NEW YEARS IN GRAVENHURST -

A SHORT TIME TO A NEW YEAR - A CRICKET - A HEARTH - THE FIRE WITHIN

OVER THE PAST WEEK, SUZANNE AND I HAVE MOTORED ALL OVER THE AREA OF SOUTH MUSKOKA. IT'S TRUE, WE HAVE BEEN ON MUSKOKA BEACH ROAD, MORE THAN ANY OTHER, AS IT IS OUR PREFERRED ROUTH NORTH AND SOUTH, TO BRACEBRIDGE AND BACK. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WE SIMPLY HAD TO STOP TO ENJOY THE VIEW, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE ICE AND SNOW HAD ADORNED THE MASSIVE EVERGREENS, AND OF COURSE THE MAPLES OF THE NATURAL CATHEDRAL, JUST NORTH OF THE FORMER JONES' FARM. EVEN TODAY, AFTER CONSIDERABLE THAWING, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE, AND PASS UNDER. EVEN THE WALKS AROUND BIRCH HOLLOW HAVE BEEN FULL OF AMAZING SIGHTS OF WINTER DECORATION. TO THINK WE COULD HAVE BEEN ON A TROPICAL BEACH INSTEAD. I DON'T EVER TELL ANYONE OF OUR FRIENDS, OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER, THAT THEY'RE FOOLISH FOR VACATIONING IN OTHER PLACES…..BECAUSE THEIR CHOICE IS THEIR CHOICE. BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN DROP THE "I HATE WINTER ATTITUDE," AND RE-VISIT MUSKOKA,……TO SEE CLEARLY, THROUGH THE WINDSWEPT SNOW, WHAT THIS REGION OFFERS IN SCENIC DIVERSITY, AND ACCOMMODATION IN SO MANY WAYS, MAYBE IT WOULDN'T SEEM SO MUCH OF A DISADVANTAGE TO HAVE A STAY-CATION. EVERY DAY WE'VE BEEN OUT TO SEE THE LANDSCAPE, AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY, EVEN AFTER DARK, AND HAVE ENJOYED ALL THE TREATS WE COULD ACQUIRE FROM LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND ASSORTED SHOPS WE LOVE TO VISIT.

AND WHEN WE ARRIVE HOME AGAIN, TO THE SNOW-COVERED EVERGREENS AND LILACS, AND THE HEAVY BOUGHS OF THE BIRCHES, AND MAPLES, IT IS NO DISADVANTAGE TO DAWDLE ON THE HARD-PACKED LANE TO THE HOUSE, TO DRINK IN ALL THE GRANDEUR OF A MUSKOKA HOMESTEAD.

TONIGHT I HAVE TAKEN ONE MORE TURN AT THIS KEYBOARD, IN THIS OIL-LAMP ILLUMINATED OFFICE, AND FOUND NOTHING BUT PEACE AND QUIET IN THE HAUNTED SOLITUDE. MY FRIEND THE CRICKET HASN'T BEEN SEEN FOR AWHILE. I DON'T REALLY MISS IT, BECAUSE THE CHIRPING WAS SOMEWHAT IRRITATING. BUT I WISHED HIM WELL, NONE THE LESS, AT THIS FESTIVE TIME OF THE YEAR, AND SINCE THEN, I'VE CAUGHT SIGHT OF HIM SEVERAL TIMES…..BUT THE CHIRPING HAD CEASED. I SUPPOSE HE HAS RETURNED TO A SAFER, LESS TRAVELLED PART OF THE HOUSE, WHERE HE MAY HAVE A FAMILY……A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR. OF THIS I WISH THEM THE VERY BEST AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I WILL BE MUCH MORE SPORADIC WITH THESE BLOGS, IN THE NEW YEAR, AS I HAVE MANY OTHER WRITING PROJECTS CURRENTLY ON THE GO. I WILL BE CARRYING-ON MY NEWLY LAUNCHED COLUMN ON THE PARANORMAL, IN "THE GREAT NORTH ARROW," BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY, AND I'VE ALREADY BEGUN PLANNING FOR A YEAR PLUS FEATURE COLUMN ON ANTIQUE HUNTING FOR "CURIOUS; THE TOURIST GUIDE," (AVAILABLE LOCALLY), ALSO STARTING NEXT MONTH. SUZANNE IS GETTING READY TO LAUNCH HER FAMILY HISTORY BLOG-SITE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, AND WE'RE STEPPING UP THE ANTIQUE TRADE OURSELVES, WORKING WITH THE BOYS IN THEIR (MUSKOKA ROAD) SHOP EXPANSION, WE EXPECT TO GET UNDERWAY BY EARLY SPRING……..IF EVERYTHING LINES UP THE WAY WE EXPECT. AND OF COURSE WE'VE GOT THE WINTER CARNIVAL SONG IN PREPARATION, AND SOME SCARVES IN PRODUCTION TO BE WORN BY THE MEMBERS OF "PRESSURE POINT." IT LOOKS LIKE 2012 WILL START WITH A BANG. THE WEATHER ISN'T SEVERE, I HAVEN'T BEEN STUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY YET, AND THERE'S BEEN NO NEED FOR EITHER A BOOST OR A TOW. WHAT A GREAT MUSKOKA WINTER.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR VISITING THIS BLOG-SITE OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, AS A CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS PRIMER. I WILL BE WORKING AT THIS BLOG-SITE IN THE FUTURE BUT NOT QUITE AS REGULAR. HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL THIS WINTER.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR A SECOND TIME TODAY!!!!