Yesterday, in the evening's failing light, Brian and Dave lit the place up doing a little metal working to repair a baffle from one of the wood burning furnaces.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Makin' it Work
Yesterday, in the evening's failing light, Brian and Dave lit the place up doing a little metal working to repair a baffle from one of the wood burning furnaces.
Owls! Rare Birds Indeed!
a lot of their time hunting for birds -- armed with cameras.They keep adding to their Life List of rare birds. (Syl is still way out ahead: he spotted Kelly, the rarest and most precious "bird" of all. They were birding in Algonquin Park, when Kelly -- absorbed in spotting an elusive warbler -- was called over by Syl. "Not now," she hissed, I've got a good bird over here."
"I've got a better one" Syl replied, producing a small red box containing the engagement ring.
This December, Syl sent me some photos of more rare birds they have spotted together. These owls were near Point Pelee/Kingsville.
It's not common to see Great Gray owls. They are Manitoba's provincial bird -- but here we are well south of their normal range -- which means sightings are elusive, and rate a gold star on a Birder's Life List. The largest of our owls, they can easily be three feet high, with wingspans up to five feet across. This one obligingly perched on a stump near the road, making it possible for Syl to get a good view, and a good photo.
And the Snowy Owl, equally obliging, checked out the tv reception, posing beautifully for his adoring public. Stunningly beautiful in their Winter Whites, these are huge owls - we do see them here, but not often. When these owls leave their Arctic ranges, it indicates a shortage of mice up there to the north. Given the number of mice in my stable this winter, I'd suggest that the entire northern population might be here, but I could be exaggerating. It is not uncommon for these owls to periodically descend upon Southern Ontario, following the fluctuations in rodent populations that regularly occurs. Syl and Kelly were very fortunate, and we are quite green with envy, that they were able to see these fantastic owls.
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| photo by Gary Schulz, with permission. Snowy Owl. |
I'm including this video of a hunting Great Gray Owl, courtesy of the BBC. The photography in both these video links is astonishing, and watching how these incredible birds hunt only adds to the awe in which I hold them!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Lake Songs
We're not there just yet. But we are hovering at around 30 below as I write this, late at night, under an enormous but not yet full moon that played havoc with our Star Gazing earlier this evening.
Even with the moonshadow, our guests had a blast learning how to track from the Big Dipper to the North Star, to Cassiopeai; from Orion to the Pleiades, to Sirius. We were bundled up against the cold, and nobody needed a flashlight, with the moon shine reflecting back from the snow.
In the silence, you could hear the lake snap, and growl. It's not a noise that you hear unless you are outside at night, when it is really cold, and it is not a noise you soon forget. Like loon tremolo in the spring and summer, this is a truly Northern song, the song the lake sings when it is making ice. As water freezes, it expands. As the bay freezes over, that ice expands too, pushing against the shores. Those shores are made of stern stuff -- fabulous high quality Muskoka Granite. It hasn't moved in millenia and it has no intention of moving now, just because of a little ice-push. That causes tension to build in the ice -- it's the classic immoveable object meeting up with the irresistable force. To release that pent up energy, the ice will crack and shift as fault lines form.
And that is what causes the lake to sound like someone shaking a sheet of metal, like a low growl, or a sudden snap. Freezing lakes aren't silent -- despite the serene surface stillness.
Winter is here. For true. We know, because tonight we heard the lake sing.
Up and Running
Skis, toboggans, sleds, snowshoes... everything is set for some winter fun. The snow is here, and the cold weather (and yes, tonight it is exceptionally cold out there -- clear skies, huge moon, and deep deep cold). That will firm up the trails and the lakes, so it's a good thing.
Brian has about half of our ski trails groomed and track set. There are some that still need more snow before they are really ready for the groomer, but they can be skied without being track set.He set a big figure8 loop through the open fields behind the resort, that is absolutely ideal for getting back on skis for those who need a place to 'find their snow legs'. The fields have a lovely, gentle roll to the terrain, and are interspersed with the tracks of wildlife. From these you can loop off onto several of the trails winding through the forests around Bondi.
