After the Rain

I found  a couple of ice out pictures on my phone that I had forgotten about.  This is a little late, but they are neat to see.  The ice really is an amazing thing.  I'm ashamed to say I don't know much about how it works and I need to do my research and get educated.  There were pictures circulating on Facebook of ice piled up on the shores of the lake at Rocky Point, which is about 2 hours south of here.  The wind pushed it up on the shore and it just stacked up on itself, 8 feet high in some places.  There is one photo of a guy standing next to it and it is higher than his head and looking like an iceberg from Alaska.  There are also videos of the ice pushing in through the windows of homes, creeping in slowly.  I had no idea things like this happened.

I recently joined Facebook after a long protest.  I hate doing what everyone is doing, especially being forced to communicate via "social  media" with people when there are telephones and emails already.  But I digress.....I'm managing my Facebook, the Young's Bay Facebook, the blog and we are in the finishing phase of a new website, while trying not to repeat any pictures between the 4 places.  I feel like I'm bombarding people with information constantly between the 4 sites and barging right into your minds! I apologize if see you the same picture show up repeatedly.  Soon you will be like me, dreaming about captions for photos and visions of Youngs Bay all night long......this is only the beginning of my Jedi mind tricks, as I slowly invade your brain and convince you to move here and join my village gang.

We're officially settled in the new house with every box unpacked and put away.  Phew.  They call this house the fishbowl because it's right in the middle of the resort and everyone is popping in. Privacy is a bit lacking, but it's new to us and we don't mind it yet.  I enjoy seeing all the people and putting faces with names I have only heard.  But the bonus of it is that you can see everything happening from right here.  The other night as we sat eating our dinner, a guy forgot to the put the plug in his boat after launching it and it was sinking while tied up to our dock.  As we slurped our spaghetti noodles, we watched the action as he was attempting to save it.  That is a first for me!  I need to add that to the reverse bucket list.  Watch boat sink while eating spaghetti.  (PS Rick finished his dinner and went out to help.  We weren't just looky-lou's! Well, I was.)

Andie cleaning a fridge in the store.  At one point she was right down on her little belly, wiping away.  I love this time with the kids while they are young and interested in what we are doing and wanting to help.  I know these days are numbered.  Someday they will want to be away from us as much as possible, while possibly cursing us for making them live on the outskirts of nowhere out here.  Big Rick always says, "It's not the end of the earth, but you can see it from here."  It's especially evident when I really have a food craving, like some type of burger or delivery pizza.  No such thing in this world.

After 3 days of HEAVY rain this week, the sun has finally come out.  There is mud up to our ears and puddles abound, but we are happy to see the blue skies and sunshine. There is nothing fun about trying to clean a cabin with mud all over the place and rain pouring down on your clean linens. The kids were cooped up for way too long and Tyson got 2 bloody noses in one day from racing around like a lunatic in the house, bursting with energy.  If you can't go outside up here there really isn't much to do.  The only option would be to visit someone else's house or go to the bar.  Finally when it stopped, the kids were able to get outside and get some air, thus the huge smile on Andie's face here.  (Besides the fact she was with Linnea, who spoils her rotten and can't say no!)  I've never thought about weather as much as I do here.  I've said it before, it really does determine your day.  A lot of people around here just go about their business anyway, but I haven't reached that point yet. If it's cold and windy, I'd just rather stay in.  I need to get brave and face the winds!  I'll work on that.  Next year.

We're Sprung!

Spring has sprung at the Angle!!! The winter seemed to stretch way beyond it's welcome this year. There were snow flurries yesterday morning, even. I tell you it's like walking into an episode of "Lost" around here sometimes.  You just never know what Mother Nature is going to bring in this country.

Winter appeared to end in one afternoon.  We had piles of snow in the morning, the wind picked up for a few hours, and then we had no snow.  Just like that.  I know I have always complained about the wind and cursed it endlessly.  But I do owe it credit for taking away the snow and, eventually, the ice.  The ice broke records this year as it would not leave the lake.  I've taken call after call in the last 2 weeks from concerned fishermen wanting to know if they would be able to put their boats in the water this month.  Finally, after some rain and wind (again, I credit the stinking wind)  the ice has left us.  The pictures above (taken by Adam Carry) are from the same day.  The first at 11:00am before the rain.  The second at 6:00pm after some rain and a wind shift.  Ice gone!!!!  Duane has been putting boats in the water and we are glad to see the waves!!!!  There is so much to learn about how all this weather works and the effects on the lake.  My education continues.........

So this spring (YAY, I CAN SAY SPRING!)  is bringing a few changes to Young's Bay.  Brian and Jenny are taking on a new endeavor and have purchased Jerry's.  Though they are just going across the street, they are forging out on their own to build their own business and will no longer be working at Young's Bay Resort.  With 2 people leaving the resort, Rick and I have more to do and an increase in responsibilities, which I love and welcome.  I thrive on a packed to-do list and putting my own spin on things.  I don't need to have a fancy title or recognition for my work, but I do like being in control of something and planning things out. We are also moving into the house that Brian and Jenny have been living in.  It is the original house that Big Rick and Pat built.  It contains the laundry room for the resort and is right in the middle of the action and the goings on. This puts me more in the thick of the business where I can learn how things work and meet more of our guests. It also sits on the lake and we will wake up every morning to a beautiful sunrise over the water. Our new duplex is close to being finished and will bring 12 more beds to the reservation calendar.  I've already spring cleaned the store and it is ready for service.  We hired a lovely young lady, Molly, who is a cousin and will be working side by side with me in the cabins, shifts in the store and whatever else we can conjure up.

Happy Mother's Day to all.  This mom got a Keurig, which is the most perfect gift ever. (Besides the obvious gift: my husband knows me well and can pick the gift that would put the biggest smile on my face. Now that is something money can't buy.) My dear friend Stacey put together some flowers for my Momma's place of rest.  (Thank you ladypants. Hugs.)  I have been missing her greatly this week, probably due to all the big changes going on that I would be keeping her updated on, if she were here.  And of course our first Mother's Day without her.  As any good friend, she loved to hear our exciting news and kid stories.  With every passing day, I think of how she would be crazy over Andie Joy and her growing sass.  My heart aches for her, but I can't be sad about that.  She is a mother worth missing and that has to be celebrated on a day made for her.  This is your day, Momma.

So let's have a toast (go ahead, lift your glass...) to change, good history, progression and future.  And to Moms, God bless every single one.

 Life is good, people.  Soak it up with me.   Cheers.