Call Us at 1-877-635-2575 (toll free Canada and the US) or email: info@loggingchainlodge.on.ca
Monday, April 30, 2007
Our "C" cottage bathroom will be complete as of tomorrow when we do the final touch - a new window. The new dressers are here. The new doors have been finished and are already hanging. By Wednesday, the spring cleaning will begin - or should I say the construction clean-up will take place...
A few days ago, we planted another 22 evergreen trees. We have plans to plant another 30 - 40 evergreens this week. I see lots of watering in my future!
There are only a few cabins remaining for the May long weekend - May 18, 19, 20. Don't wait!! Book your cottage well in advance as this is one of the most popular getaway weekends in Muskoka during the entire year! If you are planning to "wing it" and just take a drive up that weekend, you will have quite a surprise when there are no cottages ANYWHERE in the Muskoka area!!! We see it every year.
I've been asked why we do a 3 night minimum on holiday long weekends and 2 night minimum on regular weekends (outside of July and August). We have found that when our guests stay for longer than 1 night on a weekend, the cottages are left tidy and un-damaged. We have, unfortunately, had our worst-case scenarios with "one nighters" on weekends - or, as we also like to call them - the weekend-warriors! You know the kind...party all night, sleep all day... As a quiet, family-oriented resort, we ensure that all of our guests enjoy a peaceful stay in Muskoka - this includes not renting to groups on long weekends. This is also the reason why we have quiet time from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. year 'round. We have a lot of seniors and couples that rent our cabins in the Spring and Autumn. Our July and August weekly rentals are mainly booked by families with children - from around the world. We like to ensure a good fit when potential guests are looking to rent a cottage - so if someone says something like: We're coming up on Friday for my buddy's stag... Well, this is not the resort for them!! I always encourage a privately-owned cottage rental for everyone's sake! Not to mention my own sanity!!
Nature sightings: the chipmunks and squirrels continue to dominate! A doe and her fawn have been visiting my garden almost nightly. Lots of small birds at the feeders. In a few more days, I will put out the hummingbird feeders as they should be here shortly. Canada Geese have appeared - these are not particularly popular and are not encouraged to stay due to their, um, poor bathroom habits... I'm looking forward to the larger birds who will be arriving shortly - Blue Jays, Cardinals, etc.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Yesterday was a great day! The temperature reached 26C - and sunny! The regional norms at this time of year here in Dwight are 13C on average. I was told that Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park was still ice as of Saturday, but that it was beginning to melt quickly. Although Algonquin Park is only about a 15 minute drive away, it is approximately 1000 feet higher in elevation than our resort - this makes a big difference in temperature and water conditions. Our concern in the early Spring time is always hypothermia - visitors who are not used to being on the water see the beautiful, crystal clear blue and get very excited to go canoeing or kayaking. For their safety, we only bring out our canoes and kayaks around the middle of May - when the water has had at least a month to warm up. Even then, hypothermia can quickly take over if the paddlers are not close to shore when they hit the water. We see it year after year...
Some good news - we were able to get some more gardening completed and trees pruned. The best part of the day for our children was the annual "get the playground toys out of the barn" ceremony. After numerous trips with the truck and trailer, the playground is up and running for another season. This weekend, we are picking up another wooden play unit to add to our collection.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
I was out working on the gardens last evening, just before sunset. Then it happened - I heard the loons wailing!!! Hurray - they are back to nest on our lake once again!!! For anyone who has ever heard the haunting sound of a loon's call, it is a sound never to be forgotten. These beautiful birds are THE bird of Muskoka - the wildlife that we always look forward to seeing and hearing. After I heard the loons calling, one flew directly over me... If you are not familiar with this species of bird, I encourage you to click onto this link: http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/loons/index.html - you will be able to hear the different calls: hoot, tremolo, wail and yodel as well as see photos and read about their habitat and migration.
Yesterday was also the day when I spotted the first, timid flower at the office gardens! Oh yeah, and the first spider...yuck! Even after 5 years of country living, the sight of a spider still gives me the creeps.
The forecast for the next 4 days is sun and temperatures up to 20C daily. It's going to be a fantastic weekend!
Monday, April 16, 2007
It's official - the two rivers that enter our bay met on Saturday, April 14th - one day ahead of schedule! Then, the following day, the first fishing boat was launched - of course, this was in between the ice flows... What's in season?? Why, trout, of course!! I'm not sure if our brave fisherman was successful or not. I don't think it really mattered, based on the smile on his face while launching his small boat.
