One last update before Christmas.

We haven't had much new snow. A little is falling today, but not enough to make a big difference. The long range is calling for sunny and cold days until the middle of next week. Great travel weather but after the weekend I am starting the snow dance again. I don't care who I tick off.

The groomers were out yesterday. One went to Whitney the other left at 7.00 am for Bancroft and didn't get back until 4.00 pm. What a long day that would be.

The trails that have been groomed are in good shape. Roger D and Dan C rode to Whitney, Madawaska and back down yesterday. Most trails were good except from Madawaska through the dump at Cross Lake. They said it was like sledding in the 70's, pretty rough. The rest was just fine.

The diner will be closed Dec 24 & 25 opening at 10.00 am on Boxing Day. So unless the sky falls I won't be updating before the 27.

The log trucks will be running the Mink Lake area on Wednesday and Thursday the 28 & 29. So if a sign says watch for log trucks-DO WHAT YOU'RE TOLD. These guys take no prisoners and they are bigger than you are.

Happy Holidays to all. Have a great weekend. I look forward to seeing everyone in the new year if not sooner.

Cheers
Nancy

What a great weekend we had. Good weather, good conditions = good times.

It was really nice to see so many familiar faces back sledding again. Thanks for stopping by. Thanks also to all the people that said they read the blog. It soothes my fragile ego and let's me know that you came this far is because of what you read. It also gilts me into updating regularly.

The trails were in good shape on Friday but with so much traffic on Saturday by Sunday they were toast. No grooming was done on Sunday night so its still pretty rough out there.

I haven't heard when grooming will resume. One of the groomers was undergoing repairs this week. If they start up again I will let you know.

It didn't snow much over the weekend so no new snow yet. It is overcast and my sinuses are all plugged so that may mean more snow.

New this year to Bancroft are the Snowmobile Races. February 5 & 6 there will be two days of racing. The track is being built just across the road from Cafe BC in Birds Creek. I am not sure of the details but check out www.highspeedmotorsports.ca or call Harold Foyster (705) 457-2278 for more information. When I find out more I'll share with the class.

Don't forget that we have fuel in Lake St. Peter now. Go figure--a gas station that actually sells fuel AND all kinds of other stuff!!!

I am happy to report that Jim had his new sled out last weekend and returned home unscathed in one piece not needing any repairs. Now his new friend Gin Boy-well that's another story. I'll just say that he is much nicer at breakfast than later in the day.

That's it for now. I'll be back when I have more info to report or maybe a sad and touching story to share.

Cheers
Nancy

The picnic tables on Monday after the big snow fall

Well it goes without saying that we got snow. However unlike other parts of the province we get our snow in sensible amounts. Just a few inches every day or so. We have had a good amount this week. I took a really great pic of the snow on the picnic tables but I misplaced the camera cable on the way from the house to the restaurant. That is why I am not allowed out with any substantial amount of money or other valuables.

The groomer has been busy this week. It was out last night to who knows where and out again today to Martin's Mill. All riders in today said that things were great. The creeks are still sloppy but the trails are well covered. Most riders have come from Bancroft or Mink Lake but we did have some in from Barry's Bay today.

I'll keep my ears open to see where else the groomer has been. But so far all looks good.

This is a great chance for some early riding so if you don't have family commitments this weekend load up and hit the bush.

That's it for now.
Cheers
Nancy

Grampa enjoying some quiet time now that Gramma is gone

The reindeer being arrested by the C.S.I. Maynooth officer

The whole gang getting ready to head to the parade

It is still snowing like crazy. The trails are in pretty good shape for early in the season.

There have been riders in both Saturday and Sunday. All are saying good things about conditions. A group of four just left that had ridden from Madawaska. I would guess that the groomers will be out tonight if the temperature stays cold. It's hard to tell just how much has fallen. Enough fell that the lot has to be plowed.

FYI if you see something orange heading your way at mach speed get the hell out of the way. Jim M just got his new 1000 Arctic Cat. Lets hope he has better luck this year than the last two in the repair department. His buddy's have gone out and bought a fancy orange tow strap so that he is colour coordinated when they have to bring him home! After all looks are everything.

We had a great time last night. It was the Maynooth Santa Claus Parade and we put in a float. Thanks to all the staff and friends that helped build it and participate in the parade. We had a great time and continued of at the ANAF after. We took lots of pictures and if I fiddle around long enough I may post some. Our theme was Grandma got run over by a Reindeer. It was awesome and we took third place in the judging.

