A well-made groin. 
(above–the rock thingy). Spouse just kept at it until he couldn’t doing anything else to it. 
First, hello officially from the US.
It was so perfectly beautiful.
I went to Maple Lake three times between June and September 2008, staying for 4 weeks straight in July/August plus two extra long weekends. My original plan involved staying up to two months but by late May my son had decided to take Driver’s Education at Fremd High School over the summer as there was no room in his academic schedule during the regular school year. Plus, the class is offered at about half the going (or less) than traditional driving schools. Last summer he took Health Education and something else. Killed summer vacation dates then, too. But as a wise person recently pointed out, in only a short while he’ll be away at college! I’ll miss him terribly but the cottage is much more likely to be occupied by me and spouse is *cough* getting older and accruing some good vacation time–so he can stay awhile as well. He very much likes it which I think is kinda cute as he married into summering on Maple Lake.
***Don’t miss the last photo. It’s the best.
Spouse working doing stuff at the Lake.
Dug up a pesky stump
Prepping for grass
Spouse removed an old stump and planted a patch of grass where it had been. That patch is now known as the best patch of grass on the property. LOL
South side of Maple Lake (click to enlarge)
Ack! Tried to find a cool older (5 years ago) photo for comparison. It’s pretty amusing but I’ve used three PC’s in the last week and I’m not even sure which one they are are on–just which one they are not on. So… more later.
St. Peter's Church, Maple Lake, after 2006 tornadoes
Maple Lake in Grey (2007)
Maple Lake Dawn
Moonlight (R. Corrao)
Sept 1, Sunset (2008)
Thanks to Alice and Frank and my Dad (pictured, age 2 months) and my Mom for picking my Dad.
Dad's Baptism?
Frank, holding 2 mo. old Jim, Alice
I love how well this photo cleaned up (and yes, I know I could have done a better job) . My grandmother looks so pretty and, for the very first time I can see the same jawline on my grandfather, Frank as that of my Dad (and me to a degree). Very interesting and fun to know.
Hey there from Maple Lake!
The Labour Day weekend was perfect. No one wanted to go home. All my relatives live close enough to come upon the weekends if September continues from it’s fantastic beginning. I’m a bit envious as living too far from here will prevent us from doing so.
Just the same I’m happy to say that I’ve been here this year in the months of June, July, August and September and have gotten reacquainted with Cottage County to the extent that the massive amounts of rain let me.
Alice
We went on a final canoe ride today–all the way to the south side of the lake. Its was perfect. We saw some photo-shy loons and I got some nice snaps of St Peter’s Church.
Now we are packing and closing up for the next nine months. Real life duty such as work, child rearing, and more work call and they take precedence. We leave a bit of our hearts behind here at Maple Lake though.
St. Peter’s Church
Look how big the beach is now!
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!
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.
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.
The biggest clam I've ever seen in Maple Lake
Rays of light
Sunset, July 31
Meaning after a kamikaze trip like the one I just made, I don’t realize how badly it throws me until the day after the day after. The day after or more accurately later on the day of my trip, I was just in a brain fog. I wandered from room to room making feeble attempts at organizing things but had no idea how badly I felt until today when I felt on top of the world (can’t wait for tomorrow!)
The weather which becomes a primary focus when one is here, has not followed the gloom and doomy forecasts. It hasn’t rained at all that I can tell–unless I was sleeping. I know they’ve had rain because the barbecue cover was on the ground filled with water <censored> and the foliage is a lush green. The bugs are a large hint, too.
No specifics as per request but this one more time as I get ready to stay here for longer than I have since age 13, I can and will talk about my feelings. I have a right after all, my legal last name is the same as my grandmother’s. Instead of extended family however, my focus is the lake and the surrounding area and that is what brings me great joy. That and having my spouse, son, and dog nearby.
I had an awesome swim tonight as the sun was setting. The clouds looked painted in the sky and the sun was barely visible behind the cloud cluster but enough orange and pink were peeking out that it was breathtaking.
I got a couple of one-off shots but honestly nothing spectacular. There are times when you have to immerse yourself in the moment, also there are times when the bugs are thick as thieves and you do not want to be standing around offering them lunch, so I stayed in the lake and watched the sunset. A person in a canoe was somewhat nearby and he too was just absorbing the exquisitness of it all. Though we did not speak I’m fairly certain that our thoughts were similar in being thankful for the natural beauty everywhere around us.
Torbay Cottage, North Bay~
Well folks, it’s t-minus about 64 hours and the clock is ticking down to my momentous leave of my entire family for a week at Maple Lake (they’ll join me for three more weeks at the end of week one).
It’s a bit unnerving and I can feel the anxiety starting to creep in–not about a week alone (are you kidding?–nirvana!) but of leaving the guys behind. With the youngest being almost 16 y.o. no one really needs me but I’m a control freak so I’m completely beside myself that they’ll forget to do all the things that I always do–and then what? Probably no big disaster–but tell my itchy brain that!
