We Don't do Everything Right all the Time.

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers Manitoba

This morning I had to finish up the area around the new firepit.  I mowed the grass around the kids swing and they loved it.

First job today was to get the motorhome ready to go for the new windshield on Monday.   I just needed to get it started and make sure it airs up properly.  I left the solar panels on all winter so the batteries were charged fully.  Motorhome started right up and purred like a kitten.  I will come back on Sunday to pick it up.  

Back at Cj's we had a couple projects to accomplish.  The girls wanted to organize the store room and I gave them the go ahead.  Woops, I kinda got in trouble for it from the boss.  The girls just snickered at me.  

Winston gave me a hand today and I put him to work changing the carpet on one of the golf holes.  I just gave him the tools and he got the job done. 

I sort of snickered because I was doing other things when he finished for the day.  I asked him if he got everything done, and he said yes.  When I went to check a bit later here is what I found. lol.   Do you see the problem here?  A little tough to get a hole in one!!!

In the evening, we tried out the new fire pit and it seems to work just fine.  It is a little farther away from Cj's so it seems more like our private fire.  It was a great way to end an evening.  Good Nite!!

A New Firepit

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers Manitoba

Today was time to inspect the blades on my tractor mower.  I like to get it up in the air in a safe manor, so I can crawl around underneath it.  This is the best idea I have found so far.  The boards are screwed to the picnic table so they can't come off and they work as a block for the front wheels.  There are blocks at the back wheels so that baby aint goin anywhere!!  I hope!!

Yup, the blades need to be replaced.  I will have to make a trip to Brandon to get supplies to do the blades, belts, and oil change for the tractor next week.

If anyone remembers, I am involved with Friends of Rivers Lake, and our current project is to install a new dock on the lake that will be geared toward providing access to the lake by people with mobility difficulties.  Today we got pictures of the new dock in a warehouse in Winnipeg.  Now all we have to do is go pick it up.

Mid afternoon I headed to town to get some things.  When I pulled into the store parking lot I saw this motorhome drive by.  I had to take a second look.  This is the exact motorhome that our good friends Normand and Suzanne drive.  I watched for the driver and nope, it wasn't them.  Aww shucks!!!

Next project was to move our firepit to where I cut down some trees.  We are making a little family area to sit and enjoy a good fire.  Cody brought a couple wheelbarrows of nice rock to make it nice.  Its pretty windy today so we didn't have a fire.

That took us through another day.  There is always tomorrow to do more.  This weekend we are having our first "Music in the Park" on the deck at Cj's on Saturday night.  Our friend Shelley has made up a schedule calendar for the summer.  Sue got it on our Facebook site this evening and now I have to start trying to fill in the blanks with singers.  We have some good talent around the country and they just need an invitation.   Sheri will help me as well up in the Hamiota area.  We will leave that task till tomorrow.  Good Nite!!!

A Good Day for the Heart

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers Manitoba

Last night in the middle of the night there was a big ruckus outside and the Ravens who have a nest right up from our site started squawking like crazy.  I figured maybe it was a bear and I wasn't about to investigate so I went back to bed.  This morning we awoke to a young raven up in the tree and the parents warding off the crows who were going after it.  What a noise!!  I hate ravens.

I had an appointment for a check up with the cardiologist.  He told me to exercise more and keep up the good spirit.  No med changes so that is a good thing.

We made a little stop at Walmart for some things on the way home.  I was surprised to see probably a half dozen people wearing masks.  Supposedly the spring cold is going around and someone mentioned the C word again.  Please tell me that people are not naïve enough to let the mask take over again!! Go ahead and wear one if you want, but please, please, don't demand that I do!!!  And don't take my ability to earn a living and travel away.  Ok I'm done!!!

When we got home it was time for Cody to come and help me out.  There are a lot of jobs that I used to do, that I no longer have the energy to do. I spent some time trimming trees this week and today I got Cody to load them all in the truck and we took them to the tree pile.  Good job Cody!!

While we were doing the trees, we looked across the lake and saw a lot of smoke.  At the same time we heard the sirens of the fire truck.  It is a windy day and it looks like someone's grass fire got away. They seemed to get it under control fairly quick.  

I am trying to show you some of the processes we use in our business in different posts. I don't want to bore you showing everything at once.  For a long time we just put fries in the fryer and then served them.  We learned as we progressed along that because our fries are home cut, they need to be blanched, so we put them in the fryer for 3 minutes and then let them rest.  We try to do them the day before and keep them in the fridge over night.  It makes for a crispier fry.  We take pride in the fact that our fries are some of the best around and we have actually won awards for them.  Emily is showing the progress.

