ANOTHER FIRST

What a difference a couple
of hours make.
TAKEN: OCTOBER 31st, 2025

Today is Halloween, it makes no matter to us, we don’t get kids at the door; nor do we attend any local parties.

Anyway, just after lunch, I was on the phone with a coworker, when I spun around in my swivel office chair and declared, “holy cow, it’s snowing outside!”

Once again, it appears that we left the cottage water on later than we should have.

For the record, I wanted to winterize the weekend we rescued Stella, but my travel buddy hubby had other ideas. We knew we had the leaves to process at the house in town last weekend but neither of us factored in the Toronto Blue Jays and their run at a World Series title.

Our plan two weeks ago was that I would head to the cottage at noon today so I could get it warmed up. We would enjoy one last weekend with all our services before we shut the water off.

But midweek we decided the TV in town trumped the one 10 kms away, and the winterization exercise had to wait until Sunday morning.

So, this post is to recognize yet another first for us at Orillia Lake in 2025.

Getting into the lake with a torch to disconnect the water intake while it is snowing outside!

#yagottalaughaboutit

HAPPY CANADA D‘EH

Poor Miya Maria. She drew the short Canada Day photo op straw.
(Don't feel too bad, she had a chunk of roast chicken as her reward!)
TAKEN: JULY 1st, 2023

When the Canada Day long weekend was approaching, it is safe to say my Weather Network app was getting ten times more screen action than everything else installed on my phone.

I will compare it to a flip of the coin scenario. Rain we stay in town. Sun we stay at the cottage. Well, sunshine prevailed for the entire weekend marking the fact that I officially got moved in.

It has been several years since I have lived here for 100% of the season. I am glad to be back and am very grateful that this is the first time in my entire career, that I only commute to the brick-and-mortar office with the fancy sign out front just once a week.

When I changed jobs a year and a half ago, I negotiated that I would work from home two days a week. Two led to three, then three led to four. I am hoping by the end of the year, everything will be done via ZOOM.

Though I manage my time well and my boss is pleased with my productivity, my workdays definitely last longer when working from my home or cottage offices. Why? This doggie daycare/obedience school thing-a-ma-hoochie I am running has a very strict schedule that must be adhered to.

So, I start an hour earlier everyday to ensure our 9:30am and 2pm breaks get rid of any excess energy, and they will sleep at my feet for the duration. With two puppies and a high energy senior on point, I need to keep them on track, or all hell breaks loose.

I am serious when I share that I will be working away and balls and toys start getting banged into my legs or dropped at my feet and I must firmly say, “Stop... It isn’t nine thirty yet!”

And believe it or not, they stop and settle until my phone pings that it’s time for recess. I’m not complaining just reflecting. Never a dull moment, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Well, maybe the shitty internet connection because of all the rock that surrounds me, but that’s a post for another day.