MY HAPPY PLACE & MY HAPPY TIME

It was a busy weekend.  We had a run into the city to take care of some business, grocery shopping, a cruise to the south end of the lake.  Dan worked on the house a bit, and now I've cooked a roast beef dinner which we have just eaten.  So now it's time to relax. 

And there is no place I like better for relaxing, than out on the back deck of the boat with a glass of wine on a Sunday evening.  

The Marina gets very busy on the weekend and I really enjoy the socializing and the hustle and bustle that ensues.  

But there is something really special about Sunday afternoons and evenings.  All the weekenders start to think about home around Sunday afternoon and start packing up and putting their boats away, and closing up the cottage and slowly but surely the Marina and the whole beach starts to get quieter and quieter as the day wears on.  

Suddenly you realize that you can hear bird noises again.  As it starts to get still and quiet.  

That's when you realize "They are all going home.". "but I am retired and I get to stay here in my happy place  all week", until they all return on Friday and it starts all over again.  

RETIREMENT IS WONDERFUL

BON VOYAGE!

This weekend we had a solemn ceremony at the south end of the lake for those that we have lost during this past year.  The temperatures co-operated, but the winds were up, which made it difficult. 

  

Dan and I went  with Peter and Angela aboard Gifhorn III.  There were a large number of boats that left the harbour with "R-Tyme" leading the way and the rest of us following along. 
  

Once they chose the appropriate spot and "R-Tyme's" anchor was set, each or the other eight boats, that followed along, set their anchors a safe distance apart.  Normally we would raft together and be able to move from boat to boat and socialize.  But for that you need really calm seas.  

So, after the brief ceremony, we all meandered back to the marina, where everyone gathered at the gazebo for what we normally would have done out on the lake.  

To socialize and share memories of all those that have passed in the past year.  Scott McLaren, Bob Inkster, and Patricia and Keith Peirce.  

FAREWELL AND SMOOTH SAILING!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

 I got all my Canada Day decorations out and got some flags put on the boat and the approach and the dock, in anticipation of a wonderful Canada Day weekend.  

The weekend started out rather dismally.  Just a little rain, but cool, cool cool.  

We went to Matlock and had a nice visit with family on Saturday.  But it was off and on sun and still cool.  We opted out of seeing the fireworks that night as it was a little too rough to be out on the lake, and too damned cold to walk down to the beach.  

Sunday finally gave us some of what we wanted.  The lake was calm enough for a cruise to Gimli, which our guests really enjoyed.  

Still to cold for the boys to go swimming off the boat though.   Maybe next time.  

The harbour is finally filling up with all the regulars.  Not only the weather, but, all the regulars seem to be a little behind schedule this year. 

 But this weekend finally saw a lot of day trippers with their trailers all lined up waiting for them to com back from there day on the lake.  

Quite a few people have taken Monday off as well and turned this into a long weekend.  So the harbour is still quite active.  Nice to see finally. 

The weather seems to be rewarding them too. 

I THINK SUMMER HAS ARRIVED.  

THE LATEST FROM THE HARBOUR AND THE HOUSE

At least the weather has improved.  


So we are finally enjoying our leisure time at the boat.  

We have had one of my favorite visitors to the harbour.   

Our Manitoba Pelicans are the most magnificent birds.  I love to see them cruising the harbour.  

 As for the beach house?  It's getting uglier and uglier.

 

But, I guess it's progress. 

THE WEATHER LOOKS PROMISING FOR CANADA DAY.  

(Time to decorate the boat.)

WHAT'S UP WITH THIS WEATHER?

As soon as we moved on board the boat, the weather turned nasty.  Not that we have had any really good hot sunny weather yet this spring/summer.  This is the kind of weather that makes me say, "Enough of this, It's time to head for Texas".  Oh well, they say it is supposed to improve this week. 

We are settling in to living on the boat and going to the house each day to work on it.  I am slowly accepting the fact that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. 

Meanwhile I have been continuing my work on our grounds, and creating a lot of cuttings to be planted.  With any luck I will get those well enough established and in the ground before we head south in the fall.   

Here in the harbour, the many many goslings are getting pretty big.   Soon we won't be able to tell the babies from the parents.   At that point they will learn to fly and we won't see them in the harbour anymore.  They will be busy practising and building strength for their long journey south in the fall.  

THE SUN IS OUT TODAY, I HOPE IT'S NICE FOR CANADA DAY

OUR FIRST CRUISE SINCE OUR ARRIVAL

 We got the last of my dinning room furniture packed away on the porch. 

 And today we stripped the old carpet off of the floor in our future kitchen.  

Then it was off to the boat with the stuff I packed.  

 It feels more like home than the house does.  

It was another cloudy cool day again, but at least there was some activity going on at the marina.  It was the annual Wine and Cheese, which we took part in along with many other of the boaters.  Then Gord and Ellie invited us and Sharon and Casey out for a cruise on their boat "Classic 46".  

 

  All in all a very nice start to our boating season. 

 

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.