Well look what I bought today in Brandon!!  Yup, its a cherry pie.  Cardiologist didn't say anything about not eating pie!! 

At least I cut it in small pieces. That took a lot of stamina.  

And its not possible to eat cherry pie without going ala mode!  And I happen to know where to find ice cream!   A little zap with the microwave and a dob of French Vanilla and Mmmmmm.

And if anybody thought I didn't enjoy it, here is proof to the contrary!  LOL

Archie and I made a final wood sales run for the day.  He loves to come with me and often wants out to run ahead.  He is a good pal.

I love this time of year so much and here I sit after another day has passed looking out over the greenery!  Soon we will be seeing the flowers which will just add to the eye candy.  Speaking of eyes, time to shut them!!! Good Nite!

A Then a Day With Nothing going On

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers Manitoba

Unlike yesterday, there was nothing much going on around here today.  Just cleaned up the tree cutting mess and mow a little grass, visit with the kids, and a little later in the day, a picture from Kenia and Oscar.  We tried to recreate the photo and send it back.  Not quite the same!!

And then the day was over!!  Sun went down behind the trees.  Good Nite!

Lots of Projects Today

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers Manitoba

First job of the day was a crappy one.  That was a poor dad joke.  None the less it did involve waste water and the potential for a problem always exists when handling it.  Nope, not today.  Everything went smooth as glass.  

We have Max today, so he was with me for every task I did.  He loves to ride on the tractor with me.  So off we went with 3 trips to the lagoon with full blue boys. The reason I use the lagoon is because it is easy to just dump the tote.  No fuss no muss, just dump and go.  Plus I don't have to fight RV's for a place in line.

 Max loves to drive and for a 5 year old he drives very well.

Next dirty job was garbage.  Not for me though because we have dumpsters that are picked up every two weeks.  

Next up was a couple of dead trees that are right beside the motorhome that have to go.  We sometimes get some big winds here and I don't want them ending up on my roof.  So I had to pick up the feet and move the MH out of harms way.

The new electric chainsaw worked like a charm.  Down came the trees in the exact spot I planned for them.

So I hooked up the workhorse to the logs and dragged them up to the tree dump.  The maintenance people always smile at how I get things done.  

We got Percy all parked back up in his spot. A wee bit better angle this time but not a lot different. 

Max went back inside for popcorn and a movie.  When I went in later all I could see was popcorn everywhere.  He must of had a problem hitting his mouth.  Sue got him the battery vacuum and he had a great time cleaning it up.

We had a few customers tonight and Mia made some yummy food for them.  We have some awesome young cooks that we feel comfortable creating quality food.  Mia is 16 and our youngest cook is 15.  It is so great seeing these young ladies stepping up.  We have a couple more who are every bit as capable and we are so lucky to have them.  Almost all of our employees are going to do well in the world. 

Big portions on the heat lamp.  We don't do anything small here.

Another baseball game in town tonight.  We won 10-2.  They have won their first 3 games now.

I got home just about closing time at Cj's.  When I walked in the door, Mia said she hoped I didn't see her predicament.  She was mopping the floor when the mop pail toppled and spilled its contents on the floor.  She grabbed as much paper towel as she could find and sopped it all up.  We did have a good laugh about the whole thing.  It just sucked cause she had to stay late to get it all mopped up.  By the time she was done, it was time to call it a day.  Good Nite!

We Had a Quick Rush Today at the Shack

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers Manitoba

Today was a nice sunny day so the first thing I did was head up to the wood yard and get the tarp off and let the sun shine on the wood to dry it out.  I will let the sun shine on it as much as possible to get it as dry as we can get it.  Campers like nice dry wood that burns well even if it burns fast. We have actually used quite a bit of wood already this year.  

All afternoon was quiet at the shack.  There were a few customers and a few playing golf.  

Lots of our time is spent doing prep work to be ready for the rush.  Today was no different.

Today Sue was playing with pizza.  She has always wanted pizza on the menu, so she is playing with a recipe.  I didn't get a picture of it but this is the pizza oven.

Then about 5:30 the place went crazy.  I guess everyone decided they wanted burgers and ice cream.  I even spent time in the shack making extra burgers cause we almost ran out.  The rush lasted about 2 hours and then it was over.  We are not used to that yet, so it was quite hectic in the kitchen.  Good thing Sheri showed up to help us out. 

This old boy was about wore out after that so I got the fire going and we sat around and talked for a while.

I had to go up top to tarp the wood pile and caught a bit of sunset.  Good Nite!