Snow!

The snow is here! Overnight we went from autumn to winter. It's always wonderful to wake up to the first snow. Everything is sparkly, white, clean. The sun casts blue shadows. The horses gallop and roll just for the fun of it. The chickens congregate at the stable door and mutter under their breath.

The lake changes colour. The sun comes back at you, reflecting so brightly you need to reach for the sunglasses you haven't needed in a while. You can see your breath hang in the air.

And the deer trail their footprints across the lawn, like strands of pearls.

People start to think about skis, and skates, toboggans and snowball fights.

Snowmobilers head out to pick up their trail permits -- which reminds me, our guests can now rent snowmobiles in Dwight, just minutes away.

We still have vacancies for Christmas -- you should come. Bring the kids and let them actually use the outdoor toys they found under the tree! Cut your own Christmas tree on our property. Go for a horse drawn sleigh ride -- or for something different, go for a sleigh ride with Andrews' Oxen! The huskies are in heaven, having waited all year for snow so they can get out with the sleds and run as only dog sled dogs can run. The tubing park in Huntsville is lining up the tubes, checking all their equipment...

Snowplows grumble along the roads, and those who have been delaying getting their winter tires are goaded into action. The ski hill operators start to smile again, and begin to tune up the snow guns.

And over at Beauview, our good friend Gord can finally stop going squirrely waiting for the snow...