Within two days time, here at the lake house, the ice has disappeared and summer wildlife returned.

Two loons flew in and have been calling, fishing, and scouting nesting places.

Mallard ducks are mapping out and defending their territory, and we’ve even seen a few mosquitos.

One mallard, a male, seems to be without a mate. He’s staying in, guarding really, our quiet little bay. He may have a mate, seldom seen as she’s nesting, because I do remember seeing her on the beach one morning last week. Wary should be the duck or team of ducks who try to move in on the bay shore before those babies are hatched out. He’s a fervent protector.

Veronica has a very good shot of him, diving from the dock to the water, that I’ll try to post later this week.

In just the last two days, our mostly frozen scenery has entirely disappeared!

The lake, once safe to quad on, snowmobile on - actually just a week ago - is now wide open water. Not a shard of ice to be seen.

In fact as the sun beat down on the lake this afternoon, we saw its reflection on the kitchen cupboards, the far wall, and on every picture frame. Ripples of light bounced around within the house and made everything feel new, and fresh, and hopeful.

I couldn’t help myself. Having found a new patio set - 4 chairs with a glass table - I spent many hours there, basking in the sun and listening to this week’s latest visitors to the lake. Two loons that have been inseparable since the moment they landed.

This spot is bliss. Heaven on earth. Convenience and comforting. I’m not sure how I shall ever leave it behind when my stay is over…

This long, snowy winter is certainly coming to a close. Looking out the window this morning - the lawn and then the lake beyond - all the excitement of spring to be is upon me.

New hope, a new house - sprouting up from the ground like the green grass just starting to peek from the ground this morning.

The ice is slipping back into the lake further every day. Soon it will break up from the center, churn up and turn over - giving birth to the bass that the children will catch off the dock in just a few month’s time. Beckoning summer visitors - canoeing and kayaking, swimming and playing water frisbee.

Once school’s out - it all begins…

A few (literally two) doors down from our lake house rental is a beautiful and new home on a small piece of property. We’ve only been here ourselves, just over a month so I can’t say how long it was for sale, or if the house was a renovation of an existing house, or a brand new build.

When we first moved onto the lake we could still hear a little bit of work going on up there - either to the decks or within the house. And we’ve certainly wandered up the road and seen the house from the driveway, but hadn’t yet ventured further.

Last week the for sale sign came down. There’s no way that house sold for less than $450,000, so I don’t want to hear anyone screaming about the Canadian recession.

In fact even though we are 3 hours away from Ottawa and Toronto, most of the houses around here - even without lake access - are in the upper 300,000s - and, although I don’t know the value of this rental house, I do know it can’t be more than 15 years old, has been beautifully maintained and has one of the prettiest views around Jade Bay. I’ve heard stories of the gardens and can barely wait for the snow to lift so I can see what’s growing there!

Although I don’t know the new owners on the hill, or what they do for a living, I did hear them last night. I think they were celebrating their new home, from the hot tub. It’s the first time I’ve heard anyone nearby at night, lakeside or roadside, and I only heard them because I was outside at the time. Not a peep could be heard from within the house.

It’s such a quiet and peaceful spot here.

Sitting out on the deck yesterday you could almost imagine the summer sun on your shoulders and the lapping of the lake’s waves upon the beach.

There was no wind to speak of so the heat of the sun could be enjoyed, while the melt of our snow and ice from a harsh winter rushed past the garage as a busy little stream on it’s way to the shoreline.

There was peace. Peace in the air and peace in my own mind for those hours.

Who needs a spa? Or a retreat? Or a massage? If we can just take an hour a day to simply ‘be’ - to stop and experience the beauty of the world around us - even if just imagined.

Fortunately, here at the Lake House, this is an easy task. A person can step out onto the deck, hear nothing but the birds and the water, see nothing but the sun and trees when looking to the sky.

Even though I’m eager to get back on my own land, with the horses outside my windows, I’ve also found peace enough to enjoy this time at the lake, in this beautiful house, for as long as I have it.