As I write this I am listening to “Q” on CBC Radio and enjoying some left overs for my solitary lunch.  I am alone but not in the least bit lonely.  I have Whitesox always at my side and in fact I wish he would depart for the front deck so that I could get my dirty floor washed at the beach house.  My plans to get my spring cleaning done before the May long weekend went a muck and so when three car loads depart from “Life is Good” (the name of our little beach house) I decided to stay back and tackle a couple of projects.

Last night I wiped down the cedar ceiling and walls, cleaned the grimy oven and painted a couple of pieces of furniture. My windows are now cobweb free and I can see the view of the birch and pines without obstruction.  Then I rewarded myself with a spicy dip and a bowl of whole wheat taco chips for my dinner in front of the Amazing Race Finale streamed on my computer. I snuggled into bed early with my book and in spite of not thinking that I would sleep very well without D by my side, I slept a full nine hours without moving.

The weekend had been as the Frenchman declared “absolutely perfect” with one exception.  Daughter #1 had decided to stay put in her downtown apartment and we missed her.  With this late spring there was still a table of ice and snow on the shore of the beach when I arrived Thursday evening but by Sunday there were folks enjoying the warmth of the sun and a stretch of open water.  We were undeterred by the lack of beach and our flooded front yard.  We made the most of our time together as a family with my extended family, by accumulating on the deck and pulling our lawn chairs with us to follow the sun around the higher areas of the yard.  Games of darts were frequently played with a dart board mounted on the door of the shed.  That same building held another reason for accumulation-D had hauled a slushy machine out from the city.  We enjoyed iced coffees (with Kahlua and banana liquer), lemonade and beer shanty’s, pina coladas and strawberry  margaritas.

Suppers are a “take turns” occurrence and first up were J1 and J2 who invented an appetizer of cauliflower roasted in Frank’s Hot Sauce which tasted like a feed of hot wings (without the fat and calories!).

For our main J1 had rolled enormous meatballs and placed them in a rustic veggie sauce of asparagus, zucchini, red and orange peppers. This was accompanied by Caesar salad.  That night, the first of three family bonfires was held three doors away.

The next morning and every morning of the weekend, we got to sped time with the Wee One.  On this day we hadn’t unearthed her toys so we got out the measuring spoons and cups for her to create a ruckus with.  The other newly established routine was when D and J1 went off to play tennis, I would get the Wee One bundled up for a walk in her “Chariot”.  D took a turn yesterday and was amazed at how peaceful it was to walk in the bush for an hour with no noise but the birds.

The Belair Forrest which we can access from the beach house is a gorgeous part of the province.

After I had successful wheeled the Wee One around for her hour nap, I made up a copy cat version of McMuffins but with real cheese slices and just baked Canadian bacon.

We are so delighted that another chair has been pulled up to our family table.

That evening the Frenchman was the chef and he prepared the ingredients for a wonderful “make your own” taco salad.  Of course this lead to much discussion about the “true” way to assemble this salad: with the taco chips on the bottom so that you can scoop up the bites nacho style, or with them crushed over the top so that every forkful includes plenty of crunch.

That evening was the inaugural bonfire at Sister #2 and SYM’s (Sexy Uncle Michael).  We have co-inhabited with them for 15 years at “Life is Good” so we dubbed their place (for the time being) “Life is Good Too”.

The next morning we were invited back over to Sister #2’s “work in progress” home that is four doors away.  She is famous for her eggs benedict using béarnaise sauce in place of hollandaise.  Since she actually doesn’t have a kitchen yet, she made the poached eggs on the side element of their barbeque.

Later that day, her brood joined us to celebrate J2’s birthday.

The only hint J2 had given me on what I could prepare on her behalf was anything grilled…so we enjoyed grilled purple, yellow, red and sweet potatoes, grilled broccoli and Brussel sprouts with maple syrup, grilled peppers, onions and mushrooms and grilled pork tenderloin (with a zucchini artichoke salad).

I also had what I thought was a brilliant idea (much to D’s chagrin who is our BBQ operator) to make a grilled dessert recipe that I had found on line. First D grilled slices of homemade pound cake which I soaked in coffee and Frangelico.  Then these grilled pineapple slices and strawberries went on top.

On top of everything went a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel syrup!  It must have been a hit as the birthday girl had two helpings.

Just as the sun was setting we ventured over to a third family cottage for another bonfire.

Last meal of the weekend was roasted sausages and pancakes topped with our family favourite of cottage cheese (and left over grilled pineapple).  Shortly thereafter the gang packed up and headed home and left me blissfully alone to tackle the clean up.

Kath’s quote: “Cauliflower is nothing but a cabbage with a college education.”-Mark Twain

Love-that is all.

Today is the last day of the first three day weekend of lake season.  On the Canadian prairies this is typically the time when summer cottages are opened for the season.  Many cottage owners draw their water from a pointy pipe driven into the sand where the water table sits.  Typically by May long weekend, the water has melted sufficiently to be drawn up through the pipe.  Once the water is hooked up, the summer can officially begin.

There are nine of us and three dogs in our 500 square foot cabin-thank heavens the rains have stayed away.  Currently a beer tasting is going on the front deck.  This is official research for J1’s brew master’s course.

The weekend has been relatively laid back with walks, naps, movies, books, amazing food, beverages and visits with extended family members (we have three cottages on the same road).

There have been three major foodies finds over the weekend.  Sister #2 has discovered a mini omelet made in a muffin tin.  She precooked red peppers, sausage and bacon and then placed these with green onion and shredded cheddar into the bottom of a muffin tin lined with papers.   She then poured in the eggs and baked them just before the masses gathered around the dining table on the front deck.  She made extra to freeze for her husband who often stays up at the lake to work on the construction of a new cottage.

The second find, occurred when our gang was put in charge of Sunday supper.  Daughter #2 and The Frenchman made a couple of their delicious and nutritious super salads and J1 and J2 assembled the ingredients for prime bib burgers and smokies.  Daughter #1 was in charge of toppers and the big hit were the Durkee crispy fried onions that smacked on flavour and crunch.  Once you selected your meat choice you placed it on a multi-grain tortilla and added your toppings.  Then your selected was wrapped up and placed back on the grill for a second round, thereby melding the flavours together and melting the cheese.  Choosing a tortilla to encase everything, significantly cuts down the carbs and calories, even of a PC thin burger or hot dog bun.

I contributed the desert and it was the perfect opportunity to try out my new sugar cookie recipe using Monk Fruit In the Raw sugar substitute and cutting the sugar content in half.   There were many accolades for the buttery taste of the cookie itself and everyone noticed how the reduced sugar did not jeopardize the taste in the least.  They retained a crispy “snap” to them like a ginger cookie.

Spring takes a long time to arrive on the Canadian prairies and this year, even more so.  The trees are just now starting to sprout their summer foliage.  The green hue is bright and alive and unique to the spring.  In honour of this lovely occurrence, our delicious cookies were decorated accordingly.

Kath’s quote: “Of all the wonders of nature, a tree in summer is perhaps the most remarkable; with the possible exception of a moose singing ‘Embraceable You’ in spats.”
Woody Allen

Love-that is all.