From Shirley's Cottage

Hi Elaine-Thanks for the support and the rest of my small but wonderful bloggers.

Hi Bill-could not get the time thing or the potpourri together. I almost forgot to blog this


Getting Ready For Winter

I drove down the lake road-15 mph, like my husband used to do–just looking at the lake. There were what seemed like hundreds of geese (or whatever they are,) congregated near the shore. Some of them were tail-up. They had taken over where piers had been.
Every day the past few weeks, another pier, and more boats were taken in for the winter. The week-ends were the days you would see the hip boots and plaid shirts pulling in the pieces, knowing at the end of the chore there would be a hot or cold brew waiting,
In the spring, our pier is one of the first to go in. Things kept happening that postponed the job until it looked like it would be the last to come out.
I thought the snow would fly before the old pontoon got parked for another year.
I worried that my boys would freeze their feet wearing the leaky boots.(it seems like no matter how many boots you have, they eventually pop leaks.)
I shouldn’t have worried. The pier is stacked on the shore. The boats are dry-docked.
The boots did leak: the feet got wet and cold. But they survived. Warm socks and pizza cured everything.
I shouldn’t have worried because it wasn’t my gig. Everything got done, and they didn’t need me at all.
Maybe that is what bothered me. It all got done just fine without me. I didn’t even make the pizza.
I remember times when we had a boat lift. I was in the muck to my waist pushing that thing, helping getting it on shore.
It was only a couple of years ago that it was my job to drive the pontoon across the bay so we could trailer it. That year the motor quit right in the middle. I floated and paddled close to shore, jumped in the water, tied up to a rock and walked home down the lake road, sopping wet.
I know it sounds crazy, but that was a heck of a lot more fun than worrying if things would get done right and on time.
Times change. People change. Jobs change. There is a time when you are no longer the camp leader. You watch as the pontoon glides across the bay, and the pier comes out for another year. And all you do is order the pizza.

I was sad at first. But as I watched my family work together, I was proud. After all, if it wasn’t for me, they wouldn’t be here to do the good job. Looks like I did a pretty good job, too.
In the spring, when it all goes in again, I’ll make the pizza.
I might even make peanut butter balls. Last year I got the peanut butter ball recipe from our friend, Carol. She always makes wonderful holiday cookies. Her peanut butter balls are so great, my grown-up kids fight over them. I tried to make them. They didn’t turn out. I am not the baker Carol is. I found this recipe for kids to make. Just down my alley.
Peanut Butter Balls
you will need:
1 cup honey
2 cups powdered milk
Mix peanut butter, honey, and milk together in a large bowl to form a very thick mixture. (The kids use their hands instead of a spoon. It works better.)
Roll into balls the size desired.
Then roll the balls into
crushed corn flakes or
finely chopped or powdered sugar
Place on waxed paper and refrigerate for 20 minutes
Eat and enjoy!