What a Lovely Sight

 A thing of beauty. Mark brought his rowing scull with him this summer.



In the early mornings, on the flat calm water, he brightened the bay for sure.



It would only take about 25 strokes and he would be out beyond the boathouse, heading for the Island.


We have a soft spot for the rowing art. Our very English Uncle Fred Buck, once upon a time, coached the Eton Four Man boats,

If you'd like to take a look at how deceptively effortless this fragile vessel really is, check out the video here. 

Lucky!

 Clara found a four leaf clover in our lawn yesterday.




Now, that is not totally unknown, although David points out that HE has never found one.





Clover cottage got its name because when we were clearing the site, Rosemary found a four leaf clover right in the middle of what is now the living room.

Clara is not only lucky, she has excellent powers of observation!   We hope that luck rubs off on all of us!

Ahoy!

Today we went to Dorset, to enjoy the Community BBQ and complimentary cruises on the S.S. Bigwin.

Sailing on this beautifully restored more-than-a-century-old ship is a "Must Do" on the bucket list when you are here in North Muskoka.  With its electric engine, it slides silently across the waters of Lake of Bays, and is a dream to be aboard.

With me today was an old friend, Stacey Odlum, who now lives in France with her husband Emmanuel.  She was here for her High school reunion, and it has been such fun to have her staying with us at Bondi again.

 Taffy was also invited aboard, and was having fun channeling her inner Captain Jack Sparrow. That and being petted endlessly by the children on the cruise!

My friend Judy Van Clieaf who writes for What's Up Muskoka was on board as well -- one never knows, Taffy may make the local paper's page of celebrities!

The SS Bigwin is sailing all summer now.  During June, you can hop aboard for some of their special cruises, like the one to Bigwin Island for lunch.  During July and August they are sailing every Thursday from Port Cunnington Lodge -- appetizers and a cruise around Bigwin Island to be followed by dinner at the Lodge. Now THAT is a deal we intend to take part in!

Pure Gold

The American goldfinches are here in quantity - and breath-taking beauty.  

The males are resplendent in their golden breeding plumage, the girls are a little quieter in a soft olive colour scheme.  They swarm at the nyger seed feeder, and congregate on the lawns where they are enjoying the dandelion seeds.

Dandelions are the first spring food out for the local bees, as well as the finches, so we never get too worried about seeing them (and other wildflowers) dotting our lawns.

The bluejay brings a bright spark of colour to the feeders year round. While they are usually pushy, this one found himself forced to wait politely while Felonius the House Munk chowed down. 

 It has been pointed out to Felonius that his is NOT a bird. He doesn't care...

Chip is quite content to make the bluejay wait his turn.

 Today the Usual Suspects were joined by the red polls. More colour.



Since the bears are awake, we are careful to bring the birdfeeders inside at night. Including the Hummingbird feeder -- it is an interesting aside to note that hummingbird feeders are the number one attractant to bring a bear into your yard.  Bears have a sweet tooth. Or two.  But if you are careful with the feeders, you can continue to enjoy the birds at the feeders. Just be Bear Smart.

Come Join the Dance

At this time of year, there is a chorus outside the window every evening.  The spring peepers are singing their little hearts out like a well rehearsed choir. 

But at just about dusk, another voice comes to add notes to the chorus.

The woodcock is here.  His mating ritual involves flying upward in the darkening sky, in a huge spiral, all the while calling out his buzzy 'peent' note. 

.

When he is as high as he can go -- often more than 100 feet up there, he flutters back to the ground with a erratic movements, making what are described as melodious whimpering chirps -- not to mention the soft trill of his wings.  Just before reaching the ground he levels off, skims along the surface and sets down almost in the exact spot from which he took off.

 He then struts about a bit on terra firma, looking pretty sexy.  (and looking around for his lady love)  

And then starts it all over again.

Right now, his stage of choice is the horse pasture and garden, right behind Sunflower cottage.

Have a little listen... you can hear the frogs singing back-up.

Visitors on a Snow White Day

Our neighbour Betsy had what she described as a Snow White moment this week.   Camera in hand, she had gone to photograph tracks across the pond by her house.











(We think they are a fox, by the way. Fox leaves his track in a beautiful neat line, like  a string of pearls.  Otter drags his tail behind.  Porcupine ploughs a trough. Wolf trots with his hips to one side...)





As she walked through the woods, there was a flutter, and she was suddenly accompanied by four chickadees.

They came closer, and closer, and then came her 'Snow White' moment, as the cheery little birds landed on her hand.





These little birds are among our very favourites. They stay with us year round, brightening the bird feeders and cheering up the very air as they call back and forth.  It is a great thing to be gifted by their company.


Most of us have to 'make do' with enjoying them through the window, as they feast on suet and seeds.  Betsy was so blessed to have them come to her hand!


Betsy is an acclaimed artist, and you can see her work at this link.

Chickadees -- we have always felt -- are works of art in and of themselves.  Maybe they recognized the fellow artist in their midst.

Teaching Birds to Sing and Stars to Shine

You never know what will happen next.
I was invited to attend a function being
hosted in Dwight Saturday evening.  It was a live performance of the semi-finalists in the Long and McQuade Musical Instruments Amateur Singing Contest, with host John Santos.

The host venue was Bristlecone Lodge -- some of you will remember it as Nor'Loch Lodge. It has recently changed hands, and the new manager, Scott Martin, and his wife, have been hard at work to renew and recharge the facility.
It is wonderful to see the Resort back up and operating -- it is an asset to Dwight and all of North Muskoka.