He's also set a trail around the resort property itself. In these pictures, you can see him coming back across the lawn, from the lakeside of Beaver cottage, behind Cedars cottage. How convenient is that? You can step out of the cottage directly onto this trail, ski one or more loops around to get yourself warmed up (or wait for your friends to get their gear on!) and then head out for a longer ski!Guests today also hiked up the mountain -- the snow is not so deep that snowshoes are really required, and it was clear and sunny, perfect for a day out! Provided you were dressed for it! Scarves over faces, woolly hats and good boots are the order of the day.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Slip Sliding Along!
Arrowhead Provincial Park -- home of great cross country skiing trails every winter -- has added something new and fun.
They've flooded one of the mainland roads, and created a SKATING TRAIL. With campfire sites along the way, you can spend some time skating along the road, stop for a bonfire, roast a marshmallow, toast the day with some hot chocolate, and skate on back.
With the lakes being still a bit unco-operative about ice conditions, this is just a fun and funky way to get your Skate On!
We provide a vehicle pass for our registered guests. Otherwise, a vehicle park pass is only $14.00, and it is a great way to get outside and enjoy the wonderful winter season!
Weird Winter? Here's some Perspective from 1932 on Lake of Bays
In 2005, for our Centennial Year here at Bondi Village, I began an archaelogical dig through my grandfather's diaries. Talk about layers, and details! It's a treasure trove, although hard on the eyes to decipher. His son, my father, Paul began his own diaries at an early age as well, adding a very different perspective to life here on Bondi Bay. As part of the project, I worked up a series of articles on Bondi's early days. And I'd like to share a little of that here.
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| Old ice house -- these buildings were built ―inside out’ with the paneling on the inside, because of the sawdust needed to cover the ice and for convenience in stacking the ice blocks. |
Because in 1932, we experienced a winter that -- when it comes to mild -- puts this one to shame. It's a long post, because it was actually written as a full article, so it sort of calls for a cup of coffee, or tea, or even a stiff tumbler...
"I BECAME AN UNCLE"
It is a very Canadian trait to talk about the weather. Joseph Tapley recorded the weather on a daily basis – it was of great importance to a farmer. It is interesting to look back at the weather patterns over a century – and 1932 was certainly a noteworthy year in the weather department.
It is a very Canadian trait to talk about the weather. Joseph Tapley recorded the weather on a daily basis – it was of great importance to a farmer. It is interesting to look back at the weather patterns over a century – and 1932 was certainly a noteworthy year in the weather department.
On Jan. 8, the North Bay, facing Dwight, was still clear of ice, and a week later, on Jan. 14, Joseph went golfing… That would have been on the course at Britannia, at South Portage. He golfed for three days straight before being reined in by a sharp frost. There was some up and down weather, but the mild winter continued. Young Paul (who would be 14 in December) was having a blast. ―
Jan. 9, bicycled to Hungerfords.
Skating.
Jan. 10. Cycling on ice.
Jan. 10. Cycling on ice.
Jan. 12, Got bob sleigh from Gordon Allinson.
Jan. 13. Snow gone.
Jan. 16. Gorgeous spring day. Went to Marsh’s Falls on bicycle.
But it just couldn’t last. It started to snow on Jan. 24, and kept at it. Paul put his bike away.
Jan. 13. Snow gone.
Jan. 16. Gorgeous spring day. Went to Marsh’s Falls on bicycle.
But it just couldn’t last. It started to snow on Jan. 24, and kept at it. Paul put his bike away.
Feb. 1st brought something other than the weather into conversation. Son Percy and his wife Louise welcomed their first child, Mary Louise into the world. Paul wrote, ―I became an uncle at 9 o’clock.
