DECEMBER HOLIDAY WITH EVERYTHING

We arrived in Vancouver with great anticipation. After being away for about 4 years we were back on the west coast to visit old friends and see our two kids for an early Christmas.
In Vancouver Rob met up with a few good friends, including John Gilbert an old tennis partner, well know for his UFO H2O creation at Vancouver's Expo 86. Later, we met up with Julia's mom's and tot's group who all have children of similar age to Adam, our first born. Although their meetings are not frequent, they have kept in touch going on to 27 years!
Next, it was off to Vancouver Island to relax with good friends at a beautiful resort located on Long Beach. It took Julia less than 10 minutes after parking the car to dash out in to surf. Although the next stop across the Pacific from where we were might have been Hawaii, the water was very, very cold. She seemed to love it. Just up the coast from Tofino we visited a secluded hot springs, a 90 minute boat ride away, and saw gray whales and sea otters. It was nice to be back on the Island where we used to live 30 years ago.
After returning to Vancouver we drove up the Coquihalla Highway to Kamloops, our home before moving to Foxwood. Again, we had a wonderful time visiting and being well entertained by friends. Several days were spent up at Sun Peaks where Rob used to work and where our kids Meg and Adam are spending the winter. This will be Meg's third winter working there, this year as a pro patrol. Adam, who has been working hard as a geological engineer in Vancouver, decided to take the winter off to teach skiing at Sun Peaks. It was good to see our friends and we celebrated an early Christmas with the kids. We skied two days and the conditions were actually quite good.
After banking almost 2000km of driving in 10 days we returned to Foxwood and to yet another foot of snow. It was good to be back at home and in our own bed. We knew that we were in familiar territory when saw the wild turkeys. The scratching at our bedroom window woke us; there he was, a peeping "tom" looking through the glass! A total of 7 turkeys paddled through the snow by the front of the house. We never thought they were that curious however from this experience, apparently they are.

LET WINTER BEGIN

We left for Ottawa Friday morning to meet up with our son John. By 10:30 am when we pulled out of the driveway there just a dusting of snow. Although the weather department was forecasting 25cm of snow in our area we thought little of it. It would likely be another case of "how many times do they have to get it wrong before they get it right"?
Well, when we returned Saturday night what a surprise we had. There wasn't 25cm of new snow, there was about 40cm of it! Our car barely made into the driveway.
Sunday was spent cleaning up. The temperatures had already begun to warm up so we tried to get as much done as possible before the snowblower clogged up with wet snow. By noon we had most of it cleared off.
The snowmobiles have already been out and the ski hill has started making snow, so winter has started her engine. Lets hope for a good one!

PADDLING ALGONQUIN

We both got away last week with Annie to take a short canoe trip into Algonquin Park. The weather started off brilliantly. It was warm and sunny, the wind was light; our first day was great!
After a late-ish start from Foxwood and some backtracking to the west gate to get a camping permit - we discovered that the permit office at Canoe Lake was closed for the season - we finally dipped our paddles into the water around 12:30pm. While loading up the canoe we met another couple who were also just setting out. Lo and behold we learned that they were both from the lakeshore in Montreal where Rob grew up, they went to the same high school as he did and Rob was in the same class as one of the sisters. Small world!
After 4 or 5 hours of paddling we settled on a campsite on Tom Thompson Lake. Dinner was rice soup and lentils, hot bread with pesto and cheese and a litre of wine. There was even a few slurps of scotch by at least one of us. The evening was cold, however we managed to keep warm.
Despite a forecast of rain showers, we were spared for most of the next day. Our campsite was well set up with firewood and a bed of pine needles under the tent; we did not want to set up a new campsite. So we decided to stay put and do a 5 hour day trip out and back. It wasn't until we returned that it started spitting with rain, but it wasn't enough to spoil the evening. Dinner was veggie chili, lots of it, but hot chocolate and no wine.
On the third day, our last, it rained and we had a rather adventurous trip home via Potter Creek. Had we studied our route a little better in advance we would have avoided that route as water levels were just bordering on being too low. Fortunately, we were going with the current, we weren't packed too heavy and it was our last day so finishing up wet was not a big issue.
The trip was fun and Julia even muttered that it was better than she had expected!

FOUR WEDDINGS AND NO FUNERAL

It was memorable year for weddings at Foxwood. We had four of them (and not one funeral) with the first one happening in the middle of June, just ahead of the G8 summit.
Richard and Stephanie tied the knot on our dock. The air was fresh, the breezes were refreshing, the backdrop was amazing and no one in the wedding party ended up in the lake!
Right after the Labour Day weekend we had three more weddings. Each time when the weather looked like it would not cooperate, it was the Foxwood magic that took over, the clouds parted and the sun smiled down on everyone.
Elissa and Steve were the first of the Fall. They had friends and relatives gathering from around the globe. Two weekends later it was followed by Pam and Josh. We tracked the weather down to the final moments and had a wonderful ceremony on the patio of the Main Lodge. Josh even made the wedding cake and was it ever delicious! Then Josie and David had their wedding just last weekend. There were a number of guests who traveled from all parts of the continent, including the the west coast, to attend. They had a wonderful Ethopian stew for dinner in the Main Lodge
Having a wedding or special function at a smaller resort like ours can be quite special. You have the resort all to your own so you can celebrate the way you want, even if part of it means staying up to sing song around the campfire with friends until 4am. Unlike any of the larger resorts or hotels Foxwood has a location that is so private, a setting that is spectacularly natural and pure, and an atmosphere that is relaxed and warm.

