Board Stiff

Irene is here (along with Wasaka and Emmee). This morning we had coffee. Then breakfast. After that we got going.

Down to the phragmites patch to finish it off, only to find that someone had finished it first (maybe Matthew?). Delighted, we did some trompling, jusst to mash the canes down into the water, and pulled perhaps four score and ten new shoots (just to remind them they are not welcome). So, one more minor, easy herbicide applicaton next fall, and the giant patch John and I did battle with last fall, will be history.

After naps, we went to Taylor Sawmill and loaded the trailer with a great many 6' pine boards, planed to 3/4 by 3&3/4 which is the right size for trimming out all the windows (without any additional ripping!) After that, it was on to staining, but we ran out of time and energy, and dayliight, about a quarter way through. That's why tomorrow was invented.

Lilacs and Apple Blossoms...

...are both in full bloom.

And the Windrider has a wet bottom, albeit one coated with a super-slick, citrus-based, anti-fouling alternative. Now, for some wind.

False...

...Solomon's Seal (treacleberry). Why Solomon's Seal? Why false? Why treacleberrry?

False Solomon's Seal, and ferns.

Also, Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)(Foot of the Queen) Orchid

And, some rhubarb compote for breakfast (on Balkan style yogurt), rhubarb courtesy of Bob Ellen.

Off and on showers until after noon, with the sun breaking out of the clouds right after my dump trip, about 4.

Perfectly...

...calm and perfectly quiet (frog fart quiet) all night and all morning. Then about noon—a jetski with a skier (wearing a wetsuit I believe). And then the wind came up.

We got to do almost whatever we wanted today, except for finishing the wicker furniture. (Providentially, we have had 3 perfect painting days. ) I got to weed-whack, plant radishes and put a super-slick anti-fouling on the bottom of the Windrider. Sue got to repaint the entry hallway for the sixth time, this time with the right color. Bob Ellen stopped by on his way  home from doing a half dozen Zodiac repairs in GorB.

Chilly Nights...

...followed by perfect days.

Over to Gore Bay, briefly, for some Purvis whitefish and some Burt Farms meat.

We are closing in on the last of this year's onerous projects. Today, spray painting the wicker furniture. I am declaring tomorrow the first day of summer, with attention shifting to boats.

Sand Rafts

Water is still flowing into the bay, and the switchbacks along the shoreline feature sand rafts lazily meandering out to sea. Obviously, sand floats.

And, it's pine pollen time. Pax likes swimming, under any circumstances, so he is now well pollinated—and this could be beneficial, perhaps providing some form of mosquito repellent. (Clearly, however, further experimentation would be needed to verify this claim.)

Horseflies, aka deerflies, along with midges, have joined the aerial hordes. But the flycatchers are happy. Mweep.

Coolness With Warmth

Mix of sun and clouds—actually, pretty much perfect. However we spent the day inside, de-dustifying everything, and that means pretty much everything, from ceilings to floors. Mural, if there is one—never grind concrete inside your house.

Anyway, no specks remain, and the stairs got stained, and are ready for polyurethane, tomorrow. 

Pax eventually got in a good run and a good swim. And, knock wood, has so far not gone off on any wild game chases.

So, loolking below, what's this? Go ahead, bet your ash.

The new cottage challenge will be to determine exactly how old this good old tree was when it met its heavenly chainsaw. Calculation may be easy because it is easy to stand right on the front deck, near the grill, while manipulating your slide-rule.

Cold Front

A few moments of mist and a few impressive clouds, and then a big drop in temperature, and we were right back to jacket weather.

The Geisers are here, and working on building a raised bed for a garden. Unfortunately, George measured wrong and was disassembling his construct as Pax and I rode by—he striving for a rectangle rather than a trapezoid.

Kerry and Dave finished installing the new flooring. Sue re-stained and polyurethaned all the baseboard wire chases (and other trim), since they were already removed and available for treatment outdoors. I spent the day on the stairs—removing globs of glue and sanding treads and risers. Talk about dust.

Here is the view from John and MaryEllen's lower swell bench. Nice water level, eh?

And here, same shot, just zoomed in a bit. Six of these babies are now part of the view. It's not so bad, although at night the concept of a Manitoulin dark sky is a bit watered down.

Porch Weather

Sultry and soggy when we arrived. According to Kerry, a huge downpour this morning.

Ash and maple leaves are out. Mosquitoes are out, and so are tree frogs.  Everything much greener than just a week ago. Water level about the same.

Kerry and Dave have just about finished installing our click together vinyl plank floor, and we pretty much like it.

The tomatoes and onions and other garden plantings survived a week on their own and are looking good. The grass on the front lawn (or shoud I say covering the septic bed) very long and in need of a mow (and the mower started on first pull, which is a sign of good winterizing.)  And, the outdoor shower got hooked up and is leak free. Time to use it.

Yo-yos

The black specks are bugs.

Back in St. Ignace. Temp in the 50s, and most trees still not fully leaved out.