Year Two Day Ninety One - Trick or Treats

Dear all, 

Ahhhhhh Halloween, the scariest night of the year... and one of the favourite nights of the year for the majority of 3-15 year olds in North America. Not so much in the UK so it is always a tremendous surprise for me to witness the scary unveiling of a swarm of mini spidermen, witches and marshmallow men (apparently one of the popular costumes of 2011... go figure???) on the streets of Collingwood.

Out in Ruperts Landing, we didn't really get much of the 'trick or treating' flow from town but this year, ensconced in the bosom on downtown Collingwood, I was hoping for some spooky visitors looking for chocs and sweets. I sped into bulk barn after work http://www.bulkbarn.ca/en-ca/index.html and picked up what I thought looked like 'good bounty' (hershey's kisses, hershey's minis, snickers and mini pumpkins). Darren was impressed when I arrived home and after a quick run, I was excited about the hoards of spooky folk trawling around the neighborhood seeking out candy. 

I also realized that we didn't have ANY Halloween regalia outside our place and it really did look spooky compared to our illuminated neighbors. People had gone crazy with lights, pumpkins and fake spider's webs. There were more decorations that at Christmas! Darren then informed me that i should have really put a pumpkin out to lure the choc-hunters in... ahhhh well.... next year... I am learning! 

And we now have a LOT of chocolate to eat! 

Year Two Day Ninety - Curried Boar Sausages

Dear all, 

Another quick post with a culinary delight from the cottage.. this time, another sausage-meat-treat, 'Curried Boar Sausages'. Despite his 'hunting gloves', Vince didn't 'hunt and gather' our dinner from the forest, I had picked them up from 'Black Angus' http://www.blackangusmeat.com/ a couple of days earlier.. 

It was pretty cold out there on the island and we were dressed up pretty warm - Bob even had has Russian Hat on!

The sausages were pretty lean and smelt amazing. We heated up some buns on the grill and were ready in about 10 minutes. Campfires are awesome!

The boar sausages were a great success - lean and very tasty. The curry was an extra sensory treat!

Viola les saucissons!

Year Two, Day Eighty Nine - Kangaroo Burgers

Dear all, 

As you know, I am always open to experience new things so decided, today, that for one of our cottage snacks, it might be interesting to try some kangaroo burgers... 

I picked up the burgers and the fabulous Black Angus Meats in Thornbury ( they have everything). 

http://www.blackangusmeat.com/

I heard that the meat was quite good and burgers always taste amazing done up at the cottage on the charcoal fire... We were all very excited!

Vince was on hand as BBQ king and got the burgers on the grill. As you can see, they look like burgers.. .just a little darker, had a slight purple tinge and smelt a little different... 

We were trying to use up everything in the pantry so threw together some bread, soup (chicken and clam chowder combined: it is actually very tasty) and beans and low and behold, a feast! Kangaroo burgers all round! 

The burgers were quite good. As Vince put it... good, but not memorable. But not gross at least. Phew!

Year Two, Day Eighty Eight - Destroying (one of) the Out House

Dear all, 

While the boys got to work on the Bunkhouse, I danced around like a forest fairy, clearing wood, moving brush and stacking wood ready for the winter. 

Bob, Darren and Vince were working on moving the Bunkhouse which was currently 'leaning' towards one side... without doing this very basic and time consuming work, we risk the bunkie falling over - this would be a royal pain in the arse if we had already installed the kitchen and bathroom... 

The shift involved lots of very time consuming work with chains and wood beams... so in the meantime, Darren gave me the task of destroying one of the outhouses! This was RIGHT up my alley! I love axe work. 

Not as easy as it first looked however... destroying a building, albeit a small one... is tricky, even with a sharp ( or blunt) and heavy tool!

Darren dashed over periodically to give the shed a quick wack and the structure started, slowly, to shift... As you can see, we managed to save the old sink that we (me)  will hopefully be able to transform into a flower display urn. 

Vince came over to join in the fun... He gave it some welly and down came more slats!

And finally... Timber! The shed was down!

The wood was perfect for burning and we had a mighty fine fire going ready for some of Bob's incredible home made Turkey soup for lunch.

Here are Darren and I on a well deserved break - it was hot work out there despite the zero degrees on the temperature dial. 

Vince took out the chainsaw to get the final slats off the main beam of the outhouse. The fire was roaring with all the lovely dry wood that we were able to burn. 

In the meantime, I was feverishly getting all the wood cleared for winter.. I now have two huge new brush piles for burning... 

And I am very proud of all my various wood piles distributed 'artfully' across the property... 

The boys succeeded in shifting the cottage, hurray! It was a great accomplishment and means the bunkie is ready for action in the new year!

And here are Darren and Vince enjoying a brew at the end of the day *sigh*

For your delight... some more pictures from the cottage. It was such amazing light, I couldn't resist!

Ahhh... paradise...

Year Two Day Eight Seven - Closing Down The Cottage

Dear all, 

It's that time of year again *sob*... time to close down the cottage. After Thanksgiving every year, people start to get twitchy to get going on 'close-down' before the snow comes. 

We awoke to an amazing morning -  I had belted up after a day in the Print Making lab ( even during reading week... keen, I know, but a good time to catch up). 

As you can see... we had frost on the windows and the car.. winter is on its way.... We layered on the clothes and got going: Vince is modelling his new 'hunting gloves' fresh from the shelves of Canadian Tyre. Bright Orange is apparently good when hunting as other 'hunters' can see you and won't mistake you for a bear/elk. hmmmm. 

It was a SENSATIONAL morning - cold and bright and ooo and there was SNOW ON THE DOCK..

The mist was rising as we set out for the cottage after managing to get our ropes undone (frozen ropes=bad). 

We decided that we actually resembled North Sea whalers instead of humble Muskoka folk on the boat ride... the wind was bitter cold! Great photo opportunity though. 

Here is Darren at the wheel - I love this pic! It appears like we are sailing off to find the gates of Mordor!

Once at the dock, we encountered our next 'challenge'. The water is now down so much, the ramp is almost vertical or as Vince coined it 'The Leap of Faith'. It was also covered in Ice. We managed to get a rope hocked onto the deck and hoisted ourselves up. 

I immediately got to work on the fire and 'wood clearing' with my favourite item, the 'Swedish Saw'. I love my saw. 

As you can see, the weather soon cleared - despite being 1oC, it was sunny and clear. Just wonderful!

Ahhh... the cottage, I LOVE IT!