Summer Home Part III - We Face East!

Of course I knew our house faced east when we bought it... but I didn't really know what that meant.  What it means is that I am now an early riser!  We moved into the house last Wednesday and I have seen the sun rise every day since then.  Yes, our bedroom has two windows facing east and it is nearly impossible to not, at least, glance out the window.  On several days, I have grabbed my camera.

 

 

One day, it was the clouds...

 

 

 

 

Another day, it was the fog,

 

And an unexpected eye to eye confrontation with a big old beaver.

Yet another day, it was an interesting cloud bank that caught my eye.  Yes, each early morning is unique and I can't let any pass.

On Memorial Weekend, Suz came to visit.  In anticipation of her visit, I made a trip to Detroit Lakes and picked up a few things.  When I was at Menards, I could not resist the plant section and bought a rhubarb plant to put in the ground.  Well, on Saturday morning, Suz helped Mike start the digger

and I supervised.  It wasn't long before the spot for the rhubarb plant was sixteen feet long and four feet wide!  Needless to say, Suz and I headed for Perham and bought some more plants.  I now have a garden with tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, radishes, onions and Zinnias.  Oh yea, and let's not forget those three potatoes that were planted on Good Friday - they are nearly a foot high and really needed to get out of the pot. 

When work was done, we headed for the lake - maiden voyage.

Goose Family were also out on the lake.

We decided our place looked pretty good from the water and the boat looks really good by the dock.

Speaking of good looking things, Miss Sharon has found a home on the deck.

This is loon point - I just made up the name because it always sounds like the loon calls are coming from that location.

While on the lake, we explored a bit and sure enough Mike spotted a loon protecting her nest.

Her nest is by the short stump on the right.  That is our place in the background.

Yes, there was some wildlife on the deck as well as in the lake.

And Mike caught a nice bass on his first cast. And

For the most part, we took the weekend off.  Like bumps on a log, we sat around and enjoyed life. 

Suz may not necessarily agree with that - we had her up early and she helped with a lot of little things that needed doing... Okay, we worked but not as feverishly.  Thanks, Suz, for helping us realize that entertaining at the lake is going to be pretty laid back and lots of fun!  It was fun having you as our first guest.


More to come...

Summer Home - Part II

It has been over a month since I wrote a blog entry and in that month, Mike and I have learned a little about a whole lot of things. 

I had no idea you could use a grinder to cut up a big ugly tub... good thing Mike did.

I had no idea our bay could be clear of ice one day and full of ice flows the next... but it was.

I had no idea an empty room could look so good...

especially when you compare it to the next room.  That cabinet over the counter is now gone - had no idea how cabinets were attached ... do now.

I don't ever recall wearing the same clothes for days in  a row - do now.  Oh and by the way, they are now in the garbage!

I've seen several sun rises - had no idea that time of the day was so beautiful.

I don't ever recall seeing frost on a toilet... Mike's plumbing skills have really improved - he is a master at tearing things apart and getting better at putting them back together.

Many of the days this past month have ended with us in these chairs enjoying the scenery and having a beer.

More loads of garbage have been taken out of the house than I thought possible...

I learned that if you want to paint a wall that has a nasty pattern on it, you have to use a blue gray primer - I really hate that color!

Mike installed this beautiful new wall-in shower and is confident the drain will actually work.

Soon the potty will go in and a wall will be built...

These nasty sinks are out - even the trash guy wouldn't take them...

The potatoes planted on Good Friday are doing well... have decided I may not have a garden this year - there is only so much time to get it all done...

This is one of my new favorite pictures of Mike - he checks out the lake every day.  That dock is now in as is the other one - Mike put his welder to work and it is almost as good as new - who knew he had all these skills...

I love my Sunburst kitchen!

Our house is slowly becoming our home...

Oh, we learned that we have to clean out the wood duck house... we watched one day as Mr and Mrs Woodduck checked this one out and quickly moved on down the lake - it was funny - just like a couple checking out an apartment...

Next year this one gets cleaned out and put up... before the water gets too high to do it.

We have gone to community garage sales and came away with treasures.  We've become well known at the local Home Depot and Menards.  Even the people at the lumber yard in town ask how it is going when we stop in for one more pail of "mud".  Oh yea, I have learned that Joint Compound is mud... and Mike has learned that since I put it on way too thick, it is better for him to do it himself.

As of this moment, the walls are all painted, except for the master bath which still needs some help.  Two walls have been partially removed and one doorway is now a wall - interesting process.  All the woodwork has been cleaned and the carpet layers have completed one full day of work.  The docks are in and level and eventually we will get out on the lake. 

Till later...