REMEMBERING 2025

I don’t know about you but for this cat, 2025 flew by incredibly fast.

The Psychology Today website says it is because ‘time speeds up with increasing age because we have fewer new experiences and our perception is less vivid.’ Whatever, I call that therory total bullshit.

As this past year was jampacked with a ton of new experiences that were carefully executed as well as financed thanks to a hectic year at work; with a plethora of overtime worked and rewarding deadlines met.

As we all prepare to raise a glass and get ready to welcome a new year, I would like to wish all the best to you and your loved ones in 2026… And thanks again for reading.

~ Rhondi

PS: As you reminisce with me electronically you can click links to the month of journal offerings (57 in total) and photos that you may have missed, or wish to revisit. 

Remember, never one to shy away from being blunt, so keep your hands and feet in the ride at all times!

Most Unexpected Moment (centre) - The swift and unexpected passing of my mother in law. My husband called me when he was leaving work to tell me he was headed to meet the ambulance at the hospital, and less than eight hours later she was gone. Godspeed Angie, may you forever rest in peace.

(LINK TO REVIST: SHOCKINGLY, UNEXPECTED)

January: After a deep freeze the first of the month, the end of the month had us and the pup (top left) enjoying the Fire and Ice Festival. Nothing too spectacular, except for the fact this was the very first time they wore a collar and walked with a lead, and circulated in public. They both did amazing, getting lots of pets, love, and attention.

(LINK TO REVIST: JANUARY POSTS & PHOTOS)

February: The implementation of the tariffs in the United States, along with the 51st State rhetoric had us make the decision to not to cross the border for the next four years. As a result, we had numerous staycations in Ontario and traveled twice to the Caribbean and Mexico.

(LINK TO REVIST: FEBRUARY POSTS & PHOTOS)

March: The ice storm of the century hit Muskoka at the end of the month, and it was unlike anything we had ever experienced. Scary times for sure. Though the month came in like a lamb, it most certainly went out like a lion. We were hit so hard at the cottage, that we still have approximately 40% of the branches that fell to clean up and burn. 

(LINK TO REVIST: MARCH POST & PHOTO)

April: This month, my travel buddy hubby and I traveled to Aruba to celebrate my milestone birthday. My birthday (top right) had me enjoying a drink with my dad on beautiful Palm Beach. This adventure was one for the record books. We experienced the entire island while we were there.

(LINK TO REVIST: APRIL A-Z POSTS & PHOTOS)

May: After February had us cancel our plans to travel to Colorado and experience Sheryl Crow at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, it was announced that Zac Brown Band was returning to Ontario in May. I immediately joined his Fan Club and secured front row tickets. Coincidentally, the only other artist I had experienced in the front row at the venue was in fact, you guessed it... Sheryl Crow!

(LINK TO REVIST: MAY POSTS & PHOTOS)

June: This month, start to finish, was spent clearing the cottage from the ice storm. From repairing fascia, to rebuilding stairs, we worked hard to contain the mess and burn whenever we could. The photo I am sharing was my hubby (with Katie Kate's) trying to process the tree he hit with his AVT before he went into the water. It was so large, it never got removed from the water until September.

(LINK TO REVIST: JUNE POSTS & PHOTOS)

July: An early morning phone call from my son Goob had my husband rushing him to the fracture clinic in Orillia for surgery. He had an e-scooter accident that resulted in a broken humerus bone right at the shoulder that required the four screws and a metal plate being inserted. Thank God he was wearing a helmet!

(LINK TO REVIST: JULY POSTS & PHOTOS)

August: This month saw our entire community work together to find the beloved neighbourhood girl, Josephine. This pup, a rescue that was a street dog in Isreal, knew how to hide and not be found. We first began looking around dinner time on August 19th, and all the posters, and social media support had her home four days later. A real good new story for sure.

(LINK TO REVIST: AUGUST POSTS & PHOTOS)

September: This month had one explosive weekend that produced a ton of fun. We stayed in Downtown Toronto to experience the Toronto International Film Festival, as well as taking in Brittany Howard and Alabama Shakes at Budweiser Stage. An expensive weekend, but money very well spent.

(LINK TO REVIST: SEPTEMBER POSTS & PHOTOS)

October: A busy month with us hosting Thanksgiving dinner, we decided to head to our fourth concert of the season and experienced Amanda Marshall for the second time in two years, this time, up close and personal. Unable to perform for twenty years because of her former manager, you would never know it. This lady can most certainly sing, and offers an overall vibe that compares to Janis Joplin.

