July 22

I was sure it was a Bat that decided to pay us visit through the steel chimney pipe!

We heard it several times through the night shuffling inside the chimney, poor creature in that heat we didn't give it much time to survive! Then all went silent.

Last night we were astounded to hear the creature still alive after what had been the hottest July day since the record set back in the Fifties. It couldn't of been a very comfortable day spent in a HOT chimney pipe.

I was quite convinced it was a bat... maybe a small bird or at best a rather large dragonfly!

What I didn't realize was that my attempt to sweep the chimney yesterday had sent the creature scurrying into the firebox - a feat I didn't think possible given the structure of the thing!

The next morning, while waiting for everyone to wake I sat thinking of how to best tackle removing the creature.....

(of which I was sure was a Bat!) While sitting reading I saw out of the corner of my eye some motion inside the firebox, a little examination with a flashlight revealed that there was a small squirrel cowering in the corner of the firebox. I threw it a peanut which I was surpirsed to see eaten voraciously, even though it hadn't had anything to drink in at least 24hrs (the hottest on record).

We lay a trail of peanuts along the cottage floor leading to the front door. I knew the creature wouldn't stop to inspect the peanuts as it wildly dashes to figure out an escape, but it was a family endeavour so all ideas were fair play!

We opened the front door wide, closed all the bedroom doors and placed towels and sweaters along the floor to ensure it did't leave the room (except through the front door of course!) We placed a bowl of water down as enticement (like it will need any!)

Open the fireplace and... it has disappeared! Great now we have to open the stovepipe.

No creature, all quiet, then suddenly it appears from the top of the stove looking like a coyote is closing in!

It's a climber and up onto the walls it goes. We direct it along with a broom. Yes that's the way, no not under the fridge!! Great out the door and Fly off the deck into the woods...

Yes fly, for it's a Flying Squirrel - the first I've ever seen and it sure can leap far, even gracefully.

Summer Has Arrived!

The first three days at the cottage have been full of beautiful hot sunny weather and pretty active, here are some of the things we've done... not necessarily in this order.

We brought the canoe and kayak down to the water, shopped at the farmers market, been to the dump, fished at Furnace Falls, put up the badminton net, fixed the bunkie roof where a tree limb hit it, mowed the back lawn, cleaned out the workshop, cut a cord of wood from limbs fallen during the storm a few weeks back with my new chainsaw and piled it all neatly with Matt, explored Bow Creek with Matthew by canoe portaging over 5 beaver dams, swam several times in the river, had a pot luck BBQ with neighbours and even found time to relax and try to read.... but fell asleep, got woken up by the rooster next door, saw a large Hare playing with a ball in the backyard, heard rumors and saw photos of a bearcub that's been hanging around the hood with sibling and mama. Had some great rib steaks on the BBQ which Matt grilled, helped Deb trellis the Cukes in the garden, took a few glorious outdoor showers, got a few nasty cuts and scrapes and too much sun, gee now I need to tackle the summer to do list! Off to mow the front lawn, get the well water tested, finish cutting all the fallen trees and split the wood... yes this is a run on sentence just like the days feel here. Now if that sounds tiring it is but in a good way. I love the hands on multi-tasking work!

A Winter Day in the Woods

Matthew and I spent a fantastic February Sunday in the woods. First we took a wonderful hike in the woods behind the cottage on our snowshoes. Our intent was to start at one of the rear property markers and using the iphone's GPS capability locate the other edge of our property - but technical glitches get in the way of accomplishing the task.

So we then decide to keep walking. Instead of following the established network of trails - we let these animal tracks guide our route - not sure if this is perhaps a Lynx?

(We also find many rabbit tracks) We follow the "Lynx" path for over an hour and eventually they take us down to the river - a short jaunt over the ice and we are close to home again.

After lunch we load our cross country skis into the car and head our to a nearby trail - The Somerville Tract near Kinmount where we spend almost two hours skiing through the woods. We come upon several really interesting features - trees that look like they have beenb clawed by bears - at least that is the only explanation I can come up with and we cross this magical bog where the ice is broken by tree trunks.

It feels great to be spending time in these natural environments enjoying the beauty and exercise, and especially introducing Matthew to activities he can enjoy for a lifetime. I think it may even have been more fun for him than iphone gaming!!

Winter 2010-2011 Update

Just before Christmas we received an email that our immediate neighbours cottage had gone up in a spectacular however unfortunate blaze. Not much was left of the cottage, but on the positive side no one was injured and they do intend on rebuilding the h

ouse.

These photos were taken by Lili another neighobur

Kayak Lesson at the Minden White Water Preserve

Matthew got an earlier 10th birthday present last week.
We treated him to a 3 hour Kayak lesson at the Minden Wild Water Kayak Preserve. It was a lesson that challenged his courage and helped him gain confidence on the water.

http://www.whitewaterontario.ca/about-wo/preserve.html

All Geared up!

Beautiful path to the - okay so He's only carrying the paddles!

Looking at the water and gathering courage.

Can't Kayak without getting wet!

Show me how!

Nature's Bounty

Deb's Garden and the wild berries are flourishing

Grape Tomatoes

Picking Blackberries

Nature's work of art!

Yellow Beans & Snow Peas

Edible art!

An Evening Canoe Outing

Matthew and I went on an after dinner canoe ride up the river Monday evening. While I paddled quietly, Matthew fished. As Matt is getting older, each year I see his patience grow and we can now spend a few hours quietly focused on being in nature.

Accompanied by two beavers for much of the paddle at one point the beavers were on shore grooming eachother - A sight I've never seen before.

Matthew caught a few small Rock Bass before landing a Brook Trout which gave him a nice fight! The dusk light created a wonderful backdrop for our time on the river and this outing really made me connect with the reason we have the cottage and the experiences we are creating for our family and friends.