Seasons come and seasons go. For some the arrival of snow and ice is a blessing. Snow machines, skiing and skating are favourite winter pastimes. The excitement of new snow for kids 'from one to ninety-two' heralds a season of another sort. December celebrations of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas make this time of year lively [...]
Arts and crafts. The term relates to a design period of the late 19th and early 20th century. The 'old Muskoka' style is an offshoot - especially the shingle style cottages of that period. For some, that classic genre represents the Muskoka ideal: large porches or verandas, deep fireplaces and (if you're a purist) [...]
Photo credit: Alec Cooper When asked about what they like about being at the cottage, peoples' answers vary. For some, cottage life is about dock time. There are many who enjoy the water - whether they're looking at it, playing in it, boating on it or the sound of it, water is central to a [...]
Canadians apparently eat more donuts per person than any other nationality. I'm pretty sure that's true for at least one other food. Butter tarts. In fact, I'm guessing that if we thought about it, butter tarts in Canada are likely more representative of the National palate than apple pie, beaver tails or even poutine. Canada [...]
Sometimes there are hiccups. Things don't go as planned. Oh you get there eventually, but just not in the time or possibly the way you thought. This year, Mother Nature herself, has had a hiccup. The skies are clear and blue, clouds are light, trees and flowers are in bloom. The temperature? Tuesday morning was [...]
Photo credit: John Panikkar MarketWATCH Muskoka: 24 April 2019 Think of the hockey pool, football pool, even 'chase the ace'. Excitement, interest and the stuff that water cooler chat is made of. Here, it's 'ice out'. When's the date? What's the time? Last week we gave you a chart of ice out dates since 1880. That's [...]
FUN FACTS ABOUT ICE-OUT DATES IN MUSKOKA 2018 tied with 1956 for the second latest ice-out date on record : May 4 Earliest Recorded Ice-Out Date: March 23, 2012 Latest Recorded Ice-Out Date: May 7, 1926 Average Recorded Ice-Out Date: April 19th 89% of Ice-Outs occurred in the month of April Not surprisingly, the long [...]
It's here! The last long weekend of the summer. We have a warm week leading up to it too! In fact, records are being set as we speak. Night time temperatures in Muskoka are staying warm. The lakes are not cooling yet. They might even be getting warmer. Some years, nights have had their cooling [...]
As we approach fall in Muskoka, the pace of play changes. Think languid. Think reflective. Think art. For 40 years the Fall studio tour has been a highlight for those who live here and those who want to. The Artistic community in cottage country has grown over the years. Although we think of The Group [...]
Last Saturday the boys and their boats put on their show in Port Carling with the Muskoka Lakes Association biennial Antique Boat Show. The sight was one to behold. Ditchburn, Duke, Minett Shields, SeaBird, Greavette were all there as well as many others. Fine craftsmanship, beautiful lines, wonderful finishes with sounds to match. The burble [...]