(LINK TO REVIST: OCTOBER POSTS & PHOTOS)

November: This month offered me some closure of sorts. As you've read here many times, my former colleague was brutally murdered by her husband in January of 2023. Her murder, which was featured in an NBC Dateline episode (The Running Man) answered some questions that I thought would always remain hidden. Rest in Peace Ash, I miss you...

(LINK TO REVIST: NOVEMBER POSTS & PHOTOS)

December: This month ends my year with a selfie by the Christmas tree, and other than a couple of blonde whisps at the very bottom, my hair is officially white. When I got it cut just before the holiday break, my hairdresser told me she was proud of me that I stuck it out. A journey I started on May 5th, 2023.

(LINK TO REVIST: DECEMBER POSTS & PHOTOS)

SNOWY STAIR TREK

The girls were kind enough
open a path on the stairs.
TAKEN: DECEMBER 6th, 2025

When I posted November 2nd that we had closed the cottage down, what I neglected to mention was that short of converting the pups into Sherpas, there was no way to get all the items in our fridge up the hill in one haul. So, rather than making a second trip, we decided we would return the following weekend.

Short story long, we never made it back out. Time got the best if us and we left for Toronto on the afternoon of the 20th and flew out at 6am the morning of the 21st into Cancun. 

Back in Toronto on the 29th, we drove home to Muskoka the morning of the 30th in freezing rain that turned into snow by nightfall; and the snow has not let up since.

As the next week unfurled, every day we discussed the urgency of the fact that we had to get back out there. Our main concern was that the fridge was still plugged in and sucking energy from the electrical panel.

Finally, this morning arrived and after a cup of coffee and a breakfast bagel, we loaded up the pups and headed on our fifteen minute drive. I still find it amazing how our pups react when we turn off the highway. 

Back windows go down, and out the window their heads go. They know exactly what is waiting for them when we get there.

Even covered in a blanket of snow, it is one of my very favorite places on earth. Yet, as we plan for retirement, our plan is will be sold. 

Just not sure if that it is what we really want to do. I guess time will ultimately tell what we decide... But we both know that clearing and climbing those stairs all winter in Muskoka is definately NOT an option. 

Construct a two car garage with year round living space above at the top of the driveway?

Definately, maybe!

PEACE OUT SUMMER

Peace out summer of 2025
TAKEN: NOVEMBER 2nd, 2025

Though it snowed the day before yesterday, we managed to get the cottage closed this afternoon enjoying sunshine, rather than snow. You wouldn’t know by my layers of attire – but I over dressed for a what turned out to be a lovely fall day.

Closing day is always bittersweet for me and this year was no exception. The ongoing reflection of just how devastating and exhausting a toll the ice storm carnage took on us is still fresh. 

Even though my backdrop shows some impressive progress in repairing and cleaning up, we still have a significant amount of work (about 30%) that will greet us in the spring of 2026.

It feels as if we lost another season this year like we did last, as nothing other than working the property doing ice storm cleanup was accomplished. 

With my travel buddy hubby being hospitalized and off work for over three months in the summer 2025, and the damage from winter storm has us two season behind in maintaining and/or upgrading standard items. 

Our mantra has always been one season inside, one season outside. It is at times of reflection like this that I am grateful for all the seasons that were possible.

 

Anyway, as an aside, I used to think the best investment I ever made for myself here at the cottage was buying myself a full-size washing machine. Though that baby IS sexy, this year I am thankful for getting myself a battery powered chainsaw. 

That said, I will reiterate my sentiments here, as I did last winter when I was given my rechargeable battery powered snow shovel.

Who needs more diamonds and pearls, when a really great battery will suffice?!

#yagottalaughaboutit

STELLA ESCAPED

Our girl embracing an
autumn adventure.
TAKEN: OCTOBER 17th, 2025

After our epic day of burning on Saturday September 27th, we spent the next few weekends in town.

With a Baker’s Dozen dining with us for Thanksgiving, I had to steam clean our carpets the weekend before. A week after our turkey coma subsided, we were back to the cottage to begin shutting it down.

Because my travel buddy hubby cannot bring his work truck home throughout the week, we swap at lunchtime which has him picking up the car at home. In this instance, it had him taking the pups and me to the cottage to get the place warm and where I would finish my workday.

As I headed down the stairs, my immediate reaction was that someone had stolen Stella. As I sauntered toward the dock, I discovered that she had simply escaped. Will the fall colour in bloom, I thought she looked so pretty perched in our alcove, keeping our turtles company.

Not wanting to try and rescue her with the unconditional help of two pups, and a premonition that I would end up in the lake, I decided to wait until the next morning to hunt for the hip waders.

