What a Difference a Week Makes

Also, what a difference a year makes. 

The canoe picture below, below shows the last ice age 2011 was at the end of April.

 March 25, 2012 - No Ice.

Ice Covered Lake March 19, 2012
Notice all of the new beach front; the lake is way down.

April 25, 2011

May 8, 2010

We got off to a rather late start this evening, but have finally arrived.

It is so cold in here tonight the flies are quiet. Last Sunday night we had all of the windows open and could barely cool the Sugar Shack down to a comfortable temperature. I'm not even kidding. Even had to wear summer PJs.

Then, the darn flies buzzed around all night disturbing my slumber. Does anyone recall the annual fly infestation up on the hill in the Nomad? Probably not, but I do, and they were like so many dead flies on the floor they were like thick black crunchy carpeting. We vacuum live flies off of the windows several times a day and as soon as one flock is removed from a window, more appear out of nowhere. This happens every Spring. Eventually they do move out.

Tonight it is already 28F outside and maybe around 54F inside. No heat allowed you know! I have my warm flannel PJs on and will be fine under the down comforter. Not as bad as the no heat night a few years ago when I had to wear one of Betsy's hand knit stocking caps. No cause for alarm, there is not a heating system failure, rather my self imposed J.R. Howes, Jr. Hard Times Preparedness Training Camp. To stay with the program, maybe it will be beans and rice tomorrow. I do prefer my black beans in one of Becky's delicious and healthful salads. I miss those salads. And Becky too of course.

Shockingly, somehow the ice disappeared off the lake since last Wednesday. I so enjoy watching it break up and float around the lake iceberg fashion. Sometimes I do have to push thoughts of the movie Titanic out of my mind. When it's windy the chunks of ice crash up against the shore and form huge piles of beautiful ice crystals. Sorry to have missed this year's show by just a few days. Last year we timed it perfectly and it was spectacular.

Well, no doubt Higgins will be lucky canoe dog tomorrow. Last week she kept going over to the canoe asking Dave for a ride. Alright Dad, I know, stupid dog.... but she is lucky! There is a picture posted above from 2011 of Higgins and Dave (yes Mother, with his life jacket on) in the canoe. They paddled in the channels between the icebergs on the lake the next day. That date was actually April 26 and then the ice did not disappear all together for a few more days after that.

Off to sleep now and maybe will wake up to snow in the morning. Oh joy......