2021, Maybe

I'm out for Keywaybeek this year.  The border's closed for recreational stuff 'til 7/31, and I haven't seen any good reasons that it won't be pushed back another month.  I'd usually be late looking for plane tickets by now.  It ain't happening this year.

The trip to the LA airport alone would expose me to way more people than I've encountered in the last three months of staying home as much as possible.  It involves a cab ride, a bus depot, a bus ride and the LA airport.  Getting on a plane is enough of an enclosed flying fart-fest by itself, nevermind the COVID.  After the first plane, it's usually airport #2, plane #2, airport #3 & another (long) bus ride before I get to East Lansing.  All of that runs backwards on the way home.

Driving and trains take too long from here and aren't even remotely under consideration.  I'd rather stay home than become a disease vector, meaning I don't want to pick up the virus on the way there, and then spread it to someone I visit.

That Keywaybeek vacuum belt won't replace itself.

-¥eem

2019 Cottage Notes

Dad & I got there August 24th.  It wasn't a sure thing.  One of us (not me) forgot to renew a passport.  Fortunately, the Canadian border guard at Sarnia said she once "had a boyfriend from Burk's Falls", so she waved us through.  (Hmmm, not sure if true, but OK.)

 

That last picture is Dad & Alice (98) in Ludington, MI the day after we got back from Keywaybeek. 

The first two days were pretty good weather-wise.  After that, it was full-time windy or rainy, or both during the day.  It was too windy to fish, and the old front porch was already where I had in mind, so there wasn't a whole lot to do.  It's good that no wood needed splitting.  My sore back would've vetoed it.  We left on the 31st, right when the weather turned nice again.

Two or three days in, we got word that Holly & Kip would be arriving later on the day we left.  Other than vacuuming and burning the biffy bag, Dad & I didn't do any shutdown stuff.

OBSERVATIONS AND NEW STUFF:

The new attic ladder rope is pretty slippery and thin.  It's easy to lose your grip.  I did, then caught it, which cost me a little bit of skin on my wrist.  Not enough to draw blood, but ouch.  Better rope or grippy gloves?

The belt for the good (blue) vacuum still hasn't been replaced, or if it had, it was broken before we got there.  You can read back two years on this blog if you want the belt model number to order.  Any more mentions would qualify as nagging.

I added about 1200 new tunes to the jukebox.  Fans of Oingo Boingo, the Black Keys, Gary Clarke Jr., Courtney Barnett, Bob Dylan and Kings of Leon should be pleased.  It's at 37,715 tunes now.

There's a new winter cap for the flagpole base.  Doug said the old one had rusted out.  It lasted about 12 years, so the new one should be good for a while.  I had to buy some conical rubber washers at Home Hardware for US$1.74.  The tab for the last three years (electrical, lights, Canadian flags, washers) is at US$61.22.

The small appliances in the upstairs box were checked out for functionality.  The toaster and the kettle are still working.  The kettle is slow to boil, and the toaster is a little finicky, but they're good backups in case of future breakfast failures.  The hotplate wasn't fixable.  Too many boilovers made the contacts under the burner corrode.  It could've been fixed, but not with the available parts, and definitely not safely.

The BBQ was moved around to the driveway side out of necessity.  The wind was nuts while we were there.  On the front porch, the BBQ was almost impossible to light.  It barely worked back behind the cottage because the wind carried the heat away so fast.  I also noticed some grease stains on the new porch, and opted not to contribute to the problem.

2017

2019

I was kind of shocked to find that the back porch shelf I spent about 6 or 7 hours making, had been dismantled and replaced.  That's more time than we got to actively use it after the paint dried back in 2017 (when I also suggested it be repainted a darker colour).  I won't bore everybody arguing the merits of a semi-triangular vs. rectangular shape in that particular application.  I'll just say the following:  Doug, if your goal was to piss me off, mission accomplished.  Now that the lighting and electrical stuff is done, I'm reluctant to take on any new projects knowing that they might be undone on a whim.  Very rude, dude.

