The last hurrah!

Labour Day weekend was going to be a continuation of the painting project launched last year at this time with Team Elemental tackling the bunkie. But the weather forecast was not painting- friendly, beach-friendly, or campfire-friendly for the shores of Lake Huron and our last weekend of the summer. Moe and decided to make hay while there was some sun and headed out early on Friday to explore some other features of Grey-Bruce Counties.

First stop was Inglis Falls, one a seven falls in the Owen Sound area. We are going to do some of the others next summer.

Then it was down the road to Grey Roots Museum. I've passed this museum everytime we drive to the cottage, but we never have stopped, always eager to get to the beach. But we knew we had a few hours before the clouds would clear, so the museum was the perfect stop. The girls loved the heritage village section. Here they are on the porch of a log cabin, an original home of some Irish settlers in the area.

There was a scavenger house for the girls to do -- a great way to learn about the tools and activities of early settlers and their families. Here Julia tries out the parents' bed -- not so comfy.

Alyse tries her hand at bending some iron in the blacksmith's shop.

When we finally got to the beach, there was sun and some wind, but not the temperatures we have been blessed with this summer at Southampton. We were the only ones on our beach. It was wavier than we we were used to, but we would discover the next day, this was the calm before the storm. Here the girls sit, considering their options.

Julia tried to skim in the little channel, but the water was too high from all the waves. She had been waiting weeks to continue to hoan her skills at this new sport. She was very disappointed and bit cranky with a cold, so in her mind, there was no more fun to be had at the beach.

Alyse was in good spirits though, exploring the windy dunes -- splendor in the grass.

Julia, all bundled up, looks wistfully out at the lake that was too cold for her -- and I must admit --too cold for me too. We are fair weather swimmers. Last summer I never made it into the lake until Labour Day weekend, and this year, we were swimming the first week of the summer. This was a disappointment.

Moe and Alyse, no doubt warmed by their excitement finally to be at the beach, braved what we thought at the time were big waves.

We toasted what we thought was our last day at the beach with some smiles for Jerry's fries.

More to come as the long weekend unfolded..