It is hard to get the color of the new siding on the cottage right with the lengthening of shadows as our sun heads further to the south. Of course the sun doesn't head south, just that the earth tilts north. Anyways, we are in the throes of a major refit, face lift, repair/remediation. The sky is robin egg blue, the days are warm and sunny, there is ever so slightly a breeze. 

The color of the siding is best seen on the West side, near the pump and fireplace. I like the color, the board and batten design, and the unevenness to the texture of  the surface.  The white of the windows, the white of the overhang (soffits) gives enough contrast.

 
The sun porch had wood rot along the northeast corner, necessitating removal and rebuilding the corner. The windows will be slightly different in the bottom with the center post gone and just one piece of glass. Otherwise the appearance of the sun porch will be the same. Here Bud is framed, working on the sun porch frame. 

The weather has been spectacular, even better than the summer. I haven't removed the hydrolube from the underwater gear of Bounty's engine, almost tempted to put her back into the water, ala "paddle to the sea".

The front windows are covered with plastic as they are leaking more now, which was especially evident when the remnants of Hurricane Ike came through the Bruce Peninsula. 

The front deck is without railings and it feels like one step into the air off the deck. 

The day is done for the workers, and off they go for their weekend plans. 

Kathy and I will remain here for the weekend, but we may not remain for the following week as it really is a mess here and hard to move around: always just making do. We do enjoy the weather though. So if the weather remains as gorgeous as it has been so far, and the trees are turning their reds, yellows and browns, we may stay a bit longer. We have a football game next weekend: Iowa and Homecoming, so we'll be back by October 4th. After that, who knows if we will come back anymore this fall. We shall see what we shall see.

Evolution of things as we knew them

As the sky's refection into the mirror water shows palisades of color, demarcating yellows, oranges, blues, grays and a plethora of colors in between, so to, upon reflection, our summer season comes to an end, our abbreviated fall season begins next week, and our cottage morphs into its 50th year.
A look down from the front deck to the front yard will remain mostly the same, clearing away the birch trees in front which are showing their age and the strain of eeking a living off the moss and peat covering the bedrock. Kathy of course wants me to do more, ie, clearing of trees in the front. What is the purpose of having lake front property without having an unobstructed view of the lake? My argument has been that the trees serve as a buffer against storm winds, particularly of the winter variety which has necessitated the placing of plywood shutters over the one pane thick glass front windows. 
With the redo of the cottage, board and batten siding and a replacement of the front glass with thermopane double glass windows, and a sliding glass door, shutters may no longer be needed, and the barrier trees may not be needed also. Since all work on the siding and windows will be done this fall, then we shall see how the glass front windows stand the winter storms, not protected by 1/2 inch thick plywood shutters. If there is no leakage of water into the cottage over the winter through the cracks and crannies of the front glass, then maybe, maybe I'll consider removing a cedar tree. Always one step at a time.

Kathy emailed Connie Collins regarding when the 
work on the cottage was to begin, we have not heard from her yet, so, Kathy and I may or may not have a partially done project when we come up next week. We shall see what we shall see. I have included pictures of the cottage as it was at the beginning of September 2008. We hope to have pictures of its evolution; preparing for the Saturday August 1st 2009 50th anniversary celebration party. (Bec is the coordinator of the invitations, the first week is my preference.)

We are in the throes of planning our Southwestern swing to California for our Christmas family rendezvous. We shall keep you posted.

Towards the end of our cottage summer

If you can imagine fire and water mixed, stirred slowly by a large wooden spoon, blending the two for a visual sensation evolving before your vary eyes. Welcome to the cottage.
Time well spent on the deck of the island. All present and accounted for to watch another spectacular Canadian sunset. Kind of routine to see such beauty, only, it is never routine nor taken for granted. Here we are, bundled up for the cool of the evening and its accompanying evening dew. 

On  Sunday, we had our first annual End of the Cottage Season Party. Cottage "voyageurs" came from Purgatory Harbor to celebrate. People from up the road a bit of Devil's Glen and Little Pike Bay road.

Their return home was also by canoe, only this time, the ladies decided to walk, so the two "hubbies" paddled back at sunset, on a calm and mirror lake, towing their phantom passengers.  The next morning, the two paddlers: Bill Lutowski and Peter Thruguris came over to show us where they have found the "Lincoln" wreck on their paddling voyages as I have been unable to locate the wreck recently. It appears to have moved. I will look some more, anon, next year.

Bob and I enjoy the morning sunshine on our lower deck in front of the cottage. We were making big plans!

Bounty is back on her trailer, in the boat house, all traveling accoutrement's removed and stored.