Counting the Days!

Our American guests have gone home after enjoying their Thanksgiving here with us, avoiding the crowds and feverish overspending of Black Friday and CyberMonday. They opted instead to hike Algonquin, drop in on a Bluegrass festival, take photos of the deer on our lawn.  With November behind us, we are getting ready for the next season.

December is on the doorstep. On Dec. 1st, Dwight will Light Up the Night, with a community festival.  At the Dwight Community Centre, at 6 p.m. there will be carols sung, hot chocolate guzzled, goodies munched and a Penny Sale held, from 5 to 6 p.m  Along with that will be the lighting of a tree on the grounds.  There will be life music from the Mason Trio, carolling with the Muskoka Music Men, and more.  The Irwin Memorial School's Open House will be happening, just across the street, and area businesses will be turning on their Christmas lights and staying open late. Check out the deals on offer, and get into that Christmas spirit.  Shopping locally helps us all.

As our thoughts turn to Christmas, they also turn to Christmas holidays.  Bondi Village is a fabulous place to spend some time over the holidays.  With our own on-site ski/snowshoe trails, toboggan hills, tube run, skating rink there's no need to be getting in the car -- there's plenty for everyone, of all ages and ambition.  Got someone who is mad-keen to be hitting the trails? Let them!  Those less inclined can easily come back to the comfy cottages and fireplaces without any guilt about cutting short someone else's fun or hanging about in cold parking lots waiting.  Just step out our doors, and you are on the trails!  That's perfect for kids, who can play outside and then right away, be back in the cottage without having to deal with getting in and out of cars, wet coats, and the like.  Don't have the equipment? No problem -- Algonquin Outfitters does, less than 10 minutes away, and you can bring it back here to use it on our trails. Snowshoes we've got for rent, and lots of toboggans and sliders to borrow.



Dara Howell, bronze medal, NZ Winter Games. National
Post Photo of the Week.

 Close by, we've got Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Centre. Not as mountainous as, say, the Alps, the hills offer a great variety of challenges for all levels. The ski school is excellent, friendly, relaxed and guaranteed to get you off to a great start.  Local talent Dara Howell learned to ski at "The Valley" -- recently she won bronze at the New Zealand Winter Games for her performance in Pipe and Park.  Our local hill is a fantastic place to learn and hone skills, close by, affordable. You can be there, from Bondi, in less than fifteen minutes!

Rock Ridge Tubing Park is also just a quick drive away, and what a fun place that is! Into the tube at the top of the hill, and then Hang On as you slide and spin to the bottom.  They have it all, from single person tubes to big family sized ones for extra fun.  Anyone wanting to take a break, or just watch the kids for a little while, can hang out in the spacious club house with coffee or hot chocolate, and enjoy the action through the big windows.

Sleigh rides are on offer at several local farms. Big, steaming horses will pull the straw laden sleighs out to bonfires for hot chocolate, and there is magic in the sound of the horses' in the snow, the runners underneath the sleigh, a timeless joy that never gets old.

Dog sledding is faster paced.  It's not just sitting in a pile of rugs watching the south end of northbound dogs -- there are lots of places that will teach you to drive the team, and if you've never been, you'll be astonished at how fast, how gloriously happy, these dogs are to be out in the woods.  The dogs' enthusiasm is completely infectious -- we have yet to see anyone go dog-sledding without a huge smile on their face.

Want to just relax? We've got that too.  Sit by the windows, next to the fireplace, something warm to drink close to hand, and get the family together over board games, cards games, word games. Create some winter crafts. Build a snowman, or a quinzhee hut, hand craft an igloo... or just watch the colours change on the snow as the sun sets.

Christmas is about families, and families are about spending time together.  We've got just the place. Get the family together and come on up to our place. It's all about being together, as families.  So, let's get 'unplugged' from the computers and take our ears away from all that din and commotion, let's spend the time with each other instead, in a truly beautiful part of our country.

 As Bing Crosby once memorably said,  "Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'."