The next morning the closing ritual began. Up and out came the pedal boat and dock ladder, in came the ramp with Stella safely perched for the winter. With it too windy to burn, we managed to work at getting the cottage close ramped up.

With everything out and up the hill and the only task left is to shut off the water, we are officially prepared for the end of another cottage season.

...Which has been our 26^th.

Stella is all settled for the winter.
TAKEN: OCTOBER 18th, 2025

EMBRACING SMALL WINS

What a beautiful view!
TAKEN: SEPTEMBER 27th, 2025

Just like the movie Groundhog Day, we landed at the cottage Friday night to wake and experience yet another full day dealing with ice storm carnage. The photo I am sharing above is after burning brush nonstop for over seven hours.

The exciting thing I am sharing in the photo is that if you look at the railing fence at the right of our property line the pile of consumed brush that began being piled there, burned, and replenished multiple times is finally gone.

The even better news that the pre-piled was finally gone, was that I hauled brush off the ATV trail and behind the cottage for much of the day; with a very big bonus of additional and unexpected charcoal being produced.

I know it must be getting tired reading about these dumb milestones, but do you know what is even more tired?

Two sexagenarians working alone without help (except Hughie with the one tree) to clear the land of massive amounts of debris.

I know we could have easily hired someone to do it but what I find somewhat troublesome is that neither of our boys have visited this year, let alone offered to help. I am shaking my head at the thought of it.

When my travel buddy hubby and I talk about what we have accomplished financially in the almost forty years we have been together, I think he has the best plan for how to approach the distribution of it.

I mentioned giving it all to the OSPCA, but he has a better idea.

Apparently, according to him…. WE ARE GOING TO SPENT IT ALL!

#yagottalaughaboutit 

THANKS, BUDDY!

Wee Katie Kate supervising the
disconnection in progress.
TAKEN: JULY 1ST, 2025

The weekend before my mother-in-law unexpectedly passed, my travel buddy hubby and his best cottage mate finally coordinated the dissection of the last fallen tree (from the ice storm) stuck in our shoreline.

They had tried several times to connect but as it would have it, day-to-day life got in the way; until finally the morning arrived. 

A couple of efforts in July (one seen above) to remove the bulk of the tree from stump had my husband realizing that no matter what he tried, this sucker was NOT going to float away. It would have to be dismembered and removed to shore piece by piece.

With Stella (our floating picnic table) anchored to aid with keeping the tools dry, and wee Katie Kate once again was in supervision mode, the project began.

They landed in the water that Saturday morning just past 10am, I served them lunch around noon, and the last of the tools were slugged out of the water about 2pm. Words can’t describe how blessed we are to have such great neighbours in he and his wife. They are truly amazing.

So, check their effort out... Below are just a few photos of the last of the water trees from hell that have literally consumed our time since opening the cottage in May of this year.

Assessing to start...
With dogs in the mix.
TAKEN: AUGUST 23rd, 2025

Turn out my Dad's antique saw
worked best because of Katie Kate's help.
TAKEN: AUGUST 23rd, 2025

Hauling to shore on the home stretch!
TAKEN: AUGUST 23rd, 2025

Mission accomplished... At a cost of 
a couple of burgers and a beer!!
TAKEN: AUGUST 23rd, 2025

TROLLING THE SHORES

Miya Maria (left) and Katie Kate (right).
Soaking up the super fun Stella vibes.
TAKEN: AUGUST 9th, 2025

With us having to unexpectedly cancel my travel buddy hubby’s birthday weekend in Montreal, I decided to use my Triangle reward points to buy new super speedy trolling motor for our floating picnic table. 

Trouble was, with all the ice storm clean up, we never had the time to get it unpacked and attached when he was off in July.

Well, once we got my sister back home, we decided there was no time like the present to get the party started; and down to the dock we went to strap our girl into her shiny new double battery powered upgrade.

Honestly, I had no apprehension about it being Katie Kate’s first trek, which was probably my first mistake. To offer insight, I posted a series of neat photos on my socials with the following caption:

‘We got the pups out on Stella (our floating picnic table) this afternoon. A first for the wee Katie Kate.

It was spicy and dicey getting off the dock, and both girls only jumped off 4 times in the half hour we trolled. Which is probably why we were out only for half an hour!

Don't get me wrong, our dogs are very well behaved and very well socialized. They go everywhere with us. 

So, I shouldn't have been surprised that as soon as someone on shore acknowledged the pups off the chart "cuteness factor," off of Stella they went. Quickly swimming the fifteen feet to say hello to the people and kids waving. 

You know, I have shared here this season that I feel it may be time to tune up the fat lady and sell the lakeside shelter where we've spent the last 25+ summers.