I'm about 80% sure I saw a wolf come out from around the bay side of the biffy at night.  It ran off when I said "Hello Doggie" from the porch.  (I didn't have my glasses on.)  I heard some movement out in the woods for a while and fetched my glasses and Dad's cop-grade flashlight.  It crossed back in front of the biffy again a while later, and I got a much better look. Big with a fluffy, non-waggy tail.  There was chewed up evidence the next morning that "Doggie" was after a bloody plastic bag that the wind had taken while I was barbequeing chicken the day before.

Here, have some flags:

It's Michigan State Spartans, the Scottish Royal flag, Mexico, Washington State Cougars and Pre-WW1 Prussia.  #'s 2,3 & 4 were from a garage sale enthusiast I know, who has a tendency to take a casual gift suggestion and run it into the ground.

That's about it.  Questions, comments, objections and obfuscations can all go to the usual places.

-Jim

Oh wait, here's some cat pix:

Booger standing guard (Kooky's in the background)

Kooky, Pita & Squeeky

Keywaybeek 2019

Dad and I are planning to make it up to Keywaybeek this year.  We're not sure when.  My cats' health is a lot better this year, so I should be able to get away long enough this time.  If everyone could put their dates on the Kewaybeek Kalendar (or email me), that would help us pick out a chunk of days.  We're likely leaning toward the end of August or early September.  Doug:  Is your September golf thing a home-game this year?  Carrol & Ray:  Dad would prefer we have concurrent occupancy.  I second that notion.

The only project I have in mind is repurposing the old front porch into a raised shelf thing under the chimney overhang next to the back porch.  It would be used for things that can stay outside like empty coolers, muddy shoes and wet lifejackets -- stuff that's OK getting a little wet, but is better off without the dirty splashes when it rains.  The water jugs could be moved there too, leaving room on the back porch for a chair or something.  There may also be some old small appliances in the attic that I may or may not Frankenstein® together into useable stuff.

If there are any other maintenance, or small-to-medium project ideas, please let me know.

Recently I put up a hanging light in my living room, just like the ones I put in all of the bedrooms at Keywaybeek.  It was part of my compensation for helping to clean out a garage.  (The switch is on the light, not on the wall.)  It's great for vacuuming, and future card & board games will take place underneath it.

At one point, I had a notion to put up a moai somewhere on the big flat rock area, looking directly south, as...an aid to navigation or something?

It would've been made from cinder blocks, concrete, rebar, chicken wire and stucco.  With rust as aggressive as it is up north, it may have lasted 20 years tops, because the chicken wire would fall apart.  I took a look at some old pictures and calculated that anything under 10 feet tall would be unimpressive and not worth doing.  Once I started penciling out a rough plan, I realized that the amount of concrete and stucco that would have to be hauled in and mixed by hand (shovel and wheelbarrow actually) would be way above my spine's pay grade.  That idea didn't last too long.

I imagine Dunc's idea of heaven could be something like Keywaybeek, but with a good local golf course, no winter or mosquitoes, and better plumbing facilities.  RIP & Maholo, dude.

-¥eem

Ludington 2018 Pictures

Hi Everybody-

Here's the best of the pictures I took at the get-together in Ludington.  I tried to get them down to email-able size,  but that was pretty tedious.  So was trying to find better compression software for a ten year old computer.  It's much easier to put them on this blog and email the link.  These are compressed versions.  They haven't been photoshopped at all, and most of them could use a little tweeking.  If anybody wants a full resolution copy of 'em, let me know.

I didn't get a shot of Bill's soggy diaper incident.  It turned into potential kiddie porn way too quickly.  

The last one is where I slept in the basement at Grandma's.  It's called "My Room at the Gulag".  I picked that spot to get away from all the snorers (a club I also belong to).  It was right next to the main sewer pipe going out of the house.  I slept great, but once everybody started waking up and using the toilets, I didn't stand a chance of sleeping in.

Lisa:  If you could show these to  Fred & Wilma  Dad & Eileen, I'd appreciate it.  Thanx.

