Burwell

We went to Port Burwell Provincial Park with the in-laws and Tammy's family (you'll remember of course, that she started the feud).  It was rainy one afternoon and the mosquitoes were everywhere.  They weren't really biting but would get in your face and generally prove to be annoying.

The fishing was poor as we weren't set up with the right bait and so we didn't catch much.  Still, getting lines wet is good therapy!

Mosquitoes on the trailer tire after the rain.  

Big driftwood

Sun setting on the lake

Fishing until the last light

An old, decommissioned Lake Erie lighthouse

Sparks dancing at the campfire.




Father's Day

I have to show this picture.  It was of the Sunday afternoon meal we had for Father's Day.  Now this, THIS is a good plate full of meat!  (With a little greenery thrown in there for good health, you know.)






The Grand Pavillion

The backyard project has seen some good progress since Uncle Nate was able to spend a couple of days slapping some boards together.  It's getting there.  With some stain on the trusses and other bits it should be ready for the barn board and then the roof... and then concrete under it... and then a party!




A robin's nest just above the roof line of the pavillion
Discovering the real purpose of the pavillion






Random Pictures and Stuff


We've been undergoing renovations at work in the offices.  This has been 6 months of slow progress, but we're almost there.  With some ceiling tiles and a couple of small things sorted out we will finally be done.  I had to add some personal touches to the place because it was a little stark without some colour.  LP's artwork from school along with a couple of other little pieces add a nice touch.
Artwork in the new office




The boys gathered up some of the pesky pigeons that were dispatched from around the barns



A cute little critter peaking through the flowers



A very odd critter, indeed!

A rusty soccer net in a hay field


Don't leave your Red Solo Cup unattended - even with your name on it.