Ready to go

With a busy month behind us we are ready for moorage. The pub will be open shortly and power will be soon. Need tomhave some strong people to help with the cable. Anyone interested? We hope to have a good June. April and May were slower but was expected. George is busy building 70 more feet odf dock and I am currently in Alberta visiting f,amily. I am enjoying my time with Melissa and Signe. Mother Mary was honored with a 80 birthday party on May 26 which was well attended. She will be visiting us in June for awhile. Looking forward to her visit.

Getting Ready

Getting the Dock ready

 George came home at the end of April and we have been busy getting ready for the season.  Water was hooked up and pressure washing started.  We moved the barge back to where it was originally.  It was an uneventful move.  We have the cable coming for electricity and new steps will be built (they were torn off during the storm).  We will have glass front coolers for the store this year to display the produce and dairy properly.  We are looking forward to a good season and to visiting with returning friends and new ones.

away it goes-making the turn

in the bay

getting closer

almost there

in place

back to the beginning

Happy Easter



The last two months have gone by fast.  George has been in Alberta since the beginning of February.  He did come home for 5 days with Christine during her spring break and also at the beginning of March  for a couple of days to put the small dock to shore and ramp back up.



The barge and small dock after it took off



On March 12, we had the Storm of the Year with 50+ knots and water spouts in the bay.  Because the wind was more east than southeast, the barge took the brunt of the wind.  Consequently, with such high gusting winds, the barge pulled the bull rails off the small dock to shore.  Only three lines were holding the barge, one to the main dock, one to shore and one to the old junk barge in front.   The line to shore pulled the pin out of the rock and when it broke lose, the weight of the barge pulled the small dock away from the pile and away from the main dock.  Everything was floating.  What a scary thing to see.  The ramp was still attached at the top but the end was in the water. That afternoon when the wind died down, Doug came over and helped me tie one end of the barge to a pile to keep it from swinging.  I did not sleep well that night that is for sure. 



After it was secured the next day



 The next day, Doug and Bob secured the barge lengthwise along the main dock and it is still there now.

When George came home, we were able to get the ramp up, using the high tide and ropes as pulleys.  When the tide went down, we were able to secure the small dock under it and fasten it around the pile and to the main dock.  The old junk barge is now on the beach and will be emptied and dismantled.



George should be home in the next week or so.  We can get ready for the summer.  Lots to work to do and the weather has finally turned around.



After George and I secured everything.



Nice and straight now and clean!



April 1 I saw our first hummingbird and am glad I put the feeder out early.  Robins have been digging for worms and the juncos like the bird feeder.  The falcon is back and the warblers.  Tulips and daffodils are ready to bloom and the trees have a green tinge.  Signs of spring for sure. Winter was harsh with nasty winds and lots and lots of rain.

Have to get busy now and clean the store, plant flowers and mow the grass (yes, it did grow oodles).  Can't get to the Pub yet and there is no water or power on the dock, but will be as soon as George gets back.  George put the small generator on the barge so I can pump the bilge.

January 2012



Look at all that snow!

We arrived back home on January 16, 2011 to a foot of snow and -10 C.  We have never seen so much snow before since we have lived here!  Of course it took the rest of the day to warm up the house.  Thank goodness for the propane heaters, especially the new one.  It warmed up in here in no time.  The snow and cold remained for a couple of days.  Our water was froze but thanks to being prepared we had the water jugs full so we could at least drink and cook.  Sea water was used for a couple of days to flush the toilets.  George was able to get the water running two days later and we filled up the big jacuzzi tub in our bathroom (the only thing this tub is good for).

Winter Wonderland

We both had showers, and the water froze again.  George got it going again on Friday, with the filter housing cracked and now changed.  One does not know how much water is appreciated until you have to melt snow and use sea water.



A short life is in store for him!

The weather started warming up on Thursday, so I went out and built a snowman.  Poor thing had a good short life as it almost gone now.

We were quite surprised to see that the grass is green, the snow drops are sprouting green tops and the daffodils are starting to come up.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Alberta.  George worked at our Tru Hardware Store in Red Earth Creek and commuted back and forth from Peace River and I was able to spend quality time with Signe in Grande Prairie.  We enjoyed our Christmas with family in Peace River.  Mother Mary is well and is looking forward to coming in June for a visit.  Her trip last year was cancelled unexpectedly.  We do not miss the -30C temperature with wind chill.  This was the temperature on January 14 and 15 when we left.