Emotions

This week was full of emotions.  We picked up Jack at Camp.  Paddle in was on Sunday August 7th.  We spent Sunday night and Monday up on the lake.  A good decision as it gave Jack, and us, time to acclimate to having him back and for Jack to get used to travel at speeds slightly more than 4 km an hour.  The first trip in the motor boat had Jack fearing for his life that we were going to crash on the shore because it came up so fast.  By Monday night he was used to the speed transition and was driving the boat as we shared an evening with friends on their island and had to travel by boat to get there and back.  Jack did a great job of getting us there and getting us home.  It was glorious.  The sunset was beautiful and we were out on the water, unplugged from electronics, and flush from a delightful evening with friends in their cottage that has no running water – note, hand pump for water to kitchen sink to do dishes, hot water provided by the gas stove and a pot of water on to boil.  Gas lights that sent a warm glow over the room and the lapping of water was the only sound in the background.  Who couldn’t love this?

Home on Tuesday.  A long drive leaving at 9AM and arriving in North Hatley around 7:30PM.  A smooth trip.  The boat was in the water and Jack drove it home.  Our ever helpful Marina Owner, Steve, got the boat in the water and the truck and trailer home.  I don’t even try anymore.  It is just too tricky.  All fine at home and we were all glad to be here but with a hint of sadness that another summer was coming to an end.

First Meal Back

We didn’t have enough fresh vegetables with us on this trip so when we go home the first thing we did was fill up on every fresh vegetable we could get our hands on.  This picture is of a salad that Katie and I created for our first lunch back on Lake Massawippi.  It was delicious.  We both swore we would stop in North Bay next year and buy everything fresh we could get our hands on.  That way it wouldn’t have to sit in a cooler in the boat or the back of the truck for 10 or 11 hours before we got to the lake.  This is the reason we were looking at things that were frozen and also that wouldn’t spoil.  We now realize that we can actually wait to buy the fresh stuff till we are about an hour and half from where there is a refrigerator.  Who knew.  Just weren’t thinking clearly I guess.  This salad tasted more delicious than anything I have had in quite awhile.  So done with French fries and cheeseburgers!!!  We have this, we can do this – it’s all good.

 

Lobster Rolls?

Shortly after our return from Temagami, our good friend Cathy Crocker arrived from Dataw for a visit.  Cathy had grown up in Montreal and had a number of connections to North Hatley and to cousins of mine.  This is one of those stretch situations, but her best friend growing up was Susan who happens to be a first cousin, on her father’s side, to my first cousin on my mother’s side.  Confused, not surprised.  Anyway, Cathy arrived and unfortunately the weather did not cooperate for a boat ride but a car ride to our favorite lobster roll spot was in order.  We headed there for lunch and then had an opportunity to visit with her friend Susan’s 99 year old mother after lunch.  It was a treat for all of us.  I loved Susan’s mother’s comment, “so what have you been doing for the last 60 years Cathy?”  Really, how great is that.  Thanks for coming for a visit Cathy, hope you come again.

Lake Temagami to Lake Massawippi

Our first trip to Temagami was many, many years ago with our good friends Jack and Genie Wilmer.  We were headed up to Temagami to see their son, also named Jack, who was at another camp, Keewaydin, on the lake.  The trip took many, many hours as we didn’t have a clue where we were going nor did we have very good roads.  This was close to 30 years ago.  Jack made the trip even more of an adventure by hirig a seaplane to fly us into camp.  No wonder I think it is in the back of beyond.  Their son Harry was about four years old and he sat in the back of the station wagon singing “Surfin’ Surfin’ USA” for hours.  He called me Mary Hawthorn – to this day we don’t know why.  He is John’s Godson and along with his family is very dear to us.  Just before our trip to Temagami, he called to tell us he was engaged to his lovely girlfriend Taylor.  To say we were thrilled is an understatement.  Practically the first thing we did upon our return was to get together to celebrate this engagement.  So, so happy for them both.  Another major emotion.

The Weekend

Yesterday, Saturday, we said a final good-bye to a long-time family friend from North Hatley.  He died in January but Warren Ransom was nothing if not “Mr. North Hatley”.  His family honored him by having a memorial service for him by the lake.  It was, as his daughter-in-law said “lovely”.  Everything about it was lovely.  The warmth of family and friends, the wonderful remembrances, the shared time in a place that he loved with people he loved.  As one friend has said, “if heaven is not like North Hatley, then I don’t want to go there” – well the best of North Hatley came out yesterday.

Then today, into Montreal to celebrate my nieces engagement with a bridal shower.  My 91+ mother, my 11 year old granddaughter and I made the trek into the city.  Not something we do without thinking about it seriously.  The shower was wonderful and we all had a great time.  The bridesmaids put together a terrific party with fun games that a 91+ and an 11 year old and those in between could really enjoy.  Following the party we stopped at Mum’s house to get mail etc. and she arrived to find her birthday present.  Her back steps were rebuilt with extra railings to make it safer for her to get in and out of her house.  She loves it.  The railing and steps are solid and no longer scare the you know what out of us trying to get from the house to the car.  So happy early birthday Gran.

 

End of Summer Around the Corner

No recipe this week.  Haven’t had time to find a good one to share.  This is the last one that we have the grands with us.  I am off on another adventure towards to end of the week and John will take the grands home.  Next Sunday will seem really quiet when I return.  This summer has gone by so fast that I truly cannot believe it.  Jack is now able to drive as the law in New Hampshire is once you are 15 1/2 you can drive as long as you have a person over 18 in the car.  So, guess who has gone from 4km an hour in a canoe to driving a car?  And is actually quite happy about it?  It’s another major milestone for all of us.  I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that my grandson is now driving ME around North Hatley but he is actually a very good driver and seems quite at ease.  My mother says he has to be at least 17 before she will permit him to drive her.  That’s quite a bit lower than it was for my children and certainly for me.  I think I had to be 40 before she let me drive her around.  Bear in mind that she never drove anything but a boat in her life but…..

Walking this Week

This week was shorter on the total miles walked but certainly was not without some great walks.  Fun to have Katie and my brother Paul to walk with and we did a couple of really long ones.  One day was so hot I couldn’t go more than two and half miles.  The humidity was very high and the heat index through the roof so to speak.  However, we managed to squeeze in a 7 1/2 miler which was terrific, complete with two herds of deer and a flock of turkeys.  The deer are everywhere now and this picture was taken in my driveway before church today.  This doe was just making herself at home and couldn’t have cared less about us.  We have seen lots of fawns too.  Nothing is more delightful than seeing the mothers with their babies but oh my I do worry about driving on the roads around here.  There are so many of them and I don’t want to hit one.

Life is good, we are happy and content and have had a week full of great joy and happiness and honored a great friend.  I hope you have a wonderful week.  Who knows what adventure is around the corner.  Promise, a recipe next week.