LAND SNAKES ALIVE!

Mid June this year found me and Lisa another agent, busy as usual, and on this particular day doing a bit of rock climbing.

The rock climbing was necessary to get the best pictures and best road and boat access exposure of our signs at a brand new listing.

The property we were listing was a road access vacant lot on the Trent Severn Waterway at Marr Lane (just east of Big Chute).

The landscape in that area is rugged yet beautiful.

As usually is the case, it consists of steep outcroppings of granite with pines clinging precariously on ledges or with their roots wedged firmly into deep narrow crevices carved by an advancing/retreating glacier ages ago.

Clinging precariously to those above mentioned pines were two fearless Remax agents, abandoning thoughts of their own personal safety in pursuit of providing the highest level of service to their client...that sounds right, eh?

While that pretty accurately describes Lisa; I on the other hand was watching intently, from a safe plateau...shouting out encouragements and reminding her to "be careful, for God's sake."

If she lost her footing and fell I would be forced to formulate a plan and mount a rescue attempt and I; in my usual "cottage country realtor" uniform of "sandals and shorts" was not dressed appropriately for any of this...besides...she had my new drill with her!

After signs were mounted and pictures taken and during her assent up the steep rock outcropping from the water's edge to the relative safety of level ground where I awaited, she discovered something...

That something was that it was not only I that was watching...

There was a rattlesnake lounging lazily on the same ledge that she had just traversed on her way down!!

He/she/it never moved and seemed completely docile, content to watch her progress.

Even as she unknowingly approached it on her return the snake did not show signs of fear or malice for that matter...hardly the monster depicted in movies and pop culture!

I was quick to point out that, since Lisa was already in danger and the snake seemed obliged to pose, she may as well get some pictures!!

After his photo shoot the snake went back to sunning itself on the rock and taking a slightly different route, Lisa returned, unharmed, but a little shaken by the encounter.

"All in a days work"...I guess that's easy for me to say, eh?

SPRING CLEANING!

There's an expression that goes "Spring has Sprung" but we seem to have sprung right into summer.







I cannot recently recall a spring that started this early and consistently brought good weather....perhaps too good, as the dry conditions have prompted fire bans everywhere.













The up side is I am way ahead on my spring cleaning....which translates into me getting the boat in the water sooner.....which of course to me, is a "good thing" both for business and as well the pure pleasure of an early spring boat ride!



















With my clean up around the homestead completed by the last week of March; I set out on my first trip of the season on the historically earliest date.....ever... of March 31st.
The weather was excellent, the boat ran great, and aside from keeping our eyes open for ice and floating logs, it was relaxing and enjoyable.
A friend of mine, Keith Nummelin and I went up and previewed a property in Lost Channel, just around the corner from my place and managed to stop in and reattach my dock on the way back.....(a yearly task, best handled by two)




















I could not believe the ease with which we travelled along, on the basically, open water....when just days ago it was impossible to even enter Lost channel!.....That's how fast it went!...I guess thanks to temps in the high 20's each of those days.
My next trip up was just days later; to meet with clients and preview yet another boat access cottage. This time I brought along some young fellas, that "volunteered" to clean up winter debris and cut some wood at my place....having swam, barbecued, partied, and used my boat "the shenanigans" (aptly named) all last summer....I thought it was a reasonable request on my part.


Turns out, I was a long while getting back from my appointment and of course leaving the boys to their own devices meant little got done...but what the heck I was young once too.....

You know..... "Hey the boss man's gone!...shut r down...."smoke em if ya got em"!!!























When I did get back we managed to make the most of the time that was left....cutting wood led to physical exertion and that of course led to perspiration, which got those fellas talking about a swim!
A nice refreshing swim on Good Friday!

Once young Graeme accepted the challenge; the outcome was inevitable.....I of course insisted on him wearing a life jacket....mostly cause I loathed the idea of me going in after him if he froze up and sunk like a bag of hammers.

With much debate, a little planning, a lot of hesitation.....he took a run down the length of the dock and did a perfect "string bean" into the icy waters of the Severn!





















Actually, when he made his "run" he took me by surprise a little and I was just able to get a series of 3 shots of the historic plunge......and plunge he did....I'm not sure if Graeme fully expected to go "completely under" cause when he surfaced he had looks ranging from surprise to shock to fear to finally "urgency" on his way back to the ladder.


When he finally climbed the swim ladder (all stiff legged spiting and swearing) he was quite a sight!





















He wasn't actually swearing, because he was unable to form words with his mouth!.....the best he could manage was fff..auh......fff..auh......fff..auh!!!! but we all knew what he meant!



















And as in all things....It's the thought that counts!....and he's now the "King Kahuna" of the early spring swimmers at Lost Channel Lookout! Congratulations Graeme!

THE WINTER THAT WASN'T!

I keep hearing the expression...but until just recently I was hesitant to jump on that band wagon, because as anyone knows in these parts a warm spell this time of year, even an extended one can be followed by "old man winter" roaring back with a vengeance.





But by all accounts; it seems that indeed "spring has sprung" and if indeed we are witness to the end of the winter of 09/10 then it will go down as a pretty tame one.
The snowfall was definitely less than that of recent years and looking back, the temperatures were probably higher than normal and certainly less extreme in terms of swings from mild to bitter cold and back.


