Cottaging

1) the lake awaits …

Saturday night found G and I ensconced at the Park Hyatt Toronto (amid much rain) and from there to a great party – with a California theme – at Brian and Gary’s (oops, forgot the camera).

2) our room; 3) our view during the rain (looking east toward Yonge Street up Cumberland Ave)

4) our view during a rare sunny break; 5) our view late at night after returning from the party

Sunday morning, we checked out and headed east to Scot on the Rocks Annie’s for a few days of rest and relaxation. It’s been far too long since we last caught up with Annie and baby K, no longer a baby mind you, so it was great to spend time with them again.

6) K takes my picture as I take hers

7 & 8) K and Annie head into the Lake

9) swimming lesson time

We wandered into the wee village of Newboro on Monday for lunch at the Stirling Lodge, which included one of my favourite appetisers – deep fried dill pickles.

10) Stirling Lodge; 11) the restaurant … very rustic

12) deep fried dill pickles!; 13) chips and fresh pickerel

14) G takes a stroll at Stirling Lodge

15 & 16) we had a friendly visitor at the cottage – Bella, the cat

Back at the cottage, Little Dora was a huge hit, and G and I sang this silly song the whole time we were there. We napped, we took the paddle boat out into the lake, I read a great deal – including Tilar Mazzeo’s very good biography The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis: the Story of a Childhood – and we watched umpteen movies. It was, as always, so relaxing.