Then we ultimately realize it will never be replaced... and how fortunate we truly are.

PEELING AWAY THE LAYERS

My sister soaking up the sun!
TAKEN: AUGUST 4th, 2025

Summer was chugging along nicely and it was time for my sister to travel to us and spend ten days at L'Hotel Orillia Lake. We chose the same time for her stay as last year, and the weather didn’t disappoint.

Just like last year, I had an extended long weekend but had to work through the week. She didn’t seem to mind. She read four books and tethered to my hotspot to enjoy her electronic breaks; all and all we had a very good visit.

I am always reflective when I think of her. When our kids were small, we spent a lot of time together. But as my business and ultimately my career took off, distance grew between us. Though she was only an hour away, she could have lived in Europe. If I am being truthful, I will always have regrets for those lost years.

I don’t know about you, but for decades I haven’t been especially close with any of my siblings. I took the individual journey to nurse both my parents to their death before I turned forty, and none of them were anywhere to be found. 

Then there is the relationship I have with my sis. She made the choice to become estranged in November 2013. I was devastated.

Once we reconciled, in November 2023, it took me a full a year to fully understand what happened during that time. You see, she reminds me of an onion. I had to peel away the layers of that decade very carefully.

And, just like when I would peel layers off a real onion, sometimes I would weep. Her struggles were very real.

All I can say is thankfully all of those tears belong to the past. 

Today, we generally celebrate with tears of laughter, which are usually produced via us endlessly picking on my husband!

#yagottalaughaboutit

15 DEGREES BABY

Miya & Me shooting the breeze!
TAKEN: JULY 29th, 2025

I woke up Monday morning and headed up the hill at 5:30am to work from home. 

I guess I haven’t mentioned here that about a month ago my boss offered for me to work remotely 100% of the time and I jumped on it. Just another reason to hang with him until retirement.

Anyway, though I technically ‘live’ at the cottage in the summer, if I have a big proposal going out the door, the high-speed internet at my home office is a must have.

I am OK working from the cottage but because I tether a mobile network from my phone taking and changing data in real time is a challenge. Out of respect for my boss and our process, when a big one is headed out the door, I head home.

Yesterday, after loose ends were tied-up, I headed back to the cottage. Believe it or not, next to the water (thanks to a light breeze and boats zooming by) it was 15 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than in town; or 9.44 degrees Celsius for the Canadians in the crowd.

On my way out, I stopped and bought an Aqua Lily Pad. I have always wanted one but couldn’t justify spending the money. But, with my sister arriving Thursday for ten days I though it was as good a time as any.

You see, she struggled with our dock ladder last summer, so I am hoping my investment helps her easily get on and off the dock simply by walking on it and stepping up. If she hates it, I know my pups are going to love it!

If I am being honest, I am pretty sure my husband thinks I bought it for the dogs. I know I have talked about buying one for them for years but his tell was obvious… He took one look at it, rolled his eyes and said, “you need to have your head examined!”

So, it's either he thinks I bought it for the dogs, or he really isn’t keen on my sister coming for ten days!!

... May be best to admit I bought it for the dogs, to ensure he doesn't feel the need to discuss my other theory.

#yagottalaughaboutit

SUMMER WOES

The worse part about using a chainsaw
in a heat wave?
Steel toe boots & long denim pants!
TAKEN: JULY 13th, 2025

I would love to be able to write something as poetic today as, ’summer woes, I don't got none’; but that would be a lie.

Now that the mosquitos and blackflies battles have ended, enter the humidex and UV rays working against us. 

Yesterday we did an extensive repair to our dock ramp. Just the two of us. With the help of a come along, a floating picnic table and a ton of rope. It was 32C outside with a humidex making it feel like 38C.

Today, in hotter conditions, we finished cleaning the stairs of fallen trees with the dueling chain saws so that they can be repaired next week when my travel buddy hubby is off. 

At this point, I think we have processed 80% of the trees on the ground but only burnt 5% of the waste. I honestly think we will be into next year, with all the broken trees are still standing and need to come down.

As I hear my husband begin to remove stair treads so new stringers can be constructed, I am sitting upstairs in my office, typing and hiding. Something I have never done in summers previous. 

I just feel that this year, with work being a 50-hour week and the magnitude of exterior work required, it's made me realize it may be time to sell.

Afterall, the plan was to use the equity to send the kids to post secondary school. We manage to weather that and got the cottage paid for AND we managed to burn our mortgage on our house on the 29th of June.... So, not all bad but still not all good.

As I hear my husband come in downstairs I am sure he’s looking for some assistance. Therefore, I will knowingly alter my sentiments today to… ‘Summer woes, I guess I got a few!’