Don't get me wrong...I do recall a few -36 degree mornings to be sure, but overall it wasn't bad.
The lack of snow and intermitant cold temperatures did however make for good ice conditions; which was a good thing because the snowmobile trails suffered as a result of reduced snowfall and ice travel was the best way to get around.


Speaking of ice; I did manage to get out and fish a couple of times.






The days I did choose to go out turned out to be absolutly gorgeous, which doesn't always translate to fish biting but definitley helps with the enjoyment of the day.......


you know...sunglasses....lawn chairs...refreshments, etc. !!!!

GLOUCESTER GRANDEUR!

It was a Thursday, a couple of weeks ago and for November...it was indeed a grand day !

I gave a call to a friend of mine Carl, and questioned him as to his intentions that sunny mid week day.
His intentions were of were of course, ridiculous ....something about going to work, trying to make a living, not having the luxury of drifting in and out of the office depending on one's mood that day, like us real estate types.
I said ya; the responsible thing to do would be to stop looking out the window and get some business done.
Being distracted by the view is nothing new for me of course.
I may have never moved on from my grade six classroom, (across from a public park full of frolicking squirrels) had it not been for Sister Mary Macdonald's intervention, closing the window shades next to my desk.
Anyway back to Carl and the day at hand.

After feigning agreement with him I brought the conversation around to his project up on Deer Island, commenting that I had not been up there lately to check on his progress, and suggesting that I take a look when we get another good boating day....like there would be one !!

That was it; plans were changed, paperwork pushed aside, appointments and phone calls put off, and in his case, "numbers would have to be crunched" another day !




















In an hour, we were on the sun sparkled waters of beautiful Gloucester Pool.





His truck, his boat, his gas and his beer ! .....How's that for the powers of suggestion from a kid who was scolded in grade school for daydreaming.
It all started with me staring out the window instead of getting work done and come to think of it that's how this day started too !


Once we arrived at the island Carl gave me the grand tour of his newly constructed retreat and pointed out his further intentions and ongoing efforts.

The building is predominately a log building with a framed annex to the rear, housing the kitchen, bathroom and a main floor bedroom.



Every where one looks reflects the craftsmen ship and care that goes into a structure such as this. I marvel at the way the logs fit together and the thick sturdy walls that result.

Looking through the windows from the inside this building seemed to showcase the natural wonder beyond.

But the real sensory treat was from the covered porches just a few yards back from the water, over sun warmed granite outcroppings, littered with fragrant pine needles; the amazing vista to be witnessed across the Pool, west towards a setting sun !

Carl tells me that he had a hand in every aspect of the building, assisting the pros wherever he could. (In truth, he is much handier and more capable with this sort of a venture than I would let on to you; and certainly to him.)
This building was erected using much the same footprint as the building that formerly stood there, and in that way mirrors the original, which I believe had stood on that spot since around 1910.
The first old cottage being an uninsulated, modest frame structure, that time and the elements had taken their toll on so, similar footprint and same location near the waters' edge, but that's where the similarities ended.
After discussing window choices and flooring choices and overall design; we talked about what Carl and his wife's vision was for finishing touches in the coming year.


Having begun a similar project in lost channel I was keenly interested and hopeful to come away with any tips I could about construction and finishings.


Carl was also kind enough to allow me to snap a few pics of his work in progress and as you can see, I decided to share them with you.



All in all it was a great day for me.


I think worthy of anything that my daydreaming would conjure up.....I know, I know ........pretty mediocre stuff to be writing about....after all I am just a regular guy....I'm no Tiger Woods....my life is not nearly that interesting, but guess what....I bet I'm feeling alot more relaxed these days than he is.

A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER!

Well; here we are, nearing the end of November and I must say "The weather's been with us". I normally scramble to get done what needs to be done during these waning days of Autumn; but not this year !

Whether its' raking leaves, putting up Christmas lights or changing to snow tires, we can't say that we haven't had opportunity as well as motive.

Why, I have even been working in the driveway to install a set of brakes that Ive been putting off doing. (There's only so many excuses a fella can use to avoid work of this nature and this year, weather could not be counted as one of them !)

Last year at this time we had already endured several substantial dumps of snow and below normal temperatures to go with it.

After a very cool, wet spring and a cooler, wetter summer it sure is nice to be on the right side of Mother Nature for a change.

Historically; it seems that I recall more Novembers like this one than that of last year; at least in the last 10 years or so.

I recall a few winters where we even wondered if we would have a green Christmas...(hasn't happened too often in these parts though)

Speaking of Novembers to remember; two of my "darling daughters" celebrate their birthdays on the 16th.....and what I remember about that November, 26yrs ago is trundling down the road, in blinding snow, in a beat up "79 Chevy Chevette" towards Soldiers Memorial Hospital.

The last 15 miles of the trip was completed with me peering as best I could out through the passenger side of the windshield after my side's wiper blade went flying off into the darkness !

In the end, all went well and that night became memorable, not because of weather or broken windshield wipers, but for the birth of daughters 2 & 3 Stacey and Shawna !

With this year's favorable weather, I still have the boat in and am enjoying late fall expeditions on the river (both work related and otherwise) as often as possible until winter hits.

During a recent foray; we spent some time at Lost Channel, preparing docks for winter, cutting a bit of wood, building a bit of a fire, generally just enjoying the day and early evening up there.

Sitting here at my desk, I have just minimized this screen and checked the forecast...today's high is better than 10 degrees and even the long range shows some promise....guess I'm not done with the boat yet !!