SUMMER IS OVER

Fall is now upon us. The temperatures are cooling, the days are getting shorter and summer has now become just a memory. Where did the time go? We often look back at the summer videos we post on our Facebook pages to rekindle the stories, the people and the great times we had this summer. And what a beautiful summer it was.
Annie, our little border terrier is now 11 months old and she had many neat experiences. She had her first kayak ride in the spring, then in August she made it across to Haystack Island on the stand on kayak. She had only one slip into the drink but thankfully her customed designed life jacket kept her floating high in the water.The weekly puppy training classes were another event that also got Annie really excited. They were a big hit for both her and our guests.
The other dog we had at the resort never had a name, though it should have. Her, or she, was rescued in June while floating down the lake alone after storm had sent her adrift. Nobody came by to claim her so she just hung around and did her thing with the kids....and a few adults too!
The lake warmed up to about 78F/24C this summer but it has now now dropped down to under 60F/15C. Still swim-able for some, but a little on the cold side for most. The fall months are a wonderful time to hop into a canoe or kayak and paddle though the calm waters and morning mists. With few people around it can be so peaceful and serene. Some of the maples found along the shoreline are starting to turn bright red. It won't be long before every tree is ablaze in colour.
Fall is here. We hope you can visit us.

THE QUEENS HAVE ARRIVED

A few weeks ago we came to the conclusion that our hives might be missing their queens. The bees seemed healthy enough however we couldn't locate a queen bee - they are larger than all of the others - and we couldn't find the eggs that would be the sign that she was around.
So two new queens were ordered on Friday. Instead of driving the 3 or 4 hours to pick them up, we had them express posted to us in the mail. They arrived the following Monday, each in a small cage accompanied by a couple of their "attendants". The tiny cages were packed into an envelope and sent off to us.
When we got the queens we introduced them to their new hives while still in their cages. Each one has a small sugary plug in the end of it which stops the queen from escaping quickly. Over the span of a few days they eat through the sugary plug and then are free to move into their new home. This slower integration gives all the bees a chance to acquaint themselves with each other gradually.
It's been close to a week since the new bees arrived. We'll wait a few more days to check and see how things are going. It will be a good sign if we see some freshly laid eggs.

CHINOOK HAS FIRST GUESTS

We were about 2 weeks late getting our final occupancy permit for Chinook but the place is now ready and had its first guests arrive on Monday. The building started way back in November 2008 when the old Gatehouse was torn down. About a year and half later, and after lots of work, the building is finally up and standing strong.
The photos above show the dining/living area seen from when you walk in the entrance and the other is of the guest room.
Chinook has many other interesting features. Some of them are: Eco-friendly mattresses made from soy foam, propane fueled "on demand" in floor radiant heat, wide eaves to keep the winter sun in and the hot summer sun out, dual flush and water saver fixtures, fiberglass low E argon filled windows, long lasting metal roof, passive solar gain window placement design, and beautifully polished concrete floors created through a process involving the slicing off layers of material using diamond cutting sanders to expose the aggregate within.
We still have a bit of fine tuning left to do like moving furniture and artwork around to the right spots, some landscaping and the usual touch ups here and there. Overall though, the place looks and feels GREAT! If you are looking for an amazing spot to stay and feel really comfortable then have a look at Chinook on our website.

TALK ABOUT NICE WEATHER!

What a fabulous May Long weekend, all three days of it. The resort was full and the weather was absolutely amazing. The water temperature on our beach was about 70F/20C today, the sun was shining, the winds were calm and the thermometer hit 88F/29C.....it couldn't be May, it feels so much like the middle of the summer. It boggles the mind to think that it was only two weeks ago that we had 2 inches of snow on the ground and guests were using brooms to clean off their cars.
Today, we took advantage of the beautiful weather to get the raft in and do some swimming. Even our guests were taking to the water.
The next few weeks will continue to be warm so we should swimming almost daily from here on in. By the weekend we should have our water trampoline in as well.

FIRST KAYAK RIDE, FIRST SWIM

A little less than a week ago Annie, our 6 month old Border Terrier, had her first kayak ride with Julia. The water was calm and so was Annie. It will likely be the first of many rides that Annie will have this summer. Border Terriers are not really considered water dogs, however Annie has been curious about water and she is definitely not worried about it. She has already had her first slip off the dock into water over her head. She made it out of the water likely thinking to herself "I'm still alive!", all the while displaying that Terrier bravado of "was that it?" We are looking forward to having her accompany us and our guests on the regular swims that we have to Haystack Island located about 800m across the bay from Foxwood.
Today, the weather warmed up to just over 22C. It was very summery and it was perfect for that first swim of the year. Annie didn't go in this time. Instead, she was a spectator as she cheered Julia on into the 9C water. A little cool, but actually quite warm for this time of the year. Julia normally makes it into the lake sooner; last year it was about a week earlier and just about every year she gets in on January 1.....we think that she has a few screws loose! In another month, if the weather cooperates, the lake should warm up to 20C or higher and then it will be a good time to get out onto that water trampoline.