-¥eem

Wait 'til Next Year

Hi Everybody-

I won't be going to Keywaybeek this year, the first time since 2005.  One of my cats has an intermittent health issue that needs to be monitored.  Being away too long would leave me worrying about her most of that time, and I don't want to burden my sitters too much with catching and medicating Kooky, my fastest and orneriest cat.

T.C. 2000-2017

My oldest cat died last October.  T.C. was my buddy for 17 years, and I don't want a repeat of that this summer.

Instead, I'll be going to Michigan for about a week in early August, where I'll get to meet Bill (Steve & Erin's kid).  I'll also get to see Archer & Reid (Terry & Allison's twins) for the first time since they were 2 or 3.  Dad's place will be crawling with brothers.  Grandma Alice (97) could use a visit up in Ludington.

Dad says he still plans on Keywaybeeking this year, probably in late August.  He might bring one or more of Eileen's kids, grandkids or a combination thereof.

The old Canadian flag isn't useable anymore.  Part of the hem is separated from the rest of the flag, and it gets tangled in the bark on the flagpole, tearing it up even more.  I'll order two cheap-o replacements for less than $10.  Shipping is only free to US addresses.  Would anyone like to volunteer to haul the flags up there?  If so, I'll need an address to send them to.

Any need for more cottage flags?  Prices vary, but most can be had for US $8 or less on eBay, even pirate flags, yarrrgh!!!

UPDATE:  The two Canadian flags were delivered to Lesley & Steve on 7/19/18.  They were $9.76 for both, so the tab stands at $59.48 when added to last year's stuff. 

The only projects I had planned were to cover the electrical box and new wire at the foot of the bed in the middle bedroom, and put the old front porch next to the back porch, if it isn't already there.  It'll have to be leveled and maybe have a corner cut off to make it less of a tripping hazard in the dark.  I also have an idea for what's left of the old shower curtain rod that was used to replace the clothes hanging rod in the CQ.

The ladder rope still needs to be replaced, and the vacuum may still need a belt.  Yellow replacement rope can be bought at the Home Hardware.  More rope color, composition and strength options are available on Amazon and eBay and such.  The rope needs to be about the same thickness, so it can run through the pulleys.

The vacuum is a Bissell 1520C.  It's the same parts as a 1520.  The "C" is for the Canadian labeling, oui?  The belt is part #1604895.  I don't remember for sure, but I think the best price I saw was aboot 6 or 7 bucks.  US or CAN?  Not sure.

There's a kettle, a 2x hot plate and a four-slice toaster on the cottage chopping block.  I'd like to try to fix or Frankenstein* them next year, since I'm low on projects.  (*If the hot plate isn't fixable, I could use the cord to fix the tea kettle with the uncooperative plug.  Toaster cords are too short.)  Doug might put them up in the attic in July.  They're currently taking up space on the shelves over the fridge.

Whoever takes down the flagpole and puts it away in the woodshed at the end of the season needs to get as much water out of the flagpole hole as they can and put the winter cap on the base as snugly as possible.  There are rags in the main shed that can be used for this, and maybe a big red sponge.  It'll take more than one arm-dive down the hole, and it can be a little nasty at the bottom, but the gunk rinses off easily in the lake.  If there's water down there over the winter, it could expand, and crack the base.

Doug, the flagpole rope is set up for 3'x5' flags.  The one in your email would be too small (and way pricier than necessary).

I'm bummed I won't be Keywaybeeking this year.  Everybody say "Hi" to Toni, Ray & Carrol for me when you're up there.  If Toni wants an extra hug on my behalf, authorization is hereby authorized.

-¥eem

2017 Cottage Notes

Hi Everybody-

Dad and I got there 8/22.  Toronto traffic seems just as bad as L.A., if not worse.  (In L.A., major construction on the freeways is always done at night.  Duh.)  The cottage driveway was a muddy mess and there were puddles all over where I've never seen them before.  It rained a little more the next few days and then stopped.  After that it never got completely cloudless or hot.  Three or four nights were down into the 40's F.

