Can You See Far? I Do...

There is a serenity in walking in the woods that helps you find your centre.

There is companionship, when you help each other across the wet places, point out the beautiful things, laugh together, listen together.

There is a perspective, found only in Nature. There is a connection, that is eternal.

If you hike up to the Lookout at Bondi, you have the opportunity to experience all those things, and many many more. On a clear day, from the Lookout, you can see all the way to the Dorset Fire Tower.

Melissa has been vacationing at Bondi for most of her life, until University and Life pulled her temporarily away. Her parents are currently operating the Fairy Bay Guest House, so she still gets some time up here in Muskoka.

Yesterday, she and her friend Albert stopped by -- to pick up some eggs for her Mom, and to hike to the Lookout.

Where Albert proposed, and Melissa said 'Yes."

Yesterday, you could see way past the Dorset Fire Tower from up there. Melissa and Albert could see into the Future.

Congratulations. There are always mountains to climb in any relationship -- but we hope the memory of the Bondi Lookout will stand to remind you that -- no matter how tough the climb, the view from the top makes it all worthwhile.

We wish you both the most wonderful things as you embark on this great adventure together.

Napster's Excellent Adventure

Napster the cat who arrived many years ago in the back seat of an OPP cruiser, lights flashing, has struggled forever with his body image. The crisis came to a head (or a tail?) when a few years back he found himself stuck in the cat flap door at the stable, hind legs air-peddling helplessly. He looked like Winnie the Pooh off to visit Rabbit... but it did nothing for his self esteem. Andrea, one of his best friends, tried to make him feel better by insisting he wasn't fat, that he'd merely beaten anorexia. He loves her for that, and wants the t-shirt... but he still couldn't fit through the flap.

Napster has his own Facebook page, and you can see from his profile picture that he was embarking on a slippery slope... He also has 32 friends, and his own exercise video...

David and his buddy Mike decided action must be taken. Napster was enrolled in his own version of Boot Camp and the Jenny Craig Walking program. It began with limited, very low-cal kibble. It escalated to the boys arriving at unannounced intervals to scoop up the cat, carry him somewhere on the property, put him down and make him walk home. It's been good. He's lost four pounds, which when you are a cat, is a lot of weight.

Put in context, Achmed only weighs in at nine pounds, of which probably five pounds is his halo of fur. When this cat sleeps, he resembles nothing so much as a pile of cat fur. But back to Napster...

Now, following a diligent winter exercise program that includes running laps through the house and over the sofa, the cat flap doors -- whether at the stable or at Nancy's house -- hold no terrors for Napster.

Today, with Spring in the air, he volunteered for his walk -- tromping up the driveway (carefully skirting the muddy bits), and marching boldly into the stable, where he greeted the chickens, flipped his tail in the Pony's direction, and then ascended the Cat-Ramp, vanishing into the hay loft for a little one-on-one with the mice.

The Thing about Spring

What is the old saw about the weather? If you don't like it, just wait five minutes, it will change...

Well, come Spring, you don't even have to wait, you just have to shift your gaze. These pictures were taken this morning, drenched in the kind of sun that makes people wonder why anyone would ever go South in March.

Why, this IS beach weather. For some. The deer were delighted to find a green grassy place in the sun right at the water's edge this morning. The serenity of the scene lifts the spirits. There is heat in the sun now. And the days are longer... at least the daylight hours!

The ski trail going up the hill towards the Frisbee Golf course -- great to play on snowshoes, by the by -- still looks like WINTER. The same goes for the field next to the stable, where one of the ski tracks runs

If you look a little farther along, however, you'll find the Chickens, deleriously happy to be out and about, ranging freely on grass that is already tinged with spring green.

South facing slopes, and plowed areas, these are already moving on, into Spring. By moving just a little, you can choose your season. How magic is that???

North facing slopes, such as the toboggan hill, and the trails through the woods where the sun can't quite reach, these are still in Winter Mode.

Hidden Valley Ski Club, where they make snow until they have a whomping base of it, that's still open. So, on the other hand, is the Visitor Centre in Algonquin Park, where the moose are starting to straggle out of the bush to the roadside, seeking the brackish salty nibbles they can find roadside.

The snow that has been hanging from the 3-car garage roof all winter has finally succumbed. As has, sadly, Katie's magnificent Igloo she and her Dad built at Christmas.

The buds are swelling on the trees, in places the pussywillows are coming out. Animals who have been sleeping the winter away are beginning to stretch and stir. There's some signs of activity around the wolf den -- a little candlelight, a little wine, perhaps, as the courtship begins. The snow fleas are out...

