Dec 18/19 - now we are three

I left for Parry Sound around 11:15 yesterday and got to the north end of Parry Sound -- the Enterprise Car Rental place -- around 12:45. Sandy had arrived just before me. It was snowing heavily as I got close to Parry Sound, local lake-effect snow. Traffic was heavy following snowplows. I had originally intended to get to PS before her but the weather intervened.

So ... we started the errands, which doesn't take too long in Parry Sound because everything is pretty close:

-- the LCBO to pick up some wine that had been delivered. I'm still missing one case that was supposed to have arrived in October so I'll have to follow-up with the Opimian Society on that one

-- Shoppers Drug Mart / Post Office to pick up toothpaste etc. and mail the DVDs to Philip.

-- Home Depot to pick up a small piece of oak -- more on that later

-- Canadian Tire to pick up some plumbing items -- I could have done this at HD but forgot that my plans had changed to go to HD -- shows my lack of flexibility ! -- and

-- Harveys for a hot dog for Sandy, who hadn't had lunch yet.

On the way back to the cottage we stopped in Point au Baril for minnows -- there is a place right across from the gas station that is open year-round. I found it by phoning around that morning, looking for a bait shop since the one in Port Loring never seems to be open when I go in ... He's available by cell phone so that even if the store is closed, he lives 10 minutes away and will meet you there. Anyway, I got some good, big sucker minnows since artificial bait doesn't seem to be working.

That morning I had worked in the basement putting up the 8 inch "T" connector on the dehumidifier output, the 8=>6 reducers and the 6 inch flexible pipe, distributing the air into the games room and the bedroom. I used up the rest of my plumbing strapping hanging all this and needed some more so that I could permanently hang the 8 inch pipe in the furnace room which at this point is suspended with electrical and drywall tape.

We were home around 3pm but it was after 4pm by the time we were in and organized. One of the items coming back with Sandy was the table leaves, now 18 inches deep rather than 12. I had called Sandy after she picked them up to find out whether he had also installed the "latches" so that they couldn't tip ... but Sandy didn't know. I called Brian and found that he had completely forgotten them. Thus my visit to Home Depot to pick up a small piece of 1x3 oak. I cut 6 small pieces this morning and installed them on the underside of the leaves so that they latch under the table when the leaf is in place. Otherwise the leaves will tip out by themselves, let alone with any weight on them.

Early this morning I put some minnows on the ice-fishing rigs and I'm happy to report that we now have our first pike of the ice fishing season. It's bitter cold out though -- the internet is showing -21C / -6F -- and it's windy to boot. I saw that the flag was up ... ran out ... stomped on the ice that had formed in the hole ... pulled out a good sized pike that will be our dinner tonight. This is called "living off the land" or is that "sea" or is that "lake" ?? Anyway, it's easier to clean one pike for dinner than a bunch of crappie !

Sandy is glad to be back, although she's had it easy -- no shoveling, no time in the cold, a warm house ... and it's only going to get colder over the next few days. Ice fishing could be a problem with the speed that the holes freeze over. In 1/2 hour there is almost 1/2 to 3/4 inch of ice on the hole. The circumference keeps narrowing too -- if I get anything truly big I won't be able to get it out of the hole ! I'll have to go out with the auger in a little while and re-do the holes.

That's it for now ...