I guess if the snow is going to stay I have to keep this up on a more regular basis from now on.

The dish had to be cleaned off in order to access the internet today so if you don't hear from me real soon it's because I haven't found a tall enough person to clean it off again.

Well I'm off now. Firefighters Christmas dinner is tonight.

Hope to see some familiar faces sledding in soon.

Cheers
Nancy

YEA------GOOD NEWS

The groomer is heading to Whitney tomorrow.

It has snowed every day since last Tuesday. The sun came out for the first time in a week and it's bloody freezing!!!!!

Got to go. Snooker tonight at 8:00.

Cheers
Nancy

Well-The weather outside was frightful.

And---It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Even better we had our first two sledders in last night.

Now let's not get all excited but if there isn't any more rain and the snow stays things will be looking good soon.

We have had three dumps of snow, all substantial but a couple days of rain washed it all away. SOOOOOOO Let's hope that this one is here to stay.

It is a great day today. The sun has finally peaked out and it is quite cool.

I'm not sure if my snow plow guy has left town or just hasn't taken the snow fall seriously. But if he doesn't show up soon he will be my ex-snow plow guy!!!

The water in the lakes and creeks is higher than anyone can remember because of all the rain and the pesky beavers. The culvert on the highway just past the diner is blocked up and is being repaired. The guy fixing it wanted to start Monday so that the trail wouldn't be all dug out over the weekend. They were working on it Friday, so let's hope it gets finished soon.

The trail should be smoother now though because the snowmobile club and the township both graded the rail bed.

The diner will be closed at 3:00 pm next Saturday, Dec. 11 because of the Santa
Claus parade in Maynooth. We are putting in a float and then we arranged for music to be at the ANAF in Maynooth afterward so that we can have a little party. So join us for the festivities next weekend. The parade starts at 5:00 pm and the carry on some time after that.

Well I'd better end now. It has started snowing again. Shelia will be getting all cranky because she is already tired of shoveling it. Feel free to pick on her the next time you are in if she starts whining.

See you soon.
Cheers
Nancy

I'm baaaaack!!!

Greetings all. I am sorry for the long delay in posting but I had someone scrutinizing everything that I wrote and it took all of the fun out of it. Can you imagine me trying to edit myself? I think not. So probably no more sad and touching stories and bone head plays unless they were done by someone else. As usual you are all fair game.

The summer was great with lots going on. Many strange visitors and amusing stories to the diner but it's too late to go into all that now. If you were here you got them first hand.

My family has grown with the addition of two new granddaughters. One in Maynooth and one in Nova Scotia. I have also acquired a golden retriever puppy. He is 1 1/2 but he still acts like a puppy compared to the 15 year old dog that is not impressed with the new addition. I must say that the cats are not amused either but they are getting used to him.

Brian and Jim behaved really well this summer and did not leave me with any funny incidents. Thanks guys for taking out the air conditioner.

Not as many ATV's around this fall like most years. There have been more since Thanksgiving weekend.

The religion known as Moose hunting started here today. So things will be pretty quite for a while. With rain promised for every day this week it will be a soggy hunt.

Snow flurries are predicted for Thursday so I may have to rethink my sandals. I'm not putting them away just yet, it's not that far to walk to work. I did wear them most of last winter.

Fall came quickly and the trees were almost bare by Thanksgiving. So if winter comes as early as the spring, summer and fall there should be snow by the end of the month or November for sure.

The snowmobile club has purchased some land on Boulter Lake Rd and is finally getting a real home. They will eventually put shop on it so that repairs can be made on the equipment more easily. This couldn't be done without all the people that purchase trail permits from the Maple Leaf Snow Skimmers. So way to go Snow Skimmers and all the club members.

Well I'd better sign out. Not that it's busy, but baby Ava is here for visit and I am obligated to fuss over her.

Back soon, I'm just not saying when.

Cheers
Nancy

We're having a real old fashion summer weather wise. It has been great all month. It mostly rains at night just like it should in my rule book. Even when it rains during the day it's not bad. There is nothing wrong with 20 minutes of rain and 12 hours of sun and heat. I'm sure pregnant woman everywhere are disagreeing with me but that too will change.

There are lots of people around. Trucks with trailers and boats are passing by constantly. The parks are full or nearly full. There have been a few ATVer's out this last week or so. But the water is so warm and the beach is so nice I can understand why riding may not be the first choice for an activity.