Paul notes that on Feb. 3 the cars were still able to run the roads as far as Dwight, althoughHillside was blocked. He went to a boxing match at Dwight on the 5th, and the next day flew his kite and got his bike back out of the shed. On Feb. 7 an aeroplane passed overhead, worthy of note as this was still quite a rare occurrence. The next day, Feb. 8, Joe described as the roughest day this year so far. Blizzard.
Paul notes that on Feb. 3 the cars were still able to run the roads as far as Dwight, although
It didn’t last. By Feb. 12, gale and hurricane weather had removed most of the snow from the hill and the ploughed fields were showing.
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| Joseph at Walmsley's place, Port Cunnington |
It wasn’t until Feb. 24 that the first team crossed from Thompson’s Portage to Port Cunnington on the ice. With the roads in rough winter condition, the loss of the ice routes for transport must have caused some problems, but the weather was certainly giving folks a vacation: On Feb. 28, Joe wrote ―Very fine day. At 3 p.m. thermometer registered 90 in the sun.
The first crow arrived at Bondi on Leap Day – Paul had an eye for the wild creatures, and noted their arrivals and departures. He was also keen to get his fishing lines back into the water. And he’d just received a raise in his allowance, to .50/week.
The first crow arrived at Bondi on Leap Day – Paul had an eye for the wild creatures, and noted their arrivals and departures. He was also keen to get his fishing lines back into the water. And he’d just received a raise in his allowance, to .50/week.
March 1st saw many cars out on the ice. Mel and Godlip Stone and Arthur Gibbs finished putting in the ice supply for the year, and covered it with sawdust.
Joe must have been employing half the Township that winter. Pete and Dick Cotterchio and Alec Thompson were working at the farm cutting wood and hauling logs. So were Bob and Stan Wilder, Lance Allinson, Godlip and Mel Stone and Clarence Bouges. Not all at once, but their names crop up on a regular basis. As does Mr. Hughson, who visited Bondi almost every day during January and February and March. 
The world was still fighting off the Great Depression. Joe was clipping articles denouncing the tariffs, following the rise of the Labour party in England, and continuing his extensive correspondence with friends and family.
On Oct. 6, his brother wrote from London, ―As you will have gathered from Celia’s letters, this year we spent our holiday at Hove. We had an apartment with people recommended by (sister) Gertie, of the name Marcall. Strange to say, they have a son who is a curate at St. Andrew’s Stockwell. (Stockwell was where Joseph was born and grew up)
Of course I was able to tell them a little about the church in the olden days, and did not forget to mention the occasion on which you took the solo when the bishop preached (was it the Bishop of Winchester?) and how the solemn service was preceded by a little curtain raiser in which a young man from the country, Harry Lavender by name, determined to have good seat so as to enjoy your solo to the full, made himself comfortable in the bishop’s position at the Communion Table, until the lady care-taker, aflame with wrath, ignominiously expelled the trespasser.
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Franklin had increased from 502 people to 578. Huntsville from 2246 to a whopping 2817. (April 7, Forester)
Joe must have been employing half the Township that winter. Pete and Dick Cotterchio and Alec Thompson were working at the farm cutting wood and hauling logs. So were Bob and Stan Wilder, Lance Allinson, Godlip and Mel Stone and Clarence Bouges. Not all at once, but their names crop up on a regular basis. As does Mr. Hughson, who visited Bondi almost every day during January and February and March. There was an election in Franklin Township. Taylor Bradley (with 89 votes) beat out Jno. Robinson and Leslie Fleming for the Reeve’s chair. Council saw Gordon Thompson, V.C. Asbury, T. Burns and W. Boothby win seats at the table. Joe clipped an article comparing the 1931 census in Franklin and Huntsville with the 1921 census.
Violet returned to Toronto on March 22. Paul cut classes in the morning, and ―went to Marsh’s Falls to try and catch the snowmobile to Huntsville, but there wasn’t room Don’t think skidoo… Once upon a time, a regular Stagecoach ran that route, Dorset to Huntsville, too!
