More lake info: water levels

Another handy Rice Lake lake resource (say that four times fast!)

This is a graph showing historical high/low water levels on a given date, as well as the current water level.
Handy!

pssst. We're thinking of making a trip to the cottage this weekend. *giddy*

Always a geek...

I think this is pretty cool. They are satellite photos of Lake Ontario (and area - included Rice Lake) that show, among other things, the amount of ice on the lake. Each day they upload one or two new photos.

For those of you not familiar with the location of Rice Lake, it's that diagonal slash (low left, high right) just north of Lake Ontario, about half-way along the lake. Note the lack of white. White = ice.

Cottage Life show

Yesterday we went to the Cottage Life show at the International Centre in  Toronto (near the airport).

It was huge! It filled four halls. We arrived around 10:30 and left at 3:00 with our feet worn down to the nub.

It was almost overwhelming there was so much to see and do. Fortunately our focus was narrowed, because there are particular things we're interested in, and other things that we're not. For example, we're not interested in buying a new boat, even though there are some lovely specimens to be had if we ever fall into $30,000 we have no other use for. We're not interested in building a log cabin, or a new barbecue, buying a new cottage, or purchasing a clear acrylic toilet seat with antique fishing lures embedded in the plastic (Oh, I wish I were kidding). Neither are we interested in $1000 bunk beds, quilts with wolves on them, boat operator card tests for $60, or antique carriage seats.

We were, however, interested in composting toilets, water filtration units, dock systems, and solar/wind energy. Also, $10 canoe paddles, fresh squeezed lemonade, and Pizza Pizza slices. And if we hadn't had to march all the way back along the whole length of the show to get 'em, we would've been interested in $12 butter tarts (the second package was half price).

I was astonished by the sheer number of people there. It was wall to wall bodies and very hot and claustrophobic at times. Definitely not for the faint of heart. But it was productive, and we're armed with some good information now.

Le Bateau

Sorry I haven't posted much this week. At first my time was consumed building a tutu tote (probably best if you just don't ask about that one), and I've been sick for the rest of the week. Bleh.

We went to see the folks about the boat last weekend (not the exact boat shown in the photo, but same model/length/year/motor/colours,etc.)

It's a good little boat. It's in great repair and the engine looks really clean. We've asked the current owners to get the motor marine tested for us (so we know it's good because a mechanic says so), but if everything goes well we should have a boat soon. We're stymied right now because they won't take it in for the marine testing until the temperature no longer drops below freezing overnight. Also, apparently the docks at Wood Duck are below water in the spring, so until the water-level dips, there's nowhere for us to tie the boat up anyway!

And so... we wait.

I suppose we could always put the canoe into the water and paddle over to the island in the short term to start some of the interior clean up activities. *ponder scheme*

Ice is almost gone!!

This photo was posted today on the Rice Lake Today website. I'm sorry it's so small, they only post itty bitty pictures there. This is a shot of the Island from the south shore of Rice Lake. Our cottage would be on the left-hand side of the island in this photo, but around the back.

That's open water you're seeing folks. We need to get our hands on that boat!

Oh, speaking of boat, I'll have another post for you soon about that.

C

Cupboard doors again.

Cupboard doors are coming along marvelously. What do you think?

On the left, what they look like now... on the right, what they used to look like.

Maybe just a teeny improvement, huh?

I can't wait to get out to the cottage to put these in! The ice is steadily melting, but not super fast around the island.

meltmeltmeltmeltmelt

The Great Refrigerator Roundup

About a week ago, cher Capitaine called up The Great Refrigerator Roundup to have them come and haul away the narsty fridges that have taken up residence in my garage.

You remember the fridges, don't you? They looked like this.

The Great Refrigerator Roundup is a program run by the Hydro company to have working fridges greater than 15 years old hauled away for free, the idea being that you're not sucking up so much energy using these beasts. It's a good idea. It's better than having the Town come and take away your fridges, because you have to pay them $20 per fridge (for CFC containment activities), and the fridges count towards your maximum of twelve items for a special collection pick up. This way we got two more big items hauled away in our special collection, and the fridges are taken away for free. Le Capitaine is pleased. Le Capitaine's wife is also pleased: I get my garage back!

I suspect these two lads thought I was a loon standing in my driveway in my pyjamas taking pictures of their truck. Since I have no designs on winning the hearts of the fridge movers, I'm not terribly concerned about their low opinions.

One last wave good-bye!
Good-bye ugly fridges!