Ice Out 2026

 2026 Predictions As Follows As They Arrive

April 19 Jenny

April 30 Grandpa

May 1 Kevo

May 3 Reegan 

May 5 Oliver

May 7 Amy

May 8 Grandmaman

May 10 Logan
May 14 Sadie

May 19 Chad (Happy 25th)

The annual competition is up and running as of today, April 9, 2026.  Predictions are rolling in at lightning speed.  Scientific theoretical predictions, data driven decisions, evidence based theories or random guess based on your gut feelings and impulsive choices. 

Deadline for predictions April 15, 2026. Winners will win bragging rights and a unique prize.

April 9, 2026

Family Ice Out Competition Past Winners 

2019

2020

2021

2022 Chad May 12

2023 Reegan May 10

2024 Grandpa April 28

2025 Ethan May 4

2026

August Garden in Massachusetts

Rudbeckia or Black-eyed Susans Early August 2025

Zucchini Early August 2025

Eggplant Early August 2025

Cherry Tomatoes Early August 2025

Zucchini Early August 2025

Eggplant Early August 2025

Peppers Early August 2025

Blackberries Early August 2025

Garden Paths at Kuusamo

Garden Path August 2025
Ethan and Mom spent time this summer 2025 redoing
the garden on the south side of the cabin.
Some of the plants include daylilies, Tristan's pine tree, small evergreens, irises, creeping Jenny, Maltese Cross, delphiniens and a rhubarb.  Tristan's driftwood art sculpture and Ethan's Frog El Bow grace the garden.  The stepping stone from Amy and Kevin's first house also has a place in the garden.

Garden Path August 2025
Kevin placed and reconstructed this path from the wooden pathway at the Lakehouse last summer and this summer 2025 Ethan and Amy steadied the path, put in a few finishing touches, prepared the soil, rearranged some plants and planted others.
On the west side of the path is a natural forest and on the east side 
of the path is the developing garden.

Forest Path 2025

This is the other garden path, more of a forest path and the original path that Reegan and 
Kevin built.  It is on the east side of the driveway closer to the community road.

Forest Path 2025

Garden Paths in Boylston

 Chad and Logan worked hard hauling gravel for the garden paths. July 2025. Looks awesome.

Winnipeg Parks Rose

Planted July 31, 2025
in the backyard by the back fence. 

I think the rose bush 
 at the other of the flower bed is also a 
Winnipeg Parks Rose.

Winnipeg Parks Rose will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. 

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight.

This rose is highly ornamental and will turn red in the fall. The fruits are showy red hips displayed from mid to late fall. I often deadhead the roses but will leave them from this point forward in order to benefit from the rosehips.

This bush has cherry red flowers, dark red-tipped foliage, red hips, is excellent for cutting and is 

a tough, long-blooming, fragrant rose.

Midges

 Midge invasion at the lake this June 2025. 

 Clouds of midges arrived en masse and created piles of midges on the decks and in between the screens and windows when windows left open.  Made it very unpleasant to be outside and had to dust Charlie off when he came into the house.

So far we've only seen the midges at the Lakehouse and not the cabin.

First noticed the invasion when we woke up on June 10. Will try to update the blog when the invasion is finished.

Update- The invasion of clouds around our house only lasted two days but midges are still about.  Today, June 16,  we were swarmed on the sailboat.

Apparently these non-biting midges adults only live a few days 

and die shortly after mating. 

It is said to be  a sign of a healthy lake ecosystem.

Terrace

Vancouver Terrace Newly Planted April 2025

 

Hellebore also known as
Christmas Rose, Lenten Rose and Winter Rose