The next day, Paul left home at 5 a.m., arriving in Huntsville at 10.30 a.m. with Otto Munroe, and left for Toronto on the 1.00 train. He had a wonderful time: went to a movie, a play, wrestling bout, hockey match, another show, twice to Church on Sunday, more shows, another hockey game, a visit to Dr. Laurie’s (during which he lost his sister’s gloves), St. Simon’s Church, and a concert at the Royal York, the show The Barretts of Wimpole St., 8 more shows, a concert at the Collegiate, St. Paul’s church, and – most exciting – ―saw fire reel go to fire. He came home in need of a rest! But April is a busy time, and the diary entries are almost breathless.
Apr. 17, ice melting fast.
April 18, burning grass
April 19, 1st batch of chickens hatched
April 14, 1st loon
Apr. 18, got 28 lay chickens from Tom Hungerford
Apr. 29, Ice completely gone.
Apr. 30, 1st tree frogs
May 1, found first spring flowers
May 11, 1st whip-poor-will
April 12, cows left out for first time.
Joe’s take was more somber. He was struggling with gout and arthritis, a bout of rheumatism in his left wrist. Dr. Davies sent in medicine, and Joe clipped out news articles about the best ways to deal with the infection that caused arthritis. He spent most of April confined to the house, emerging in early May to have a tooth extracted. At 70, he wasn’t having as much fun as young Paul, who was managing to fit in some time in school in between fishing and biking.
Paul, evidently, was also going through a forgetful phase.
May 13, lost knife.
May 17, got knife.
May 21, Violet and Don Laurie came. Went to Hogs Trough, caught a trout.
May 23, fishing, Goose Lake and Marsh’s Falls. Violet left.
May 24. Lost knife.
May 27. Got knife from Chris Ash.
May 30. Killed groundhog under boathouse. Lost knife.
Joseph didn’t get back onto the golf course until May 22, one month and three days since he last hit the links. Elizabeth, with her 28 new laying hens, was doing well – she got a new chimney in the wood shed kitchen, and on June 12 she caught a 3 lb. trout. This impressed both the men in her life. A hawk scooped three of the chickens on June 3rd. She no longer walked to Dwight – her horizons had rapidly expanded, and she got to ride in style – and not just toHuntsville , but to Toronto
Bondi Farm continued to plant enormous gardens – and they were now expanding. The time spent removing the stumps from the fallow with dynamite paid off – it was planted with squash for the first time.
Violet returned to Toronto on March 22. Paul cut classes in the morning, and ―went to Marsh’s Falls to try and catch the snowmobile to Huntsville, but there wasn’t room Don’t think skidoo… Once upon a time, a regular Stagecoach ran that route, Dorset to Huntsville, too!
The next day, Paul left home at 5 a.m., arriving in Huntsville at 10.30 a.m. with Otto Munroe, and left for Toronto on the 1.00 train. He had a wonderful time: went to a movie, a play, wrestling bout, hockey match, another show, twice to Church on Sunday, more shows, another hockey game, a visit to Dr. Laurie’s (during which he lost his sister’s gloves), St. Simon’s Church, and a concert at the Royal York, the show The Barretts of Wimpole St., 8 more shows, a concert at the Collegiate, St. Paul’s church, and – most exciting – ―saw fire reel go to fire. He came home in need of a rest! But April is a busy time, and the diary entries are almost breathless.
Apr. 17, ice melting fast.
April 18, burning grass
April 19, 1st batch of chickens hatched
April 14, 1st loon
Apr. 18, got 28 lay chickens from Tom Hungerford
Apr. 29, Ice completely gone.
Apr. 30, 1st tree frogs
May 1, found first spring flowers
May 11, 1st whip-poor-will
April 12, cows left out for first time.
