Many Happy Returns!

Did anyone happen to spot an April? I think I've lost mine. Somehow I went from March Break straight into mid-May. *blinks bleerily*.

This weekend we returned to the cottage as a family. It was a short overnight visit as the wee princess still dances on Saturdays, but we had enough time to undertake a few projects.

I always think that closing up the cottage at the end of the season is the ugliest job, but I think opening is almost as much work.  We unwrapped furniture, made a million beds (at least it felt like a million), unpacked boxes, washed things down, and generally inspected the place for anything in immediate need of repair.

The cottage survived the winter of neglect with very few problems. We lost a poplar tree near the fire pit, but as the Captain is planning to cut down most of the unpopular poplars, it was simply a matter of cleaning it up with the fire saw rather than bemoaning the loss of a tree.

There were a few loose fittings in the plumbing under the cottage, but it was a quick fix to snug those up to stop the leaks. Handy Dad has decided that he's going to spend a day or so under the cottage this summer to un-crazy the plumbing lines. Dr U must've hired his brother to do the plumbing, because it's a rat's nest of pipes, corners, and random fittings.

The poo hole (GDPH) was completely emptied, cleaned out, reassembled (correctly), and restarted. We're crossing our fingers that we've finally beat this one into submission. I don't think the captain can stomach too many more weekends with his head in the green fog. Touch wood, as of this weekend, it's running tickety boo.

The boys donned their hip waders and hopped into the lake again to install the second dock, which the wee lad promptly hopped onto to catch the biggest fish that's been reeled in at the cottage to date: a good-sized bass!

Too bad they're out of season. He had to toss it back.

I'll bring you a few more updates tomorrow, as this is in danger of becoming a TL:DR post (too long, didn't read!)