#yagottalaughaboutit

MY CANADIAN GIRLS

Happy Canada Day!
TAKEN: JULY 1st, 2025

I would be remiss if I didn’t put up my annual dog shot of the pups at the cottage on Canada Day. 

The last few years Miya has been my model; this year I thought Katie Kate could wear our Canadian (dollar store) crown.

With cookie pals behind my ears to bribe her, this was as close as she was going to allow me to put this silly thing on her head. Still a cute shot but this is what a hard NO from a cheeky yellow lab looks like.

All and all we really enjoyed the day. Next year I think I may have to try and snap a photo when she’s a sleep.

... Though I am sure my result will be precisely the same!

#yagottalaughaboutit

A PAW-FECT TEAM

Katie Kate is the epitome of a great team player!
TAKEN: JUNE 28th, 2025 

What a week. 

I was so grateful when end of day Friday of the Canada Day weekend officially arrived. When we started our chores on Saturday morning, the magnitude of what had to get done really hit home. 

Finding a good balance of owning and keeping a home and a cottage maintained twenty kilometers from the other, has always been a challenge the last two plus decades. Throw in an ice storm of a lifetime and the reality that there will never be rest is a harsh reality.

We’ve always invested in the right tools to do the exterior maintenance efficiently but there is just so much we literally choose our battles wisely. Saturday was 'whipper snipping, leaf blowing, and clearing the upper drive and ATV trail', as I took the hacksaw to any saplings’ I wanted gone. 

With my travel buddy hubby in the hospital last summer, all our ongoing maintenance was overlooked; and the ache in my lower back Sunday morning was the reminder it was missed.

When I finished on the ATV trails and septic bed area, Miya and I headed to the top to see how our other crew was making out. As you can see, they were just finishing up and the team leader was rushing up the drive to give me her report.

Specifically, that her coworker WAS wearing his hearing protection, but NOT his safety glasses. After careful consideration, it was decided not to formally write him up. And that a verbal warning (this time) would suffice.

The corrective action was successful implemented once he began leaf blowing! 

#yagottalaughaboutit

Important Notable: Not a single treat was not used to entice a favourable recommendation from our paw-fect team leader!

FEEL THE BURN

The first of many controlled brush burns.
TAKEN: JUNE 21st, 2025

Well, we moved into the cottage this weekend. We moved in with a well thought out plan of attack. A plan that was a total waste of time making the effort to organize.

For the twenty plus seasons we have owned our cottage, bug season has us always planning to work outside in the rain. And the weekend forecast said, rain Saturday and sun Sunday. Well, there was no rain on Saturday which had us pivot.

With the day long burn on hold Saturday, the washing machine was taken off the dolly and connected and up went the clotheslines for laundry. Then I tackled whipper snipping and raking the ATV trail, and more work with the chainsaws filled the day.

On Sunday we got up, I went into the lake to remove more leaf and stick debris, and my travel buddy hubby began to burn. In an effort to process the pile faster, we decided to divide and concur. Branches bigger than a certain circumference were limbed and placed in a "bonfire later" pile.

You can see the start of that pile behind the fashionable guy that dressed when he got up Sunday morning to match the hew of the flames he would create. Safety shirt jokes aside, our six hour burn barely made a dent in the brush pile that was a tall as I am; which only accounts for about 20% of the tree damage processed.

When we finally stopped mid-afternoon, though we were happy with the little progress we made, a hard reality was acknowledged. The cottage yard clean-up is so large in scope that it will bleed into 2026. 

That, and our best guess is that the quantity of firewood we will stock pile will rot before we will ever get around to burning it.... Which will definitely contribute to a lower carbon footprint on Orillia Lake.

You're welcome climate change!

#yagottalaughaboutit

I SAW THAT!

 

As we took our third stab at cottage clean up this past weekend, our focus was on the immediate beach front.

Our challenge wasn’t only that the submersed trees were larger, but that as a team we were in a ‘lift and pull’ effort to get them out of the water and up our hill to be processed.

With my travel buddy hubby’s mobility issue, I drew the only straw to get in the lake, trim the trees to remove as much weight as possible, then heavy ho them up to him and a chainsaw.

With no foresight to get into a bathing suit, I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and legging rolled to the knees. Within five minutes the leggings were soaked. With the pups helping, within fifteen minutes, everything was soaked – and not in a good way!

We processed three large trees out of the water last Saturday afternoon. The fourth, and last remaining,  is in the photo I am sharing.  

THAT sucker is the one that my hubby hit heading backward on his ATV, that severed the artery in his right leg and cause three brain bleeds, that landed him is St. Mike's Hospital Trauma Unit last summer. 