Joe’s take was more somber. He was struggling with gout and arthritis, a bout of rheumatism in his left wrist. Dr. Davies sent in medicine, and Joe clipped out news articles about the best ways to deal with the infection that caused arthritis. He spent most of April confined to the house, emerging in early May to have a tooth extracted. At 70, he wasn’t having as much fun as young Paul, who was managing to fit in some time in school in between fishing and biking.Paul, evidently, was also going through a forgetful phase.
May 13, lost knife.
May 17, got knife.
May 21, Violet and Don Laurie came. Went to Hogs Trough, caught a trout.
May 23, fishing, Goose Lake and Marsh’s Falls. Violet left.
May 24. Lost knife.
May 27. Got knife from Chris Ash.
May 30. Killed groundhog under boathouse. Lost knife.
Joseph didn’t get back onto the golf course until May 22, one month and three days since he last hit the links. Elizabeth, with her 28 new laying hens, was doing well – she got a new chimney in the wood shed kitchen, and on June 12 she caught a 3 lb. trout. This impressed both the men in her life. A hawk scooped three of the chickens on June 3rd. She no longer walked to Dwight – her horizons had rapidly expanded, and she got to ride in style – and not just to
Bondi Farm continued to plant enormous gardens – and they were now expanding. The time spent removing the stumps from the fallow with dynamite paid off – it was planted with squash for the first time.
Violet, living in Toronto, and finishing Secretarial School, headed off in May on what is described as her New York tour. When she came home, she came by car. Her own.
That impressed her young brother. The nice weather continued, and the first tea on the verandah was taken on May 15. June saw some drenching rain, and then – on June 5 – it was 80 in the shade. Paul got an allowance increase to .75/week. He earned it. Chores included hoeing potatoes, and picking strawberries, blackberries and blueberries for his mother. That let him see more of the wildlife –
June 2, ―saw baby fox and mother.
June 22, absent from school in the morning scuffling potatoes. Saw baby pheasants.
The heat wave continued to June 18, but on the 20th , hail and thunder rolled in and returned temperatures to normal
Joe noted in the diary, the old dictum of Chauncery, ―It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt. Alec Molnar called looking for work. Joe started him at $1/day, and raised it to $1.50 after a week’s trial period.
That impressed her young brother. The nice weather continued, and the first tea on the verandah was taken on May 15. June saw some drenching rain, and then – on June 5 – it was 80 in the shade. Paul got an allowance increase to .75/week. He earned it. Chores included hoeing potatoes, and picking strawberries, blackberries and blueberries for his mother. That let him see more of the wildlife –
June 2, ―saw baby fox and mother.
June 22, absent from school in the morning scuffling potatoes. Saw baby pheasants.
The heat wave continued to June 18, but on the 20th , hail and thunder rolled in and returned temperatures to normal
Joe noted in the diary, the old dictum of Chauncery, ―It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt. Alec Molnar called looking for work. Joe started him at $1/day, and raised it to $1.50 after a week’s trial period.
There was also a new road under construction into Dwight. In late 1931 the municipality had worked out an agreement with the Ministry of Northern Development, and were relocating the Dwight Road from Cain’s Corners to Dwight without following the old road along the shoreline. Some of the gravel for this road came from Joe’s pit – a good source of income for the farm, and a deal that kept men living near Marsh’s Falls in a work camp for much of the year. Paul would frequently cycle out to the camp and have dinner with the men.
June brought the summer people back to the lake. Not a day passed without company at Bondi. Elizabeth must have got good mileage out of her new kitchen and stove. Irving Beach arrived on June 25, and Paul pretty much vanished to Beach’s cottage at every opportunity to guide him on fishing trips. On June 28, ―Miss Beach gave me electric engine. Hungerford’s Bull in with the cows, he writes, and follows this up with the next day’s entry, ―Engine Worked! (there is no comment about the bull) The bicycle saw plenty of use. ―Elizabeth no longer had to walk to Dwight – Paul could ride there to get the mail and deliver produce.
