Monday, June 27, 2011

Summer may have started last Tuesday at 1:15 pm but for me summer started about 10:00 the Monday night before when I took the dog out for a tour around the back yard and saw my first fire fly of the summer. What a neat sight. The next night there were dozens out.

I only know about Tuesday night because we were awakened by the blood curling screech of the big cat that has been prowling around. The general consensuses is that it is a links or a bob-cat.
That would also explain why there are no more wild turkeys around this spring. I was told that a turkey would be a good snack for one of those critters. I'm sure the hunters would have cleaned up some of them but not all.

Another half-assed rainy weekend that ended beautifully just when everyone had to go home has passed. Let's hope for better days ahead for the long weekend. This year being a true long Canada Day weekend should be busy all round.

Not much excitement around the village last week, so there is not much to report.

I have purchased some new products. A natural insect repellant, sunburn and bite relief and a stop itch and sting poultice. All of the products can be used by children and pets. The bug repellant is good for all types of flies including deer & horse flies. So if the little buggers are driving you crazy you know where to go for relief and I don't mean to the beer fridge!!!

Sorry that I don't have anything more exciting to report, no touching stories or bone head plays. Maybe there is something to be said for some quiet time. I'm not sure what would be said-but there must be something.

Hope to see you all one the long weekend. We are open Friday for your dining pleasure.

Cheers
Nancy

Sunday, June 19, 2011

It's beginning to look a lot like summer. What a great weekend. You couldn't ask for better weather. You could ask that there were less bugs but you can't have everything.

I tried to do a black fly report on the deck last week and I only got through 1/2 a glass of wine before I was driven back into the house. Another day I tried with my tea in the morning. Same deal.

These few hot days and dare I say no rain for two days may have killed a few off.

It's nice to see the cottagers back finally. There seem to be a few more each week. Keep on coming.

I now have a supply of the mosquito patches. ($6.99 for a box of 5). They claim to repel flying insects and the only know side effect is no hangovers. I don't quite understand the logic but who am I to judge. So living life "on the edge" as I do ( hee hee hee) I thought I'd try one last night. At 6:00 it seemed like a good idea to have a bonfire after work so I applied a patch thinking that I would send the little biters far away. Well by the time 10:30 rolled around a fire didn't seem like such a good idea, vegging on the couch having a drink sounded better. So alas no fire, but yipeee no hangover either after a few drinks.

In the I can't believe it worked department. Last week I had to go to Peterborough. On the way down I stopped at the Ultramar for fuel. When I went to lift the lever that releases the gas tank door it was ceased. Pulling up on it felt like I would break it. What's a girl to do. Usually that gas station has a dozen cars and trucks at it. But on Tuesday NOOOOOOO. Just me and the little gal that works there. So I put on my thinking cap went into the store and bought a can on Coke. I poured it over the lever kind of tossing it to the back (note to self remove floor mat first next time), gave it a couple of jiggles and lo and behold the lever was loosened and the little door popped right open. Now if a can of coke can work that quickly on a rusty old lever just imagine what it does to you stomach. No broken car parts, no call to CAA, just a $1.00 can of coke and the cay was saved.

The farmers market in Maynooth continues to be a success again this year. Lots of good home made breads, jams, fresh fruit and veggys and all kinds of other stuff. Stop in when you are up for the weekend It's open from 8 am till 1 pm every Saturday and the community centre parking lot.

Also there was a guy in here last week that sells amplifiers for folks that don't have cell service at the cottage. He has hooked a couple up on Mink Lake where there is no service. So that you can not only have cell service but you could have high speed internet also with the stick thingy. I have his number at the diner if this is of interest to anyone. He claims to be a whiz at all things computer and web related bla, bla, bla. At this point my eyes just started to glaze over and I only saw lips moving, but if it works why not.

Well that's all the news that's fit to print for now. I have had two staff off again this weekend and I'm pooped so I am off to the South Algonquin Cookhouse for dinner tonight. Charlie Foster thinks that we both needed a night off from cooking. So off the four of us will go.

Hope to see you all real soon.
Cheers
Nancy

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Holy Mackerel! What a storm that was. It didn't last long but it sure did come down. The temperature dropped 13 degrees in fifteen minutes.

The hydro is out all over except for the diner of course. Mink Lake, Lake St. Peter and Boulter Lake have all been out since 2:00 on Wednesday and no guarantee of return until Saturday or Sunday possibly. Now that may change. I'll update if it does. So if you are coming up this weekend bring lots of ice (or buy it at the diner) and gas for the generator.

It's amazing how silly people get when the lights go off. You would think it was the end of the world. Now I must say it is good for business. I did quite a few dinners last night and more breakfasts than normal. But explain this-if your hydro is out and you can't cook why would you phone and order salads and veggy wraps for take out. I would think that you could handle this without power. Oh well!

Now for the good news. Oh wait there isn't any. The black flies are still thick so are the mosquitos and they are now joined by the deer flies. 'Tis the season I guess.

The home and cottage show is on this weekend in Bancroft at the arena. Usually not a bad event.

Here's a shout out to Jim and Connie. Lisa and I and the dogs went for a swim at your place on Tuesday. Well I didn't swim but the dogs did. It was great after such a hot day, thanks a lot.

Well that's it for now.
Cheers
Nancy

Friday, June 03, 2011

Here's what northern girls do for fun.

Would you believe she works at the bank???

Pat Bekkers our cook when she is not in her clean white outfit.

Mrs. Butwell let out on the loose. Who was running the hardware store?


Pat again. A good time was had by all.