That said, last fall we discussed cutting the tree down. A sort of cleanse to the shoreline of the constant reminder of a horrific accident that changed our lives.

Then the winter ice storm happened and it was almost as if the universe was sending us a specific message in the form of the tree falling. 

...That message simply read, "I saw that!"

Signed,

Karma

#yagottalaughaboutit

MAKING A DENT

After yesterday, everything aches!
TAKEN: MAY 31st, 2025

Well, we were back at it yesterday, with our dueling chainsaw in action at the cottage. 

We landed at about 10am and put the bad boys away at about 2pm. All in the hope of cleaning up from the ice storm before Labour Day!

We would have worked on today, but my travel buddy hubby left his medications at the house in town, so we spent the night at the cottage and headed home first thing. By doing so, sipping my coffee this morn produced a reality check that I hadn’t considered.

Though we are privileged enough to own two properties fifteen minutes apart, the amount of effort to support the maintenance of both is a balancing act. Previously, we would be lucky enough to have one afternoon of rest (each weekend) for the entire summer.

This year, I don’t think there will be any weekend rest. Except for an exciting long weekend, I have planned in July to celebrate my husband’s milestone birthday; the summer of 2025 will be the summer of sweat. Hard core labour sweat.

Like anything we are faced with, there is a give and take. Yesterday the ‘give’ was that neither of us had any energy or desire to deal with the task at hand. The ‘take’ was that the weather his a balmy 4C, which meant the mosquitoes and blackflies did not impede our efforts.

As you can see from the pic I am sharing, yesterday I tackled the start of clearing the stairs. I took this on because there were three steps to complete here and hubby has an issue bending over for hours at a time.

With the fire hazard surrounding us, I took clippers to the small limbs, then my electric chainsaw to anything that I could quickly process for the woodstove. Then, for tree trunks that had to be cut and would need to be split with an axe – out came my Husqvarna.

Though that might seem all organized and well thought out, there is always one large hiccup that presents itself when I bring this slick beauty out.... I have no ability to start it with the pull cord.  

I have to seek out my hubby, have him get ‘er going, then head back to my task at hand. Not gonna lie, I always try, then fold like a lawn chair and give up.

Glass half full? 

At least I always try!

PS: Can you do me a favour? PRAY for a ton of rain in June!!

WOODEN YA KNOW!

The only good thing to report?
We've opened up our view!
TAKEN: MAY 17th, 2025

When the ice storm of the century hit Muskoka the final weekend in March, the damage around town was brutal. Fortunately, at the house, we escaped with a couple of days of cleanup and a handful of well organized burn piles for the fall.

Because we were leaving for Aruba the weekend following that storm, and with my getting pneumonia shortly after we returned, this past weekend was the first time we landed at the cottage to turn the water on and assess possible carnage.

When we pulled in the driveway, I had to hop out to move limbs so my travel buddy hubby to get up the lane. Once loaded up and headed to the top of the hill, nothing prepared us for the level of damage we would see. There was so many downed trees, we had a hard time navigating to the bottom.

We immediately focused on getting the water on (our lake intake was damaged by felled trees) and then I focused on a deep clean and getting beds made. Late in the afternoon I began cutting and moving the smaller brush (from the firepit area below) with my chainsaw; but it seemed hopeless.

Hubby assessing the damaged plumbing
stack and fascia damage.
TAKEN: MAY 17th, 2025

Pink arrow shows how healthy
trees just snapped off from the weight.
TAKEN: MAY 17th, 2025

Clotheslines gone and our more than 50 stairs are pretty much a write off. The only thing that seemed to survive was 'the shed that won't die', left to us more than 20 years ago - from the previous owners. 

The red graphic below is where I would like us to built the new stairs and electric 'Grocery Bulter'. 

A fancy name for a 4'x4' powered winch system to move items up and down the hill. Not all cottagers will want to climb that hill, like we have for the past 20+ years. 

The shed that won't die.
(The tin boat remained all these years
so I can reach my clotheslines.)

By mid-day Sunday, we managed to clean the top drive, the ATV trail, the firepit landing, and removed the large trees off the roof. 

We spent about six hours, with two chainsaws going, and never argued once. Just effectively communicated on how to untangle this serious puzzle Mother Nature left us.

Wouldn't you know it. The one year we don't check in, is the one year we are gifted with a good month of yardwork that will leave us with a bonfire wood pile fit for a King.

Hope the King can spare some Rub A535.... Because every single muscle in my body is yelling at me today to "HIRE SOMEONE TO CLEAN THIS CRAP UP," which is simply not an option for us. 