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| Joseph, 1932, cuts a figure in his new plus fours |
Equipment at a farm takes a lot of abuse. On June 25, Hyram Wilder worked from 2 – 7 p.m, scuffled 28 rows of potatoes, and then smashed the scuffler. On July 18, the Haying mower broke down. Undaunted, Joseph purchased a new set of golf plus fours for $2.95.
The neighbours were having a rough time. On July 2, a garage and car burnt at Hyram Wilder’s. Mrs. Stan Boothby (Birdie) passed away – Paul sang Beautiful Isle at the funeral. Mrs. Sylvia Kakes funeral was the week before.
Mr. Carter took Paul for a spin in his sea flea at the end of July, and then – oh wow – on July 30, Paul drove Violet’s car for the first time! Paul continued his fishing career – on Aug. 2, he caught three fish: a 4, 5 lb. and 3 lb. trout. The following day he guided campers fishing, and caught 6 bass. These campers – Mr. and Mrs. Hill -- paid Joe $2.50/week to set their tent near the water’s edge.
Violet took her young brother back to Toronto on August 12 – in her car. They went, of course, to as many shows as they could fit in, visited Sunnyside Beach, and motored up to Keswick and fished all day, before coming home 5 days later.
The neighbours were having a rough time. On July 2, a garage and car burnt at Hyram Wilder’s. Mrs. Stan Boothby (Birdie) passed away – Paul sang Beautiful Isle at the funeral. Mrs. Sylvia Kakes funeral was the week before.
Mr. Carter took Paul for a spin in his sea flea at the end of July, and then – oh wow – on July 30, Paul drove Violet’s car for the first time! Paul continued his fishing career – on Aug. 2, he caught three fish: a 4, 5 lb. and 3 lb. trout. The following day he guided campers fishing, and caught 6 bass. These campers – Mr. and Mrs. Hill -- paid Joe $2.50/week to set their tent near the water’s edge.
Violet took her young brother back to Toronto on August 12 – in her car. They went, of course, to as many shows as they could fit in, visited Sunnyside Beach, and motored up to Keswick and fished all day, before coming home 5 days later.
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| Buster, fish, and gun, with Vio's car |
The car had opened up the world – on August 18, Elizabeth headed off to Toronto, but not before driving up to Limberlost with Joe at 10 a.m. for Lunch with Rowland and Gordon Hill. This would have been unheard of with a horse and buggy. She came home on August 20 – arriving at 5 p.m. Two hours later, Percy and Louise arrived – it was their first return to Bondi since the wedding on June 12, 1929. They arrived in a heat wave – 86 in the shade They didn’t’ stay long. Percy was in the process of relocating from the States to Toronto, still employed by Teck Hughes Mines. He would move into his new house on September 10
Joe himself had been to Toronto at the beginning of August with Violet – heading straight for the “uptown Talkies” every day, and paying his daughter $5 for gas and fire plugs. Alec Molner returned from Sudbury, and came back to work at Bondi.
On Sept. 1st, school started again, but Paul was notable by his absence for the first week, picking blackberries.
On Sept. 5, Violet and Paul went for a ride in an aeroplane at 11.15. Joe noted, “Paul’s first time. Height 1400 ft. today, weight of plane 1800 lbs. ToToronto
The next day, Violet and Elizabeth left for Toronto, but only for a few days.
On Sept. 13, their neighbours, the Hawkes – who lived next to site of the Oxtongue Craft Cabin, were burnt out at 2 a.m. . Joseph had been working hard at Pratt’s cabin, near Dwight, to have it ready to rent.. A new toilet had been installed – and only finished on July 31. Joe had cleaned the floors, burned the remains of the old barn, cleaned the shelves. Joseph ―rented Pratt’s cabin to Mr. Hughson, on a monthly tenancy for $10/month beginning Sept. 17, with $5 allowed for oil cloth, and $5 cash paid.‖ The weather was –finally—turning cold. Sept. 17 saw the first fire in the living room.
