This is a Viceroy cottage, with 4" tongue and groove cedar walls. It smells gorgeous.
When our kids arrived, we would all crowd in, rain or shine. Playing in the sand and water, or building tents under blankets indoors.
In 1991 Mom and Dad built their retirement home attached to the cottage. They had lived on Walker Ave., in Toronto, for at least 55 years, or so. But summers, we headed for the lake.
I remember watching the thunder and lightning across the lake.
Another storm in Muskoka. I set up the videocam on my not-so-trusty antique tripod and let it run.
Oliver came down to the cottage with me - to check for mice. He is an excellent mouser and nothing was to be had this day. It is our ritual. My late mother used to go into the cottage after they had the house built, and just sit in her swing rekindling memories of the long, wonderful summers here. Cousins, who were speaking to me then, 20-years my senior, took me water skiing.
We met Dad every Friday night of the summer as he drove up from Toronto for the weekend. Rain or shine, we would wait at the highway for him, cheering as he arrived. He would leave early on Monday morning, to arrive in time for a 9 a.m. start for work.I remember fishing with dad. Here we are at my cousin's dock.
I remember the sadness as we left the frog pond, lake and cottage for the last time in the fall. It is time for change, as the seasons change, our lives change. Many in Muskoka want to retire here. We did, too. And it was a delightful 4 years, yet our grandkids call. There is nothing more important than family. We shall leave this house, and find another place to lay our heads.
5 comments:
I can smell the cedar. I grew up with cottages not unlike this one. They were on the lake where we lived year round. The summer people had the lake for three months out of the year, I had it to myself for the other nine. Sometimes I want to go back and rent a cottage on the lake, but it wouldn't be a magical as before.
Cottage life must be hard to leave behind with all of its memories. I know I would hate to leave my cabin now that I've discovered life on the the lake. We had a rainy Canada Day so the lake was fairly quiet, but today brought more sunshine and more people to enjoy their lake homes. I like the quiet of the other seasons, but I also like seeing everyone enjoy summer up the lake. - Margy
I don't have as much time invested as you do but I do know that struggle between doing what you love and being closer to those that you love. Lovely walk down memory lane. I have a picture almost the same as yours with you dad fishing. When we were adopted in Canada the very first summer was in a rented cottage on the north side of Bala Falls and the east side of the road...lovely memories!
Blessings and smiles
You will be back. Muskoka doesn't leave you just because you leave Muskoka.
The memories of your special cottage, your special lake, those stay. But change can be good, and you can come back to the lakes, make new memories, start new traditions with the grandkids when they are a little older... You don't have to own the buildings to own the experiences. We'll see you here... good luck, peace and blessings on your new house and the new world you will find there!!!
P.s. tell Steve it could be just as magical if he rents here at Bondi Village... we still remember and cherish the old family ways!
Nice memories for you.
My only experience up that way was visiting someone else's cottage 2 or 3 times and doing canoe trips in Algonquin and on various rivers in the area. Always lovely to be in the near north. (My partner is from Smooth Rock Falls so I can't call Algonquin "north" any more. It was/is very much "southern Ontario" for her.)
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