The Monday Lake Report

Lunch on the boat, consisting of sweet corn, expertly cleaned by Jess, and leftover green bean summer salad. Perfectly yummy, and beautiful breezy weather.

The lake finally calmed down enough for a pontoon ride (I don't skipper in inclement weather). We took it across the lake and motored up the river...er....down the river a ways. Jess took the controls so I could take a nap. KIDDING! It was just a photo op! Gotcha!

Whitefish dip!

The lake was a bit calmer when we emerged from the river and crossed back to the cottage. We took a few minutes to clean up, then drove out in the Subaru with the following strategy in mind: If Angie's car was at the Duck, we would stop there and order pizza. If not, we would continue on to Pier 33 and have a more upscale dining experience.

It was the latter.

Lobster Bisque = Happy Jess

Crab stuffed sole with heirloom tomatoes for Jess; sauteed Michigan lake perch for me

Oh yes we did. (Order and eat the entire blackberry creme brulee.)

Back at the cottage, Jess set up the bird puzzle and we drove ourselves nuts looking for one last edge piece. That's what two OCD queens do for fun.

Sunset kayaking

Look - it's a sea turtle!

The sky was especially expressive today. After a mostly-cloudy morning, the lake performed its magic and transformed the day into a real beauty. We sat on the boat and stared at the clouds until things started to appear in them. We saw:

An alligator

A snowmobile

A sunbather being eaten by a alligator

A fossil dinosaur head (T-Rex)

Sleeping Beauty, reclining

A turtle flying like Superman (Jessica thought it looked more like a roasted turkey)

An unidentified flying object (later transformed into an anchor)

Abraham Lincoln's head flying a landspeeder

....and more we can't remember now.

You are what you eat (and drink)

If it is true that you are what you eat, then today, Jess and I were:

Hot coffee with cream

Mexican omelet and Siracha sauce

Mint Margarita (virgin, of course). (Well, hers was.)

Green bean summer salad

Peach-blueberry Sweetie-Licious pie

Pretty good day for food!

Jess 2012

Jess drove up to the Cott-ish with me on Saturday, August 4, fresh from completing her first term of classes at LCC. We grabbed a Sweetie-pie on the way up - peach/blueberry. Spent some time visiting with the Theises, then ate pie and played three hands of double solitaire. Jess won the first game by a mile, I took the second, and the third was a double win.

Theis x 5

Kicking off the 2012 Olympic Chinese Checkers event

I snapped this candid shot as we were organizing
to get a good group shot. Love the dynamics! 

Me and my buddies

No pictures, please!

When I left the cottage on July 29, the Theis family was still detaching themselves from electronic devices and getting into the cottage mode. When I arrived back at the cottage with Jess (the following Saturday), all five Theises were bobbing in the lake with the pontoon anchored nearby. That's progress!

A typical day on the boat

Hmm....

....are these guys related?

By all accounts, it was a relaxing week. Jess and I had fun out on the pontoon with them and we were sorry to see them go. We're hoping to schedule a winter weekend at the Stocks for Rachel, Zack, and Josh. I really miss them between cottage visits. (You too, Ken and MaryJo.)

Zack and Jess on the pontoon, having a long discussion about sports (they are both very knowledgeable)

Until next year....

Garage bathroom report: Pretty much finished!

Except for some minor items that don't interfere with the use of the bathroom, it is done!

In this photo, you can see most everything that is new in the room. We're leaving the floor alone for now; we'll use rugs till we figure out how the floor acts with the bathroom in use.  There will be a grab bar next to the toilet.

We're pretty excited, and can't wait till Grandpa comes up to give it the seal of approval. He's reserved naming rights - we'll have to see about a sign.

Good shot of the "kitchen" sink

Fuzzy, but what can you expect from a timer shot?

The Garage Bathroom: A Report

Grandpa and me in the roughed-out space for the shower.

A couple years ago, Grandpa told us he'd like to "pop" for a bathroom in the garage, so he can see us enjoying our inheritance. The PPP stage (putzing, planning, procrastinating) took a couple years, but in the picture above, you can see the process was well under way for Pa's May 2012 visit.

We are keeping the existing windows, paneling, and ceiling, which are in fine shape, and adding a toilet, sink, and shower. For now, we'll keep the floor simple concrete; after a shake down cruise for the room we might decide to stain, paint, or otherwise cover it.

Shower surround, installed.

In this photo, you see the nice shower surround we chose, outfitted with all the grab bars a 90-year-old would ever need to take a nice shower at the cottage. 

The sink cabinet and top, before the sink was installed.

Another view of the room with sink cabinet and top, before the sink was installed. We decided on a kitchen sink--rather than a dainty bathroom vanity or a full-on utility sink--as the most useful for washing hair, soaking wet bathing suits, or bathing babies and toddlers.

Tongue & groove over the shower.

Further progress was made when the carpenter installed the pine tongue and groove 1x6s around the shower. Ken picked up the lumber at Ellenberger Lumber, the "Do-it" center in Onaway. We chose a cherry-colored Minwax stain, which Ken applied by hand with an old t-shirt.

Kenny carefully and expertly wiping on the stain.

Note the ceiling vent and sink.

So, we are getting there. Our construction guy will be coming in next week to install the glass shower doors, and caulk the shower area. Ken will apply urethane sealer to the wood as soon as the humidity will allow (it's kind of high today).

My little "as seen on TV" magnetic screen door.

The cheesy "magnetic screen door" I got from the "As Seen on TV" section of the Walgreen's in Cheboygan works pretty well for keeping out big stupid bugs. Small smart bugs won't find it much of an impediment, but it keeps big buzzy flies at bay.

Benjamin Michael Balcom, the apple of our eyes

One little thing I need to mention. Between the time I stopped posting here and today, WE HAD A GRANDSON!!!! Of course, everyone reading this blog already knows that, and may even know that Ben has his very own section on our Flickr page, but how can this blog pretend to be a record of family happiness without mentioning BEN????

Life (and Facebook) Intervened

It appears that this blog fell into disuse during the rest of 2010, 2011, and much of 2012. Just after this last post, Grandpa took ill for a bit, and I got out of the habit of posting. Also think this occurred in part because Facebook replaced this blog as a means to keep us all connected.

Grandpa is back in fine form, and has been for some time. If you're reading this you are no doubt also reading his posts on Facebook, and perhaps his blog, too, so there's no need to repeat those updates here. And since Facebook isn't going anywhere soon, I'll just use this blog as a place to post and share multiple photos or musings on a given subject, for family and close friends, rather than as an ongoing connectivity tool.

Kind of silly, my even writing this continuity piece. It's the same impulse that makes me leave pages between writings in the cottage book, to be filled in "later." Later often never comes, but at least the blank pages signify that something important happened between writings.

Grandpa's birthday performance of "On a Tree by the River..." from the Mikado

Here's something for you all to watch while you are waiting for our summer vacation posts. We celebrated Pa's 88th birthday at our place, and he had this prepared for our entertainment.

Adam's ski trip

Adam took a ski trip with some U-M friends and failed to send me any photos, so I took it upon myself to create a video of what I imagined he looked like on the slopes.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!