Life On Afton Lake

I cannot believe that we have been back on the Island for almost three weeks! Although those folks that stayed here all winter told us that it had been an easy winter, there were few signs of spring compared to Wisconsin and Minnesota. The tulips and daffodils that Katie planted were up, but no leaves on the trees and no lilacs in bloom. But by the Victoria Day weekend, spring was in a full rush. We have goldfinches, purple finches, bluejays, juncos, grackles, and hummingbirds at the feeders, along with a host of chipmunks and red squirrels looking for a free handout. There has also been a large snowshoe hare in the yard every evening, and I flushed a ruffed grouse along the lane.

We have been incredibly busy! I started the kitchen renovation by building some of the new cabinets and removing the breakfast bar.




Katie has been planting wildly in the garden...rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, lettuce, and peas...plus some more perennial flowers. And we just planted two pear trees today.

But the two additions we have planned to build promise to dominate our lives for the next 4-6 weeks...and beyond. We desperately need extra space despite significant downsizing on both of our parts. So today, the Bobcat man came and drilled holes for the foundation posts for the additions. The largest, to the east, will be a master bedroom and a "rec" room for exercise and TV while the smaller, to the north, will be an entry and new bathroom plus a "bonus room" on the second story.



The lone loon has been calling at night and in the wee hours of the morning. We're not sure if the pair is nesting on another lake...or if this loner will stay through the summer. It's been grand to be awakened by his eerie call...they are truly the symbol of the northern wilderness.