Some of my favourite days of the year occur when winter leaks slowly into spring. The sun is still low on the horizon, but the days have grown longer. The pails that hang on the maple trees may be full of liquid sap, or red squirrels may be licking the sweet icicles that have frozen on the taps.
Things seem a little tense lately. We've had a really long winter, and cabin fever seems to be setting in. Many of you think I live in the city, but I also have a secret place in the woods that is far from the tall buildings and subway cars. It is where I spend my weekends. On Sunday about 4:PM, after too many hours spent cruising OS, I grabbed my camera and went for a walk.
So, come along with me and check out the sights....(you can tell how cold it is by the colour of my nose)
Highbush Cranberry - my first stop and what drew me away from the computer. These look great 12 months of the year.
Where do you want to go next...
We aren't going to cross this bridge today...maybe next time. But it does take me to my favourite spots on the property, which include Anvil Rock Bridge, The Knights of the Round Table, and the Highland Trail.
We are heading south along the creek towards the pond...
We are not alone...the snow conditions make it hard to tell whether this is a coyote or wolf print, but one thing is for sure, it's fresh.
One more bridge to cross...well there are a few more, but we aren't going there today...
Now we are heading up the stairs you can't see towards the pond...
Shhhhh, the fish are still sleeping.
Does this shadow make me look fat?
Now for the secret clubhouse...~~erm~~he built it while I was at work one week. When I found it, it had a tent on it, and I though we had squatters.
The view from here is pretty good though. Cocktails anyone?
But don't have too many, because it is a long way down.
It's time to start heading back.
I wondered what happened to this guy. One minutes he's asking for another gin and tonic and the next he's gone...
A last look back at the pond before we head to the house.
A slippery climb back towards the house and back into the sunlight...
You can stop and grab a seat by the firepit...(they aren't very comfortable, but this kind of thing keeps the Scotsman busy)
We have rooms for guests.
Or you can sleep in the Gander River Boat, which is the best boat ever for fishing on a river...especially the Tay River. Well it was until it started to rot.
We are close enough to call out our drink order...garcon! (it looks a little rough in winter, but there are gardens there somewhere)
A quick look south towards the lake before we head in.
And a final nod before we call it a day and retire to the hot tub...
Namaste! I hope you enjoyed the trek.
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Comments
Thanks for the 'ride'.
I'd say, "Woman, you are so lucky to have this place" but I'm guessing you already know that. There have been a lot of photo tours recently but this was as fun as easy of 'em, and I've really been needing a break from the office here and indoors generally. You see there's this woman named Drew, and Fireeyes and her have been fighting and it's just got me so...confused.
I've got a question though. Do you really have wolves in the area? Do they howl at night? We killed off all the wolves here a century ago, and I've always thought it'd be the coolest thing to visit someplace where you could hear the wolves howling. I'm jealous I guess is what I'm saying, though I'm glad for you and the Scotsman that you have such a wonderful retreat. You can invite me up any time, I'm easy company; a fishing pole for the pond, a blanket for my bed in the Tay River Boat and some wine while I'm up late listening to the wolves and I'd call it paradise.
Thank you for the tour Janie, and namaste to you:)
Yes, I figured everyone needed a break. I do know how lucky I am, but I still have to post on the secrets of my marriage to the Scotsman and our dual lives.
And to answer your question, we have both wolves and coyotes...and only an hour from Toronto. The coyotes howl every night, well, they don't so much howl as they laugh and yip. Our neighbour has seen a lone wolf walking down our fence line. I've only seen the tracks. They are rather large. We have 20 acres and a conservation area across the road. I'm pretty sure some of the local farmers would like to have a run at them, but nature works in cycles and now that the bunny population is down, they'll head north again. I know our closest neighbour has lost a few sheep and at least one calf to them.
Oh, and its not a Tay River boat, it's a Gander River boat, from Newfoundland. The best bloody fishing boat I've ever sat in on a river. Even in the current, it just hangs there and you are close enough to see the fish.
Where's the guest cabin? :)
Great pics and a wonderful retreat.
Thanks so much.
Monte
Larry, anytime!
Drew, you wild woman, such are the secrets of Newfoundland. Ours is not to question why, just to bait our hooks and wait patiently for a nibble.
Cat, glad you enjoyed the break.
MAWB...I'd kill for a dog, but the Scotsman is still reeling from the wayward peeing kitty. I have to let things calm down before I accidently find a stray that needs to be loved. ;) baby paws.
:)
Stress? Have to look that word up...
the whole scene to Northern California?
Namaste! From the Divine within me, I salute the Divine within you.
I hope you write more of your walks. I shall look forward to them!
dang, that pond looks cold!
rated highly!!
The creek is my favorite. Sitting in the summer with your feet in the water reading. Must be ecstasy.
This property is on the Oak Ridges Morraine. It is the headwaters and a natural filter for the Greater Toronto Area's water supply. Until recently, it was unprotected and quickly disappearing. The Ontario government finally set aside a green belt that rings Toronto and this is part of it.
Thanks for stopping by, I'll be sure to take you one some more walks throughout the year.
Namaste!
Do you guys have black squirrels? I never saw a black squirrel until I visited my godmother, and she was surprised that I thought they were unusual. Ours down here are mostly grey, with occasional bushy red ones.
Wow. Footsie.
Slush in galoshes.
No more stress. Wow.
Pink Lady Slipper Wow Walk!
I loved the club house and the house, great places. Now I know where I can go when I need to run away for a little while.
Thank you for this it was AWESOME
Seems peaceful and quiet around there - just the way I like it. Thanks JK.
Thumbed for spring fever.
Thanks for the shared walk.
That really was a very pleasant stress reducer! You have a beautiful piece of property. How many acres is it?
Rated
that is one of the most idyllic walks i have ever been on. i cant imagine having a stream AND a pond, and especially a CLUBHOUSE!.
it was very soothing. unlike me, you didnt talk too much and ruin the snowy whispers.
The property is 20-ish acres and is mostly covered in trees.
The stream is too cold to put your feet into, even in summer. Although there are some days in the summer, where I seriously consider immersing myself. The pond is spring fed, so it stays pretty cold through the season. We stock it with rainbow trout every few years, and it has a family of hillbilly large mouth bass that have been interbreeding for years and years. Sometimes we can even here the banjos at night. ;)
We have all colour of squirrels up here. The grey and black are large, and the red squirrels are small and very destructive.
It's spelled Muskoka, and it is a couple of hours north.
Our coyotes are about the size of German Shepard. There is a distinct difference in the paw print of the wolves, but the snow was too loose to make the distinction. It did make me stop and take a look around though. I always feel like I'm being watched. Boo.
We can fish in the winter if we feel like using the chainsaw to punch a hole in the ice. Once the Scotsman sprinkled a little food in the hole and then used his hockey stick to "flip" the fish onto the ice. I am serious...he called it trout flipping. He is very strange, but I love him.
Suri, I hope you'll still do your post. Can't have enough pretty pictures in the world.
We have people sized guest rooms RIF.
Julie, come and get your mother or I'll have her testing the ice thickness in a couple of weeks. She's driving us nuts!!
Breath-taking
Rated
Thanks for visiting everyone, glad you enjoyed the pics...
What a wonderful place, JK. Thanks for taking us with you, and keep that camera with you at all times! You and the Scotsman are lucky to have the place, and it is lucky to have you.
i envy you.
thanks for the walk.
denese
Thanks Mama, needed the walk.....:)
Rated for everything!
Very creative, thank so much.