I am Back!


Since my last post a lot has happened...  I got divorced... Opened a second business...  Started teaching at both Algonquin College and the University of Ottawa....

Generally a crazy period for me!  hence, no time to maintain the website....

I am going to change that....

It has been 10 years since we built the cottage...  so time for some updates and maintenance ....

Stay tuned.... Cheers, Gary

A New Water Well .....

Like but not our Well Head
I didn't post about it last year probably because the price stung so much but I had a well put in for the cottage last august (2013).  Yes I did all 188 feet and $12,000....

This is the story...
While at my annual birthday gift, a week with my grandchildren at the Cottage, the water pump in the lake stopped working early in the week.  We had no water!  Well actually I have a bunch of jerry cans of fresh water for just an occurrence, but it wasn't going to last an entire week.

I yanked the pump out of the lake, it looked fine.  When turned on it tried for a second to pump then stopped.  I called up my supplier - out of Toronto - and he suggested I try replacing the controller which is up in the Cottage.  I order one through a small pump repair shop in Shawville and got it the next day (late).  Sure enough I installed it an the pump works fine.

But me in my drive for perfecction decided that it was time for a well.  Rationalizing that it was in the lake and could go at anytime, the water in the lake needed the UV filter treatment, and what would I do if the pump failed when I had a renter...  or if we had a really cold winter and the lake froze the top of the pipe leading to the pump in the lake...

So I embarked on getting a new pump.  The go to supplier gve me a quote and said the first 100 feet would be roughly $600.  So I said lets do it...  He told me but it didn't register that if the well was deeper there was an additional per foot charge...So as it turned out the well ended up being 88 feet deeper to the tune of over $12,000.

In hindsight, if I new what the bill would be, I would have waited as $12,000 was hard on the bank account.  But it is done and I rationalize further thinking I now have a backup system (in the lake) in case the well system fails, plus the clarity of the water is much better.

I did replace and still use the UV filter, but I understand I don't need it.  Just habit and comfort I guess.

Related Posts:
 Installing the Water Pressure Tank - Cottage on the Edge
Frozen Water System... A Possible Diagnosis - Cottage on ...
 Bringing Water to the Cottage - Cottage on the Edge
 Creating Clean Water: Adding a Sediment Filter - Cottage ...
 Cottage on the Edge - the DIY Cottage Blog: No Water! Our ...

 ;-)

Catching the Big One(s), A real Fish Story

Just finished my annual August birthday present to myself on Friday... 

Every year, the first week in August is permanently booked for a week of grandchildren and Papa at the Cottage on the Edge... oh yes and Lucie....

This year was extra memorable as both my grandchildren caught fish, and by all accounts it seems they were the  biggest they every caught.

Special thanks to Uncle Nathan for fixing the boys up with a rod and reel the eventually caught over 50...  sunfish mostly but perch and bass as well... 

Next year I guess I will have to learn how to fillet a fish, because everyone is looking to eat some fish...

The weather was absolutely perfect this year...  nice everyday but one...  and on that day we had a field trip to the falls on the Coulonge River

We also had some unexpected excitement when a neighbor`s golden retriever paid a visit.  Chelsea is her name, and she is a real water dog.  Took a liking to the buoy marking the water pump - playing with it - spinning around, but unfortunately got her tail all caught up in the rope.  Some quick action from Noah and I adverted a tragedy.  While Noah kept her head above water I caught the rope off.

She was extremely tired and we had to help out of the water onto the dock and then up the 104 steps to the top of the stairs.  Her master came to collect her and we were all pleased to have saved her life.

Oh yes!  I must not forget to show you Ben;s catch...  and yes he catch it all by himself!

My two little grandsons are growing fast.  This year Noah demonstrated excellent canoe paddling - he is a natural!  Plus he tried out the kayak for the first time.  It was like he was born with a paddle in his hands...

Well it is back to the grind next week but I will be having a smile...