FALL WEATHER

This colourful collage, a mixture of various leaves corralled beside a dock, not only captures the different colours that have changed and fallen but also reveals the weather, displaying the raindrops from a recent shower. The first day of fall was another day of rainfall, like much of September has been with still more wet weather predicted.

THE BOATWORKS

A propellor serves as a doorhandle giving new meaning to when it's propped open. The door leads to the service area of The Boatworks Limited, a partnership of seven cottagers that bought the business and is currently expanding it. The original company was famous for its line of Seabird boats and their motto "Safe, Swift, Serviceable."

PORT OF GOLD

One of the most brilliant and breathtaking double rainbows I've ever witnessed before appeared when the sun emerged during the stormy evening. They remained for several minutes and spanned the entire town, however taking measures to avoid getting waterdrops on the lens prevented me from capturing their full image with a panorama.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Happy Independence Day to our southern neighbour and to all the Americans who reside in Muskoka. We remain indebted to some of their ancestors who bought unspoiled wilderness property, and whose foresight and families are playing an important role in protecting the integrity and heritage of Muskoka from risk of further development.

FIRST NATIONS

In the First Nations Gallery of the Muskoka Lakes Museum, a display case features stone implements dating from 8000 B.C.E. to modern ornamental artwork. Native handiwork like this is still carried on by Frank and Phoebe Roads, a Mohawk couple who make and sell their wares to tourists each summer in their craft shop across the river.

???? ? DOCK

Can you solve this sign puzzle with its missing words and letters?
???? ? DOCK
???????
CASUAL
?????TURE

APRIL FOOL'S

It contains all the ingredients of an April Fool's hoax: come visit Muskoka for the long weekend (Easter mind you, not the traditional May 2-4) and enjoy boating, barbequing and balmy temperatures, however this is not a prank but reality, and is encouraging several cottagers to return early to take advantage of the extended season.

WINTER THAW

I found it hard to believe the difference when I visited the site of the polar bear dip, less than one month ago. Where they had hauled out slabs of ice over a foot thick only a thin scab has formed since, with open water beyond where none existed before. I suspect that this is only a temporary thaw in the season, not the end of winter.

WINTERFEST WASTHEBEST

Beautiful weather contributed to a great weekend for those that attended Winterfest. The festival offered a variety of activities, workshops and events that appealed to all ages, as well as meals and snacks to satisfy every appetite. The highlight and closing event was the Polar Bear Dip, an event that I participated in... as a polar bear.
[A great job by Alistair, my ten-year-old son, who filmed this video.]
["Polar Bear ...d-d-dip" photographs, with us, from MuskokaTODAY.]