Chris at about probably age 9- tubing on Maple Lake
I’m hoping to not sound like a broken record but I am ready to leave–in my mind.
The reality of a bunch of (paid) work flung my way in the past few days has slowed me down–but I am truly not complaining–just explaining.
It’s going to be late by the time I depart here tomorrow but that’s my schedule for you.
I’m just about to do a complete upgrade to Maple Lake Ontario -did a full backup just now–go me. I’ve got fingers crossed that it go off without a hitch.
I will of course, be blogging from Maple Lake . I have fingers crossed that the satellite internet guys have things ready for me to hook up and log on.
I’m getting pretty excited and a admittedly a bit anxious about our trip to Maple Lake, Ontario on Friday.
The weather looks fantastic though (!), especially Labour Day–Monday. Finally, the people who really need good weather will have something to enjoy.
I’d like it to be calm enough that we get a last canoe ride in and I’d like the air temperatures to be warm enough so that the quite chilly lake temperature doesn’t force me to keep my swim-time short.
I guess that’s a rather large list but the biggest wish is that my boys, age 25 and 16 as well as our little dog Raven, do just fine here on their own. I’m sure they will but since I’m a mother worry is hard-wired.
Hope to see anyone reading this pop over for a visit to our cottage over Labour Day. If we don’t see you –enjoy!
Sun Jar, Moon Jar Solar Jars--great at the cottage-sturdy!
I was just mulling over how when we go to Maple Lake, we are much more aware of our environment and how we impact it and visa-versa.
For example, cleaning products. At home I live in a condo in a big suburb and really don’t put much thought into what my cleaning products are made of. At the lake it’s a different story entirely. Any waste water that runs off does so just feet from our lake. Being aware of this, we go out of our way to use products that if somehow they do get into the lake won’t do significant harm.
The product I found myself using a lot at the cottage for older stains on ceramic and tile was baking soda. It was gentle but very efficient–even removing stains that I’d scrubbed with harsh cleansers that I’d previously used in desperation.
Another ecofriendly product I brought up to Maple Lake especially to keep at the lake was my sun jar. The cottage gets plenty of sun so the solar cells quickly powered the rechargeable battery which is then used to power the low-energy LED lamps.
My intent was to have another source of light if we were to lose power to the cottage which is quite common with severe weather. It did happen that the power went out one late afternoon, not returning until 11 p.m. and the sun jar was enjoyed greatly not just as a light source but as a object of beauty.
EDIT: I like it best as a portable nightlight. It kept it’s glow for several hours but it need to put in sunlight to be at it best. It rained almost the whole time we were there. I would like to test it out with a few bright, sunny days each week, maybe mixed with mostly sunny-with rain– when we need it–at night.
Spouse has been following the Haliburton Highlands weather forecast like a hawk as he is concerned about his grass seed getting enough water.
Our gardens here at home look the worse for his being gone three weeks. Spouse says they are at the end of their life cycles but I think they got both too much water and too much heat.
So Maple Lake looks great this week, like much of the Haliburton Highlands!
Hurrah for a stretch of good weather. I’m still undecided about staying up there longer in September. With his dad working 7 days a week, I’m a tad concerned about leaving Chris essentially on his own at the beginning of Junior year.
Current Forecast: Haliburton Highlands
And the Long Range Weather Forecast for the Haliburton Highlands through the first week in September:
That looks really good until just after Labour Day weekend-then ZMOG! Freezing again!
My favourite rock has been on this beach a very long time.
Now it is the bottom step.
Cool, no?
Both sets of stairs are wicked awesome. Spouse is very industrious and exacting whenever possible. This is repurposing these rocks back to what they were doing long ago.
Very pretty and through manual labour–lots of it–the steps have been re-built. I think they look great.
It’s rather quiet here though we’ve had a brief respite from the storms. I even managed to get myself in a bit of a fix going out on the Lake as a novice canoeist yesterday!
Just the same it’s going to be hard to leave on Saturday but leave we must. Spouse returns to work and school starts for son on his birthday–August 20th!
He chose to take a couple friends to Gameworks the day before and I’m the chaperone so I cannot very well miss it. I am however considering coming back up for a couple weeks in September depending on if the current forecast for “drier than normal” weather pan out. Here’s how the current long-range forecast looks. BTW, bugs are really a non-issue as it’s been so cool.
A hail storm with high winds hit Maple Lake Thursday afternoon leaving many folks without power throughout the evening. As I write this, the power has still not been restored with the hydro repair personnel reporting that they cannot find the source of the outage.
They explained as night fell that they would cease repair attempts at sundown and resume again Friday morning.
The storms came on suddenly with high, gusty winds and hail, blowing deck furniture around and tearing branches from trees.
After the storm passed there was a thin white sheet of ice on the ground with the air temperature having dropped significantly.
See the video I’ve included for a taste of this early August weather event.
Though the sun is shining and I’m grateful, it is in no way warm. The water, after many sub-normal temp weeks simply never warmed up–so swimming has been less than a daily activity. But as they say you take what you get when you come up here–and there is still much here to savour.
A walk in the woods
Lots of nature–any time of the year–any weather!
My spouse, who is a much earlier riser than I, took these out in the back field area.
I’d forgotten that Monday is a civic holiday here in Canada so this weekend is a holiday weekend in every sense of the word.
Lots of people but so far not too many motorboats. Yay! Side benefit to the fuel fiasco.
I visited a bit with my Uncle Bob yesterday, sharing some really old photos of family with him and his daughter. He was able to clarify a couple things about places and people and I’m really grateful. He seemed particularly happy with some photos of some of his children when they were small so I’m going to scan them and email them. It’s nice to share.
In the spirit of sharing I have some photos of Maple Lake from yesterday and today when I made my inaugural attempt at underwater photography. I was so nervous about water leaking and ruining my camera but the seal held tight and if the water hadn’t been so choppy I may have gotten some stellar results. Also I have to figure out how to not float up as I’m taking the shot. I intend to practice as my ultimate desire is to get some underwater ocean photos.