Paul was still busy outside of school hours, hunting and fishing. On Sept. 19, he and his sister upset the canoe in the lake at 9 p.m.. It must have been quite the wreck, because Joe not only notes it, he underlines it heavily. Sept. 29 brought the first snow, and the comment ―Wild weather.
That snow turned to rain, and pretty much continued that way until mid October, prompting Joe to write on Oct. 9, ―dull depressing dismal gloomy day. Occasional rain. Throughout the weather, the corn was stacked, potatoes dug, fields ploughed and manure hauled. On Oct. 16 the geese called it quits and headed south. Oct. 18 was Alec Molnar’s last day. ―Paid him $50 in full settlement of account to date.
Percy wrote his father, ―Paul is developing into a fine young man. One notices such a change in a year. Joe was also struck by Percy’s fact that $22,000 approximately paid monthly by Teck Hughes Mines to Hydro Electric.
November 2nd, Bondi hosted a Musical Evening – Paul was the star performer. The weather had turned around again: the next day Joe went golfing. Paul saw, on Nov. 17, what I think are wolf tracks in fallow.
Joe’s sister-in-law Celia wrote him that ―Alfred is now thrilled with wireless, a play ―Sir Christopher Wren by Whittaker Wilson, a man the Reeves (Reeves were relatives, with a book business in London) publish for and Alfred has revised most of his books.
The open verandah was boarded up, although the cattle were still grazing on Dec. 2. It changed fast however. By Dec. 16 it was 30 below. ―The complete lake has been frozen the last three of four days. Today the Stones walked across from their place to M. Munroe’s,‖ Joe noted on Dec. 18. The Children started crossing the lake from point to point to get to the school the following day. Elizabeth and Paul went to the Christmas tree celebration at Port Cunnington. The cold produced great skating conditions, and Paul took full advantage of that with his friends.
All the same, it was a Green Christmas. Percy and Louise arrived on the 26
and took Paul back toToronto
Joe himself had been to Toronto at the beginning of August with Violet – heading straight for the “uptown Talkies” every day, and paying his daughter $5 for gas and fire plugs. Alec Molner returned from Sudbury, and came back to work at Bondi.
On Sept. 1st, school started again, but Paul was notable by his absence for the first week, picking blackberries.
On Sept. 5, Violet and Paul went for a ride in an aeroplane at 11.15. Joe noted, “Paul’s first time. Height 1400 ft. today, weight of plane 1800 lbs. To
The next day, Violet and Elizabeth left for Toronto, but only for a few days.
On Sept. 13, their neighbours, the Hawkes – who lived next to site of the Oxtongue Craft Cabin, were burnt out at 2 a.m. . Joseph had been working hard at Pratt’s cabin, near Dwight, to have it ready to rent.. A new toilet had been installed – and only finished on July 31. Joe had cleaned the floors, burned the remains of the old barn, cleaned the shelves. Joseph ―rented Pratt’s cabin to Mr. Hughson, on a monthly tenancy for $10/month beginning Sept. 17, with $5 allowed for oil cloth, and $5 cash paid.‖ The weather was –finally—turning cold. Sept. 17 saw the first fire in the living room.
Paul was still busy outside of school hours, hunting and fishing. On Sept. 19, he and his sister upset the canoe in the lake at 9 p.m.. It must have been quite the wreck, because Joe not only notes it, he underlines it heavily. Sept. 29 brought the first snow, and the comment ―Wild weather.
That snow turned to rain, and pretty much continued that way until mid October, prompting Joe to write on Oct. 9, ―dull depressing dismal gloomy day. Occasional rain. Throughout the weather, the corn was stacked, potatoes dug, fields ploughed and manure hauled. On Oct. 16 the geese called it quits and headed south. Oct. 18 was Alec Molnar’s last day. ―Paid him $50 in full settlement of account to date.
Percy wrote his father, ―Paul is developing into a fine young man. One notices such a change in a year. Joe was also struck by Percy’s fact that $22,000 approximately paid monthly by Teck Hughes Mines to Hydro Electric.
