Our guests have arrived! They're not paying customers but they will earn their keep, we have had 2 eggs already this morning. Ryker and Cedar are very interested in them, Jasper and Hannah are not concerned with them. We had a nice rainfall this morning, things are...
Photo of the Day
Saturday May 23, 2020
It's pretty quiet out on the lake these days, maybe the fish are enjoying the peacefulness though. Don is picking up some laying hens today so we hope to have our own eggs. Cedar and Ryker have not seen chickens before so there will have to be some serious training...
Friday May 22, 2020
Look who took the afternoon off and went fishing yesterday! And yes, we did manage to have some fish for dinner last night, a tasty treat. The black flies and mosquitoes have decided to check in, they are abundant, it's hard to do things outside. Today's forecast -...
Wednesday May 20, 2020
Don spent a little time on the dock this morning before the black flies chased him back to the deck. As you know the official announcement was made yesterday stating that the Canadian-US border will remain closed until June 21st. Ontario (our province) is slowly...
Monday May 18, 2020
Don was working on installing the stairs on Pettit #2 but he's taking today off to go shed hunting. Tomorrow he will seriously be getting back to work as will the rest of us, we've been taking it easy for too long now. The wind has picked up this morning so there is a...
Sunday May 17, 2020
Yes, that is Don with a fishing rod in his hand. He took a little time out from working in Pettit #2 to try and catch a fish or two. But just like the girls and I, we all came up empty handed. We couldn't catch a trout or a walleye, we did catch some northern and bass...
Saturday May 16, 2020
Opening day of walleye season, we're usually busy today but instead it's a very quiet morning. We are enjoying our morning coffee on the deck and the girls and I will head out on the water to catch our dinner. Don will head to Pettit #2 to do some more work on the...
Friday May 15, 2020
This was our view last night after a rainstorm moved through, it was breathtaking. Head over to our Facebook page or Instagram to see the video, not often do we get a double rainbow. Don spent some time grading our road yesterday, today he's planing on getting up to...
Thursday May 14, 2020
After some rain last night we have a cloudy, grey morning and plus 5C. I can actually go outside without wearing a jacket! This rain will green up the landscape. Don's going to do some work around main camp today. Today's forecast - Cloudy. 60 percent chance of...
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Allison has been working from our home, setting up her "office" in our loft. Yesterday, after her work day, we went trout fishing on Pettit. She landed this most delicious lake trout, without a net. It was the only trout we caught but it sure was nice to get out on...
Tuesday May 12, 2020
Our view this morning but it was too chilly to sit on the deck, one of these days though. Don has a bit of work to do around here before he heads up to Pettit #2. Today's forecast - Sunny. Wind up to 15 km/h. High 10. Wind chill minus 8 this morning. Tonight Clear....
Monday May 11, 2020
Here's hoping that everyone enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Mine was extra special as I also celebrated my 65th birthday, yes I'm a senior now. Don, Allison, Alex and Jared spent most of the weekend walking through dense bush shed hunting. This is what...
Friday May 8, 2020
The sun sparkles on the lake, makes it look really inviting but at minus 5C it's cold. We sure didn't sit on the deck this morning. The wind has also picked up once again this morning so I don't think Don will get any lumber freighted to Pettit today. Today's forecast...
Thursday May 7, 2020
Mount Lake Outpost looks like it did well over the winter, the docks are all good. Don was hoping to haul some lumber to Pettit #2 today but we have a good wind blowing out of the northwest so he'll get some things done around the main camp today. Even though it was...
Wednesday May 6, 2020
First boat to go across the portage! Don't know how many boats will be making the trip this year but we are beginning to get things ready for the season. The ice is gone from Pettit and Mount and Don boated up to both outposts and things all look good. It was still...
Tuesday May 4, 2020
Don had some assistance from Cedar as he moved the main dock and dock for cabin 2 into their summer position. Today he's going to hopefully get to Pettit and Mount Lake to see if there has been any damage to the docks. It has been too chilly to have our morning coffee...
Monday May 4, 2020
Well we are finally getting rid of all the old backhoe parts. Don spent Saturday hauling the parts out to the main road where someone will be picking them up, hopefully tomorrow. He's been wanting this done for a long time. Today he's hoping to get our main dock moved...
Sunday May 3, 2020
Our chilly view this morning, plus 1C, there's been some light snow flurries. We're not sitting on the deck this morning! Today's forecast - Cloudy. 30 percent chance of flurries this morning. Wind northwest 30 km/h. High 8. Wind chill minus 8 this morning. Tonight...
Saturday May 2, 2020
And just like that the ice is out. It was all gone by dinner time yesterday. The ice that was there was very slushy, the wind came up and it started moving and before we knew it, it was gone. Ice out is always a welcoming site, now we wait for the leaves to come out...
Friday May 1, 2020
There's still ice on the lake. We've had a few calm days so the ice isn't moving much but there's lots of holes in the ice so it will all be gone soon. It was another gorgeous morning to enjoy our morning coffee on the deck, listening to the many birds, geese, swans,...
Thursday April 30, 2020
Our view this morning as we enjoyed our coffee on the deck. The lake still has a lot of ice but it's bound to go quickly. April certainly went by fast despite being in a lock down, of course our routines really haven't changed much. Don is beginning to think of things...
Wednesday April 29, 2020
Our view this morning as more ice disappeared overnight. The lake continues to look darker and darker, evidence of thinning ice. Don did some work around his shop yesterday, that's a never ending job. Today's forecast - A mix of sun and cloud. High 16. Tonight A few...
Tuesday April 28, 2020
Don spent yesterday wandering the bushes in search of deer sheds. There's less snow in the bush now so the sheds are a bit easier to spot. The ice on the lake has a number of dark spots and we can see open water between islands, it won't be long now till it's all...
