A Christmas party in your mouth

Most holidays don’t have their own special baked good – there is no grand tradition of whipping up a batch of Victoria Day Jam Tarts, or a Labour Day Pound Cake. But Christmas and Hanukkah… now you’re talking sweets! From fruit cake to rugelach to gorgeous houses made of gingerbread, this is the season to […]

December 2019 events

SANTAFEST Weekends to Dec. 22. Santa is always busy during the holiday season, but every year he takes a break before the big night to visit with everyone at his summer home in Bracebridge. Christmas crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides, fireside hot chocolate, and more at Santa’s Village. GOOD LOVELIES CHRISTMAS 2019 Dec 13. Still […]

Feed the deer

Spotting deer at the cottage can be a delight, particularly in winter when you don’t need to worry about them eating your flowers. Some people love them so much that they set out corn or hay feeding stations to help deer through the winter. Are you helping them by feeding them? The answer is a […]

Herbs of the season

There is more sage used at Thanksgiving and Christmas than at any other time of year – what would turkey stuffing be without it? But the ancients used it for much more, including cleansing rituals on both sides of the Atlantic. This remarkable herb was said to encourage fertility, promote breast milk production, clean wounds, […]

Bubble bubble toil and trouble

Bubblers have become essential tools to protect docks and boathouses from ice damage. But are you using yours properly? If it’s not set up right, it could actually wind up causing more problems than it solves – for you, your neighbours, your property, and people who use the lake in winter. There are several different […]

Butternut squash soup with sage

Squash soup is incredibly easy and reliably delicious. To elevate yours to even greater heights, try topping the bowls with some fried sage leaves. This recipe from Deborah Madison is a nice variation. The three cheeses she offers as options are all quite different from each other: the soup would also work nicely with brie, […]

October 2019 events

LOCAL COLOURS ART EXHIBIT Until October 31. Drop by the Muskoka Place Gallery on Foreman Road in Port Carling to view a retrospective of works by artist Shirley Harris for her first ever solo exhibition. Artist’s reception is on Sunday October 13th, from 1-3 p.m. RUBY RED EXHIBITION Until October 15. Rubies are the traditional […]

Clones in the woods

Poplars, or aspens, are one of our most common trees, and it’s not unusual to see a group of them all growing together. But look closely and you may just find that you’re not looking at a group of trees at all. You may, in fact, be looking at part of a clone network, the […]

Healthy and lucky

It’s great on pizza and essential in spaghetti sauce, but oregano has long been prized as a bringer of good luck and good health. It’s even been reputed to cure overdoses of opium and hemlock. Like many ancient herbs, oregano goes by a variety of names, including dittany and marjoram (which is a mild form […]

Caring for your buoy

The classic bleach bottle buoy isn’t as common as it once was, but there are still plenty of private buoys on the lakes, marking hidden rocks or keeping boats away from water lines. But do you know what you need to do with yours come winter? Like most things on the water, buoys are governed […]