Wow, it's already the end of July, and yes, it's still true, time flies when you're having fun!

We've had a rather quiet week and not too exiting weekend either, but that's fine, it's nice to have some lazy summer days too ..

It's been a little cooler, around 80F, and today it's only 72 so far. Nice!

I've gone for a couple of morning walks again now it's not so hot anymore, and came across this beautiful doe one day.

I was across the pond, but by using the extensive zoom on my camera, I could get some nice shots. Isn't she pretty?

 

I've now discovered a way to make a full loop around the lakes, so I can approach the beaver lodge from the other side, where there are less weeds to block my view.

Which is where I saw this ... 

Whaaa!

Is it a huge frog .. a giant fish .. an enormous pond-monster .. no .. it's the beaver! 

Busy, busy, busy, building something (?) and coming up from the pond covered in weeds and algae .. so funny!

 

James is still working hard, although now he's also taking the Thursday mornings off to play golf. 

He says he's having fun, the work is very variegated which he likes, and the owner is a very nice guy.

His daughter, the manager,  .. hmmm .. not so much, we've dubbed her 'the bitch' so you can draw you're own conclusions from that .. But we don't have much to do with her, so we're OK.

 In the 'ice'-room

 Finding parts in the chaotic attic is frustrating sometimes ..

Since they don't have many other 'workers' to help, other than some 'seasonals' that help out as a barter for their rent, I've been recruited to work a few hours a day too.

So far it has mainly been some cleaning and painting, about 2-3 hours a day (paid), and I'm fine with that.

As is the (catholic) tradition in upstate New York, this campground also has a 'Friday Night Fish Fry'. Battered cod, coleslaw, a macaroni salad and french fries, which we ate on the cafe's patio next to the lake. 
Simple but excellent, we will probably do this again!


Merl' is hanging in there. He seems to do a little better, eats better, even comes in by himself to ask for some, but still eats less than he used to. 
He's lost a pound so far, but has kept that up for 3 weeks now. His sugars are fine, he's down on his Insulin (0.5 instead of 1.0), but that's probably because he eats less.

 
Merl's lunch buffet: grilled chicken-breast, turkey baby-food and (canned) turkey-pate with Parmesan

Still, there are days that he acts 'off' again and doesn't want to eat much.

Oh well, we'll keep at it, enticing him to eat, (it turns out he loves turkey baby-food by the way) and hope for the best.

He's such a precious boy ...