We woke up this morning to NO ice in our bay and waves on the water!!!! I'm not sure what happened over night...but I'll take it! There are now only a few mounds of snow remaining and they seem to be melting quickly.
Update on renovations: "C" cottage bathroom is now being drywalled and the new window, tub, tub surround, flooring, heater and toilet have been ordered. We've also decided that the 3 bedrooms will be getting new 5 drawer pine High Boy dressers and all of the interior doors are being replaced with beautiful pine doors and new brass knobs. This cabin will look spectacular when the renovations are complete!!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Well, we woke up to (another) winter wonderland in Muskoka!! Can you imagine? - our children had a snow day today (April 12) as school buses were cancelled. I have a note on my calendar that last year on today's date, the first crocuses and tulips were in full bloom...not this year, unfortunately. Mother Nature has decided, I presume, that since she didn't start our winter until mid-January, that we deserve to be reminded of her power in April. She and Jack Frost must be in on it together... :-)
Canada is an amazing place! During our Ontario winters, we are used to having weeks where the temperature and windchill combine at a steady -30C (or less) daily. Then, in the summer, we Canadians enjoy weeks of +30C daily. No wonder we are a hardy bunch! This also explains why it is traditional that on our holiday May Long Weekend (or properly known as Victoria Day - a celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday), you will see many of us taking our first dips into the lakes (only a few weeks after the ice has melted). Maybe this also explains why when we travel south, Canadians are the only ones swimming in the oceans and pools when the temperatures are in the 60'sF - that's down-right balmy!
Nature sightings this past week: deer on our property, moose in Algonquin Park. An interesting note - the squirrels and chipmunks appear to have multiplied dramatically over the winter as there seems to be a never-ending chase/race around our house. Lots of chickadees and nuthatches at the bird feeders - as well as a pileated woodpecker!
Sunday, April 8, 2007
We wish you a Happy Easter! The snow has stopped here and some grass is reappearing. We reached a high of 0C with some sun shining through the clouds. This weekend, we've had guests from Italy, England and, of course, Canada. That's one of the best parts about running a resort - the people we get to meet who are from all over the world - from New Zealand to the Yukon, from Brazil to Russia (not to mention Nepal!). Everyone has a story to tell, and we love to hear them!!
The Easter Bunny was able to make it to our home - much to the delight of our daughters. Hopefully, he made it to your home as well!
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Well, we woke up to snow on the ground this morning after showers all day yesterday. The rivers are flowing fast and high. Some spectacular pictures of rocks with water flowing over ice formations near Algonquin Provincial Park were taken. We counted 4 deer yesterday just down the road from our resort while walking through the woods. After having spent our vacation in the sunny south, I'm pretending that this white stuff outside of our windows is just sand by the ocean... The forecast is for flurries to continue over the Easter Long Weekend holiday, ending, hopefully, by Sunday in time for the Easter Bunny to do his thing! The challenge when living here and hunting for Easter eggs outside is not to confuse the little chocolate eggs on the ground with the deer droppings - they are eerily similar in size and shape! :-) Ever since moving here 5 years ago, I really don't eat chocolate anymore...wonder if this is the reason...hmmm.
The outdoor work will now have to go on the back burner. Update on the renovations: The bathroom fixtures, flooring and tub surround in our "C" cottage are now lying outside! Not a pretty site, but when is renovation ever beautiful? - I guess when it's completed! We've also decided to put a window in there for better ventilation. "B" and "D" cottages have now been thoroughly Spring cleaned and work on the Duplex cottage begins tomorrow. Yes, we work weekends and Holidays!!! Our typical work day begins around 8:30 a.m. and ends somewhere around 10:00 p.m. with the last phone call for reservation inquiries and last check for e-mails. After that, we let the answering machine take over!
We were in Huntsville yesterday (that is the great thing about having our cottage resort near Algonquin Park - it's halfway between there and the town of Huntsville - we have nature and the convenience of all "town" things). The main street looks great with store windows decorated for Easter and Spring. The town of Huntsville is in the midst of creating a new waterfront design to allow better access to the river as well as places to sit and relax by the water's edge. Unfortunately, they are also in the renovation process and currently the waterfront looks like a construction lot after having several buildings torn down and roads ripped up. We can't wait to see the finished product!! It will be a great venue for the annual summer music festival.
