Message from H

Last week,me and my dad made houses for the animals. In the burrows that we made out of a Spruce tree, that was 76 years old. We didn't want to but we had to because it was coming down from the big storm we had. In these burrows there may be weasels, bobcats and maybe lynx.

November Storm

Last night we had 90 km/h winds, actually, they were here throughout most of the day. I came home in the afternoon to find what would be two truckloads of branches from the Lombardies strewn across the road up front. The neighbors must have been thrilled. Hannah and I cleaned them up, then tended to the other things that had fallen victim to the wind. Both of the Christmas trees we put up outside had blown over, and we even had a stray peddle boat from across the lake blow up on our shore. Perhaps if I had left the old dock in a bit longer, it would have also been destroyed. Strange weather this year. November 22, and the lake is wide open, and I worked outside today in a t-shirt. -K

Fall Getaway

The campsite is empty and the boat is in winter storage. It is officially time to 'get out of dodge'.

We pulled the kids out of school for a week and headed east to Alberta to watch an evening of the 'Canadian Rodeo Finals' in Edmonton. After a couple of nights there we jumped in the car again and headed down to Drumheller where we saw lots of cool scenery, dinosaur bones at 'The Royal Tyrell Museum' and very large snakes at 'Reptile World' (well, Keith and the kids saw them.... I saw the tops of my shoes)

After a few nights in Drumheller we jumped in the car again and drove to Salmon Arm to visit family. Even though it was a quick trip, we made the time to head down to one of our favourite spots in town and go for a walk along the quay. Check out the beautiful view.









It was a quick trip as the kids couldn't miss too much school, but we're all very happy to be back at 'The Roost' with the cat and the dogs!

Out With The Old... In With the ?

If anyone reading this has ever docked their boat to the old dock, they will appreciate this set of pictures. - R

Iris' anyone?

I have a feeling this post will annoy a lot of Iris lovers out there, but I had to do it. Today I ripped our every single rhizome from the front of the house and I feel so much better! I don't dislike all Iris, just German Iris. They look too stiff. Check out the wheelbarrow full! There's more on the ground in the background as well. - R

Projects

The grand master plan started off with our Inukshuk planting bed in August. The new arbor that presently looks like it's floating in the middle of nowhere does in fact have a purpose. Really it does. I know, it took me a while to convince Keith of this, but he has since seen reason and is officially on board with the plan...which is good... because I really don't think I could have built it myself!



This will eventually blend in with the 'new' planting bed and pond in spring '09 which will replicate this one that we installed at our old house (shown below). The plan is for a path leading from the arbor with the creek on the right hand side. It will end at the bottom of the hill with a new seating area. Well, that's about it. Feel free to give us your two cents! - R

Swimming?

Yes, you read that right. Swimming. No, not me... the dog. Even though the temperature reached 26 degrees C. today, it's not nearly warm enough to convince me to go in swimming. I already fell for that a few weeks ago when the kids convinced me to jump off the patio boat because, and I quote, "No, really mom. The water's warm!" By the time I swam to the ladder, I couldn't feel my toes.

Although it's October first, the temperature the last few days has been downright summery so Sadie decided it was the perfect day to spend in the water!



Although it's warm during the day, the temperature at night can get pretty chilly, so the kids have been kept busy keeping the fire pit stocked with wood. I was so impressed to see a willing volunteer for the job today that I had to take a picture. Everyone take a good look because it might be a LONG time before we see this sight again! - R

This week in pictures

We found fall!

Accommodations Available

Just to let everyone know, we have had a cancellation for a few of the accommodations. Trailer 2 is available from October 8-10 and Trailer 3 is available from October 3-10.
One of our regular visitors sent us a photo this morning of the view from Trailer 3 after a storm. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Thanks Jim!

Goodbye Campers... Hello Fall

With the bullrushes turning yellow, and a colourful array of leaves now hovering over the lawn, I am beginning to realize that my first season at Robert's Roost is coming to a close. And what a wonderful six months it was. - C

Mushroom Adventures

Shhhh.. don't tell too many people our secret, but the Shaggy Manes are unearthing their magnificently white 'lawyer wigs' throughout our 30 acres. Someone was telling me a tale about a camper who was walking his dog in the field, and on his side was a bag full of Shaggys, and plastered on his face was a champignon smile. Book your reservation quickly if you want some, as they turn into their inedible 'inky' stage very quickly! - C