recovery and some bunky things

We missed last weekend and this weekend was sedate as the Big Cheese had surgery on the 27th to remove his moob after 10 years of waiting. Really 5 years of waiting. He chose to hold off for the first five, then when he decided "right! Let's get this thing outa here" COVID hit and surgery was backlogged fo-evva. In the end it's just as well that he waited, as the procedure was simplified. He has given me permission to post this pic to commemorate recuperating at the cottage:

The operation required them to remove and reattach his pec from/to his humerus, so he's stuck in a sling for 6 weeks (now 4.5) and cannot use that arm at all. The timing couldn't be better since I'm off for the summer and can be his lackey.

In cottagey updates, I managed a few small solo projects.

I hung curtains in the bunky. The cute cafe lace curtain is from the first trip we took together to Quebec city in the mid 90s. I bought the lace in lower town. Aww. I have one more set of curtains to hang across the patio doors, but we (I, because let's face it, Mr. Slingy didn't pack beans) forget to pack the nice wall anchors. Next time!

hey look! It's my leg!

I think I've come up with a solution for the damned bathroom door: if I mount a 1/2" thick board to the wall and redo the rail system on that board, I think the door will be far enough away from the trim that it won't bind. Failing that we'll just never have a door. Who needs a shitter door?? Pfft. Wimps.

But if I don't have a shitter door, where will I hang this cute sign?

so cute.

I also got this one that does not yet have a place, but that might go above the W.C. door *or* above the kitchenette shelves. TBD.

cute, right?

I got the caulking finished on the counter top. I know this picture looks like nothing, but it is sharp.

 and lastly here are some ducks

i can't show you the water bomber plane that was practicing take off and landing out front (about where the fisherman is in the duck picture), because I only got it on video and I can't share videos here. So close your eyes for a sec and imagine that.

I lied. Here's a photo of the distant plane being boring and just floating there near the opposite shore.

In unrelated news, two things I learned this weekend: there is a Very Serious™ organization in the UK called the Cloud Appreciation Society (google it), and apparently Nebraska has an annual Testicle Festival. (Maybe don't google that one. Or do. I'm not the boss of you.)

C'est tout!

a cottage update from the cottage

It is crazy bonkers windy today, so we might beat a hasty retreat this evening. Winds are in the 30s out of the southwest (worst direction for us, big choppy waves build up) with gusts in the 50s. There are plenty of white caps out on the water.

This weekend was a flurry of activity as we tried to get a bunch of tasks off the list prior to the boss man going in for surgery to have his moob removed (a surgery almost 10 years in the making, thanks to COVID surgical delays).

Heatwave

We arrived Thursday night in the sweltering heat of a heat wave. It was 32 in the cottage. I melt. We swam, often.

We opened every window but there was just no breeze to move the air. Then suddenly there was too much breeze; a strong storm blew in knocking the screen out of one of the clerestory windows while I scrambed to close everything back up. Fortunately it was a brief storm, but that was more excitement than I had bargained for in the day.

Bunky barn door

Lord what a frustrating undertaking this one has been. Things have gone wrong at every single step. Holes too big for dowel plugs, screws too long for hinges, dowel pushing through the wall, castors too close together, etc etc. The most recent problem that made me toss my hands up and walk away from it is that the mofo door binds on the door trim at the top. And it's a half-thickness door! How would this work with a thicker door?! Honestly. I'm so fed up with this rail system. What a nightmare. We tried chiseling away some of the wood where it's catching, but it's not enough. I'm so done.

Bunky sink plumbing and faucet

In positive news, the bunky sink plumbing is nearly finished now that we have the 3ft section of pipe we were missing for the drain pipes. The faucet is also installed, however the braided hoses we brought for the hot/cold water lines are a smidge too short, so back to Rona we go. Next time, maybe, we can have running water. At least we can put water in the p-trap to keep the septic stink out of the bunky. Woohoo!

Counter progress

No pics for this one, because there's not much to see. The lip supporting the counter edge above the fridge-shaped hole is installed, and the countertop is now attached to the lower cabinets.

Kickplates

The kick plates below the cabinet are in place. They really finish it up nicely.

Shelves

The floating shelves next to the bunky upper cabinet are installed.

Loo roll

The bunky loo now has TP available if you can wedge yourself through the doorway.

Here's where we left things in the bunky after today. 

The bed won't be staying there, we just moved it out of the way of the main room area for the time being.

