Weekend at James' Cottage

We spent a weekend at the fabulous cottage belonging to James and Nancy. Their cottage is situated beside the Calabogie ski hill and Calabogie lake. They are fortunate to be able to enjoy their cottage all summer and winter.

James and Nancy are uber-hosts extraordinaire who wined and dined us to no end.

Uber-hosts James and Nancy

On the first night, after the children had eaten and were preparing for bed, the adults dug into a smorgesbord of succulent ribs. Dylan came upon our dinner feast and, much to my amazement, devoured several ribs. He was like a possessed carnivore as he tore into the meat and spread sauce all over his face (actually made me want to become a vegan).

Dylan devouring meat!

Later we went for a midnight swim in the lake...very refreshing!

We spent a day taking the chairlift up the ski hill (used mainly by mountain bike enthusiasts) and hiked at the summit while enjoying a panoramic view of the area. I discovered my fear of heights again while riding the chairlift in summer without the security of a bed of soft snow under your feet. I was holding onto their 3-year old daughter who was experiencing her first chairlift ride and who was a little frightened. Poor Sarah, halfway up the hill she cried that I was hurting her arm. I guess I had been tightening my death grip on her as I tried to fend my feeling of panic from heights.

Enjoying the view

The children went tubing in a new 3-seater tube which unfortunately sprang a leak by the end of the ride (they did some major wake jumping!)

Later, Dylan rode an electric car with their 5-year old son William who can spinout the car on a downhill slope just like a Jacque Villeneuve.

Of course a weekend at the cottage would not be complete without the mandatory sand castle building contest.