What did you do today?

A friend of mine works at Deerhurst. It's quite the place -- the answering machine offers you a menu that includes "for accommodation fit for Prime Ministers and Presidents, Press One." But sometimes, no matter where people are, they seem to miss the point.

The guests at the unit she looks after were here from England. They spent most of their day inside, on their computers, probably on Facebook for all we know. Lamenting that the air conditioning wasn't quite up to standard.

Now, we've been in England... it's not that warm over there... Muskoka had brilliant weather, cool breezes, warm sun, and more activities taking place than anyone could possibly encompass. We have two cottages this week with guests from England, and they have been on the go every day. In fact, Emma tells me she wants to stay "forever", and when I suggested that she should apply for a summer job in a few years (she's only 8, so a bit young for the salt mines yet), she asked if we had a winter job she could apply for, too.

So, for those who wonder what to do with themselves, here's how some of our guests spent today. Eric and his Dad Rob took the canoe out at 5 a.m., in the mist. They paddled around to the portage, into Dwight Bay, until the mist was so thick they could barely see the shoreline. So they paddled back into the rising sunshine. Out there, in the middle of the lake, they were serenaded by the pack of wolves on the hillside. "Mesmerizing," reported Rob. "I'll never forget that."

Quinn got up early as well, and thought he heard an owl. He popped out onto the front lawn, just as the sun was considering coming up over the horizon, and he, too, was there for the wolfsong. Interspersed with the hoots of the barred owls. Quinn, being Quinn, hooted back. They held a little conversation before he went back inside to wait for breakfast.

Lily, Ethan, Ethan, Eric, Kevin, Alison, Amy, Matt and Dylan all took turns coming through the stable to look for eggs. Matt and Dylan wouldn't let theirs go -- proudly carrying them home to their cottage to be their breakfast. Dylan found a green shelled egg. Matt found one that was very pale pink. The brave ones put their hands right under the fluffy warm hens to check for eggs. Everyone patted the pony.

The doe brought her fawn onto the property, and Emma and her parents got a great look at the littlest of the deer. Some of the kids checked out the animal tracks left along the shore this morning. Ducks, raccoons, fox tracks and of course the slender pointed tracks of deer were all on exhibit.

Sandcastles got built. Boats got paddled, and lounged in. David and Mike spent a couple of hours taking guests waterskiing and tubing.

Andrea, Greg, Lily and Ethan hiked the back fields, working out how geo-caches work, and trying (but failing) to count the butterflies.

Frisbee golf got played.

Tim, Anne, Heather and Nancy left early to canoe in Algonquin Park for the day.

Hana and Alex went with Dave, Mike and Brian to the nearby Golf Range to whack a bucket of balls.

Dave and Janet hosted a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit, with ten people trying to remember weird sports statistics...

Jordy took photos of the monarch butterfly emerging from the chrysalis.

Nora and Vivian joined the bigger kids building huge sandcastles.

Of course, you could just sit indoors, but honestly, what is the point???

Get out. And stay out.

Our beautiful backyard is calling your name.