I has to go to Oshawa for a day to babysit my two grandsons. I arrived home unscathed and both boys survived an overnight with Gramma with only a few minor incidents and lots of spoiling.

Not too many bone head plays lately and no touching stories this week. Most were done by me and I am not sharing with the class. I still want you to think that Bullwinkle the cat is the village idiot, not me.

However one small story I can't resist. My son-in-law loaned me his trail camera so that I could mount it to a tree and take pictures of the deer feeding in the yard behind the diner. So, as I am technically challenged I passed the camera over to Martin to fiddle with it and see how it worked. Not being much better than me after a day or two we finally got it sorted out. Well we were having some cloudy periods with a thunder storm and I couldn't figure out why there were so many flashes of light and mostly behind me. After a day I realized that the camera was in the on position and every time I reached over it, it was activated and would flash a picture every 60 seconds. I now have about 40 pictures of the ceiling and the camera is still not mounted on a tree. I'm sure they will be good quality pictures when I figure out how to get them out of the camera!!! That is the only down side to your children growing up and moving away. There is no one to reprogram and run all this technical junk that we "have to have".

I thought that I was going to have to replace a speaker because after a storm a week or two ago it was all static and could not be used. But lo and behold after a thunder storm and lightning (not the trail cam) this week the speaker is now working better than ever. Now that is my kind of electronic device. Self repairing. You've gotta love it!!

I have decided for a number of reasons to cancel the September ATV ride.

The general store continues to be a hub of activity and is now open until 8:00 pm every day but Sunday. They even have gas and cigarettes. That is making lots of people happy. They increase their stock weekly and it is looking good in there now.

The paving is starting soon on Hwy 62 so the road will be good again for a few years. The wild turkeys are still roaming around with the baby chicks and the deer and the antelope play. Life in Lake St. Peter is good.

Well that's all the news that's fit to print. Hope to see you soon.

Cheers
Nancy

July is turning out to be not a bad month. Good weather for the most part. Yes I do consider a heat wave good weather. For the first time in the restaurant business that I can remember it was actually hotter outside than in the kitchen. We had to close the door to keep the heat out. The kitchen door is always open unless it's snowing.

The lake is really warm, the people are happy and smiling, the mosquitoes are happy and smiling. It doesn't get any better than that.

This is old news because it happened a week ago but I have had two firsts last week. The grass was getting very long and I had to suck it up and cut it myself. So my daughter delivered their riding lawn mower, we unloaded it with the help of Kevin A from the trailer park because we couldn't get the truck close enough to the hill and away I went. Well after a bit of trial and error off I went. I was very nervous at first but I figured I've been riding sleds and ATV's for years how scary can this be. As it turns out once you get the hang of it not scary at all. However those indestructible dog bones-ha I think not, and who knew orange snow fence could fly so far. So after all was said and done I rode my little orange tractor around the fence to Marty's and had a cold one with him. Well that's what he always does when he is finished I just thought that must be part of the job. Turns out I was right. Go figure!!!

My next feat was to make a pot of coffee at home. Now I can throw together a dinner for 50 without breaking into a sweat but ask me to make a pot of coffee in a non-commercial coffee maker and I get the shakes. Well after only two phone calls (one to find out how it turns on) I was able to make a half decent cup of coffee for a guest I had coming over one morning. Now, a second cup was not asked for but I'm sure it had nothing to do with the quality. If I'm lucky it will be another 56 years before I have to do that again. I don't like the pressure.

There haven't been many ATV's out this summer but lots of people that have just found out that the riding is great here.

Diane and Shamus area going a great job since they have taken the store back over. We can call it a convenience store again not an inconvenience store. They even have gas if you can imagine, they are open past 4 o'clock and not closed because of the flu on Sundays.

The music is still going strong on Saturday evenings starting at 6:30. We have a few new people playing this summer. Here's hoping they are good. My screening process is a little slack but we have been pretty lucky so far.

Thanks to Connie and Jim for having me over for cocktails a swim and the boat ride. It was a great time. I hope I was a good girl and can come back again. Thanks also to Brian and Jim for installing the AC in the dining room window.

Now is that soccer finally over? I have seen more soccer in the last few weeks than in my whole life. It was nice to have some fans in to watch the games though. Most of the time they were all cheering for the same team so there were no bar room brawls.

Well I'd better run. There are dinner people in and looking for service.

Back when something more exciting than me cutting the grass happens.

Cheers
Nancy