The Season is Over

For Emerald Lake (and probably for the Lions as well).

We went up to the Lake Monday morning, stopping in Clare for lunch and to pick up two watches we left earlier for repairs. Brenda's was finished, but mine still showed the date display caught between two numerals, the problem that led me to have it repaired. "We'll fix that for you and you can pick it up Wednesday." He did and we did.

Kelvin had the dock raised and his boat that we all use was parked on its trailer in the carport, a great place for it during the winter. Forty degrees inside the house--got all three heating systems going in a hurry. Eventually raised temp to near 70 by time we went to bed. Split some wood, hauled it up from pole barn, cleaning and packing for trip home. Kathy read a novel cover to cover--we both read tucked beneath a couple handmade quilts.

The wind kicked up over night, gusts to 50 mph we heard. We had to clear a fallen tree from the drive so Kathy could go to town for her Tuesday hair appointment with Ellen. It made her late, but we come to find out ours was not unusual. Winterized the Ranger and lawn tractor.

The propane heater began to overheat--we saw some smoke rising from the unit. Some sensor, I suspect. In addition we heard some "explosions". So we shut it down and will have it serviced next spring. Only wood and electric heat left. Still windy and temps falling to 20 degrees. Kathy was on her second novel and I was well into mine. Slept with an extra blanket.

We had to let the fire go out and cool over night since it was to be cleaned for winter. When we go up the temperature in the house was 50, colder than when we arrived on our previous visit. Put on heat in dining area and bathroom and worked as fast as we could to complete our tasks. Drained water heater and water pump, packed food and supplies to take to Romeo, pumped RV antifreeze into water pipes, packed Expedition. We were able to leave by about 11 am. Picked up watch in Clare and got to Romeo and some warmth.

We agreed to close up for winter earlier next year.