Wall clock

In the main cottage I finally mounted the station clock that's been sitting in a basket on the counter for months.

Other artwork

We mounted some art purchased for the princess's room. She wants a very neutral beigey theme for her room. It looks pink in this photo, but it's not. It's more beige/ caramel.

In relaxing news, I started yet another painting. Which is dumb because I haven't finished any of the other ones I've started. Maybe, someday, I'll have the leisure time to deal with them. I'm in the process of repainting the corner I had started to adjust the colours slightly.

And that's our weekend so far. Pray for a safe escape from the island this evening, and that all goes well on Thursday with the surgery. 🤞🏻🏥🧑🏻‍⚕️

Happy Fathers Day!

A bittersweet holiday for me now, but I spent it with the people I love in the place that holds some of my fondest family memories.♥️

This weekend's shenanigans:

We went up Friday night so the wee girl could accompany us. The only rain cloud in all of Southern Ontario decided to pass over the lake just as we arrived, so we camped out in the car for half an hour waiting for it to pass. Crossing in the rain, while completely possible, is less pleasant.

Our reward for waiting was an amazing full rainbow that, naturally, ended on the island. Mother nature knows!

Friday night we unpacked ate dinner, and chillaxed. 

Saturday we puttered at some jobs. The grass got cut. We installed the new flag and flagpole, which pleases me.

I got the hinges on the bunky loo doors and E got the bunky kitchenette counter trimmed down to fit. I hung the old cottage curtains with the new cottage curtains in the living room (I'm very on the fence about this decision). Do I like them like that?! I don't know!

We picked up the wee lad at the marina in time for Saturday dinner, and then we settled in for a fractious game of Munchkin. I did not win. Even my magnificent tuba couldn't save me.

Sunday, fathers day, was spent trimming some limbs around the lanai, marking cutting and successfully installing the bunky sink (woo hoo! The plumbing might have been finished too, if we hadn't left the PVC pipe behind in the truck. We might've gone back for it if we knew it was there). Measuring and drilling holes for the bunky door rail (Arg, it is fraught). In honor of Papa, we ascertained whether there were fish in the lake (affirmative!).

 

We spied some baby ducks, mildly sprained an ankle (E), and trimmed some Ikea shelves down to size for the bunky kitchenette. 

(Baby ducks hugging the shoreline, just below the branches)

R snarled some fishing line and snagged his lure on his shorts, but DID managed to catch at least one fish. Miss A installed some fairy lights in her room. They're very cute. No pics for all of this because I had a brain fart.

I leave you with an old pic of the best dad.♥️ He is so missed.

a day late

But close enough!

Dad's peony bloomed the day after my birthday. 💗

another weekend round up

A million small things crossed of the list: 

Bird feeder hung 

Roller blind/projector screen mounted

New fake plants added

Bathroom mirror replaced

As much as I loved the charm of the antique, it was the wrong shape for the space. The offset sink coupled with the NOT CENTERED light fixture was too much with the oddly shaped mirror. It was madness. Simple beveled edge rectangle is plan B. Diminished madness.

Sink caulk finished

Planters planted

Grass cut. No pics. Imagination time!

Lilacs watered. Ditto.

Cabinets mounted in the bunky

Counter nearly installed

No pic. Too much swearing about the "nearly".

Ceiling fan installed

We had started contemplating the bifold barn door for the bunky loo, but got stymied by screws that are too long for the doors we want to use. The doors were in the original cottage and were made by dad. So, back to Rona we go for better screws.

Boat rescue

We rescued 3 young men paddling around the island in an aluminum fishing boat because they had run out of gas and gave them a tow back to their cottage. No pic because I was too busy giving the finger to the cottage neighbor down the way who boated right past the lads as they were actively trying to wave them down/calling for help. Karma's a bitch, arsehole.

Fire inspection 

We had a surprise visit from the OSM fire department who were doing a smoke alarm blitz on the island. We passed with flying colours AND discovered that in addition to the shrill alarm, they holler "Fire!" And flash a blinding strobe light. And by they I mean the smoke detectors, not the firemen doing the inspecting.

bonus pic: too many geese. If you've ever wondered "how many geese is too many?" Here's your answer

More bonus pics of my garden at home, going absolutely ham with the flowers right now 

And my most cherished bloom: this peony came from my dad's garden and is flowering for the first time since being transplanted. ♥️🌸