Despite the fact that this year’s time spent at Maple lake was unique and precious to me, there were a couple things I want to acknowledge in case anyone is wondering what planet I’m from, though in the states I am actually an alien. Har.
First, the weather. If I hadn’t had the luxury* of the ability to do paid work at the cottage I simply could not have stayed on as I did.
The key reason is that after months of discussion with the two potential internet providers that could serve Maple Lake it became clear that only one– the satellite Internet guys could actually complete the install for this summer.
They did a brilliant job. The service was better than what I have on a day-to-day basis with my American provider, Comcast, and through a bit of good luck I had more online work than I could handle.
It would have been very, very tough to chose between a beautiful day on the Lake and getting my work done but because many days were not beautiful in the traditional sense, I didn’t have to chose. I could find a nice spot only feet from the lapping of the lake and work away as the lake itself was colder than I’d ever experienced during high season.
My first week at Maple Lake was very quiet as I was alone in the cottage. I’d not ever been alone like that at Maple Lake and though a bit eerie the first night or two, it became quite peaceful. I absolutely never recall my dreams at home and here it seemed I woke each day with vivid recollections. I also had a transformative experience at one point when I awoke but I’m not sure blogging about it here is what I want to do right now. It was very, very helpful, I will say that.
I had time to notice a lot of what’s happening on the surface of things at Maple Lake. Even so, I have no illusions that I know much beyond that but here’s what’s not good that happened and that I’m very concerned about for my family both immediate and extended and for other folks on the lake.
Between the time that my spouse and I opened the cottage in early June to the time I returned in the third week of July and than again in the two weeks I was absent in August several acts of property damage and loss occurred.
Even before this happened–and it was a deep shock– I felt that it’s imperative that the residents of Maple Lake both summer and year-round, watch out for one another. This was a wake-up call for me and I’ve taken steps to keep a closer eye on the place and I will return with a stronger security mindset next June.
I am concerned that modern life, though it can seem to be pretty far away when one is at the cottage has indeed been able to creep down our gravel road or perhaps wander the perimeter of the Lake and we need to stop feeling secure that what we’ve been doing is enough when in fact there are many renters on the lake and there is much new development (teardowns, especially). Once you go out and paddle around the Lake’s edge it is very apparent.
We simply cannot know all our neighbours–as many may never return after their vacation. Again, I want to be emphatic: I have no reason to believe anyone we know vandalized our property but I can’t be an ostrich when taking note of the multiple incidents.
I am intensely curious to find out if the crime rate in the Maple Lake area is rising. That would seem to follow as more people equals more activity of many kinds.
Sorry this has been rambling. I hope that what happened to us didn’t happen to anyone else.
Next year I’ll try to be at the cottage even longer than this year–but on a different schedule based on my son’s need to visit potential universities which has yet to be determined.
No one is paying me to say this but having the ability to set up a webcam or two so you can literally keep an eye on your cottage may be worth the investment. It’s my opinion that the guys at the link above may be the best investment I’ve made thus far in our cottage.
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.
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.
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.
This is a photo of my dad and me (taken by my mom). He is being quite brave because he’s taking an infant camping. I hope it’s only Ontario because I would have been really hesitant to venture much further away from our home in Toronto but he and mom may have felt adventurous and we could have landed somewhere in Michigan.
Regardless, my dad was and is a great dad. He was and continues to be a strong presence in my life and for that I thank you, Dad.
Above: The companion photo to the one I earlier posted of my dad, this is my mom and her dogs, Pug and Cindy. I believe the year is 1955.
As I was waiting for a very slow printing job to finish for son’s Gifted Expo tomorrow night I went through a few more old Maple Lake Ontario photos.
In some ways it’s rather sad doing so as people that seem so vibrant in their photographs are no longer so. Many are no longer with us. Just as troubling are fractured relationships, justified as they may be. It’s still not picture-perfect, no matter how long I work on the photographs.
Another one I like because it is how I remember the family and especially because I’m in my grandmother’s arms, is this one:
My grandmother and I are all the way in back. My cousin’s head is partially obscuring me. She’s being held by her father, my dad’s best friend.
My other cousin, 5 months my senior, is held by my aunt, who is also her aunt. We are all sitting just outside the cottage at the top of the hill.
Below is the same day, has to be my dad sneaking up on my mom again. I cannot tell you how many times he did that and how much it annoyed her and he never stopped, I think because he enjoyed that look of “Whaa?”
She’s wearing cute shoes. Oh, and that’s “Tad,” my grandparent’s dog there at her feet. Nice dog.
One more:
My uncle before he was my uncle and on the right, my dad (circa 1955).
Actually, spouse found it in the exact place where it “should have” been. The “safe” place. lol. Where I keep it with other important Canadian stuff –border crossing-card, birth certificate. I’m still trying to get a photo for my CDN passport that is acceptable to the Canadian government. <eyeroll>. It’s come to, I’m just going to go to a Canadian prof photographer and if you think about it, that may be the whole point. I just wanted to get it done a while ago. Because from what I read, many folks* got exasperated w/American photographer’s unreliable rendering of Canadian photos that they shrugged and got it done in Canada–where apparently the residents Canadian have very little trouble getting an accurate passport image of themselves that the Canadian government will not reject. I may as well have one done of my youngest son as now that we know he’s got dual citizenship. He has the choice either or both. If you had your choice. would you prefer to travel the world as an American or as a Canadian (living in the US) which would you pick? It’s fun that he gets a choice.
Here’s the bad deal though. Canadian passports are only good for 5 years. And they cost about $30 more for each one. Bah.
American is good for 10. Supposedly, the Canadians are just a “step ahead” in the process of giving you less for your money (blame the terrorists) and the US will be dropping the years that a US passport is good, to five years as well.
The key was in a dresser “summer” drawer which normally wouldn’t get used much in the winter except that I went swimming quite a bit over the winter. I’ve now surmised that I need to toss a couple of swimsuits that chlorine and usage have wiped out–and maybe clean out some of the greetings cards I have stashed in there, too. Anyway, no worries about the key–I can go on now <phew> and stress about something else. I just bought a new swimsuit and it’s not a Speedo for the first time in a while. Hopefully it’s as utilitarian as I need it to be but somewhat less “one colour.” It looks good for swimming and it’s black with little pink polka dots. We’ll see how it goes when it gets here. I’m planning on swimming often this summer. In Maple Lake. :)
*Canadians not living in Canada–there’s lots of us.
Our plan for our long car trip to Maple Lake Ontario has changed dates again.
My son’s summer school schedule coupled with an appointment–at the Lake– to put the Internet satellite dish in (first on the Lake–booyah!) is making things shift but it’s probably best.
Now we are going not Memorial Day weekend (May 26) but almost two weeks later–from the last day of high school to getting home just-in-time to start summer school Driver’s Ed. on June 11th. Yay for quick car trips far away!
I still can’t find my key to the cottage!
This is why I’m not sad to wait ’till June to open the cottage:
and then…
The weather–cold! It’s a summer cottage– temps. need to warm up a bit. As my father reminded me, the blackflies are pretty thick in May as well. The graph above spells that out as well.
(above–the rock thingy). Spouse just kept at it until he couldn’t doing anything else to it. 