Not because we can't afford it. But because we want to prove to each other that we've got this.... No matter how painful and totally delusional that statement may really be! 

#yagottalaughaboutit

Q IS FOR QUIET

 

The older I get.... It seems
quiet is what I seek most.
TAKEN: JULY 23rd, 2022
(Me, floating around Orillia Lake)

I'm not quite sure what happened. Ten years ago, I’d jumped through hoops to stay busy with friends and family but for the last couple of years, I just generally want to be left alone.

I suspect it started with the social distancing mandate that COVID had us live through. Then, as health issues began to plague my travel buddy hubby, I just became hyper focused on him and our home.

I suspect the icing on the cake was when I changed jobs at the end of 2021 and slowly began working from home (I only leave my home office a couple of days a month).

There are times when I feel guilty that I enjoy my seclusion - but as I can see retirement on my horizon, I feel I have earned my quiet moments.

 I truly feel I have spent my life in the service of others. Nursed both my parents to their death before I turned forty and gave my children ever possible opportunity I could manage.  In some areas, I think by doing so I failed them in some way. (…Maybe more than one.)

As we entertained fourteen for dinner Good Friday, my hubby and I decided that Saturday was going to be our day of rest.

The best reward?

A quiet nap.

It was perfect!

REMEMBERING 2024

As I have shared here several times before, because I lost my mother in her fifty seventh year, I have promised myself that I would never wish away time. That said, this past year has been so devastating on so many levels, I cannot wait for the clock to strike twelve at midnight; so that I can tightly slam the door and throw away the key.

In contrast to all of my other year-end offerings, I don't want to thank 2024 for the memories. What I will do is punch it in the throat and thank it for proving to us that we are stronger than we ever imagined we could be.

Let's all raise a glass and get ready to welcome a new year.  All the best to you and your loved ones in 2025, and thanks again for reading.

~ Rhondi

PS: As you reminisce with me electronically you can click links to journal offerings that you may have missed, or wish to revisit.  

PSS: This offering closes out my year with a total of 52 posts. An average of one a week, which has always been my goal.

Here we go.... Keep your hands and feet in the ride at all times!

Most Impactful Moment (centre - His start of week three, still immobile, chatting with his dad): The Wednesday after the May 2-4 weekend, my travel buddy hubby rolled his ATV down an embankment and into the lake at the cottage and spent seventeen days in St. Michaels Hospital in Toronto.

His three brain bleeds, emergency surgery to repair internal bleeding, and his suffering a stroke only scratched the surface of what he endured while confined to a hospital bed.

(LINK TO RE-READ: BORINGLY NORMAL NO LONGER)

January: December left us like a lamb and January came in like a lion. After spending the holiday break at the cottage, this is what the view from my home office was on January 18th (top left). Though my photo is beautiful, we truly had a very mild winter with minimal snow overall.

February: Enjoying a great dinner out for Jukeboxs' birthday and my capturing the boys enjoying an evening out in our sleepy little town. To take a peek at our antics, check out my post from my April A-Z Challenge.

(LINK TO RE-READ: T IS FOR TOMFOOLERY)

March: In an effort to offer a healthier option, I began baking dog cookies. They were slam dunks. When a coworker asked if it was because I was trying to save money, I told her that I was always 'squirreling my nuts, so that I could eventually shuck my clams.' All these months later, she still references the saying and reminds how much she enjoyed my post.

(LINK TO RE-READ:SQUIRRELING MY NUTS )

April: Let me tell you, I may have shucked a few clams to spend my birthday on Cable Beach in the Bahamas, but it was totally worth it (top right). Scored us $300 roundtrip flights over Christmas Break and the rest is history.

(LINK TO RE-READ: J IS FOR JOY)

May: We moved to the cottage for the summer the weekend before the long weekend. There was no one around. It was at dusk, when I spotted what I thought was an otter moving in the lake. It turns out it was a moose. Less than two week later, everything changed.

June: My travel buddy hubby arrived home after seventeen days in a Toronto Hospital. I swear the dogs figured he was never coming back. They never left his side for the three months following when he was healing at home.

(LINK TO RE-READ: STORMY WEATHER REFLECTIONS)

July: I was devastated by the sudden death of my cousin Denny. So grateful for all the social media sound bites of his voice and singing. Such a talented and wonderful person. Will miss ya, always, Den.

(LINK TO RE-READ: MY FAVOURITE COWBOY)

August: I was happy to host my sister for ten days at the cottage. As we do for anyone that visits, she had to have a drink with our Dad.

