Oct 24 - puttering, not muttering

Sure ...

I did go fishing this morning, all by myself. I figured that Abby would be cold. I found a spot out of the wind ... away from the fish :) that's the way that it goes.

Before going fishing I turned the heat on at Jason's -- upstairs and downstairs (i.e. basement). When I checked 4 hours later at noon it was 8C inside and 1C outside -- but I don't know what the inside temp was before I turned on the heat. Silly me I never looked. I checked at 3pm and it had gone all the way up to 9C. Wow. It's still 1C outside, raining, so there isn't much contribution from the sun.

A couple of cottage happenings: the cottage on the island close to the Lodge is being renovated. I cannot make out what they are doing but it looks like they've taken the old cottage, raised the roof and added dormers. I thought that the old place was going to fall down so they've obviously done some work on the foundation etc. The cottage next to the new, big Viceroy home by Smith's Bay landing is for sale ... I figure that they didn't like the location after the big house was built next to them ... or perhaps their value had gone up ?

Still, nothing has moved -- it's quiet now at the Robinson's, no more buyers trotting through; Wayne's place is still for sale (and will always be for sale, if he has his way); Jim & Bonnie's has had no action; 2-3 places on Smith's Bay are for sale with nothing moving ... I think that everyone is still tied up in what they "might have been worth" in a better market. Lorraine's sister's place is still for sale in Muskoka (I think); the Tomenson cottage is still for sale in the Parry Sound area; -- a limited number of data points, for sure, but telling nonetheless.

In boom times there would have been bidding wars on some of these. I think that the Robinson listing price around $270 is probably close to market because there's been enough action and almost bids. The driveway being on the next property is a negative; there are some issues with the existing cottage; probably at $250 it would have sold; definitely at $225, I expect, so we're in the range.

I was waiting for a nicer day to winterize the 90 Merc on the Bayliner but decided that the next nice day might be in May. Not having put stabilizer in the fuel, I did that. I ran a hose from the house, put the muffs on the motor and started it up. It didn't want to start, but it did eventually. These motors are tuned for nice weather, or at least nicer weather, I think. Once started though, it idled nicely and I left it for 10 minutes so that the vibration would help get the stabilizer throughout the fuel -- it's an internal tank so I cannot simply lift it and shake it. I also ran the prop for a minute or two before shutting it down and then changed the bottom end oil. It came out nice and clean -- well, it was dark, but no water that is, no tell-tale froth. That's good. I need to pick up some more oil so that I can do the same thing with the 40 Merc on the Whaler once I pull it out of the water.

Switching topics, but not, Jason's boat/motor had developed very stiff steering and mine, on the Bayliner, has also gotten stiff this year. I've been greasing the motor thinking that perhaps that is the problem but decided to get to the root of the issue by disconnecting the steering arm from the motor. Bingo -- the motor turns with one finger. Ok, it's not the motor. With the arm still disconnected, how easily does the steering wheel turn -- no difference -- so the issue is with the steering mechanism itself. I'll have to do some research on how to correct this because it's annoying. I hate to get my upper body exercise steering the boat !

I checked on the internet and can probably replace the steering cable for under $100. It's called a cable even though it's a stiff hose, almost looks like a hydraulic hose. There is some sort of push/pull mechanism inside. I talked to Jason when he arrived and he'd already checked his out and it's the same problem.

He's not sure what to do with his boat since the starter has gone on the motor and he really wants a bigger motor. His boat is rated for a 140 but has a 90 like mine, on a heavier boat. With his kids off in different directions next summer -- Mike gets up only occasionally now, living with Jill in Toronto; Gavin and Kyle going to Europe; Kim going back to England -- he's not even sure that he needs a big boat for next summer. Replacing/fixing the motor will not be a priority, let's put it that way. On the other hand, fixing the starter would give him the boat to use for cruising -- his only problem with the power is vis-a-vis water skiing and tubing, which won't be a problem next summer anyway.

Having said all that, I'm not sure what I'd do in his shoes. We don't use our Bayliner much other than when the kids are up although we do go for boat rides when the weather cooperates. It didn't cooperate this year, not at all.

I just filled up the inside woodbox. That hemlock burns quickly. The wind has been picking up all day. Earlier we had some of that dreaded "mixed precipitation", that is snow mixed with rain. If we get this kind of weather when Alex is here for deer hunting we'll play a lot of pool !

-------

It's morning. I was back and forth to the Davies yesterday after starting a fire. The fireplace makes a huge difference. The temperature had been stuck around 10C without the fireplace but it warmed up nicely. The Davies arrived sometime before 9pm ... I had started to head over to check the fire again and saw that the outside light was on. Jason and Lorraine came over later in the pouring rain to say hello and visited for a while.

The warm front was coming in, bringing the rain. It was supposed to go up to 50F overnight but in fact it was 58F when I got up this morning. I'll have to double check that -- it rained so much that perhaps water got into the outside sensor. That has happened before. The Doppler isn't quite clear this morning but most of the rain has already moved through. The day could be better than expected, but not warm enough to unwrap the gazebo :).

There's not much more to report. I don't have any specific plans for the day. Undoubtedly we'll see the neighbours (since they are Canadian, I must use Canadian spelling) later on. If it's warm; if it's not raining; if it's not windy ... I'll go fishing.

The pace will pick up shortly:

Tomorrow -- Mass;
Monday -- pack car, minor close-up;
Tuesday -- off to Toronto for eye appts, haircut, Jersey Boys;
Wednesday -- Stratford for "A funny thing happened on the way to the forum" and "The importance of being ernest";
Thursday -- Stef's for tiling;
Friday -- finish tiling, back to cottage;
Saturday -- whatever;
Sunday -- Alex arrives, prepare for deer hunting;
Monday => Saturday/Sunday (depending on weather) -- deer hunting;
Monday -- pack, organize;
Tuesday -- hit the road;
Wednesday -- finish trip;
Thursday -- biking/boating/whatever.

We heard from Jeff at Coronado Carpet a couple of days ago that the guest bath was finished. Once in Florida (see, I'm already writing off the next couple of weeks of our lives) I have about 1/2 day's work removing the tiles in the Master Bath. Jeff has the week of November 16 to do the Master Bath, which includes tiling the floor, replacing the tub area with a shower etc. We'll have a shower curtain for a while because we have not ordered or dealt with the glass place yet. I guess that we'll manage ... Vic is also supposed to be ready that week with the new vanity, granite top and closet insert.

Oh yes, lest I forget, I also have to move the existing box to recenter the light over the wider vanity; remove the mirror, which is being replaced by a framed mirror; move the existing receptacle since the new vanity will be higher than the old; add a second receptacle on the other side of the vanity ... yes, I have more than tear-out to do. Once these guys are all finished there is some touch-up drywall work and painting and of course the baseboard to be painted and installed.

... and then, Angelika arrives for a one week stay;

... and then, Jeffrey, Sara and Emma arrive for a one week stay;

... and then, we leave again, driving north and west ...

Whew ...

However, in the midst of that time in Florida we'll do a bunch of boating and I'll be biking as much as possible. Those two go without saying.

Onward ... need to drag my heels a bit to slow life down a little ! The last week has been quiet but it's about to end.