LAKE ICE OUT EARLY

Ever since we arrived in February 2002 the lake ice has always departed around April 19 or 20th. This morning at 7:30am the air temperature was an astounding 23C and the lake ice was gone!
Yesterday we took a photo with Julia, Annie and Martha playing down at the dock. The ice was ready to go and would just take a bit of wind to break it up. On a sidebar, notice in the photo the three ducks. Two of them are males and they are both trying to win over the heart of the lone female. We watched the males throughout the day trying to impress the young lady by beating their chests, flapping wings and spraying water at each other.
So Spring is here and it's about 3 weeks earlier than what we would have expected. It will be nice to get a jump on our annual clean up and will allow us to get onto the landscaping around Chinook, our new straw bale cottage. If you haven't seen Chinook, take a look through our earlier BLOGs or go to the Accommodations page on our website. Hopefully, we have it ready to go by the end of May.

LEGEND SKIING AND PALMS

Our California trip continued after a long drive from Mammoth Lakes, through Death Valley, and then after 9 hours of driving we arrived at Big Bear Lake. Big Bear is home to a couple of really neat ski areas, Snow Summit and Bear Mtn. Not giants in vertical but very popular to the LA and San Diego crowd. Both have terrain parks, but Bear is really a mecca for them. They have "features" everywhere, top to bottom and Meg loved them! The temperatures were warming, the snow started mushing up around lunch, but we got in a lot fun skiing while there.
We also had a chance to stay and ski with Rob's uncle Doug who has made a living in the ski business. In fact, one of the first places he started off was at Snow Summit in the early 50's. He went on to a career that included writing a number of ski books, he was editor in chief of Skiing magazine and his biggest claim to fame is being recognized as the father of freestyle skiing. At just over 80 years of age he sports a long flowing pony tail and can still tear up the slopes faster than most.
We also had a chance to visit Palm Springs and the Indian Canyon. Incredible how beautiful the canyon was, and all of it located in the middle of a scorching hot desert. We ran out of time and would have wished to explore the canyons more.

MAMMOTH TRIP

Every once in a while we are able to get away and last week we took off to California...to ski! Son, Adam and daughter, Meg flew down from Vancouver to meet up with us in LA. We rented a car and drove about 6 hours north to Mammoth Mountain, one of the coolest ski mountains in the west.
It was just below freezing the first day and we had a few inches of fresh snow. The vertical drop at Mammoth is an impressive 3500' with the lower elevation just under 8000' above sea level, the summit is at 11,500'. We found lots of steep stuff and we gave our lungs a real work out. Julia got a great sun tan (we called it a burn!) and Rob stretched about every hamstring in the book skiing runs like Climax and Huevos Grande
After two days of screamin' skiing we headed south to meet up with relatives in Big Bear Lake. We took the longer route and detoured into Death Valley, the lowest spot in North America (almost 400' below sea level). We stopped at Badwater to look around and walked out onto the salt flats. What a amazing place but such a contrast from our 2 days at Mammoth!

WINTER TURKEYS

The wild turkeys are everywhere. Once abundant in Ontario they were hunted out to a point where their numbers were so small. Not long ago they were reintroduced in southern Ontario and now seem to be thriving even in our snowier climates.
They spend most of their time on the ground searching for food. It's not uncommon to see 12 - 20 birds together at one time. As awkward as they look, the wild turkey can really fly. At night they roost in trees and we've seen sitting in trees 75 feet and higher.
The deer don't mind the turkeys either. Not far down the road from us, we've been amazed to see half a dozen deer foraging for food with about a dozen turkeys percolating around their feet, getting any food that they can.

WINTER IS A SHOE-IN

Although we are not breaking any records for total amounts of snowfall, it sure is wintery here. Our snowshoe trails are in excellent condition, as are the cross country, downhill and snowmobile trails. Temperatures have been ideal as well, dipping down to the mid teens at night and then warming during the day. The sun has been shining a lot too as you can see in the photos of Julia and Annie out on the snowshoe trails.
We are around the half way point in our winter and it is about 1.5 months to go before spring. We'll be getting ready for another maple syrup season soon enough.
If you are thinking about a winter visit to Muskoka this is a great time to do it. Family Day is this weekend and then the school spring break in mid March. Looking farther down the road summer is looking quite busy for us. There is still a fairly good selection throughout the summer however this is the time when many of the available cottages get reserved. Our new straw bale cottage, Chinook, is taking shape beautifully and will be ready for bookings starting in June. You can check out our BLOG to see the progress.