November 2nd, Bondi hosted a Musical Evening – Paul was the star performer. The weather had turned around again: the next day Joe went golfing. Paul saw, on Nov. 17, what I think are wolf tracks in fallow.
Joe’s sister-in-law Celia wrote him that ―Alfred is now thrilled with wireless, a play ―Sir Christopher Wren by Whittaker Wilson, a man the Reeves (Reeves were relatives, with a book business in London) publish for and Alfred has revised most of his books.
The open verandah was boarded up, although the cattle were still grazing on Dec. 2. It changed fast however. By Dec. 16 it was 30 below. ―The complete lake has been frozen the last three of four days. Today the Stones walked across from their place to M. Munroe’s,‖ Joe noted on Dec. 18. The Children started crossing the lake from point to point to get to the school the following day. Elizabeth and Paul went to the Christmas tree celebration at Port Cunnington. The cold produced great skating conditions, and Paul took full advantage of that with his friends.
All the same, it was a Green Christmas. Percy and Louise arrived on the 26
and took Paul back to
The world was still fighting off the Great Depression. Joe was clipping articles denouncing the tariffs, following the rise of the Labour party in England, and continuing his extensive correspondence with friends and family.
On Oct. 6, his brother wrote from London, ―As you will have gathered from Celia’s letters, this year we spent our holiday at Hove. We had an apartment with people recommended by (sister) Gertie, of the name Marcall. Strange to say, they have a son who is a curate at St. Andrew’s Stockwell. (Stockwell was where Joseph was born and grew up)
Of course I was able to tell them a little about the church in the olden days, and did not forget to mention the occasion on which you took the solo when the bishop preached (was it the Bishop of Winchester?) and how the solemn service was preceded by a little curtain raiser in which a young man from the country, Harry Lavender by name, determined to have good seat so as to enjoy your solo to the full, made himself comfortable in the bishop’s position at the Communion Table, until the lady care-taker, aflame with wrath, ignominiously expelled the trespasser.
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Making Tracks on New Years' Day
Brian groomed a loop for skiers circling our big back Pioneer fields -- not a very long loop, but you could just keep going, getting into stride, warming up legs and reflexes, climbing gentle hills and zooming down others.
We had several guests head out onto that. And three who decided to Boldly Go...
They tackled the trails through the woods - including Hill and Gully, which is one of our hillier (hence the name!) trails.And the verdict? "Just fine. We'll be back."
Now they did confess that it was a little bit of heavy sledding for the lead skier -- who had the job of breaking the thin crust which impeded the ability to turn. This is an over-rated capacity anyway, said she, who can only turn reliably in one direction on her alpine skis.
Once that first track was made, however, it was smooth sailing. We are still waiting for more snow to enable Brian to get out there with the heavy equipment, the groomer that will pack and set track does demand just a few more inches of fluffy white stuff before it works well.The colours of January have been monochrome so far. We've had a little dust of snow every day, keeping skies gray. When I walked in the later afternoon, everything was in a palette of grays and blues, and the darkest of dark greens in the evergreens. The only spot of colour was the beech leaves that remain valiantly throughout the winter season.
So be of good cheer, as the new year arrives. So do the seasons. You can still get out there and play!
Some of our guests spent the week at Hidden Valley, there two youngsters enrolled in the Christmas Ski School, and they have had a fantastic time. We've had others at Rock Ridge, enjoying tubing. Several on our own toboggan and tubing hill, which just gets faster as they pack it in. As for a rink? Well, we're optimistic, and are going out this week to see if there is some smooth shore ice of sufficient depth.
Happy New Year. Be sure that one of your Resolutions for this coming trip around the sun is to get outside, a little bit every single day. To get back in touch with Nature and all the beauty that is our Big Backyard. To take a few moments to breathe air that is full of the scent of pine trees, not auto exhausts. Be well...
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