Here's how high the lake was relative to the ladder & swim rock:

Toni and Ray used Toni's trailer and some plastic trash cans to get two loads of free sand out by the 11 to subdue the mud in the driveway.  It worked really well.

Steve got in on the 27th, and left on the 30th.  He brought white Vermont cheddar -- some with bacon, some with habeñero peppers.  I made some habeñero cheddar cornbread in the toaster-oven that I'll have to try to replicate at home, but without the fancy Vermont cheese.  (I grow habeñeros, sometimes successfully.)

It was too wet and cold to consider a camping excursion, so we hung around and did cottage stuff mostly.  Dad and I left on the 30th.  There are no unusual critter sightings or injuries to report. If there were loons on the lake, they weren't very vocal.

Here's what got done this year:

1. CEILING FAN

The brackets and blades I brought up fit the ceiling fan perfectly.  It turned out they're about the same length as the old blades, so it's still possible to get whacked going up and down the ladder.

They seem to blend in better with all the wood up there than the white ones did.  I also fixed the wobble by sacrificing two clothes pins to use as four wedges between the fan's motor and the board it hangs from.  FYI:  The clothespin halves may wiggle loose eventually and end up on the floor or the dish hutch.

The old white brackets were bent back to a correct-ish angle and put away in one of the attic boxes along with the blades -- in case the "new" ones get bent.

2.  MIDDLE BEDROOM PLUG AND LIGHT

Instead of getting a light fixture with a pull-chain, I got one like the other BRs have, and ran power from a plug in the KBR to a new outlet under the recent shelf in the MBR, and then to a switch that controls the light.

Like the lights in the other BRs, this one's a plug-in.  The shelf I put in there last year is now another good place to charge electronic gizmos since the plug is nearby.

All the stuff I bought for the cottage this year was for this project.  The light fixture, wire, chain & electrical stuff were $49.72 US.  The metal backside of the old KBR plug that I ran the power from may get a custom wood cover next year.  Steve scraped his foot on it one night.  The cover would also hide some of the new wire.

3. BOOKSHELVES

There are two new bookshelves in the living room, in the existing bookshelf area, with plenty of room for donations.  There's also a small new shelf in the corner, to the left of the mirror.  The one on the bottom right is deeper than the rest of the shelves (about 8"), to hold the big books that tend to fall out of the other shelves.  It sticks out a little, but with the table always there, it's unlikely to be a shin-barking hazard.

The other new bookshelf is under the gizmo-charging shelf.  It's a good fit for paperbacks and small hardcovers.  I put some of the Legal/Thriller/Drama overflow from the CQ door frame there.

The corner shelf is a little deeper than the top of the mirror, and about 11 inches wide.  The old trophy is less likely to tip off of it than where it was on the mirror.  (I forgot to take a picture of it.)

4. BACK PORCH SHELF 

The mostly triangular shelf on the back porch was upgraded.  Toni donated the plywood.  The blocks that hold it onto the rails are from the boxes of window frame leftovers in the woodshed & biffy.  There are 5 or 6 different kinds of screws holding it together, so the "medium screws" drawer in the sorter may need replenishing.  It's way more stable than the old shelf, and just as detachable.

White probably isn't the best choice for a paint colour, but that's all that was around.  Every bit of tree debris that falls on it stands out until it gets wiped or blown off.  If anybody wants to paint it a darker colour, go for it (oil-based exterior paint only).  I can do it next year if paint is provided or budgeted.  Staining & varnishing the plywood wouldn't have worked.  It had more water stains and old pencil marks than I could've possibly sanded out of the wood by hand.

5. CLOTHES HANGING ROD

A new clothes-hanging rod was put in the corner of the CQ to replace the saggy wood version.

