HOLES

Drilling holes in a perfectly good floor makes me nervous; I could hit a cross member or miss my target all together.

However having everything inside secure and not bouncing around as we travel down the highway suppressed my worries and the drilling began.

Perfect, just where I wanted it.

After lunch we will paint the floor and seal the holes; another job done.

Tomorrow we start on Owen's bed.

Stay safe and thanks for stopping by.

NEW FLOOR

Our trailer came with just a bare plywood floor.

Yesterday we laid out the tile just loosely on the floor so they could acclimatize to the environment.

Today after lunch we will click it together and install it permanently. We have just a little over two weeks before we want to be on the road again. We have a lot to get done in the next 15-20 days.

I'll try and keep you posted as we progress through this construction.

Thanks for stopping by and save travels everyone.

UPDATE 5:30 pm

Started installing the floor around 2:30 and

by 5 we were done. Very happy with the results; now it's time to relax and have a bite to eat.

A WEEKEND WITH GRANDKIDS

We are having a wonderful weekend with the grandkids. Kate isn't two yet but enjoys watching the movies on her i-pad. When I was two I was entertained by a wooden duck that I pulled around the house; times have changed.

Owen's school encourages the students to read at home. This morning he read to Oma while Kate watched her video. It was wonderful just to sit and watch. We love weekends with the grandkids.

HE'S BACK

He's back this afternoon looking for food. The snow is crusted with ice which makes digging for squirrels extra tough. He probably has kits in the den and food is essential. Seldom see a fox that close to the house so early in the afternoon.

WINTER'S BACK

Our view this morning. Yes, winter made a U-turn and came back this weekend and hit us hard. Fresh dump of snow, and no food for the animals. We put out extra feeders as suddenly we had a flock of finches show up.

This guy took a run at the squirrels under our feeders but went away empty-handed. Even foxes aren't successful 100% of the time.

This little guy was moving fast across the snow straight to our house. It's a weasel and he's hungry. Squirrels, vols, mice they can't hide from him. Weasels usually hunt at night but food is scarce so he hunts when his family needs food. We've been here six winters and this is the first time we've seen one.

Hopefully the temperatures will rise, the snow will melt and the sun return soon.

Safe travels everyone and thanks for stopping by.

UP-Date 9 am

Just came in from plowing the driveway. This is what our world looks like this morning.

Looking out our back door. Next job is to clear the solar panels.

One pass with the skid-steer.

Glad to have this guy available.

Getting the snow and ice off the roof was a good workout. Glad not to do this every day.

Our driveway goes off to the left, cottage road is straight ahead. We won't be going to town today.

RUTS

Our cottage road is usually in great shape but the spring thaw presents unusual challenges.

Deep, long, tire sucking ruts. We need a few warm dry days to get the frost out of the ground and the road dried to stop the sinking. Going up the hills is a challenge at the moment but so far no one has been stuck; we all have 4x4 and really appreciate them this time of year. We are ready for summer to arrive.

Patiently waiting.........

Thanks for stopping by and watch out for the potholes.

COLD BUT GOOD

Saturday saw us out before the sun was up trying to get the sap warm enough to boil.

We soon had steam coming off the evaporator.

Maggie helped transfer the sap from storage to the distribution bucket.

The ladies looked after the sap I looked after the fire. It takes a while ...... a long while to finally get a quart of maple syrup.

Thanks for your help Maggie.

Safe travels everyone.

SAP THAWING

It's been a cold week, even a cold spring so far and we need to get our sap boiled. We have 40 gallons sitting by the wood stove thawing out. Tomorrow we boil. (No we are NOT putting the jugs in the stove to thaw)

 Yesterday Mary made French Onion soup and

Nan bread which we will enjoy today.

Always something to keep us busy.

Safe travels everyone and thanks for stopping by.

SOUP'S ON

Yesterday Mary started soup stock on the stove.

It contains a pork foot and tail and a beef knuckle along with vegetables, chaga and spices.

Today she will use it to make her delicious French Onion soup.

Looks like a beautiful morning and a good day to collect sap. Saturday we will spend the day by the maple syrup evaporator.

Safe travels and thanks for stopping by.

ICE COVERED

Woke this morning to see winter had returned; everything was ice covered. A rather nasty surprise as we are so ready for summer to arrive.

This isn't camping weather and we want to leave in 6 weeks. I think we should head to Florida now.

Today I will enjoy the fire and keep the house warm. Mary is busy fermenting cabbage. Always something to do up here.

Safe travels everyone.

EASTER WITH FAMILY

 Just home after visiting family for Easter.

Owen took over the job of taking pictures and soon had loaded my memory card to the max.

 Here's Minna holding the newest member of the family; baby Nico.

Brother Tien did a superb job in the kitchen carving the ham, so delicious.

Everyone knows dessert is my favourite course and they were all so good, how can you resist?

 Owen and Lionel checking out the desserts and chocolates. I think they got enough sugar today to last a year.

 I-phones are the way the new generation shares photos.

 Kate would prefer to be outside with the boys; maybe next year.

 For now a cuddle with Oma will have to do.

Uncle Paul is the best at entertaining the boys. Opa used to do the same with our kids when they were this age. Great memories!

Now it's back to our Keto diet.

Thanks for stopping by.