Tempus Fugit

Latin (tem-pu̇s-ˈfü-git): Time Flies

Category: Cottage Stories

Random stories that have something or other to do with the cottage.

  • Snake Bite

    Snake Bite

    A story from the Cottage Build.

    So, one day after my dad and I had finished working for the day we were relaxing in the RV and participating in what was commonly known in our family circles as “the cocktail hour”.

    Generally, the “hour” was quite loosely defined. All it really meant was pre-dinner drinking.

    I had brought some Yukon Jack which my dad had never had and there is this recipe on the back called a “Snake Bite”. It’s pretty simple, some ice, a squeeze of lime juice and of course some Yukon Jack.

    I find them pretty tasty and I think my dad did too as we imbibed quite liberally. I think dinner did get made but I’m not too sure and by the end of the evening “Jack” was no more.

    We had some interesting and wide ranging conversations about some quite deep and personal stuff. It was quite a special time for me, just the two of us, man to man. I don’t remember much about the conversation details but the one thing that sticks out was I told my dad I loved him. Might of been the first time I’d said it out loud, just the two of us. A good memory.

    The next morning was pretty rough but we didn’t talk about our hangovers we just had some breakfast, maybe just a coffee, and got to work.

  • Days gone by

    Here is a picture that brings back some memories.

    It’s at the lake with the whole family, at least the whole family as back on August 5, 1993, things have changed over the years. My dad is taking the picture and my mom is on the left at the back. Gail & Gord with Ian and Craig and Shirley and I with Eric And Scott around the table. To me this picture symbolizes what the lake was all about for my parents, especially my dad. A place where the family could gather all together and share in the lake experience. I remember working with him as we built the cottage from plans that were slightly more that the back of a napkin, actually two fairly simple drawings. The design goal was always about having enough space so that everyone could be there at the same time.

    Today, it’s rare that everyone is there at the same time. Distance, scheules, relationships and life seems a little more complicated than back in the day. Perhaps I was just more oblivious back them. Today, As I sit in the livingroom looking out at the snow and Christmas is approaching I can feel a whistful longing for the lake and the way things were. But, life moves forward, things change, and I need to adapt to the new realities. The lake will alway hold a very special place in my heart for the memories that were forged in that place with loved ones in my life. Change can never take that away.

  • Squirrel Wars

    Three days ago the enemy penetrated our perimeter defenses for the second time. He was located hiding in a water reservoir. After a short skirmish, the enemy was extracted and left on the side of the road, presumed dead. After this incursion it was necessary to fortify the perimeter with IEDs (improvised entrapment devices).

    Two nights ago there where heavy casualties inflicted on the squirrel army. Two dead, one wounded and one prisoner. The wounded and prisoner were relocated far from enemy lines. Last night it was quiet on the battle front, but this lull in the action will not make us complacent for we must be ever vigilant until victory has been assured. Repairs to the perimeter may take place today to facilitate improved ventilation to the fortress.

  • Rocky and Bullwinkle

    But there was no Bullwinkle, just Rocky.

    We’re watching the CBC National news on TV and there is a clatter in the cottage. We think there is something on the deck, but no, it’s in the house, and it’s a squirrel. He’s trying to get at the chocolate cake and in the process he’s knocked the knives off the breadbox. After chasing him up and down the house a couple of times either trying to guide him out the front patio door or snag him in a blanket he suddenly runs up the kitchen window screen and disappears behind the valance and he’s gone! It turns out there is a hole in the screen!

    Earlier this morning we noticed that some fruit, a pear and a banana, had been nibbled on, and both Gord and Shirley had heard some “noises” in the night. We thought it was mice and set the traps, but it seems like the culprit was something a little larger.

    Tomorrow’s task – fix the screen.

  • Construction at the Lake


    Thompson Lumber
    Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

    We’re at the lake this weekend and the Gazebo construction project in well under way. I helped Gord get the roof rafters in place and now we’re putting on the tounge and grove cedar roofing and it’s really looking nice.

    The Thompson Lumber shop apron brought back some good memories. There are a couple of them at the lake and we used them extensively when we built the cottage 25 years ago. The have lots of good memories of working with Dad. The year we built I took six weeks of vacation and spent many weekends working on the cottage. This was just before Eric was born.

    The apron also has some other good memories of Thompson Lumber and the owner Mr. Fred Lees. Fred and my Dad were the main builders of the cottage. They spend many hours together working on the project. Fred is a life long friend of my parents and our family. Thompson Lumber was at the corner of Des Meurons and Marion for many years. Because of the family connection, I had an account at the lumber yard any you could just walk in, order some stuff, and walk out and they knew your name, who you where and trusted that you’d pay your bills. If it needed delivery, it just showed up at your place. No fuss, no signing, no agreements, just trust. It was the same at Crawford’s garage, just a block away. You could drive up, fill up, and drive away. They knew you, and trusted you. That’s doing business the old school way with class. Not too many places like that any more. It’s too bad