The beavers have been out on top of the ice.

Spring is magical, every day a new bird arrives from the South. Every minute there is something changing. Ice begins to drip, water begins to move. If you listen, you can hear spring coming.

Why not come north, and be part of this vastlfy under-rated time of year?

And, on your way, be sure to drop by the Muskoka Wildlife Centre, on Hwy. 11. Free admission for children accompanied by their parents all through March means you'll never have a better chance to get up close and personal with some of those very animals that are starting to come out of their winter sleeps.

March Magic

Spring is magical in North Muskoka. As winter starts to let go, water starts to move. Along the shores and trails it is a photographer's delight, with interesting shapes and designs, and something new all the time.

This is the way the weather has carved into the snow on one of the docks at Bondi Village Resort, creating a fascinatingly lovely design.

There's still lots of snow left, for those who like to play and toboggan and snowshoe, and you can be here for the March break, out of the car, onto the trails, playing in less time than it will take you to beat your way through Airport Security. Not to mention that here, you can drink the water!



Moose are starting to move around in the Park, coming out to the road in search of salt after a long winter. We've got deer on our property, all happy to pose for their close-up.

So come on up. March is magical in North Muskoka, and there are great specials on offer, too. We're running a Super Spring Special, for example -- 3 nights for 6 people for $600.00

A Little Close for Comfort

We love our trees. Really we do. We're on a first name basis with many of them, that have grown up along with us on the property. We know which of the maples are the first to change their leaves. We know which ones provide the best shelter, the best seeds, the best hiding places for the wild things.





And, sadly, sometimes we know which ones are in trouble. There was a lovely big maple at Springside cottage, but over the past few years, it has been showing signs of die-back.

The woodpeckers have been digging into it, a sure sign that there are insects at work within the bark. The top branches have died. So, no longer healthy, it becomes a hazard, since it would be vulnerable to heavy winds. Given that it was huge, heavy, and leaning over the cottage, for safety's sake, it had to be removed.



Now, this next chapter falls under the 'Don't try this at Home' section. Brian has a lot of experience felling trees -- our 600 acres of managed forests provide all our firewood at the resort, and he's been at this for some time. So out came the chainsaw, and the bulldozer, and off the boys headed to make like hewers of trees.





There was only one small miscalculation -- and that had to do with the amount of rot at the heart of the tree. While it had all been oh so carefully designed to fall where Brian planned, the inner rot caused the tree to rotate slightly just as it began to fall, and it came a little close for comfort to the cottage. How close is comfortable? Well, Brian bent the roof. As he pointed out to Carol, only a little bit, hardly anything, really... And just a corner... Really... it barely brushed the cottage...


Carol's comment remains probably unprintable.






In truth, it is an easy 'fix', for which we can all be grateful. Personally, my vote was to leave it, as a conversation peace. I felt it added character. Carols' comment on that is best omitted as well. With Brian on chainsaw, and David on bulldozer duty, the tree has been cleaned up, and sorted. The tops will provide food for the deer. The wood will provide fires for cold winter nights. The young trees growing in its shadow will now be able to reach straight and tall up for the sun.

And the cottage? Well, yes, it will have a little roof repair done. Nobody will ever know...

Noah's O'Larks

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching, and to celebrate, Noah's O'Larks, the choir of the Pioneer Memorial Church at Hillside, is holding their annual Fundraising dinner.

It's in honour of the leprechauns, we're sure, but to make sure there's a small pot of gold at evening's end, there's also a Silent Auction.

It's on Saturday, March 13, at 6 p.m. The Dinner could scarcely be MORE Irish... Irish Stew, Cabbage Salad, Soda Bread, and a green dessert. It's followed up by Entertainment by Noah's O'Larks, with their wonderful voices, and a sing-a-long for those of us with more will than skill.

Tickets are $15.00, and they are limited. Give Rev. Jolyn Campbell a call at 788 3612 to reserve one.

And don't forget to be wearing your Green!

A Dock in the Sun

There's always something happening with the BMD (Bondi Maintenance Department)


This week the lads took advantage of the great weather and good ice to complete renovations on the dock at BEAVER cottage.


As an aside, for the first time in a long time, we have vacancies in Beaver cottage this summer, so start dialing our number. This 3 bedroom cottage is just about the perfect place for a family getaway!

Everyone got into the act -- Carol showed up to check on the craftsmanship.








Brian considered doing a little chainsaw carving for character.













And David pointed out that when you rent the cottage, most regretably, you won't find him decorating the dock for you. That you have to do yourself.