A typical cottage long weekend

We have moved

At last we are at our summer home. We had been down, about 11 miles from our place in town, a few times to bring a few things down. We have both places equipped with the necessary things except food. We have a freezer here which we emptied for the winter and now have to empty the one in town and bring the food here. We have summer duds here so don't have to bring many clothes. We have moved for the season, which may take us to mid November. It is beautiful, the birds are back the trees are growing their leaves. The wild flowers are blooming as well as the daffodils and tulips. The rhubarb is up as well. We were here for part of a day when it seemed like we had never left the place.

Today is the fishing derby. It was rainy this morning but the sun is now shining so the fishermen should be happy.

The ruby throated hummingbirds appeared yesterday as well as the orioles. The red breasted grosbeaks were at the feeder too. The robins have had their first hatching and soon the mothers will have them in the bird bath. Spring is a great time of the year, a real awakening. Don has the tractor oiled and greased and ready to go, like grading the road, and shoving fallen rocks over the edge.

There are lots of leaves to rake as we are in a sugar bush area. A lot of the old trees have been taken down but it was a labour of love along with sore and unknown muscles 20 years ago. We are on waterfront and a beautiful view every day.

We bring our computer with us and the printer gave out. We now have a new printer, newer and it seems a dab more complicated but with Sandy's help it is up and running. We also bought one of these new fangled digital cameras. A printer came with it. We have printed pictures but as yet haven't taken time to hook it up to the computer, maybe we are a bit hesitant to tackle that as yet. Am glad to have the pictures printed as we took pictures of friends while out to Vancouver and will send one to each of the people we visited.

The annual naval meeting is next weekend and Don is busy getting ready for that. As he is president of the Combined Operations branch of the Navy he has a report to get ready plus a few more things so has put that job off since last September. I guess you call that procrastination. The meeting will be in Woodstock which is a 4 to 4 and a half hour drive west of here. The fellows talk about the war and all the stories they remember, places they were and mostly good things. The rough times are barely mentioned. Each year the membership is getting less. After all none are under 80. All have aches, pains and various other afflictions. Don and I are bothered with arthritis in the knees as well. The men don't march like they used to and if a march is planned it is a very short one. It is usually a happy time for the men to renew old friendships. The wives and or sweethearts are very patient and have a good time. Usually the host club has something arranged for the women even if only shopping.

Ann, next door neighbour, was over for tea yesterday along with her 2 dogs. As soon as the dogs knew we were here last week over they came looking for biscuits. The little one is a heinz 57 and the big one is a bull mastiff. He has a deep bark but that is all. A bit scary to strangers. Ann's son bought him for breeding purposes when he was a pup. By a year old the dog had to have a hip replacement. He is 3 years old a beautiful brown colour but doesn't see to well and is not up to the weight he should be at this stage. Good thing as he now weighs 130 pounds and he should be near 200 pounds. He is a nice dog but as characteristic of that breed he slobbers and drools. But he likes dog biscuits, old muffins, peanut butter on toast and whatever else I need to get rid of. The past few days he has been over after dark so we think the sun bothers his eyes. Ann said he likes to lie in his bed and sleep all day. He was from a registered pair but guess there was a mixup in the genes. Not suitable for what the son bought him for. The little one is rather timid but will take food from our hands now but does not care for strangers and when someone comes around she beats it for home.

A neighbour , a retired police lady from Toronto and in her mid 40's, lives next door for the summer and is starting a new line of work. She has her notices out and is called "County Care Bears". She will open and close cottages, do handy work around, raking leaves washing windows and all those jobs you don't want to do but need doing. She is a delight and we are happy to have her drop in as she did this morning with her brothers dog that she is looking after for the weekend. She is sponsoring a mixed soft ball team called the Care Bears. She brought us a ball cap with that logo on it and is bringing over T-shirts as well. Must sign her up for volunteering with the Women's Hospital Auxiliary. Oh to be mid 40, retired, money enough to live on, foot loose and fancy free with no aching joints, can't imagine.The only thing we have to do is slow her down as she is still physically on hyper time. Tea time.