Monday April 27, 2020
A little fog rising off the lake this morning. We had a bit or rain overnight so that has had an effect on the ice, it should go fast now. Yesterday I tagged along with the group shed hunting but didn't find any saw a lot of new country though. It was nice to get out...
Sunday April 26, 2020
Our view this morning, we lost some ice yesterday and the ice is looking darker. Don spent yesterday shed hunting. Today's forecast - Mainly cloudy with 40 percent chance of showers. Wind becoming southeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 this morning. High 16. Tonight Partly...
Saturday April 25, 2020
We lost some ice yesterday although it froze overnight. Don and I enjoyed coffee on the deck this morning although we had to have our jackets on. Today's forecast - Mainly sunny. High 16. Tonight Increasing cloudiness early this evening. 40 percent chance of showers...
Friday April 24, 2020
It was 0C this morning, sunny and no wind. There's still a lot of ice on the lake but it did melt more along the shoreline. Yesterday you could see some darker spots in the lake a sure sign that break up is happening. Today's forecast - A mix of sun and cloud. 30...
Thursday April 23, 2020
Another chilly morning, minus 2C with a mix of sun and cloud and windy. I could hear the ice making noises as I took this photograph and you can see that there has been some movement of the ice. Temperatures are suppose to warm up this afternoon so perhaps we will see...
Wednesday April 22, 2020
Happy Earth Day! It's cloudy and minus 3C this morning, oh and add in some snow flurries and wind as well. Yesterday, Don went for a walk about in the bush looking for minnow ponds, he found this tree stand. It's not the safest of trees now at least I wouldn't want to...
Monday April 20, 2020
Allison spotted this otter, from her "office" in the loft, popping up along the shoreline this morning eating minnows. Temperatures continue to be on the cool side so there hasn't been much movement on the ice conditions. We will be above freezing today with a strong...
Sunday April 19, 2020
We had more open water along the shoreline yesterday but it dropped below 0C last night so we had some freezing going on. Hopefully it will warm up and we'll see more ice melting. There's been a lot of snow melt around the yard and the lake is beginning to get that...
Friday April 17, 2020
This pair is waiting for warmer days and more open water. They've been hanging out at the portage where there is open water. Don is back at the Pettit cabin today, hopefully the wind won't be blowing as hard as it has been for the past couple of days. The wind really...
Thursday April 16, 2020
Yesterday, I went to the new Pettit Lake cabin to help Don put up siding on the back of the cabin. Although it was a sunny day it was very windy which made it cold. This photo is at the portage, it was so nice to see the sun sparkling off the open water. There were 2...
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Last night was a windy but beautiful night. Isolation and staying at home has not been difficult. We are looking forward to the time when the ice is gone and we get to see our wonderful guests again. That day will come, just don't know when. Today's forecast - Mainly...
Monday April 13, 2020
Got some more siding completed on the Pettit cabin yesterday. As you can see there's less snow and although the lake is still covered with ice it's getting a little challenging to get across the portage with the snow machines. It's another cold, windy morning minus...
Sunday April 12, 2020
Happy Easter! We hope everyone is staying at home this Easter weekend, staying safe and healthy. It's a cool day, minus 3C this morning, mix of sun and clouds. We've lost a good amount of snow but there's still lots of ice on the lakes. Today's forecast - Mainly...
Saturday April 11, 2019
Yesterday, Don, Allison, Alex and Jared went shed hunting and came up with these finds, a very successful day. There's still a fair bit of snow in the bush so there will probably be more sheds to find one day. It was minus 1C earlier this morning with very light snow...
Friday April 10, 2020
We're losing snow and ice daily as you can see in this photo. It froze overnight but when it warms up there will be a little bit of open water along the shore. Don spent yesterday getting supplies - gas, diesel, food. Today's forecast - Cloudy with 30 percent chance...
Wednesday April 8, 2020
Another gorgeous full moon over Manion Lake last night, it never gets old. 0C this morning and light snow, I'd much rather see the sun shine. The ice is mushy on top but it's still good for a few weeks yet. Today's forecast - Mainly cloudy with 60 percent chance of...
Tuesday April 7, 2020
Don took a break after he and the girls worked on the new cabin yesterday. There's more steel to be put on and some inside work before the cabin is completed. We've had some rain overnight, plus 3C this morning. You can see some open water along the southern exposures...
Thursday April 2, 2020
This is one of the walleyes I caught when we went fishing the other evening. It sure was a lot of fun. I think our fishing days might soon be done as we're getting some weather moving that might make ice conditions unsafe. Don worked a bit on siding the cabin...
Wednesday April 1, 2020
This is no joke, we actually got Don out fishing yesterday and he caught a couple of walleye. He doesn't know how we got him to smile for the picture. It was such a lovely night last night for fishing, no wind, clear skies the moon and stars were shining brightly on...
Tuesday March 31, 2020
The past few days was spent putting up firewood at all outpost locations. That's one job that Don can cross off his spring list. It has helped that we as a family have been self isolating together. Today he is picking up the rest of the steel for the Pettit cabin and...
Monday March 30, 2020
The snow machines are waiting for us on the lake now as the yard is becoming bare and dry. Yesterday Don and girls put up firewood at both Sandbeach cabins. They are hoping to get to Mount Lake and do the same there today. Don also went out with the grader yesterday...
Saturday March 28, 2020
Yesterday Alex helped Don clear snow off the roof of Pettit #2, this is so work can continue on the outside of the cabin without the snow coming down on them. As you can also see, Don got a few sheets of tin on the cabin. Today is day 8 of our self isolation and so...










































