Building The Love Shack

This is a very special weekend for us at the Love Shack. One year ago today, we took that Sunday Drive to go and look at cottages. It was Easter Sunday last year, when Husband, Coco and I spent the day driving around cottage country.

My intention was to introduce husband, to cottage country, and have him pick out an area he would like to start looking in. That beautiful Sunday, we went to an area that I had taken my children to when they were growing up.

That day, we spent several hours walking around and meeting the cottagers who were opening up their cottage. They spent much time with us, inviting us in to see their summer homes, yes Coco too, was invited in. From that day we began our search for what is now known as the Love Shack.

Yesterday, cottage bound, we were excited to be getting back to work. Along with Brad, our right hand man, the trailer was loaded and off we went.

We arrived to find a Back Hoe and a big hole in the front yard. Jim, our contractor had been up working on the holding tank.

With great news from him and once the rain stopped, we were able to check out his work. He had opened up the front yard (yes again) and had taken the lid off the holding tank, and had repaired the lid. The lid had shifted causing the Spring Run Off, to fill and refill our holding tank.

The tank had been emptied, and thankfully was still empty. We were happy to see the rain water sitting on top of the tank, which is where it should have been, instead of filling the tank.

Jim will be back in on Monday to put the soil back and soon, bring fresh soil to level the front yard. I still have no idea what my bill will be, but Jim has promised it won’t affect my future retirement. Thank you, Jim, who is now on my hero’s list.

 

 

Once the water tragedy had been dealt with, it was time to open up and get to work.

When we opened up the cottage. It was damp inside from being closed up all winter, with the temperature being a cool, fifty degrees. On came the Cast Iron Stove, and in less than an hour, it was eighty degrees inside. I left the heat at that temperature for an hour to dry up the winter dampness. When we started taking layers of clothing off to keep cool, it was time to turn the heat down.

Looking back to a year ago, when we first looked at the cottage, I remember it being so cold in there, that I couldn’t wait to get back to my car to get warm. That being said, the fuel was delivered, and the Cast Iron Stove is working beautifully.

Happily, at noon, the rain stopped and the sun came out giving up a beautiful day. We fixed the eavestroughs that had come loose and we went to work starting the construction, of the build-ins.

With the three of us working the table saw and the screw-guns, many cuts, joist-hangers hung and many more screws, the top-level of the bunk-beds were done in only a coupe of hours.

 

 

 

We climbed on top and bounced around. The structure was solid.

 

The dining-tent went up. The barbecue was put on the deck. The cottage was cleaned, and the frig and freezer were stocked. We are now officially, ready to return to our weekend adventures of Building the Love Shack.

 

It was quieter up at the lake than we expected, but did see a few of our cottage friends. We got to meet Scruffy, our new neighbor, who is a rescue dog, and shared the sad news of loosing Coco.

We had a visit from the Easter Bunny, who was out having his lunch in the lawn.

 

 

After all was said and done, it was back to Home Depot to get more materials for next Saturdays project, building the bottom bunk and the stair-case of the built-ins.

Next weekend, we are taking Romeo up to meet the neighbors and have his first walk on the beach. It’s time for Romeo to learn what weekend at the cottage are about and to become part of the Weekend Warrior Team.

This Blog of course,  is giving our painting team of the Weekend Warriors notice to get ready, they will be back to work in two weeks to paint the bed frame, so they can stay at the cottage for the very first time for all of us, on the May 24, long weekend.

Happy Easter from the Love Shack and Our Team.