It's an old aluminum shower curtain rod cut to fit the corner, and held up by 2 fat screws.  It's about 4 inches higher than the old one, which makes the space on the table below a little more accessible when suitcases are on it.  My "new" bathrobe and old jacket share a hanger next to the old white rocking chair, which might be useful again now that the deck has been built.  (Should we strip the paint off the rocker & spiff it up?)  (Has anyone used the ironing board this century?)

What's left of the old shower curtain rod would fit between some of the studs around the outside walls.  It's not strong enough for a grab-bar, but could be used as a place to keep towels and pants handy if it's in a bedroom.  It could also stylishly hold a spill-towel at the ready if used in the living room.  Preferences?

6. LARGE CHARCOAL/WOOD BBQ

The BBQ next to the flammables shed has been fixed.

I used the wire from a political sign that someone poked into my yard last fall to replace the rusted out wire that supported the upper shelf inside the BBQ.  It was bent to replicate the old wire that's laying across the top level in the picture.  It'll work better than the rock I've used in the past.

MISCELLANEOUS:

The ladder needs a new rope.  The current one is fraying and prone to tangling and twisting.  Does anybody know how long it is?  How about a slightly longer rope with a small end weight?  When the ladder's down, the rope retreats all the way up to the wall pulley, which I can't reach without a chair or a fork.  A small weight on the end of the rope would keep it within reach when the ladder's down.

Most of the wire for the shed light along the top of the walls in the CQ  has been covered with stained strips of old wood from the biffy collection.  I never heard back about the little pirate flag to cover the part where the wire goes through the wall, so I didn't buy it.

I tried to replace the busted vacuum cleaner belt and struck out.  It's a Bissell 1520C vacuum.  The part number for the belt is #1604895.  The belts they sell at Home Hardware don't fit.  Walmart down in Huntsville may have them, but it wasn't worth the drive.

The "Do Not Lift This Box" label on the wood box behind the jukebox computer ain't kiddin'.  Lesson learned?  I didn't update the music library this year.  We'll just have to get by with what's already on it.  The date on the jukebox was still in 1969 when I got there (see previous post).  Did anybody try to use it?

I rolled up the red & black screen tent and stored it under the porch bed.  It seemed to function more as a bug concentrator -- enough that big spider webs were well established in all 4 corners of the roof.  I bet it would work better on level ground with no gaps at the bottom of the tent.

Steve brought some unused 3 tab shingles he wanted to get out of his garage.  They're on the floor of the biffy shed.  (It may have changed the level of the weed whacker storage.)  He also brought a partial roll of tar paper to go under them.  The short section of the wood shed looks like it may need new shingles in the near future.  The flammables shed could maybe use some too.

Steve used a scanner he brought to digitize most of the photos in the cottage.  He's currently cleaning them up on his computer, and will put them somewhere on the internet or a cloud or whatever when he's done.  I'll put a link on here when it's finished, and let everybody know.

I wrote down a tool wish list as I was working on things this year, but I can't find it.  A not-so-pointy phillips head screwdriver and big channel lock pliers were on it, I'm sure.

I'm not the person to ask about the deck project.  I've got a picture of Toni's plans and that's about it.  If it gets built, let's save the current front porch (or most of it), and move it next to the back porch.  The back porch clutter (water jugs, coolers, dirty or wet shoes) can sit on the old front porch.  It wouldn't block the path to the rock.  I already measured for, and shared, this idea with Toni.

Oops.  I just heard from Carrol that the deck has been built.  She even sent a picture:

Anyway, let's save the old front porch.  I'm waiting to hear back from Carrol about where it's stored and how much of it is left.  I've got a use for it next year.  It's up there in the crossed out part I don't feel like typing again.

Here's this year's pix of my new flags:

It's Yugoslavia, Tennessee, Texas and a 48-star US flag.  The pink & white cottage Canada flag has earned a retirement.  It's beyond fixing without a sewing machine, and it tangles on the bark of the flagpole.  Maybe it could be strategically folded to cover the shed light wire in the CQ.  Want me to look for a new one on eBay?

That's about it.  Questions, comments, objections and obfuscations can all go to the usual places.

-¥eem