My main concern is the additional three weeks when spouse and younger son and our dog, Raven will join me at the lake. I’m afraid that eldest son, who does not have the vacation time to use so is staying here, will let my plants die. 
I should be getting anxious about the near-700 mile drive there–but I’m not as I’ve done it so often–either alone or with a kid or two.
Moving along.
I stopped by Maple Lake Ontario today to check on the weather and the bugs and before doing so I checked on the the sun setting in Ontario and what a beautiful sunset it was!
I have a number of really pretty sunset web shots to share, then long-range weather, then bug forecast.
*About the webcam shots. It’s quite hard to obtain a good webcam shot due to factors including that most webcams are outside so the lenses get dirty, the webcam gets skewed to a strange angle, and bug juice collects. What I do is grab the shot and most times or in the case of the Dorset and Haliburton webcams, always clean them up and try to bring out as natural a photo image as I can.
Kincardine Harbour~ from Lighthouse One
Kincardine Channel overlooking the Penetangore River which connects to Lake Huron.
Silver Lake Resort~
Dorset Sunset, July 15~
Haliburton Sunset (enhanced)~
Once again the goofy neon car image at the top right area is where the road turns sharply, avoiding a plunge into Head Lake. I used to love going around that as a kid. Still do. 
Extended Weather Prediction for West Guilford:
That looks really good to me!
Hrm. Don’t forget your DEET!
Downtown Haliburton, Ontario~ 07.03.08~ All webshots taken today July 3, 2008.
(The fake, neon green car way up in the right upper part of the shot is at the very sharp leftward turn in the road as you enter town coming from Maple Lake on Hwy 35.)
I can hear the “bombs bursting in air,” or at least the simulated suburban version of them as the United States begins celebrating Independence Day, 2008.
All I can really think of is: I’d rather be at the cottage. I’m pretty sure our little dog, Raven would rather be there too because the number of “bombs” going off at Maple Lake right now is probably pretty few despite the fact that just two days ago Canadians celebrated “Canada Day.” They have shown that they can be every bit as celebratory as the Americans when conducting fireworks shows whether they be in a backyard or in a town park.
Mountain Trout House, Dorset~
I have felt like up and leaving to go north any number of times, just because why hang around here? I have an appointment next week but I’d really like to clear out of here a day or two later.
Reach Harbour~
The guys can follow me up a week after that. Can’t go any sooner because youngest son’s Driver’s Education class does not finish until the 3rd week of July, plus his monthly blood test monitoring liver function due to taking Accutane and the very small window every thirty days that the blood test can be done.
Anyway. There have been some lovely new additions to the Webcams Across Ontario site and it appears that the Haliburton cam is now working a bit better. I still had to do crazy things with the contrast but at least I was able to do something. Keep up the good work, “Eye in the Sky” folks.
Kincardine Harbour Lighthouse~
Celebrate Canada Day!*
Canada Day Celebrations will be held in Gooderham and Dorset on Saturday, June 28th and in Minden, West Guilford and Wilberforce on Tuesday, July 1st.
Canada Day in Dorset
Saturday, June 28
Fireworks will be lighting up the night sky at the Big Trading Bay in Dorset beginning at dusk (approx 9:30). There is no charge, but a boot will be passed around for contributions to offset the costs. All donations will go towards next year’s show. Rain date: Sunday, June 29.
Big Trading Bay, Dorset
The Algonguin Highlands Music Summerfest:
Saturday June 28 2pm - 1am, Ox Narrows Resort, Hwy 35
Roast Pig, Fireworks on the Barge at Dusk, Special Permit Lic,Music, Music 6 Bands, Food, Face Painters, Jumping Castle, Childrens Blues Harmonica Teaching Workshop, Jumping Water Raft and much much more. $20.00 gets you in to see it all (Wristbands and tickets). Proceeds towards Cystic Fibrosis.
Gooderham’s Family Canada Day Celebration
Saturday, June 28, Gooderham Community Center & Park Community Centre Road Gooderham
The Gooderham Committee for Kids will be hosting their third annual Canada Day Celebration Saturday June 28th, 2008 at the Gooderham Community Centre & Park. Starting at 11:00 a.m. until approximately 4:00 p.m. there will be fun games,old fashioned races, face painting, fundraising raffle’s, food, yard sale tables and more. Return at dusk for our spectacular fireworks display. Admission for fireworks by donation only. Fun Day Activities Free!
*Details courtesy of “What’s Happening in the Haliburton Highlands” - Canada Day Special
—————-
Earlier this week I had a nice email exchange with a long-time “Maple Laker,” Mr. Tony Boros.
Besides sounding exactly like the super kind of person who you find on Maple Lake, Mr. Boros is a professional photographer who generously shared some spectacular shots of our beloved Maple Lake. His professional website is Websight 360 where you can enjoy 360 degree panorama images as well as find out more about the process and more about Mr. Boros personally and professionally. I highly recommend a visit.
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