(LINK TO RE-READ: CHEERS FROM ANDY GIRL)

September: Unexpectedly, we lost my beloved Annie to an aggressive brain tumour. Only seven days from the time we discovered her drooling, to her no longer know how to eat and drink. I loved her for her entire life and will love her the rest of mine.

(LINK TO RE-READ: REST EAST MY ANNIE)

October: For the first time in almost two decades, my travel buddy hubby and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner. So thankful for all those that attended. Their unconditional support during this very trying year meant the world to us.

(LINK TO RE-READ: A TABLE FOR TEN)

November: We managed to get in a week long vacation to the Mayan Riviera mid month. In keeping with the theme for the year, we were not even remotely surprised to be absolutely hammered by Tropical Storm Sara. 

(LINK TO RE-READ: PONDERING REALITY)

December: Snowmageddon 2025 rolled into town, and stayed over a week. Lake effect snow off Georgian Bay had the Town of Gravenhurst under a state of emergency, reminding us that our town was in the same state fifteen years ago to the day.

(LINK TO RE-READ:SNOWMAGEDDON SUCKS

WE RESCUED STELLA!

Stella, who? 
Can't you see the yellow football? 
...We had a great day!!
TAKEN: OCTOBER 5th, 2024

Well, with the weather on our side, we headed to the cottage Saturday morn to begin the ritual of shutting it down.

Up the hill went a 42” Roku TV I’d used as an office monitor the last few years, as well as any/all perishable food we wouldn't need. Items of clothing that weren't officially labeled ‘cottage’ were packed for the season, including all my Quintana Roo appropriate swim wear. 

It was a long day, considering any other odds and sods that may freeze and make a mess when we open next spring we also packed and hauled. As a bonus, our washing machine was also drained and stored ahead of schedule.

The last thing we tackled was securing my beloved Stella (a.k.a the floating picnic table).

We had put her into Orillia Lake the long weekend in May, then three days later, all hell broke loose and my travel buddy hubby landed in St. Michael's hospital trauma unit for three weeks.

I know to most, pulling an old picnic table out of the water may not be considered a mentionable accomplishment. But, the fact that my guy could do the stairs and the ramp to help me pull Stella out of the lake and safe for the winter was amazing. When he made it to the first landing, he looked over the railing, acknowledging that this was 'the first time I have been down here all summer'.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention a more significant milestone. Last month, the stroke clinic assured him, his hard work was really paying off. Did you know that if you suffer a stroke, your brain only tries to heal for the first six months?

Though I worried he was pushing it, him doing the stairs at the cottage actually worked in his favour. 

Him not being a quitter, has 95% of his stoke symptoms gone; the 5% remaining are very minor, and we have 54 days left on the calendar for  those to subside. We are grateful.

Here's looking to next year, and Stella getting the workout she has in the past. 

Stella and me both!

FOR WHAT IT’s WORTH

My wee Annie taking in views
from her new anti-anxiety bed.
TAKEN: AUGUST 23rd, 2024

For what it’s worth, I hope I never experience another summer like the one I'm currently living. As I go through the motions for the last long weekend of the season, I am folding like a lawn chair and willingly admitting that I am spent.

Between medical trauma at home, multiple personal losses of loved ones, and day to day work stresses, this past week was the last straw. We were worried we were going to have to say goodbye to our Annie. 

Then, after a visit to the vet yesterday, and $400 later, she is home. They have no clue why she is ailing and what is going on with her. Par for the course for the summer of 2024; as it has been a summer of limbo. 

Seriously, the only thing missing from that visual being the catchy tune playing and Chubby Checker singing, because yours truly has been bending over backwards (to the point of breaking) since mid May.

That said, I want everyone to know that I know better than most the symptoms of depression. I honestly don’t feel depressed, simply overwhelmed and ultimately deflated.

What I will share, is that come hell or high water, this whole ‘one step forward, four steps backward’ bullshit needs to come to an end.

And though I try and pride myself on keeping my glass half full, somedays it feels like the water has been turned off at the spigot and the lake in front of me drained dry.

Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t all doom and gloom. I know my fear of the unknown is making me feel uncertain, which I have alluded to in previous posts.

Anyway, the other side of my ‘bitching about my really shitty summer coin’ is my more immediate remedy to help my negative mindset will be loudly listening to the Top 500 countdown on Rock95 outside all weekend. Forecast says it may be under an umbrella, as we have scheduled rain in the forecast.

See, that’s the forward and backward thing I just referenced. 

Hey, maybe I was just meant to master the Cha-Cha this summer. If that’s the case, call Dancing With The Stars.

...Because these last three months have deemed me a freaking PRO in that category!

#yagottalaughaboutit