A chance encounter resulted in them offering to host this event. Brilliant, really, as it is a perfect fit for the area and the time of the season.

John Santos, and Zack Werner opening the show

The ten performers rolled into Dwight in the longest stretch limo probably ever to grace that parking lot.

Truth is, I didn't really know what it was about.  While this is the 7th Year for this contest, it has not been on my radar.  Bringing it to Dwight certainly changed that!

Ten year old Adrianna Sarah sang in both English and
Portuguese, with confidence and lovely vocals.

I have to confess that I did not recognize show manager and vocal coach Zack Werner. I should have -- had I been a big follower of Canadian Idol, I would have...  But now I do know. Amazing man.

"It's an incentive for the performers to get out of Toronto. They've been practising for eight weeks, and it's a chance to get out," said Martin, "and a lot of them will never have been to Muskoka so it's something entirely new for them."

Victoria, another of the ten year olds... Wow!

So it was. One of the young performers commented that "It's really lovely up here. But COLD!" She should have been here a month ago...

Bella, 10, belted out some Broadway and simply
sparkled
 

The show celebrates diversity and the contestants may sing in any language. In fact, along with the huge prizes up for grabs for the winners, there is an additional prize -- a trip for six people for a week anywhere in the world! -- for the winner singing in a language other than English.

The show is also about youth. The youngest performers were just ten years old, and wow, did they sparkle!  The 'oldest' this year was a whopping twenty years of age, but the show is open to all ages,

Marilee, originally from Ecuador...

It was great good fun. And it was refreshing to have the young singers perform without benefit of glitz and special effects.


No make-up... casual clothing... (the uniting fashion statement seemed to be mukluks and high winter boots -- see comment above about "it's COLD!")

The kids were real, down to earth, and just great.



J.R. (I apologize if I have her name wrong) took
on Beyonce's style and worked it well

The talent calibre was very high throughout the evening.  There is no 'set' style -- contestants sang everything from gospel, through pop, to Broadway.  And a whack of songs in Portuguese and Spanish for extra flavour.







The show was perhaps not so well advertised up here, and there could have been more of the 'locals' out to enjoy it. Hopefully they'll be back next year, and the word will have spread.  


Michael, one of the young adults, captivated the crowd

The winter weather this weekend conspired to mean that a lot of people were out on the snowmobile trails, enjoying the last big bash at the ski hill, or taking in Bowfire at the Algonquin -- so granted there was some competition for activities -- which just goes to show how much goes on in North Muskoka in late March. 

Stephanie, who rocked a version of Black Velvet



So, there it was. For a $5 donation which Bristlecone is donating back to the Dwight Community, we had the most fun evening. We met some great people, were treated to some wonderful music, and were inspired by these kids.  It was a real treat to see the poise and confidence exhibited by these young people. 

Alyssa, who's parents are from Trinidad and
Italy has a powerful, controlled voice. Bravo

I think for me that was the most notable part of this competition.  As well as providing a venue for people of all ages and all nationalities, it provides the contestants with training and a support system that will serve them all well in whatever career they eventually embrace.

Peter, 20, had never sung before he stepped onto
the audition stage. Good thing he did, because
he has a fabulous voice, and got my friend
Jackie's vote for best of the night.

Monica, another young singer enjoying the chance
to shine in a second language

What came to mind as I watched and listened and clapped and cheered last night was an old proverb...



It is better to teach one bird how to sing, than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.




While this contest might be new to me, it is certainly not new to the media. The Portuguese Press was there, a journalist who has been following the show since it's beginnings.

And OMNI television was out in force. In fact, the show will air on OMNI in about two to three weeks, on a program called "Culture Avenue"


So here's to John and Lisa Santos, and Zack Werner, and Stephanie the vocal coach and everyone involved in this contest.  Well done all of you.

John Santos and 2012 Juvenile Category winner
Alessandra Longshaw

And here's to the ten finalists. Run with this. Enjoy this. Learn from this.  While this performance was not judged, and was rather an opportunity to gain stage experience for the singers in a relaxed setting, when they go to the finals next month, it will be all about the red carpet and the glamour. Last year over 1000 people came out for the finals.

At the end of the evening, last year's winner, 16 year old Alessandra Longshaw sang. She is poised and confident, natural and talented.  This is just a tiny snip of her music -- you can go buy her CD when it is completed (it is currently in production, as part of her prize from last year)

thanks for the evening...

Fine Dining

We often have groups here -- sometimes in the big Lodge that can sleep up to 18 people, sometimes in multiple cottages.  This week, the Brodey family is enjoying their reunion.  Now, while it's wonderful to be in a housekeeping cottage, able to 'graze' one's way through breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, not to worry about what is on the dining room menu that the kids' won't eat, or what time you have been scheduled for a meal, it's also lovely to be able to discard all responsibility for the preparation of that ever so important evening meal and be able to focus instead on the family around you, what everyone did that day, plans for tomorrow...

Problem solved for the Brodeys' with the entrance of Don Potter.  Don arrives every afternoon, his van loaded down with dinner, and prepares a gourmet feast in the Lodge's spacious kitchen.  Don IS Muskoka Catering.  Be warned -- reading the sample menus on his website may produce dangerous drooling on the keyboard.

There is no shortage of great caterers up here in North Muskoka, and it's a wonderful way to go. You have control over the menu, the time of the meals, you never have to leave the beach to get dinner ready...  For a group, it's a marvellous way to have a world-class meal served up right in your cottage, without any chopping, cutting, or baking on your part.

Don has been getting absolute rave reviews from our group, too.  I'm just sad I didn't get any samples... (she said, smiling)